The difference between a Sauté pan and a Frying pan is greater than you think. Both have a round shape and one handle, but they are made for very different cooking tasks. Here you’ll learn when to use which pan and which combination you really need in your kitchen.
The Frying pan
A Frying pan has a low rim and a long handle. The shallow shape allows moisture to evaporate quickly, making dishes crispy.
You use the Frying pan for:
- Eggs (fried egg, omelet, scrambled eggs)
- Searing meat (steak, chicken breast, hamburgers)
- Pancakes and crepes
- Fish with a crispy crust
- Quickly sautéing vegetables
Standard size for 1-3 people: 25 cm. At CuliStack: Frying pan 25 cm.
The Sauté pan
A Sauté pan is deeper than a Frying pan and has higher, straight sides. The higher rim retains moisture and flavor, ideal for longer cooking.
You use the Sauté pan for:
- One-pot dishes (pasta with sauce, risotto, paella)
- Stews and curries
- Sauces (tomato, ragout, béchamel)
- Simmering with a lid
- Stir-frying as an alternative to the wok pan
Standard size: 28 cm with 3 liters capacity. At CuliStack: Sauté pan 28 cm.
The difference in a table
| Feature | Frying pan | Sauté pan |
|---|---|---|
| Rim height | Low (3-5 cm) | High (6-9 cm) |
| Lid | Usually none | Often yes |
| For crispy frying | Yes | Limited |
| For sauces and stews | Limited | Yes |
| Standard size | 25 cm | 28 cm |
Which do you need at home?
For most households, a Frying pan plus a Sauté pan is the minimum combination. Supplemented with a saucepan for smaller portions, this covers 80% of daily cooking.
View the CuliStack cookware sets that include both pans together, or the separate Frying pan and Sauté pan.
Frequently asked questions
Can I also fry eggs in a Sauté pan? Yes, but because of the higher rim, flipping with a spatula is more difficult. For daily egg frying, a Frying pan is more convenient.
Does the lid of the Sauté pan fit the Frying pan? At CuliStack, the glass lid (28 cm) fits the Sauté pan, wok pan, and Dutch Oven. Not the Frying pan, as it has a different size.
What is the difference with a roasting pan? A roasting pan is deeper than a Sauté pan and made for long braising or large pieces of meat. CuliStack offers the Dutch Oven (28 cm, 5.6 liters) for that purpose.
