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Reddit
reddit.com › r/cooking › cast iron skillet vs regular pan
r/Cooking on Reddit: Cast iron skillet vs regular pan
December 5, 2018 -

What is the difference between cooking with these 2? I feel like a lot of cooking videos I see use cast iron skillets. For example I’m looking to make French onion soup chicken and most of the recipes I see the person is using a cast iron skillet. Would the recipe taste different if I use a regular pan? Should I invest in a cast iron skillet? Thanks for the help!

Update: y’all convinced me... I just went out and bought a cast iron skillet

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de Buyer
debuyer-usa.com › blogs › guides › skillet-vs-pan
Skillet vs. Pan: The Differences and Uses – de Buyer
A skillet has the same functionality and design as a frying pan. Some cooking professionals are more likely to use the term "skillet" for cast iron skillets.
Discussions

Cast iron skillet vs regular pan
Define "regular pan". The big thing cast iron brings is thermal mass. It's dense and releases heat relatively slowly (compared to say aluminum), so if you throw something in (say a steak) the temp won't drop dramatically. This is useful for browning. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/Cooking
150
89
December 5, 2018
Grill Pan vs Skillet Question

Dump the grill pan. Hard to clean, limited utility.

Skillet all the way.

More on reddit.com
🌐 r/castiron
11
6
December 31, 2015
Should I invest in a cast iron pan or dutch oven first?

Removed, no self promo.

More on reddit.com
🌐 r/AskCulinary
32
15
November 4, 2017
glass vs. cast iron lids?
I used a glass cover once and it basically exploded. Got too hot. Not in the oven, just cooking on the stove. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/castiron
5
4
December 5, 2012
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MasterClass
masterclass.com › articles › skillet-vs-pan
Skillet vs. Pan: Differences Between the Types of Cookware - 2026 - MasterClass
A skillet is similar to a sauté pan in depth, but the latter will generally have a wider surface area and straight sides, best for cooking soups, stews, and curries. Often, the best skillets are cast iron, which retains heat and helps build a flavorful crust on proteins and other foods.
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Stahl Kitchens
stahlkitchens.com › stahl kitchens › skillet vs frypan
Skillet vs Frypan - Key Differences and Similarities | Stahl – Stahl Kitchens
September 11, 2025 - A skillet is a flat-bottomed, wide cooking pan with sides slightly sloped or flared, which makes it ideal for flipping and stirring food. Skillets are typically made of cast iron, stainless steel, or aluminum.
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All-Clad
all-clad.com › blog › post › Understanding-Skillet-vs-Frying-Pan-Differences
Skillet vs Frying Pan Key Differences Guide
August 11, 2025 - Our skillets have a wider base with steeper side walls, perfect for baking or shallow frying. Our handles provide excellent balance for controlled movements. While our fry pans feature are shallow with slightly sloped sides, maximizing heat ...
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BBC Good Food
bbcgoodfood.com › home › review › the best cast-iron skillets of 2026: for searing, baking and everyday cooking
The best cast-iron skillets of 2026: for searing, baking and everyday cooking
3 days ago - For searing the perfect steak or achieving golden, crispy chicken thighs, a cast-iron skillet is an essential tool to have in your kitchen arsenal. But these durable pans go far beyond meat; their versatility makes them ideal for a variety of dishes, from perfectly set frittatas to caramelised tarte tatin.
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Misen
misen.com › blogs › news › skillet-vs-frying-pan-which-is-right-for-your-cooking-needs-3
Skillet vs Frying Pan: Which Is Right for Your Cooking Needs? | Misen
May 1, 2025 - Stainless steel offers exceptional durability and non-reactivity with acidic foods, while cast iron excels at heat retention and develops a natural nonstick surface through seasoning[8]. Other materials like copper, aluminum, and carbon steel ...
Find elsewhere
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Serious Eats
seriouseats.com › carbon-steel-vs-cast-iron-11687528
Carbon Steel vs. Cast Iron: Which One Should You Buy?
April 3, 2025 - ... There’s no getting around it: Cast iron is heavier than carbon steel. Our top-recommended Lodge skillet is five pounds, seven ounces, whereas our winning carbon steel pan is a little over three pounds.
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Quora
quora.com › What-are-some-differences-between-a-regular-skillet-and-a-cast-iron-skillet
What are some differences between a regular skillet and a cast-iron skillet? - Quora
Answer: What do you mean by a “regular skillet?” There are many pans made of many kind of metal materials other than cast iron. One can buy truly worthless thin aluminum and or stainless steel pans that are so thin that they are certain to burn your food or you can purchase excellent thick ...
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Serious Eats
seriouseats.com › the-truth-about-cast-iron
The Truth About Cast Iron Pans: 7 Myths That Need To Go Away
August 26, 2025 - On the other hand, there are the macho types who chime in with their my cast iron is hella nonstick or damn, does my pan heat evenly! In the world of cast iron, there are unfounded, untested claims left, right, and center. It's time to put a few of those myths to rest. Since this story was published in 2014, Serious Eats editors have added FAQs and updated product suggestions based on our reviews and learnings. ... If you want a cast iron skillet that can live up to the hype and last you a long time, it's wise to start with a high-quality pan.
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Made In
madeincookware.com › blogs › skillet-vs-pan
Skillet vs. Frying Pan: Is There a Difference? - Made In
April 22, 2024 - Just to be extra clear: there's no difference between frying pans and skillets, except where one word is used more predominantly over the other. "Skillet" is typically the more popular term in the Southern U.S., where it expanded from referring ...
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Quora
quora.com › What-is-the-difference-between-a-cast-iron-skillet-and-a-non-stick-skillet
What is the difference between a cast iron skillet and a non-stick skillet? - Quora
Answer (1 of 3): I’m thinking, at least 75 years and 2 pounds maybe. Seriously, some of my cast iron skillets have been handed down so many times, I don’t know how old they are. And, another difference is the weight which has advantages and disadvantages.
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Borough Kitchen
boroughkitchen.com › blogs › news › the-difference-between-cast-iron-and-carbon-steel-how-to-choose
A Guide to Cast Iron, Carbon Steel & Spun Iron Pans
July 30, 2025 - While styles of cast iron pans ... black. The most classic piece of cast iron cookware is the skillet, which is essentially a frying pan with straighter, taller sides (for more surface area) and shorter handles....
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Bon Appétit
bonappetit.com › recipes › cast iron skillet › love your pan: what to cook (and what not to) in a cast iron
Love Your Pan: What to Cook (and What Not to) in a Cast Iron
November 13, 2014 - If you're a fan of perfectly golden-brown roasted vegetables with a crunchy exterior crust (and who isn't?), consider dumping your trusty rimmed sheet pan in favor of a large cast iron skillet.
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Washington Post
washingtonpost.com › lifestyle › food › voraciously
Cast-iron vs. nonstick skillets: How to choose the right pan
October 28, 2021 - Cast iron is often called the original nonstick pan. And it makes sense. Well-seasoned cast-iron skillets have a naturally formed coating that is created when fats are heated to a certain point that causes them to reorganize into something ...
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Primal Edge Health
primaledgehealth.com › home › cooking tips and resources › tools and equipment › what’s the difference between a skillet and a frying pan?
Skillet vs. Frying Pan: The Essential Differences Explained
August 20, 2025 - To clarify, there is no significant difference between frying pans and skillets. The distinction lies primarily in regional terminology rather than in the design or function of the cookware.
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Proline Range Hoods
prolinerangehoods.com › home › pros and cons of cast iron skillets
Pros And Cons Of Cast Iron Skillets – Proline Range Hoods
August 13, 2024 - You may spend $100 on a skillet and never have to buy another one. You can find cast iron pans on sale from $15 to $500+. The main difference between these pans is the attention to detail of the manufacturing process. Expensive pans don’t skip any steps or use cheap materials as they craft their cookware.
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Tasting Table
tastingtable.com › 1548395 › skillet-vs-griddle-difference
What's The Difference Between A Skillet And A Griddle? - Tasting Table
March 30, 2024 - While skillets are deeper and sturdier, they are generally interchangeable with frying pans. There's not as much difference between a skillet and a frying pan as between a skillet and a saute pan or a skillet and a griddle.
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Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Cast-iron_cookware
Cast-iron cookware - Wikipedia
2 weeks ago - Laboratory tests conducted by America's Test Kitchen found that an unseasoned cast-iron skillet leached significant iron into tomato sauce (10.8 mg/100 g), while a seasoned cast-iron pan leached only a small amount.