Saucepan Vs Frying Pan

Saucepans and Frying Pans are simultaneously quite similar and quite different

Saucepan Vs Frying Pan

Saucepans are kitchen utensils mainly used for making sauces and cooking things with liquids. They are more suitable for this because they possess high sides and narrow bottoms. Their lids also make for better control of evaporation.

Further Reading: What is a Saucepan Used For?

Frying pans are pans that are used for frying, baking, and browning food. It is usually 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 inches) in diameter, has low sides, flares outward, has a long handle, and has no cover. Larger pans may have a small grip on the opposite side of the main handle.

Further Reading: How to make Toasted Bread with a Frying Pan

Although saucepans and frying pans can be used interchangeably, there are still a number of stark differences between both kitchen utensils.

The bottom of a Saucepan is much deeper than that of a frying pan. Saucepans have deeper bottoms making them suitable for meals such as

• Pasta
• Mashed Potatoes
• Stew
• Soups
• Risotto
• Lentils

Saucepans come in various sizes. Small saucepans are usually about 15 cm wide and 10 cm high. Larger ones can hold 3 or 4 liters of liquid, which places them at about 30 cm or higher. On the other hand, frying pans are typically 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 in) in diameter. They have relatively low sides that flare outwards. They possess a long handle and no lid.

Frying pans are made for shallow frying food such as plantains, fried chicken, small pancakes, caramelized apples, etc… while saucepans are made for making sauces and cooking things in liquid. This is possible due to their higher sides and narrower bases. The lid that controls evaporation also makes them especially suited for boiling.

For example, if you are going to be cooking pasta a saucepan is recommended instead of a frying pan. Boiling in a saucepan helps retain the heat and makes for the conservation of time and energy. Boiling in a frying pan with no lid to retain the steam will have you burning your pasta or constantly topping off the pan with hot water.

A saucepan has deep high sides and straight edges and comes with a. long handle most times. A saucepan allows for even distribution of temperature.This is due to its surface area that is relatively smaller than its height.

A frying pan in contrast has a curved bottom and slanted sides. This is due to the cooking method that is used when cooking with it. A saucepan also has more height than a frying pan which accounts for one of its main selling points.

It also has the ability to hold a large amount of liquid in a small area. In addition, its height also prevents liquid overflow. For example, boiling water in a frying pan can cause confusion and may be dangerous, especially if you plan to move the boiling water.

Frypans and Saucepans have different peculiarities

Frypans for instance give better flavor. As a matter of fact, it is of popular opinion that the low-sided, without-a-lid pan produces more flavorful meals. This is due to the fact that the air penetrates the ingredients while in the process of cooking. It also hinders the meals from being overcrowded inside the pan.

Frypans also make for higher cooking speed. Generally frying pans cook faster than a saucepan. It allows for even distribution of heat. This even distribution of heat allows the food to be easily cooked even with low temperature without having to be concerned about the food not cooking properly.

Frying pans in comparison to the saucepans feature a wider base and are larger in size. Owing to its width, it cooks more quantity of food. Besides, there is the advantage of the frying pan availability of minimum sise at 20-30 cm.

When cooking with frying pans, you need to pay attention

There’s a higher chance of burning food when compared with the saucepan. The shallow nature of a frying pan makes this a bigger possibility. Using a frying pan, even cooking at very minimal heat will produce an even heat distribution. This just means you have to constantly observe and cannot afford to be flippant so you don’t end up with a burnt meal.

Saucepans are more versatile than frying pans

Due to the frying pans shallow nature, it is not the right choice for cooking many meals. The best they do is frying, baking, and browning. This is not the case with saucepans. Saucepans are more versatile and you can cook a wide range of meals.

Besides, you cannot make use of saucepans totally to cook sauces. In fact, they make a great choice to cook stews, pasta, soups, and other food items that are liquid-based. It can even be used for baking purposes when you close the lid and put it in an oven. It also serves as a pan for frying and browning in cases where a frying pan is not available.

Nexr Article – You can read best dishwasher safe cookware here