Do you use the words ‘skillet’ and ‘frying pan’ interchangeably? Or are they two different things to you?

42 comments

1. I would use it for a heavy pan made out of cast iron. 

2. They can be used interchangeably, but when I hear “skillet” my brain thinks of a cast iron one specifically

3. I don’t know about others, but I’ve only ever used “skillet” to refer to my cast iron frying pans.

4. Yes, they’re terms used more-or-less interchangeably.

   “Skillet” generally is a little more informal. It’s like something my grandmother would have said.

   A cast iron skillet is always called a “skillet”, I couldn’t imagine calling one made of cast iron a “frying pan”.

5. how I see it:

   frying pan = any normal pan that is used to cook

   skillet = a specific type of frying pan

   one of those “all squares are rectangles but not all rectangles are squares” kind of thing.

   so you could call a skillet a frying pan, but you can’t always call a frying pan a skillet.

6. Great question! They are more or less interchangeable.

7. I don’t really use the word “skillet” at all unless it’s in the name of a restaurant. According to Wikipedia, the terms are interchangeable, so it was probably a regional thing that grew into (slightly) more mainstream use.

8. They are both one in the same to me.

9. I think of the rock band that did [Monster](https://youtu.be/1mjlM_RnsVE?si=fcxia7IG0NyghLWW)

10. I use them interchangeably, and personally don’t think of my cast irons pans as more ‘skillet’ than my teflon one. I’m more likely to call them all ‘pans’ than ‘frying pans’ or ‘skillets’

11. Frying pan: More lightweight, can work in a pinch against burglars as a weapon (has comical sound effect when hit)

    Skillet: For me usually referring to a cast iron skillet. Should be used first against burglars because it is more heavy and durable, but more training is needed for effective swinging. (does not have comical sound effect when hit, can be quite brutal)

12. I truly only say pan or pot regularly. I will say cast iron skillet though

13. I agree that if asked to picture a skillet, my mind would go to the cast iron one.

    But if I was asked to name the pan in my hand it would kind of depend on what I was cooking in it. I might call it a skillet, sauté pan, or omelette pan.

    Honestly, I never say frying pan, though I’m used to seeing and hearing it.

14. Skillet – typically cast iron

    Frying pan – typically stainless steel

    Pan – all encompassing

    A skillet can also be the name of a breakfast meal, which is normally a mix of eggs, potatoes, veggies, and breakfast proteins served in a hot cast iron pan (although sometimes they do plate them separately)

15. A skillet is typically cast iron , a frying pan is a lighter cheaper aluminum plated or stainless steel pan

16. When I hear “skillet” I generally think of an electric one, not a stove top one. So I normally just use “frying pan”.

17. I think of them as interchangeable but I use frying pan regardless of what the pan is made of. I’m from the Chicago area if that’s pertinent.

18. I say skillet. I think it most often comes from using the cast iron variety because people often say the whole name “cast iron skillet”.

19. To me, they’ve always been different. A frying pan is shallow, only about an inch deep. A skillet, on the other hand, is around 3-4 inches deep.

20. I think there is a minor difference. To me, frying pan implies smaller, and skillet implies larger, often with tall sides or heavy made out of cast iron or enamel. The internet tells me frying pans are shallow. But if you used one word for the other, people will still understand.

    E.g. I have a small metal frying pan for eggs, but a large skillet for cooking whole meals.

21. I’ve pretty much never used the word frying pan in conversation in my life.

22. They’re relatively interchangable, but there is technically a distinction based on shape.

    A straight sided pan would lean towards “frying pan” because it’s better at that job, while one with curved sides would be a “saute pan” that could more easily get away with being called a skillet. But this is coming from a culinary school grad.

    However like others said, cast iron automatically gets “skillet”.

23. They are the same word to me.

24. I never use the word skillet. The only time I hear people around me use it is to describe a type of extra large plug-in frying pan.

25. Skillets typically refer to flat cast iron. They can mean cast iron pans, but also refer to grill-like appliances with a flat cast iron slab that food is cooked on.

    In commercial kitchens, the terms skillet and flat top are used interchangeably to refer to a large, flat, heated metal surface that food is seared or fried on top of.

26. I only say frying pan, but they both mean the same thing to me.

27. I use the terms pan, frying pan, and skillet interchangeably.

28. Largely the same, but there are technically differences.

    [Vital Cooking Vessels Fry Pan and Skillet Guide](https://www.all-clad.com/blog/post/vital-cookware-frypan-skillets)

29. I’m not opposed to the word skillet, but I just use frying pan.

30. They are interchangeable in my mind. Although I don’t really use the word “frying pan” I definitely picture a skillet when someone says it.

31. A “skillet” can be a frying pan, but it can also be a plate. It is usually made of cast iron, but it has three major points.

    1) Even heat distribution.

    2) Heat retention.

    3) Sloped sides.

    A “frying pan” tends to have thinner material and straighter sides. This means that the heat tends to concentrate on the spot where the heat source is. Modern frying pans tend to combat this with a material on the bottom to help diffuse the heat, such as copper or ceramics.

    This also means that dishes prepared in a skillet can be served directly to the table in the skillet, but means prepared in a frying pan have to be transferred to a serving dish.

32. In my mind a skillet has low sides

33. Same

34. I very rarely use the word skillet, it’s exclusively frying pan for me.

35. I just call the shallow ones pans. Deep ones are saucepans. If it has two small handles and is deep, it’s a pot.

36. Never use Skillet. It’s either big frying pan or small frying pan.

37. Basically interchangeably but if you say skillet, most people will probably think you’re talking cast iron.

38. A skillet is usually deeper and has straight sides, like a wide cylinder approximately 4 to 6 cm high. A frying pan has sides that are rounded/tapered out so delicate foods can slide out without breaking, and generally come in a wider variety of sizes.

39. I’m just chiming in to reinforce the notion that Americans are not a monolith because contrary to all these comments, I don’t think I’ve ever referred to any flat cooking pan, of any construction or material, as a *frying* pan. They’re all just skillets or pans.

40. Skillet is a band. Frying pan is a frying pan. I never use them interchangeably 

41. To me, a skillet is a flat piece of iron and a pan is circular and has shallow walls.

42. I use them interchangeably.

    If I had to argue for a distinction, I guess I’d say a skillet is a type of frying pan made from cast iron or seasoned steel.

    Or… Maybe I’d say a frying pan is a type of skillet with a flat bottom and sides low enough to flip foods using a spatula…

    Depending on how I felt the need to classify the Wok and the deep sided cast iron pan with a handle…