When it comes to cooking and baking, it's important to know about the various types of pots and pans. You may not realize it at first, but the types of cookware you use varies according to what you're making. Each pot and pan serves a different purpose. Cooking is an art, so it's a great idea to get acquainted with the different types of pots and pans.
We compiled a list of 30 types of pots and pans to help you out! Keep reading to find out more about each one of them and how to use them in the kitchen.
Contents
1. Skillet
A skillet, also known as a frying pan, is a flat-bottomed pan with slanted or rounded sides. It's definitely a kitchen essential! Use the pan for frying, searing, and browning foods. This type of pan can be made out of a variety of materials including stainless steel, ceramic, or aluminum with a nonstick coating. They also come in a range of sizes, giving you many options.
Read more: When Should You Throw Away Nonstick Pans?
11-Inch Nonstick Skillet
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10-Inch Nonstick Skillet
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2. Dutch Oven
This piece is an absolute workhorse in the kitchen. They're round in shape, have a tight-fitting lid, feature two small handles for easy lifting, and are made out of cast iron. You can use one on the stove or in the oven. Employ all kinds of cooking methods, too.
Another bonus feature about the Dutch oven is that it comes in a wide variety of colors. If you can dream up the color, chances are you'll find a Dutch oven to match.
6-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
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3. Stock Pot
This is a large, deep pot with a flat bottom and a removable lid. This type of pot is designed to heat up rapidly and simmer evenly for a long time. Use this pot to boil, steam, and, like its name suggests, make stock.
Stock pots come in an assortment of sizes, allowing you to alter recipes according to cooking needs. Stainless steel is the most common material used for the everyday stock pot.
8-Quart Stainless Steel Stock Pot
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20-Quart Stainless Steel Stock Pot
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4. Roasting Pan
These large pans are typically outfitted with an internal wire rack for making that perfectly roasted meat. You can also cook things like veggies and starches. Roasting pans are typically high-walled and withstand high temperatures - 350 degrees and hotter. The high walls circulate the heat very well and allow for the storing and collection of juicy liquids.
The best ones are made from heavy-duty metal with a nonstick surface. The types of metals that conduct heat the best include carbon steel, stainless steel, and cast iron.
19-Inch Covered Oval Roaster
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5. Wok
Woks are a popular piece when cooking Asian cuisine. They're typically 14 inches in diameter and have tall, sloping sides. These sloping sides make it perfect for tossing the contents and coating them in sauces. Because of their shape, they have a hot cooking surface on the bottom and get cooler along the sloped sides. A wok is most commonly used for making stir fry.
Flat Bottom Wok
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14-Inch Stainless Steel Wok
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6. Cast Iron
Cast iron skillets are very heavy-duty kitchen companions that are basically indestructible. They're incredibly versatile in the ways you can use them: searing, pan-drying, sauteing, baking, broiling, roasting, and more. Cast iron is known for its ability to heat quickly and stay hot.
The primary thing to keep in mind is its need for being seasoned. Check out the following video that explains the process:
5-Piece Cast Iron Set
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10.25-Inch Cast Iron Grill Pan
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7. Saucepan
Saucepans are a great choice when making anything liquid. This type of pan ranges in size and has a removable lid. They're rounded on the bottom, have tall, straight sides and a long handle. Its size and shape ensures that the liquid gets evenly heated.
1-Quart Nonstick Saucepan
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2-Quart Stainless Steel Saucepan
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8. Saute Pan
As its name suggests, this pan is designed for sauteing. Sauteing is frying food by moving it quickly around in the pan with a lid on. You can also employ many other cooking techniques with this pan. The pan has a flat bottom and straight sides. The saute pan has deeper sides than the standard fry pan and shorter sides than a saucepan.
Read more: Should A Saute Pan Be Nonstick?Â
5.5-Quart Saute Pan
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3-Quart Saute Pan
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9. Braiser Pan
A braiser pan is a large, shallow, flat-bottomed pan with a moisture-locking lid. The tight-lock lid keeps the steam contained and the food moist. It can be used to brown food on the stovetop or slow cook food in the oven. The wide base gives the meat maximum contact with the heat source.
3.3-Quart Braiser Pan
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10. Griddle
A griddle has either a flat or ridged surface; sometimes it will be reversible so you can enjoy the benefits of both sides. Having no sides provides lots of room for flipping the food and for making it more crispy. If it's a nonstick griddle, make sure you use enough oil or butter to prevent the food from sticking.
They're an awesome tool when cooking for many people or with lots of food.
Read more: What Can You Cook On A Griddle?
Reversible Griddle
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Square Griddle Pan
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11. Pressure Cooker
Pressure cookers significantly decrease the amount of time it takes to cook something. The lid completely seals the pot while the liquid boils inside of it. Pressure gets built up from the steam, resulting in higher cooking temperature and shorter cooking times. A stovetop pressure cooker may require a bit more skill.
8-Quart Pressure Cooker
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12. French Oven
This is a type of Dutch oven, except it has an interior enamel, meaning you don't have to season it. It has thick walls and a tight-fitting lid. Its weight is significant! You can cook a wide variety of food in these nifty "ovens," like beef, veggies, chicken, brisket, pork, and more. French ovens come in a variety of colors, giving life to your kitchen.
4.7-Quart French Oven
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13. Steamer Pot
Cook your food by steam heat with the help of a steamer pot. Whether it's fresh veggies or even fish and poultry, a steamer pot uses the steam produced from boiling water to cook the food. Stainless steel and aluminum are the most common materials for the construction of these pots.
Stack And Steam Pot Set
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3-Tier Steamer
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14. Lasagna Pan
Did you know that there's a pan specially designed for making lasagna? Now you do! The pan features a carefully designed rectangular shape, deep walls, and two handles for easy lifting. The design of the pan ensures that the contents receive even heat and cook to perfection. You can find lasagna pans in metal or glass.
14-Inch Lasagna Pan
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Lasagna Trio Pan
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15. Loaf Pan
A loaf pan is rectangular in shape and deep-walled, designed for a loaf of bread, meat, or any other "loaf-style" food. There's a variation in sizes to meet your various cooking needs. The standard size for a loaf pan is 8.5 inches long. The loaf pan can be found in many different materials including metal, glass, silicone, and stoneware.
Whenever you're cooking with a loaf pan, it's important to only fill it 2/3 full. This prevents the contents from overflowing.
1-Pound Loaf Pan
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16. Cake Pan
A cake pan is, as you probably guessed, designed for baking cakes. Common cake pan shapes are round, rectangular, and square. However, there are other specialty cake pan shapes, too. You can find cake pans in the shape of trains, cars, castles, and more. You have lots of options when it comes to baking cakes.
Cake pans are commonly made out of nonstick metal, ceramic, silicone, or glass. Knowing the right type of cake pan to use helps create the perfect cake.
8-Inch Round Cake Pans
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Rectangular Cake Pan
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17. Sheet Pan
A sheet pan is a rectangular baking pan with short edges. Rolled-edge sheet pans prevent any warping from occurring during the cooking process. A half sheet pan is the most common size: it measures 18 inches by 13 inches. A quarter sheet pan is also a great home option.
You can cook a large variety of foods on a sheet pan. Whether it's cookies, veggies, bread, meat, or anything in between, the sheet pan is your friend.
Large Sheet Pan
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18. Egg Poacher
An egg poacher makes this cooking process a whole lot simpler. A poached egg is recognized by its smooth exterior and perfectly gooey liquid yolk inside. It's a tall task on its own, so why not employ the help of an egg poacher? There are many types of egg poachers on the market, but the stovetop version is one of the easiest methods.
6 Egg Cup Poacher
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19. Soup Pot
Different than a stock pot, the soup pot is typically smaller and designed for all kinds of soups. It has a thicker base that heats very evenly. It's definitely a kitchen essential and a pot you'll be coming back to season after season. The most common material used for this type of pot is stainless steel.
3.8-Quart Pot
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20. Casserole Pan
A casserole pan is a deep, large pan used in the oven and as a serving dish. The most common casserole pan size is 9 inches by 13 inches, but it can also fluctuate. You can also find them in rectangular, oblong, or square shapes. Glass, metal, and ceramic are the most popular materials used.
A casserole pan is a classic and necessary pan for any kitchen.
Set of 2 Ceramic Casserole Pans
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Set of 2 Glass Casserole Pans
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21. Fondue Pot
A fondue pot is specially designed for melting cheese (or other meltable foods like chocolate) and maintaining a consistent temperature. It makes for a communal dining experience as everyone dips their food into the same pot with a long fork. It's a fun way to share a meal with others.
Fondue pots may be made out of metal, ceramic, stainless steel, or cast iron. The metal ones are most common kind that are used on the stovetop.
2.5-Quart Fondue Pot
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22. Electric Skillet
An electric skillet is yet another kitchen staple. You can do all kinds of cooking like keeping food warm, frying foods, and doubling your cooking capacity. Everything heats evenly in this skillet. Another great thing about electric skillets is that they don't heat up the house like a stove does, so you won't have to worry about the entire kitchen (or house) getting hot during use. Their portability is also a great plus.
Family-Sized Electric Skillet
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12-Inch Electric Skillet
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23. Crepe Pan
A crepe pan is a flat- or round-bottomed pan that's shaped to cook fragile foods like crepes. The shallow sides make it easy to slide a spatula or wooden crepe spoon under the food. The pans can be made of stainless steel, carbon steel, copper, ceramic, or nonstick metal.
Carbon steel is a favorite for crepe pans because of the way you can regulate its heat. Heat is a critical factor in making the perfect crepe!
8-Inch Crepe Pan with Spreader
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24. Frittata Pan
A frittata is an Italian egg dish that's similar to an omelette, as it's packed full of veggies, meats, and cheeses. A frittata isn't folded over like a traditional omelette, so that's why a frittata pan is very helpful in the cooking process. The right type of pan makes it easy to flip the frittata right on the stovetop with ease.
Frittata Pan
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10-Inch Frittata Pan
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25. Springform Pan
The perfect cheesecake starts with the perfect pan. A springform pan is a round baking pan that features sides that can be removed from the base. The interlocking band holds the pan together and can be removed when the baking process is complete. Enjoy a flawless baked good with the help of a springform pan!
9-Inch Springform Pan
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26. Baking Dish
A baking dish is a versatile staple kitchen item. These dishes can be made from glass, ceramic, stoneware, aluminum, or even cast iron. You can find baking dishes in all kinds of shapes such as rectangular, square, round, and more. They can be shallow or deep, fitting a variety of cooking needs. Some baking dishes even have matching lids.
5-Piece Glass Baking Dish Set
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8-Inch Square Baking Dish
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27. Gratin Baking Dish
An au gratin food means that the top of the dish is crusty, usually from bread crumbs or a cheese sauce. A gratin baking dish is the ideal shape and size for this phenomenon to occur. The most common shapes are rectangular, oval, or round and each is about an inch and a half deep. Gratin baking dish materials include aluminum, ceramic, glass, and cast iron.
Whether you're making an individual portion or group-sized portion, there's a gratin baking dish to fit your needs.
Set of 4, 10-Inch Dishes
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Set of 4 Oval Gratin Baking Dishes
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28. Muffin Pan
As its name suggests, a muffin pan is the ideal baking pan for making muffins, cupcakes, and any other cup-shaped foods. A 12-cup size is the traditional size, but you can also find mini muffin and jumbo muffin pans. These pans can be made out of nonstick aluminum, silicone, and even cast iron.
Standard 12-Cup Muffin Pan
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Mini Muffin Pan
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29. Tart Pan
A tart pan is a round, oblong, or rectangular pan with smooth or fluted sides. Many tart pans have a removable bottom for easy, clean tart removable. There are many sizes available so that tart sizes range from individual portions to pie-shaped servings. You can make lots of delicious treats with this pan.
9.5-Inch Removable Bottom Tart Pan
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5-Inch Mini Tart Pans
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30. Pie Pan
Who doesn't love a yummy homemade pie? A pie pan is a flat-bottomed, round, shallow pan with sloping sides. The standard pie pan measures 9 inches in diameter and 1.25 inches deep. Pie pans come in a variety of materials such as glass, ceramic, or nonstick aluminum. Whether sweet or savory, you'll find the perfect recipe for your pie pan.
9-Inch Pie Pan
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Ceramic Pie Pan
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