A frying pan's thickness is measured in either gauge or mils. -1 mil is equal to 1/1000, so the higher the mil, the thicker the metal. The gauge works oppositely - the higher the gauge, the thinner the metal. A thick pan is more durable than a thin pan but may not conduct heat as quickly. Most commercial frying pans will fall between a thick 10-gauge construction and a thinner 22-gauge construction.
Frying pans or skillets have flat bottoms, flared sides, a shallow depth, and no lids. These features make them the perfect choice for shallow frying, flipping food, stirring, high-heat searing, or grilling meat at high temperatures.