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Now that you know which size will work best for your household, it’s time to consider the material of your new frypan. There are three main options available: non-stick coating, stainless steel and hard anodised aluminium.

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.

Offering excellent heat conduction, aluminum frying pans dissipate heat quickly for efficient, even cooking. Uncoated aluminum frying pans have a stick-, rust-, and corrosion-resistant surface and should only be used to cook low-acidic foods since acidic foods, such as tomato paste, citrus, and vinegar, react with aluminum and can alter the flavor of your food. Many professional aluminum frying pans are hard-anodized or feature a non-stick coating to make them non-reactive. Aluminum pans are not compatible with induction cooktops since aluminum is not magnetic.

If skillets and frying pans are the same vessels, why is there confusion between the terminology? Much of the confusion between these terms lies with the generic phrase pots and pans. Along with skillets, there are saute pans, sheet pans, roasting pans, saucepans, and bundt pans. In most kitchens, the word pan is a general term that refers to not just a frying pan but a saute pan.