| Pots and pans make the most essential part of | | | | available with rounded or flat bottom. Some |
| your cookware. There are lots of various types | | | | varieties of woks have one long handle, some |
| available for each particular cooking method or a | | | | have two short handles and others have a long |
| few different methods. | | | | handle on one side and a short one on the |
| Skillet/frying pan has a flat bottom with short | | | | opposite side. The materials used are carbon |
| sides that are flared or sloped, which makes it | | | | steel, cast iron, and metals with non-stick coating. |
| easier to toss and turn food with a spatula. The | | | | Stockpot is a deep, tall, straight-sided pot with |
| pan is usually made of a responsive to heat | | | | two big, loop handles. It is used for simmering |
| material such as lined copper, stainless steel with a | | | | large amount of liquid, such as stock, soup and |
| copper or aluminum core, anodized aluminum or | | | | stews, but also works well for thick soups, chili |
| cast iron. Non-stick surface is also popular in such | | | | and for boiling pasta. Sometimes comes along with |
| pans. They are available in different sizes and | | | | pasta insert - made of stainless steel perforated |
| generally come with a cover. | | | | insert that fits inside a stockpot and acts as a |
| Roasting pan is usually of a rectangular shape with | | | | colander for draining pasta. |
| low sides allowing the heat from the oven to | | | | Grill pan is a heavy metal pan that consists of |
| expose the entire surface of the meat. Roasting | | | | ridges spaced evenly across the bottom, that |
| pan is generally used with a rack to prevent the | | | | closely simulate the grilling process when cooking |
| meat from sitting in its own juices and stewing | | | | various meats and foods. Can be with shallow |
| instead of browning. The pans are available made | | | | sides or with deeper sides similar to a frying pan. |
| of different materials including stainless steel, | | | | Many grill pans are made of cast iron and are |
| aluminum with non-stick surface, clay and granite. | | | | available in different shapes and sizes. |
| Saucepan is a round pot with high straight sides | | | | Double boiler consists of two pans - one inside of |
| and a flat bottom, can be used for several | | | | the other. The bottom pan contains hot water |
| purposes, such as cooking soup, stewing | | | | and the top pan holds the ingredients that are |
| vegetables, making sauces. There are a few | | | | being cooked. Generally used for making delicate |
| styles to suit special purposes. A saucepan known | | | | sauces that have a tendency to separate if |
| as a Windsor has sides that flare out and another | | | | cooked on direct heat. Double boilers can be made |
| known as a saucier has sides that are rounded. | | | | of stainless steel, enameled steel, glass and |
| There are also different sizes and materials of | | | | aluminum. |
| saucepans. Most of them have a snug fitting | | | | Fondue pot is a type of cookware that consists |
| cover. | | | | of a pot with a heat source such as a portable |
| Stir-fry pan is a round, deep pan that may have | | | | cooking fuel or an electrical heating element placed |
| straight sides with a slightly rounded base or more | | | | directly below the pot that is used for a food |
| commonly a round base that slopes out and | | | | preparation process known as fondues ("fondue" |
| upward. Sizes and handle length can vary to | | | | is a French term meaning "to melt"). The heat |
| match the cooking process. Heat is evenly | | | | source melts or fully warms the contents (usually |
| distributed across the base while the sloping sides | | | | cheese, chocolate, wine or other ingredients) so |
| make it easier to stir and turn the ingredients. | | | | that food can be dipped into the pot and either |
| Wok is a bowl shaped version of stir-fry pan, | | | | cooked or coated with its contents and eaten as |
| best for quick cooking food over high heat. It is | | | | an appetizer or part of a meal. |