Sauté pans are somewhere between a frying pan and a saucepan, with resemblances to both these types of cookware.
Although it’s not an indispensable item in the kitchen, it’s versatile and works well in a variety of situations.
So, what is a sauté pan used for?
Noteworthy Uses of A Sauté Pan
A sauté pan usually has a flat base, relatively straight sides and a handle. Its dimensions and construction vary.
A suitable pan can do more than sautéing. Check the actual product and recipe before using it for high heat, deep-frying, oven cooking or a double-boiler setup.
10 Different Things You Can Do with A Sauté Pan
The sauté pan is a very useful piece of cookware with raised edges, a flat base, and a long handle.
You can use it for multiple things in the kitchen. Let’s look at what they are.
1. Sauté Ingredients
Use a pan with enough cooking area for the ingredients and the heat level allowed for its surface. Stir or turn food as the recipe directs; tossing is optional.
A flat base does not guarantee perfectly even heating, and a wok’s shape alone does not guarantee a particular flavor. Cooking results depend on equipment, heat and technique.
2. Sear Meat
Choose enough usable base area to hold the meat without crowding and use the pan’s approved heat setting. A sauté pan is not always wider than a frying pan.
Browning the surface does not prove the center is cooked. Follow the recipe and check meat with a suitable food thermometer.
Recommended Reading: 7 Things to Consider When Choosing a Sauté Pan Size
3. Prepare Sauces
The straight sides can help contain liquid while you stir a sauce. Choose sufficient depth and working room for its quantity.
Control the heat and stir as directed. A thick base does not guarantee an even temperature, uniform consistency or freedom from scorching.
4. Braising
A suitable sauté pan with a lid can be used for some braises on the stove or in the oven. Follow the recipe’s liquid level and cooking method.
For oven braising, confirm the temperature ratings for the exact pan, handles and lid. A cast-iron or stainless-steel body alone does not establish permission.
A lid helps retain moisture, but it does not guarantee tenderness or thorough cooking. Check doneness as the recipe requires.
5. Oven Cooking
Some oven-approved sauté pans can start a frittata or pasta dish on the stove and finish it in the oven. Check the complete product’s oven rating, including the lid.
Do not infer approval from a heavy metal base or an unfamiliar symbol. Follow the stated temperature and handling limits, and use suitable heat protection.
6. Deep Frying
A sauté pan may be suitable only when its maker and the recipe support the method and it has enough depth and safe clearance above the oil. Diameter or straight sides alone are not enough.
All-Clad’s frying guide distinguishes shallow pan-frying from full immersion and emphasizes suitable depth and room above the oil. Use a more appropriate vessel if your pan cannot meet the requirements.
Do not overfill or assume the sides prevent splatter. Use suitable frying tools, monitor the oil temperature and stay with the cooking.
7. Make Curries and Chili
A suitably sized sauté pan can hold the liquid and ingredients for some curries or chili recipes. Check the required capacity and leave room to stir.
Straight sides help contain the dish but do not prevent every spill or splatter. Use the stated heat and stir as directed.
8. Moist Heat Cooking
A compatible lid can help retain moisture for a simmered dish. It does not seal in every drop or establish that the food is fully cooked.
Follow the recipe for heat, liquid additions and doneness, and check the complete pan’s permission for any oven step.
9. Prepare Desserts
A suitable sauté pan can hold some dessert sauces or custards if its size and surface suit the recipe. Use tools approved for the coating.
Control the heat and stir or whisk as directed. A thick base alone cannot prevent curdling or overheating.
10. Double Boiling
For indirect heating, use a purpose-built double boiler or equipment approved for that method. An insert must fit securely; a matching diameter alone does not establish compatibility.
The arrangement should not form an airtight seal. Follow the equipment and recipe instructions for water level and gentle heat, protect your hands from steam and do not let the lower vessel boil dry.
For a bowl-over-water recipe, keep the bowl above the water when the directions require it. Do not substitute an unidentified dish merely because it fits the pan.
They are typically made using a double boiler that uses gentle heat to cook the ingredients slowly.
