Pan vs. Saucepan: What's the Difference?
Edited by Huma Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || Updated on September 29, 2023
A pan is a broad, flat-bottomed cooking vessel often used for frying or sautéing. A saucepan is a specific type of pan with high sides and a long handle, typically used for simmering or boiling liquids.
Key Differences
A pan serves as a versatile kitchen tool with a flat bottom, designed for tasks like frying, sautéing, and more. A saucepan, however, has higher sides and is often equipped with a lid, which makes it ideal for simmering and boiling.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023
When you think of a pan, it's likely the image of a flat skillet comes to mind. Conversely, a saucepan often brings to mind a vessel that looks more like a pot than a pan, with a distinct function of containing liquids.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023
In terms of shape, a pan is generally more shallow, allowing for the easy flipping or turning of food items. A saucepan, with its deeper structure, is designed for activities that involve liquids, such as making sauces or cooking pasta.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023
While many people use the word pan to colloquially refer to any sort of cooking vessel, a saucepan is a more specialized term that denotes a specific function and form.
Janet White
Sep 17, 2023
A pan may or may not come with a lid, as its primary function doesn't necessarily require one. However, a saucepan often includes a lid to aid in simmering, boiling, or reducing liquids more effectively.
Harlon Moss
Sep 17, 2023
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Comparison Chart
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Pan and Saucepan Definitions
Saucepan
Usually comes with a lid.
I covered the saucepan with its matching lid.
Harlon Moss
Sep 17, 2023
Pan
Pan: May or may not have a lid.
The pan didn't have a lid, so I used aluminum foil.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023
Saucepan
A deep cooking vessel with high sides.
I boiled the pasta in a saucepan.
Sara Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Pan
Pan: Versatile kitchen tool.
From pancakes to stir-fries, the pan is incredibly versatile.
Harlon Moss
Sep 17, 2023
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Saucepan
Primarily used for simmering or boiling.
I simmered the tomato sauce in a saucepan.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023
Pan
A shallow, wide, open container, usually of metal and without a lid, used for holding liquids, cooking, and other domestic purposes.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
An open metal dish used to separate gold, other precious metals, or gemstones from gravel or waste by washing.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Saucepan
Often has a long handle for easy gripping.
The saucepan's long handle made it easy to move.
Harlon Moss
Sep 17, 2023
Saucepan
A deep cooking vessel with a handle and sometimes a lid; used for boiling, stewing and making sauces.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Saucepan
A small pan with a handle, in which sauce is prepared over a fire; a stewpan.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
(Informal) Severe criticism, especially a negative review
Gave the film a pan.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
Greek Mythology The god of woods, fields, and flocks, having a human torso and head with a goat's legs, horns, and ears.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
To wash (gravel, for example) in a pan to separate out gold, other precious metals, or gemstones.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
To pivot a movie camera along a horizontal plane in order to follow an object or create a panoramic effect.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
A cylindrical receptacle about as tall as it is wide, with one long handle, usually made of metal, used for cooking in the home.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
(Ireland) A deep plastic receptacle, used for washing or food preparation; a basin.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
A wide receptacle in which gold grains are separated from gravel by washing the contents with water.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
A pond or lake, considered as the expanse of land upon which the water sits.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
: a flat artificial pond used for collecting minerals from evaporated water.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
Syn of pipe: a channel for lava within a volcano; the cylindrical remains of such channels.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
The chamber pot in a close stool; the base of a toilet, consisting of the bowl and its support.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
(roofing) The bottom flat part of a roofing panel that is between the ribs of the panel.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
A closed vessel for boiling or evaporating as part of manufacture; a vacuum pan.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
(firearms) The part of a flintlock that holds the priming.
Flash in the pan
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
(fortifications) The distance comprised between the angle of the epaule and the flanked angle.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
(transitive) To wash in a pan (of earth, sand etc. when searching for gold).
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
(transitive) To disparage; to belittle; to put down; to harshly criticize, especially a work (book, movie, etc.)
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
To move the camera lens angle while continuing to expose the film, enabling a contiguous view and enrichment of context. In still-photography large-group portraits the film usually remains on a horizontal fixed plane as the lens and/or the film holder moves to expose the film laterally. The resulting image may extend a short distance laterally or as great as 360 degrees from the point where the film first began to be exposed.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
To shift an image relative to the display window without changing the viewing scale.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
(audio) To spread a sound signal into a new stereo or multichannel sound field, typically giving the impression that it is moving across the sound stage.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
The distance comprised between the angle of the epaule and the flanked angle.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
The betel leaf; also, the masticatory made of the betel leaf, etc. See Betel.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
A shallow, open dish or vessel, usually of metal, employed for many domestic uses, as for setting milk for cream, for frying or baking food, etc.; also employed for various uses in manufacturing.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
A closed vessel for boiling or evaporating. See Vacuum pan, under Vacuum.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
The skull, considered as a vessel containing the brain; the upper part of the head; the brainpan; the cranium.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
The hard stratum of earth that lies below the soil. See Hard pan, under Hard.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
To separate, as gold, from dirt or sand, by washing in a kind of pan.
We . . . witnessed the process of cleaning up and panning out, which is the last process of separating the pure gold from the fine dirt and black sand.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
To yield gold in, or as in, the process of panning; - usually with out; as, the gravel panned out richly.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
To turn out (profitably or unprofitably); to result; to develop; as, the investigation, or the speculation, panned out poorly.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
To scan (a movie camera), usu. in a horizontal direction, to obtain a panoramic effect; also, to move the camera so as to keep the subject in view.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
The god of shepherds, guardian of bees, and patron of fishing and hunting. He is usually represented as having the head and trunk of a man, with the legs, horns, and tail of a goat, and as playing on the shepherd's pipe (also called the pipes of Pan), which he is said to have invented.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
(Greek mythology) god of fields and woods and shepherds and flocks; represented as a man with goat's legs and horns and ears; identified with Roman Sylvanus or Faunus
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
Chimpanzees; more closely related to Australopithecus than to other pongids
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 30, 2023
Pan
Pan: Made from various materials like cast iron or non-stick.
I prefer using a cast-iron pan for better heat retention.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 17, 2023
FAQs
Can a pan be used for boiling?
While you can technically boil in a pan, a saucepan is generally more suitable for this task.
Janet White
Sep 17, 2023
What is a pan?
A pan is a broad, flat-bottomed cooking vessel often used for frying or sautéing.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023
What is a pan primarily used for?
A pan is primarily used for frying, sautéing, and other high-heat, quick-cooking methods.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023
What materials are saucepans made of?
Saucepan materials range from stainless steel to non-stick and even copper.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023
What are the common uses of a saucepan?
A saucepan is commonly used for simmering, boiling, and making sauces.
Sara Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Does every saucepan have a lid?
Most saucepans come with a lid, but it's not a strict requirement.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023
Is a saucepan a type of pan?
Yes, a saucepan is a specific type of pan designed for certain cooking tasks.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023
Can a pan have high sides?
While some pans have moderately high sides, they are usually not as deep as saucepans.
Harlon Moss
Sep 17, 2023
Do I need both a pan and a saucepan?
Having both is beneficial for versatility, as each is optimized for different cooking tasks.
Harlon Moss
Sep 17, 2023
What materials are pans made of?
Pans can be made of various materials like cast iron, stainless steel, and non-stick coatings.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 17, 2023
What is a saucepan?
A saucepan is a deep, high-sided pan typically used for simmering or boiling liquids.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023
Can I fry in a saucepan?
It is possible but not ideal; a regular pan is better suited for frying.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023
Are pans and saucepans interchangeable?
They can be used for some overlapping tasks, but each has its specialized functions.
Sara Rehman
Sep 17, 2023
Is a saucepan deeper than a pan?
Yes, a saucepan generally has higher sides, making it deeper than most pans.
Janet White
Sep 17, 2023
Can a saucepan be flat-bottomed?
Most saucepans have a flat bottom but are distinguished by their high sides.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira RiazSawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Huma SaeedHuma is a renowned researcher acclaimed for her innovative work in Difference Wiki. Her dedication has led to key breakthroughs, establishing her prominence in academia. Her contributions continually inspire and guide her field.
