frying pan

Meaning

A flat metal pan with a long handle, used for frying, searing, or browning foods. It is one of the most common and essential tools in any kitchen and is often made of aluminum, stainless steel, or cast iron.

Examples

• Heat some butter in the frying pan before adding the eggs.

  Heat some butter in the frying pan before adding the eggs.

• I need a non-stick frying pan to make these pancakes properly.

  I need a non-stick frying pan to make these pancakes properly.

• Be careful, the handle of the frying pan gets really hot.

  Be careful, the handle of the frying pan gets really hot.

• Just toss the chopped vegetables into the frying pan and sauté them.

  Just toss the chopped vegetables into the frying pan and sauté them.

• She washed the heavy cast-iron frying pan by hand.

  She washed the heavy cast-iron frying pan by hand.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I cooked the steak in a fry pan.

  ✓ I cooked the steak in a frying pan.

  While 'fry pan' is occasionally heard in informal speech, 'frying pan' is the standard, natural English term used in recipes and daily life.

• ✗ Put the oil on the frying pan.

  ✓ Put the oil in the frying pan.

  We use the preposition 'in' for pans because they have raised edges containing the food or liquid.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Pour a little oil into the ___ and let it heat up.

  💡 A flat metal pan with a long handle used for frying.

  Show answer

  frying pan

• Don't use a metal spatula on that non-stick ___.

  💡 The kitchen tool you use to fry eggs.

  Show answer

  frying pan