Buying a new frying pan seems simple until you have to choose between 20, 24, 28, or even 32 cm. Which size is suitable for one person? Which frying pan should you use for a family? And when is a 28 or 32 cm pan actually more convenient?
The right size depends mainly on what you are preparing, how much you are cooking at the same time, and how many people you usually cook for.
In this guide, we compare the most common sizes. Would you like to see different models right away? Then discover the frying pans at TEKZEN.
How is the size of a frying pan determined?
When a frying pan is labeled, for example, 24 or 28 cm, this refers to the diameter of the pan.
A larger diameter generally gives you more cooking surface. This allows you to prepare more ingredients side by side without the pan immediately becoming overcrowded.
However, that does not mean the largest frying pan is automatically the best choice.
A smaller pan can actually be more pleasant when you are making small portions, while a larger frying pan becomes useful as soon as you regularly cook for multiple people.
What sizes of frying pans are available?
Within the current TEKZEN collection, you will find frying pans of 20, 24, 28, and 32 cm, among others.
In addition, there are frying pan sets and cookware sets in which multiple diameters are combined. For example, there are sets with frying pans of 20, 24, and 28 cm.
This can be convenient when you regularly prepare different quantities and do not want to use the same pan for every dish.
Frying pan 20 cm: compact for small preparations
A 20 cm frying pan is one of the smaller sizes.
This size is especially practical when you want to fry a small quantity. Think, for example, of an egg, a small portion of vegetables, or another preparation for which you need very little cooking surface.
For a one-person household, 20 cm can also be a pleasant size, depending on what you are cooking.
An advantage of a compact pan is that you do not have to unnecessarily heat up a large cooking surface when you are only preparing a few ingredients.
For how many people is a 20 cm frying pan?
There is no fixed rule that allows you to link a diameter exactly to a number of people. It makes a big difference whether you are frying one egg or want to prepare a complete meal in the same pan.
As a general indication, a 20 cm frying pan is primarily of interest for small portions and one person.
If you regularly cook larger meals, you will likely want a larger frying pan as well.
Frying pan 24 cm: a versatile medium size
A 24 cm frying pan offers significantly more space than a 20 cm model, but remains relatively compact.
This makes 24 cm an interesting size for daily use when you are not preparing huge quantities at once.
You can use it, for example, for vegetables, eggs, smaller pieces of meat, and all kinds of other everyday dishes.
Within the collection of frying pans from TEKZEN, you will find various 24 cm versions, including stainless steel models, honeycomb pans, and frying pans with lids.
For how many people is a 24 cm frying pan?
A 24 cm pan can be a practical starting point when you often cook for about one to two people.
Here too, it depends strongly on the dish.
For a few eggs or a small amount of vegetables, you have plenty of room. If, on the other hand, you want to sear large pieces of meat and fry different vegetables at the same time, 28 cm might be more pleasant.
Frying pan 28 cm: popular for daily cooking
A 28 cm frying pan gives you significantly more cooking surface.
This makes this size interesting when you regularly want to prepare larger quantities of ingredients at once.
You can more easily distribute ingredients over the surface, meaning the pan is less likely to become completely full.
Within the current TEKZEN assortment, 28 cm is common. You will find, among others, stainless steel frying pans, honeycomb models, and various versions with lids.
For how many people is a 28 cm frying pan?
For many households, 28 cm is a versatile size.
As a rough indication, you can think of preparations for about two to four people, but the dish remains the deciding factor.
If you are only frying two eggs, 28 cm is relatively spacious. If you want to fry multiple pieces of meat or a substantial amount of vegetables at the same time, the extra surface area comes in handy.
Frying pan 32 cm: plenty of cooking surface
If you regularly need a lot of space, you can look at a 32 cm frying pan.
This size offers considerably more cooking surface than a compact 20 or 24 cm pan.
This can be pleasant for larger households, when you are cooking for guests, or when you are preparing dishes where many ingredients need to be in the pan at the same time.
Within its current collection, TEKZEN includes, among others, a 32 cm Cheffinger stainless steel frying pan with a honeycomb structure.
For how many people is a 32 cm frying pan?
A 32 cm frying pan is primarily of interest for larger quantities.
Instead of linking it to an exact number of people, it is better to look at the type of dishes you normally make.
Do you regularly cook for a family and does a 28 cm pan often end up completely full? Then the step up to 32 cm can provide extra workspace.
If you usually prepare small portions, such a large pan might be unnecessary.
20, 24, 28, or 32 cm: which frying pan do you choose?
As a simple guideline, you can view the sizes as follows:
- 20 cm: small portions and compact preparations;
- 24 cm: versatile for smaller daily meals;
- 28 cm: more room for daily meals and multiple people;
- 32 cm: plenty of cooking surface for larger quantities.
Do not see this as a hard rule. The type of dish and the quantity of ingredients are ultimately more important than just the number of people.
Why multiple sizes of frying pans are useful
Many people eventually find that multiple sizes are more useful than one very large frying pan.
For a small breakfast, for example, a huge 32 cm pan is not very useful. Conversely, 20 cm can become quite cramped when you want to prepare a full meal.
That is why there are also frying pan sets and cookware sets with multiple diameters.
Within the current TEKZEN assortment, you will find, for example, various 3-piece Cheffinger frying pan sets with 20, 24, and 28 cm.
With such a combination, you can decide per dish which size is most convenient.
Which size frying pan for an egg?
For one or two eggs, you usually do not need a large frying pan.
A compact frying pan of, for example, 20 cm can offer sufficient cooking surface for this.
If you are frying eggs, vegetables, and other ingredients at the same time, a larger size may naturally be more pleasant.
Which size frying pan for meat?
With meat, not only is the quantity important, but also how much space the individual pieces take up in the pan.
When a pan is too full, the ingredients are crowded close together.
For multiple pieces of meat, a 28 or 32 cm frying pan may therefore be more pleasant than a compact model.
Always look at the dish and the quantity you want to prepare at the same time.
Which size frying pan for vegetables?
Vegetables can take up quite a bit of space while frying.
For a small portion, 20 or 24 cm may be sufficient. If you are preparing a larger quantity of vegetables for multiple people, a pan of 28 cm or larger gives more space to distribute the ingredients.
Also pay attention to the size of your cooking zone
The diameter of the pan is not the only thing you should take into account.
Also look at the size of the cooking zones on your stovetop. Furthermore, the bottom size of a pan is not always exactly equal to the diameter indicated at the top.
With induction, a good combination between pan and cooking zone is important. Therefore, also consult the instructions for your induction cooktop if you are unsure about suitable diameters.
Which frying pan for induction?
If you cook on induction, the bottom of the pan must be suitable for it.
TEKZEN has a wide choice of frying pans and frying pan sets for induction. For this, check out the current collection of induction-compatible frying pans at TEKZEN.
You will find different sizes, materials, and versions there, meaning you do not have to choose based solely on diameter.
Stainless steel, honeycomb, or another version?
After you have determined the right size, you can look at the material and cooking surface.
For example, the TEKZEN assortment includes various stainless steel frying pans and models with a honeycomb structure.
Would you like to know more about this type of pan? Then also read our blog Stainless steel honeycomb frying pans: what are the advantages?.
In addition, there are frying pans with lids and complete sets with multiple sizes.
Single frying pan or frying pan set?
Do you already have various pans and are you only missing one specific size? Then a single frying pan is likely the most logical addition.
Are you starting over or do you notice that you regularly want to switch between different sizes? Then a set can be more practical.
A combination of 20, 24, and 28 cm gives you, for example, a compact, medium, and larger frying pan within one set.
For this, view the cookware sets at TEKZEN.
Which size frying pan suits you?
The best frying pan is not automatically the largest pan.
A size of 20 cm is useful for small preparations, while 24 cm gives more space without immediately becoming big. A 28 cm frying pan is interesting for larger daily preparations, and with 32 cm, you get even more cooking surface.
Do you cook different types of dishes and quantities? Then it might be useful to have multiple diameters at home.
View the complete collection of frying pans at TEKZEN and compare 20, 24, 28, and 32 cm models. If you want multiple sizes right away, also check out the cookware sets at TEKZEN.