No matter your level of expertise, the frying pan is a staple of any kitchen. The size of a frying pan can have a big impact on what you can do with it, so if you are wondering how to measure the diameter of a frying pan, you’ve come to the right place…
Why is it important to measure a Frying Pan?
The size of the frying pan directly affects the way your food cooks. Think of it this way: if you overload a small frying pan with too much food, the heat won’t distribute evenly; leaving some areas overcooked, and others undercooked.
Likewise, a large frying pan with a meagre offering will heat up fast and may overcook your food quickly, leaving you with a burnt dish.
This can have a big impact on a meal being prepared following a strict recipe, where timing really counts. So, unless you want to throw away a meal because of a little mismanagement, it’s important to use the right sized frying pan for the job.
How to measure a Frying Pan?
Measuring a frying pan is more than just running a tape measure from one side to the other. There are a number of different measurements you want to consider when selecting a new frying pan. Let’s run through them:
Pan Size
This measurement is the diameter of the pan itself, and is the most straightforward to get. To begin, place the pan on a flat surface to prevent it wobbling or moving around while you measure.
As with all circular diameter measurements, you need to make sure that your measurement crosses the centre of the pan. To do this, take your measuring tape or ruler, and stretch it across the pan from one outer edge to the opposite outer edge.
If the pan has any flared edges or lips, include these in your measurement, as they are included in the overall diameter of the frying pan.
Why is this measurement important?
This diameter is the primary dimension used to measure frying pans, and will be the one you need for following recipes, buying lids, or replacing a frying pan.
For instance, if you want to prepare a dish that requires even cooking, using the right pan size ensures your ingredients are spread out properly, preventing overcrowding and ensuring even heat distribution.
Thankfully, many of our frying pans come in multiple sizes, such as our 3 Piece Total Non-Stick Induction Frying Pan Set, which includes pans in 22cm, 25cm and 31cm. Why not pick one of these sets up to give yourself plenty of options for cooking tasty meals for the family?
Pan depth
The next measurement to consider is the depth of the pan. Again, you want to have the pan on a flat, stable surface as you measure.
To get this dimension, measure the pan from the inside. This will give you a measurement that excludes the base thickness, and any flared edges, which are not necessary for determining the depth of the pan itself.
This measurement is easier to get with a ruler. Place it vertically inside the pan, ensuring it stands up straight and touches the bottom. The measurement you want is where the top edge of the pan aligns horizontally with the ruler.
Why is this measurement important?
This measurement is essential for understanding the capacity of a frying pan. This will determine how much food or liquid it can hold. An accurate depth measurement will help you plan for specific cooking tasks, such as sautéing or frying.
Deeper pans are ideal for cooking dishes that involve a lot of liquid, like a shakshuka or a tomato sauce; whereas shallower pans are better suited for making dishes that require quick searing or frying, like a steak or quick-cook vegetables.
Base diameter
Given the curved shape of most frying pans, this is the hardest measurement to get, but it is an important one.
Start by placing the pan on a flat surface, then place your measuring tape inside the pan at the point where it starts to curve. Similarly to attaining the measurement of the pan size, you need to cross over the centre point to the opposite side.
Alternatively, you can flip the frying pan over and measure the base diameter from the underside. This may be easier in some cases, where the thickness of the base creates a lip around the circumference of the pan.
Why is this measurement important?
This measurement will give you the cooking surface of the frying pan. When you’re cooking meat or eggs, the cooking surface is what really matters to ensure you can get even surface contact between the food and the pan.
It will also help you to determine which hob you should use. Matching the frying pan with the right cooking zone on your stove will improve the way the pan heats up. Putting a smaller pan on a large cooking zone will waste energy, whereas a larger pan on a small zone will take much longer to heat up and won’t distribute heat as evenly.
Take the stress out of making sure you have the right frying pan by selecting one of our twin sets, like the Premier Professional Non-Stick Frying Pan Twin Set - 20cm & 28cm. Suitable for all types of hob, including Induction, this is the perfect addition to your new kitchen.
Base Thickness
With the frying pan placed on a flat, stable surface, you can determine the thickness of the base. In most cases, there are two ways to measure the thickness of a frying pan base.
Many frying pans will have a line running around the circumference of the pan exterior that denotes where the base begins. Where this is visible, place your ruler vertically next to the frying pan, and measure from the bottom of the pan to where the ruler meets the line.
Alternatively, you can use a bit of simple mathematics to work out the thickness. With the ruler placed vertically outside the pan, measure the total depth of the frying pan from the bottom to the top.
You can then detract the pan depth measurement you got earlier from this new measurement – the remaining total will account for the base thickness.
Why is this measurement important?
The thickness of a frying pan directly affects how evenly it distributes heat. A thicker pan base will weigh more, and take longer to heat up, but will retain heat longer than a thin base.
This is particularly important for dishes that require consistent heat over a longer period, such as braising or stewing meats and vegetables.
Handle length
The last measurement is still an important one to consider, especially for frying pans used in busy kitchens or over hot flames.
To get an accurate measurement of your frying pan handle, start at the point where the handle meets the pan ridge, and measure away to the very tip of the handle.
Why is this measurement important?
The length of the handle will affect how you use it. A long handle on a heavy pan will affect the balance of it in hand, but is less likely to get affected by heat. A shorter handle will make it easier to manoeuvrer, but is much closer to the hob, and may heat up if it can conduct heat.
The right handle length ensures you have optimal control and comfort while cooking, reducing the risk of burns or spills.
Take our Infinite Induction Non-Stick French Skillet Pan as an example. This design comes with a comfortable riveted handle to make frying easier.
Other considerations
Before you jump in and start measuring frying pans, here are a few things to consider that will make your experience easier:
Centimetres or inches
Different sources may list pan sizes in either centimetres or inches. When you make your measurements, it would be wise to take down the readings of both, just so you can be sure to get the right frying pan for you.
As a rule, these are the most common frying pan sizes in both centimetre and inches:
- 8-inch - 20cm.
- 10-inch - 25cm.
- 12-inch - 30cm.
Pan shape
While most pans stick to the conventional circular shape, you may encounter pans that are square-shaped or oval-shaped.
Measuring these pans will be mostly the same, except for the diameter. Instead of measuring from one side to another, you will need to measure across the longest points of the centres to form a cross. You can also find the measurements for the two longest points and multiply the results to get the numbers you need.
Ready for a new Frying Pan?
If you want the best frying pans on the market, then buy direct from Circulon. Not only do we have the UK’s best range of frying pans – all available at incredible prices – but you can spread the cost of your purchase over three, interest-free payments with Klarna.
We also offer free delivery to selected locations and are rated excellent on Trustpilot.
Shop Frying Pans at Circulon now
For more cookware and bakeware buying guides, information and advice, explore the Circulon blog…
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