For a family of 2 or 3 people, would you buy a 12-inch fry pan, or just a 10-inch?

Cooks Illustrated recommends a 12-inch fry pan / skillet for most jobs for a family of 4, and I do agree that a 10-inch may not fit 2 steaks side-by-side, but the 12-inch pan looks so big to me in the store! I(I have a small kitchen and not a big sink, so I'm thinking that a 10-inch would be easier to clean up.)



What do you think??? Thanks!|||You'll figure out how best to wash it, especially if you purchase a very high quality nonstick pan (which I recommend getting), and you'll be so glad you bought a 12-inch. The 10-inch seem large enough, but they're actually not quite. My indispensable skillets are my 7 inch. I have a good nonstick and a couple of heavy stainless. They're fabulous for just a bit of something.|||I'd get both, in time. But start with the 12 inch, it'd be a cinch to clean, and its better to always have enough for yourself and company if so desired:) Happy cooking:)!!!|||Get the bigger one.





You dont really need a smaller one after that, unless youre frying things together





But when frying, if things are a bit cramped, they can start steaming instead of frying, and it affects the dish. So the big pan will give everything plenty of room to fry, and not steam :)|||Even with a small family you want to be able to easily cook 2 steaks side by side or brown a pound of hamburger. It isn't just about the number of people being fed but also about standard sizes of food being prepared. I think I would always find the 10 inch just a bit cramped. Even a small sink can easily be used to clean up a 12 inch pan as easily as a 10 inch pan.



Ultimately though, you need to buy a pan you feel you will be comfortable with. Good Luck.|||If you're only choosing 1 I'd get the 12 inch, better to have it too big then too small...good luck.|||Even though you have a small kitchen, a 12" will not take that much more room than a 10" skillet. You'll need and want that extra surface for doing your steaks, searing off a roast, even making pancakes!!! A good skillet should run you around $50-70; Calphalon makes a good one as does All-clad. Hope this helps!!