Andy M.
Certified Pretend Chef
The shape of the sides matters for the amount of 'floor space' it has - a straight sided pan has more 'bottom' so you can fit more food in it. Unless you pick up the pan to toss the food around in it, it doesn't matter. As a matter of fact, just about anything you can cook in a skillet or fry pan or sauté pan you can also cook in a saucepan. Shape doesn't matter all that much.
Recipes will tell you to use a certain pan because it's a good fit for a task but other shapes will work as well.
It's not a critical issue.
Recipes will tell you to use a certain pan because it's a good fit for a task but other shapes will work as well.
It's not a critical issue.