Definition

1. Noun:
   • A wide, typically shallow, metal vessel used for cooking food: A "cooking pan" is a kitchen utensil designed for frying, sautéing, or browning food over a heat source. It is characterized by its flat bottom, low sides, and a long handle.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • She heated oil in the cooking pan before adding the onions.
  • A good non-stick cooking pan is essential for making perfect omelets.
  • He scrubbed the burnt bits off the bottom of the cooking pan.

Advanced Usage

• "to be in the cooking pan": (idiomatic) To be in a difficult or challenging situation, often implying being under pressure or scrutiny.
  • With the new evidence, the suspect is really in the cooking pan now.

Variants and Related Words

• Frying pan (n): A specific type of cooking pan with a flat bottom and shallow sides, primarily used for frying.
  • She flipped the pancake in the frying pan.
• Saucepan (n): A cooking pan with higher, vertical sides and a long handle, typically used for boiling or making sauces.
  • He boiled water for pasta in the saucepan.
• Skillet (n): Another term for a frying pan, often referring to a heavier one, sometimes made of cast iron.
  • The steak was seared in a cast-iron skillet.

Synonyms

• Frypan: A direct synonym for a frying pan.
• Griddle: A flat, heavy plate used for cooking, similar in function but typically without raised sides.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Cooking pan" itself is not typically used in phrasal verbs. Phrasal verbs are more commonly associated with the verb "pan.") - Pan out (phrasal verb): To develop or conclude in a particular way. - Let's hope this new business venture pans out successfully.

Related Idioms

• Out of the frying pan and into the fire: To go from a bad situation to an even worse one.
  • By quitting his job without another lined up, he jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.
• (To have) a flash in the pan: Something that shows sudden, brief promise or success but then fails.
  • The band's first hit was just a flash in the pan; they never had another successful song.

Noun

1. cooking utensil consisting of a wide metal vessel