Definition of skillet

The word "skillet" is commonly uses to refer to a shallow, unglazed cooking pan with a flat bottom and low, sloping sides, typically made of cast iron or aluminum. Its origins can be traced back to the 1800s, when it was known as a "blister pan" in America. The term "blister pan" was derived from the way that food would sometimes cook and bubble on the pan's surface, creating a blister-like texture. This was particularly true when cooking on fireplaces and older stoves, where it was common for the pan's lower sections to get very hot, causing food to stick and blister. Over time, the term "blister pan" fell out of fashion, and by the early 1900s, the word "skillet" became widely used, particularly in the southern United States where it was commonly used in vernacular language. The exact origins of "skillet" are not entirely clear, but some historians believe it may have come from "skilly," an old Scottish word for a shallow pan used to cook oatmeal. Others suggest it may have derived from the Middle Low German "skele," which also means a shallow cooking vessel. Regardless of its origins, "skillet" has become a popular and commonly-used term in American English, with the American Heritage Dictionary defining it as "a flat-bottomed, shallow cooking pan, usually having a wire bail for carrying, used in frying foods." Its popularity and enduring use are a testament to its practicality and efficiency for cooking a wide variety of foods.