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Ironically, a skillet is actually far superior at sautéing food than a sauté pan. To properly sauté, small to medium-sized pieces of food are cooked rapidly in hot fat, with constant agitation. The sloping sides of a skillet allow you to easily shake the pan, performing the jump-flip maneuver that cooks like to show off with. It's more than just ego-padding, though. It's the most efficient way to redistribute the food in the pan, ensuring even cooking for all pieces.
The major difference between stainless steel and non-stick cookware is the material used for the bottom of the pan. This non-stick material, as discussed earlier, is easy to clean but requires more frequent and gentle cleaning.
On the other hand, stainless steel pans can handle rough cooking and cleaning while requiring very little maintenance thanks to their sturdy nature.