A skillet, also known as a frying pan or frypan, is a flat-bottomed pan used for frying, searing, and browning foods. It is typically 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 in) in diameter with relatively low sides that flare outwards, a long handle, and no lid. Skillets can be made of various materials, including cast iron, carbon steel, copper, and stainless clad metals. Traditionally, frying pans were made of cast iron, carbon steel, or copper lined with tin, for their different qualities and properties. Skillets and frying pans are often used interchangeably, and in most cases, they refer to the same type of pan. The terms "skillet" and "frying pan" are both general terms used to refer to a variety of different cooking vessels. Skillets and frying pans have flat bottoms, flared sides, a shallow depth, and no lids. They are perfect for shallow frying, flipping food, stirring, high-heat searing, or grilling meat. Skillets can also be electric, incorporating an electric heating element into the frying pan itself and so can function independently off of a cooking stove.