The combo cooker is the exact same size as the 10 inch deep skillet, as well as the 3 quart chicken fryer, AND the 3 quart dutch oven.
So if you happen to be shopping for Lodge products, those 4 are basically the same.
The combo cooker has a shallow skillet lid; the deep skillet has no lid; The chicken fryer has a regular lid; and the dutch oven doesn't have a pan handle.
Likewise, the 5 quart "double dutch" oven is the exact same as the regular, except for the skillet lid.
However, the 5 quart chicken fryer is NOT the same; it is wider and more shallow. It's essentially, the 12 inch deep skillet, with a lid.
Personally, I found that using the skillets as a lid, was a bit awkward. I prefer using a regular lid with a handle.
Especially when frying chicken, and you have to keep taking the lid on and off.
The skillet lids are certainly useful as shallow skillets, griddles or serving plates-- just not so much as lids.
Someone scoffed at my posted review on Amazon, stating that buying a separate lid was a waste, and that I should "just use aluminum foil". Sorry, there's no way I would use thin, flimsy aluminum foil as a lid for my cast iron dutch oven!
Although I've never tried this, I'm sure if you're using the skillet lid, you can warm up something else on top of the flat surface. Stack cooking?
Mostly I use my combo cooker (with a regular lid) as a saucepan; It's great for rice pilaf. You can saute your rice in butter, then add the liquid and boil in the same pot.
Actually, the amount of uses for the combo cooker are endless... way too many to list here!
The combo cooker is sometimes called a double skillet. Some older models have a hinged lid.
