8 Of The Best Saucepans + Where To Buy (2024 Update)
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When it comes to the best saucepans, there are tons of options to choose from that will vary in terms of design, size, color as well as materials, and properties.
This makes the choosing process a little tricky, especially if you don’t know what you’re looking for.
However, with the help of this guide, you should be able to figure out the most suitable saucepan for your needs. So without further ado, let’s dive right in!
The 8 Best Saucepans On The Market
1. All-Clad 4201 Tri-Ply Bonded Stainless Steel Saucepan
- Maximum durability and even heat distribution
- Oven & broiler safe (maximum 600°F)
- Handcrafted in the U.S.A.
Starting off with one of the overall best options on the market, the All-Clad Tri-Ply stainless steel saucepan.
Despite being slightly more expensive than many other options, this one has outstanding durability that allows it to stand the test of time that makes it worth its price.
The saucepan is made of stainless steel interior and exterior with a layer of aluminum in the core, which guarantees excellent heat distribution in addition to being easy to clean.
The stainless steel handles and base makes the saucepan both induction-ready and oven-safe, all the while being relatively cool to touch when left on the stove. The lid is also made of stainless steel, so you should expect the saucepan to last for many years!
Pros
- Available in a variety of sizes
- Made by the folks who discovered aluminum/stainless steel cladding
- A professional saucepan that is oven-safe and compatible with all cooktops
Cons
- A bit pricey
2. AVACRAFT Stainless Steel Saucepan With Glass Lid
- 2 side spouts for easy pouring
- Includes measurement marks on the interior
- Lid has straining holes on both sides (big and small)
If you like the triple-ply construction but you’re looking for a saucepan that is more suitable for standard kitchen uses and saves you a lot of money, you’re going to love the AVACRAFT saucepan!
This one is made from 18/10 stainless steel with a tri-ply capsule at the bottom with an option for full-body coverage! This guarantees excellent heat distribution and fairly decent durability.
Unlike the previous one, this saucepan has a shatter-proof glass lid that lets you see what happens on the inside. The interior is also graded in both liters and quarts.
The stainless steel handle makes it also oven-ready, although the heavyweight of the handle makes it a little difficult to sit flat on some stovetops
Pros
- Graded interiors with measurement marks with a shatterproof glass lid
- Features an easy pour spout
- Stainless steel tri-ply bottom for even cooking
Cons
- The heavy handle makes it a bit unbalanced
- The bottom doesn’t hold up as the All-Clad option
3. Utopia Kitchen Nonstick Saucepan Set
- Set comes with a 1 and 2 qt pan
- Suitable for all cooking surfaces
- Soft handle cool to the touch
If you’re on a strict budget and looking for a decent option that is both affordable and easy to use, you should consider this one from Utopia.
This set is composed of 2 saucepans that are 1 and 2 quarts. The saucepan is made of 3mm thick aluminum with a nonstick ceramic coating on the inside and a heat-resistant grey-black paint on the outside.
The saucepan is available in 2 colors and coupled with a Bakelite handle that is both soft and cool to touch. Additionally, it comes with a glass lid with a steam opening.
The saucepan is ideal for simple uses, such as boiling pasta and preparing stews. However, it’s not suitable for induction stoves or ovens (only the 2 quart pan is OK for induction).
Pros
- Ideal for buyers on a tight budget
- Easy to use and clean with nonstick coating
- Comes in a set of two with soft handles
Cons
- The 1 quart saucepan is not compatible with induction stoves or ovens (but the 2 quart pan is!)
- Recommended to wash by hand
4. Michelangelo 2 Quart Ultra Nonstick Copper Ceramic Saucepan
- Super easy to clean
- Works on all stovetops and is oven safe
- 3 layered bottom offers better, more even heat distribution
If you like copper ceramic saucepans, you should consider this one from Michelangelo. The saucepan has an overall size of 2 quarts. However, you can also buy the 1 and 3-quart bundle to complete your set.
The saucepans are made of aluminum with a titanium copper ceramic coating on the inside, which ensures excellent heat distribution for even cooking. The saucepan cleans up easily and works best for low to medium heat simmering.
The saucepan also comes with a glass lid that allows for clear visibility of the food along with a steam vent to prevent pressure buildup or vibrating while simmering.
The saucepan is compatible with electric, gas, and induction stovetops. It also comes with a double-riveted stainless steel handle that allows you to use it in ovens up to 450 degrees F.
Pros
- Dishwasher safe
- Cooks heat evenly
- Compatible with induction stoves and ovens
Cons
- The handles heat up pretty quickly
5. Calphalon Hard-Anodized Signature Nonstick Saucepan With Cover
- Stainless steel handle that stays cool
- Extremely durable (3 layered non-stick interior)
- Dishwasher safe
Hard-anodized saucepans are known for their timeless dark grey color, remarkable durability against corrosion, and surprisingly lightweight construction, as they’re still made of aluminum.
If you want all these features in a saucepan, you might want to check this one out! Calphalon’s saucepan has a classic high-wall design and lasts for up to 1.5 times better than average saucepans.
It’s also coated internally with 3 layers of PFOA-free nonstick coating, which allows for easy cooking and cleanup.
Coupled with the high-profile design, the saucepan’s stainless steel handles are quite durable all the while staying oven safe.
Pros
- Significantly durable despite being lightweight
- Oven safe with stainless steel sturdy handles
- You can safely use metal utensils in them
Cons
- Food might start sticking to the pan with time
6. Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Saucepan
- Available in many beautiful colors
- Rounded base design
- One of the best at heat distribution and retention
If you’re all about durability and heavy-duty performance, opting for a cast iron saucepan should always be a wise investment for you.
The best thing about these saucepans is that they work on almost all kinds of stovetops, whether they’re electric, gas, or induction. Moreover, they’re oven safe and remarkably easy to clean since they don’t chip easily.
We also like that the saucepans come in a wide range of color options to choose from, which is a great choice if you’re planning to hang your saucepans or display them in open shelving.
Another nice detail about the saucepan is the helper handle that allows you to easily hold the saucepan as well as the sand-colored interior that will help you keep track of scorching.
Pros
- Surprisingly easy to clean
- Available in a nice set of colors
- The helper handles allow you to carry the saucepan easily
Cons
- Expensive
7. Michelangelo 2 Quart Granite Saucepan With Lid
- Stone coated design
- Glass lid is heat resistant
- Ultimate non-stick performance
Stone-coated saucepans don’t only look good, but they also perform quite well, and this aesthetically pleasing saucepan is a great example of one.
The saucepan is made from aluminum alloy and granite-coating, which doesn’t stick and cleans up pretty quickly. The coating is fully granite-based with no PFOA or APEO additives.
It also has a heat-resistant glass lid with a steam vent for easy observing and unique handles that are soft to touch.
You should keep in mind that these handles are made of bakelite and not wood, so it’s not suitable for use in ovens. However, you can still use the saucepan over any kind of stovetop.
Pros
- Aesthetically appealing design
- Easy to clean with a granite non-stick coating
- Induction-ready base
Cons
- Can’t be used in ovens
8. Cuisinart MultiClad Stainless Steel Pro Saucepan With Glass Cover
- Tapered rims prevent dripping when pouring
- Heat Surround™ technology
- Dishwasher safe
Ending on a very high note, Cuisinart is one of the most reputable brands that specialize in kitchen products.
The MultiClad saucepan is one of the most popular professional-grade saucepans on the market with thousands of chefs and happy customers recommending it.
The saucepan balances between durability and good price. It’s made of 18/10 stainless steel with a brushed finish that gives it a unique look.
Additionally, it comes with a stainless steel handle and lid, which allows the saucepan to handle intensive use without cracking under pressure. In fact, Cuisinart trusts in the quality of the saucepan that it backs it up with a lifetime warranty.
Pros
- A great bang for the buck
- Extremely durable construction
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
Cons
- A bit heavy and would really benefit from a helper handle
Things To Keep In Mind When Buying A Saucepan
A good saucepan that suits your needs should last you for a decent time. In order to ensure that you’ve made the right investment, we’ve put together this guide with a brief overview of each essential aspect to consider before making a saucepan purchase. Let’s check them out:
Materials
The first thing that you need to keep in mind while buying a saucepan is the material of which the saucepan is made.
Ideally, the most common materials that saucepans are made of are stainless steel, copper, aluminum, ceramic, and cast iron.
Each one of these materials has its advantages and drawbacks, so let’s have a quick look at each one of them:
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is, by far, the most popular material while making saucepans. It’s extremely easy to clean and dishwasher safe.
Additionally, it will resist all kinds of corrosion and is remarkably inert, so it doesn’t react with acids in food, especially if you use extra tomato sauce and vinegar in your recipes. Stainless steel is also magnetic, so it can be used in induction stoves.
While choosing a stainless steel saucepan, always look for the 18/10 grade because they don’t lose their luster over time and are much easier to clean than other options.
The main drawback of stainless steel is that it has bad heat distribution, which is why high-end saucepans add copper or aluminum cladding to improve this property.
Copper
Copper in itself isn’t the best material for everyday cooking. It’s quite expensive and requires polishing with mild vinegar and salt so it doesn’t develop a patina.
The metal has excellent heat retention, which allows for evenly cooked food. New versions of copper saucepans, such as titanium copper coating are usually less expensive and provide a similar level of even heat distribution.
In addition to being high maintenance and pricey option, copper is also highly reactive with both alkaline and acidic food, so the copper is absorbed in microscopic amounts into food, so you can sometimes taste it mildly.
Aluminum
Aluminum is extremely common in cooking utensils in general and it’s usually found in two specific types. These varieties are standard aluminum and hard-anodized aluminum, which is regular aluminum with a fully oxidized and inert surface.
The main advantage of regular aluminum saucepans is that they’re significantly more affordable than most other options all the while being lightweight and easy to maintain and clean. However, aluminum is also quite reactive and not as durable as other materials.
Hard-anodized aluminum, on the other hand, resists scratches a bit better than standard aluminum and retains heat equally well without reacting with food, which makes it an excellent solution for everyday use.
However, it’s much more expensive than regular aluminum saucepans and usually limited to the dark-gray color of anodized aluminum.
Ceramic & Nonstick
Both ceramic and nonstick are known for, you guessed it, stick-resisting properties. The two materials are heavily debated, with the nonstick coating being remarkably called out in multiple controversies over the last few decades, especially when used at very high temperatures.
They’re extremely easy to clean and cook. One thing you should know is that ceramic isn’t made of actual ceramic. Instead, it’s an aluminum saucepan with an inert silicone finish.
These pans are fairly affordable but their coating materials typically fade over time, so you need to regularly replace them.
Cast Iron & Enameled Cast Iron
Cast iron is easily the most durable material that cookware. The timeless material is known for its excellent heat retaining properties as well as its reasonable price.
Enameled cast iron has the extra advantage of being coating with a layer of porcelain, which prevents the enameled cast iron saucepans from rusting.
The only problems with this technically indestructible material are the sticking and heaviness. The saucepans are usually bulky and you’ll need some elbow grease to clean charred parts.
Size
After deciding on the material of the saucepan, the next main aspect to consider is the size of the saucepan you want. Saucepans exist in a huge range of size options.
However, the most practical ones in the kitchen are the 1 to 1.5, 2 to 2.5, 3 to 3.5, and 4-quart saucepans. The choice here depends on the size of the family as well as the quantities you need to prepare.
Handles
The handles are another extremely essential aspect that you need to keep in mind, as it’s your main point of contact with the saucepan.
The handles in saucepans can be made from a variety of materials, including stainless steel, silicone, plastic, or bakelite.
Ideally, for a saucepan to be oven-safe, its material needs to withstand a temperature of 500 degrees F or higher. Additionally, the handle needs to be made of heat-resisting materials, such as riveted stainless steel handles.
As a rule of thumb, if the handle on your saucepan is made from a soft material, such as silicone, plastic, or bakelite, the saucepan shouldn’t be used in the oven.
However, metal handles are typically hot to touch. So, if you’re not planning on using the saucepan in the oven, you should consider a saucepan with soft bakelite handles
Lid
The lid is another essential part of the saucepan, which is typically used to lock in the flavors and extend simmering on low heat.
Most lids on the market are either made of stainless steel or heat-resistant glass. The handle on top of the lid needs to be made from a cool-to-touch material, so you can easily remove the lid anytime you want.
Unless you don’t mind using a chef towel to lift the lid open, avoid getting a saucepan with a metal lid handle.
Ease Of Cleaning & Dishwasher Safety
A saucepan is no use if it takes you a longer time cleaning it than actually cooking with it. For that reason, always make sure that the saucepan you’re buying is relatively easy to clean and maintain.
If you’re looking for the easiest saucepan to clean, we recommend that you go for saucepans that have a nonstick or ceramic coating.
These materials prevent the overburnt food particles from sticking to the bottom of the saucepan, which makes the cleanup process a breeze.
Another set of saucepans that are easy to clean and maintain are aluminum and stainless steel saucepans. In addition to being easily cleaned by hand, they’re also dishwasher-safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of having a saucepan in the kitchen?
As the name suggests, a saucepan comes in handy while cooking anything that is mostly made of water or any other liquid, such as sauces and soups.
This makes it ideal for a variety of tasks, such as simmering, stewing, or boiling. One thing you need to know is that they’re typically ideal for cooking in smaller quantities.
So, for example, if you want to make large quantities of broth, stock, or soup, you’ll need a stockpot instead.
Are saucepans compatible with induction stoves?
This mainly depends on the design and material of the saucepan in question. Cooking by induction relies on using magnetic field induction to heat the cooking utensil directly instead of using an external heating element.
For that reason, the saucepan, or at least its base, needs to be made of a material that has electromagnetic properties.
Unfortunately, both copper and aluminum don’t have magnetic properties like cast iron and stainless steel, so they’re typically not compatible with induction stovetops.
However, there is a popular workaround that solves this problem simply by using a magnetized base, which is a very thin layer of stainless steel at the bottom of your saucepan that activates the induction stove.
Some people may debate that adding a sheet of stainless steel at the bottom would defeat the purpose of using aluminum and copper, which both have better heat retaining properties.
Yet, a lot of cooks have noticed that the layer of stainless steel is too thin to cause any performance problems.
How do I take care of a saucepan?
Saucepans are treated just like any other cooking utensil made from the same material, so it depends on the properties of that element.
For instance, stainless steel saucepans are very easy to clean and won’t need anything more than a non-abrasive sponge and mild dishwashing soap to be cleaned.
On the other hand, some saucepans, such as copper saucepans, will be extremely high maintenance. To protect these saucepans from tarnishing, you’ll need to regularly wipe them with mild acids like lemon and vinegar combined with salt.
How long should a quality saucepan last?
This also depends on the main construction material of the sauce and how durable it is. Ideally, the most durable type of saucepans should be the cast iron and enameled cast iron saucepans.
These can survive heavy use and abuse for decades and still look pretty decent with minimal care.
On the other hand, a ceramic and granite-coated aluminum saucepan will only last for anywhere between 6 months to 3 years depending on the thickness of the coating material.
What saucepans do professional chefs use?
There isn’t a specific type of saucepans that professional chefs regularly use, although they typically use stainless steel/aluminum clad saucepans with stainless steel lids more than other options.
Yet, this is mainly because the material is quite durable and very easy to clean, which makes it quite efficient when used on a daily basis.
Final Verdict
This wraps it up for today’s guide about the best saucepans that you can find out there on the market.
If you’re looking for an overall great option, you should consider our top recommendation, the All-Clad 4201 Tri-Ply Bonded Stainless Steel Saucepan. This one has an exemplary construction that combines durability and even cooking.
The saucepan is also highly versatile, allowing you to use them in induction stoves and ovens, all the while being dishwasher safe and keeping its condition for decades!
However, if you’re on a budget or looking for a functional yet inexpensive option, you might want to check the Utopia Kitchen Nonstick Saucepan Set.
In addition to being extremely budget-friendly, this option is fairly well built and comes with comfortable handles and aesthetically pleasing exteriors to match your kitchen style.