Photo:
Allrecipes / Maura Rawlette
A saucepan is an essential piece of equipment that every home cook should have in their collection—but you don’t have to break the bank to get a great one. Built primarily for tasks that require a lot of liquid, like making rice, pasta, and homemade sauce, these kitchen workhorses come in different shapes, sizes, and materials.
To find out which saucepans are worth the money, we asked the Allrecipes Allstars—our dedicated team of trusted experts—to try various models in their own kitchens. They evaluated each saucepan’s overall feel, quality, value, and ease of cleaning before sharing their favorites.
Our Top Picks
Our Top Pick:
Cuisinart Saucepan at Amazon
$50
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Best Budget:
Farberware Saucepan at Amazon
$35
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Best Large:
Made In 4-Quart Stainless Clad Saucepan at Amazon
$159
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Most Versatile:
Tramontina 3-Quart Saucepan at Amazon
$40
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Best Design:
Caraway Saucepan at Amazon
$165
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Our Top Pick
Cuisinart Saucepan
PHOTO: Cuisinart
$50 at Amazon
$50 at Walmart
View on Bed Bath & Beyond
Why It's Great: Heats up quickly; cool-grip handle; functional contoured design
Grain of Salt: Hand wash only
Its contoured design and nonstick interior help this Cuisinart saucepan stand out. It was easy to clean without showing any smudges after use, and the glass cover allowed us to monitor the water and sauce while heating. With boiling water inside, we were able to carry it with one hand without an oven mitt, thanks to its lightweight construction and cool-to-the-touch handle.
Allstar Maura Rawlette noticed that the Cuisinart came to a boil the fastest of any saucepan she tested. Maura especially praised the pot’s maneuverability, noticing that it was easy to move even when filled and that she didn’t need a bulky oven mitt to touch the handle since it never grew hot. “Everything [about it] says nice kitchen quality,” she says.
The contoured body made the sauce easy to pour without dripping down the side of the pan, and the nonstick interior allowed the liquid to flow effortlessly out of the pot. Although it's not dishwasher safe, the saucepan was easy to clean with a quick soapy swipe.
The Details: Hard-anodized aluminum pot with glass lid; 3-quart capacity; oven safe up to 500°F
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Maura Rawlette
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Maura Rawlette
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Maura Rawlette
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Maura Rawlette
After Weeks of Testing, We Found the Best Nonstick Cookware Sets for Any Kitchen
Best Budget
Farberware Saucepan
PHOTO: Farberware
$35
$30 at Amazon
$58
$34 at Macys
Why It’s Great: Lid has a built-in colander; includes pour spouts; tight-fitting lid
Grain of Salt: Oddly shaped handle; slower to boil
Farberware products are reliable and reasonably priced; this saucepan is no exception. It heats up evenly, can go in the dishwasher, and features a straining lid that's essentially a built-in colander.
The saucepan is incredibly light, and the pour spouts on both sides make for a seamless sauce transfer from pan to bowl. For an easy cleanup, you can pop this pot in the dishwasher.
Allstar Maura noted that it was slower to come to a boil than any other pots she tested, most likely due to its smaller bottom and taller sides. Though Maura did appreciate the built-in strainer for making pasta, she wasn’t a fan of the flimsy plastic handle. She recommends this saucepan for college students or home cooks just looking for a simple pot that gets the job done.
The Details: Stainless steel pot and lid; 3-quart capacity; oven safe up to 350°F
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Maura Rawlette
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Maura Rawlette
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Maura Rawlette
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Maura Rawlette
Best Large
Made In 4-Quart Stainless Clad Saucepan
PHOTO: Amazon
$159 at Amazon
$159 at Madeincookware.com
Why It’s Great: Sturdy and durable; extra handle; dishwasher safe
Grain of Salt: A bit heavy; lid is not see-through
Most of the other saucepans on this list hold three quarts—this one holds four. It’s ideal for home cooks who make big family meals or like to prep food for the whole week. It’s a sturdy and durable option that can hold up to a lot of regular use. While Allstar Stacey Rennie notes that it gets quite heavy when filled with water or ingredients, the extra handle makes it much easier to lift and carry—just be sure to have a towel or oven mitt, as the small handle can get hot.
The Made In saucepan heated up nicely during each of Stacey’s tests. “I loved the even heating,” she says. “This pan heated up quickly but evenly, and I was able to slowly sauté the onion and garlic to a perfect color for the marinara sauce I made.”
The lid is also made of stainless steel. Some cooks may prefer glass lids so they can see what’s cooking inside, but Stacey actually liked that material since it wouldn’t be prone to breaking if dropped (unlike glass). Stacey also reports that the pan was incredibly easy to clean. She wiped off cooked sugar from the rivets and handle, no food stuck to the bottom, and both the lid and pot are dishwasher-safe.
The Details: Stainless steel pot and lid; 4-quart capacity; oven safe up to 800°F
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Stacy Rennie
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Stacy Rennie
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Stacy Rennie
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Stacy Rennie
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Stacy Rennie
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Stacy Rennie
Most Versatile
Tramontina 3-Quart Saucepan
PHOTO: Amazon
$40 at Amazon
$109
$65 at Macys
$120
$81 at Kohls.com
Why It’s Great: Cool-touch handles; versatile; quick to heat and cool
Grain of Salt: Shows smudges and water spots
There are many types of cooktops—gas, electric coil, electric smooth-top, induction, downdraft, and more. Many saucepans will be able to handle gas and electric, but not others. The Tramontina tri-ply stainless steel saucepan works with all cooktops, making it a versatile option for home cooks. It even comes in multiple sizes, ranging from 1.5 quarts to 8 quarts. Stacey tested the 3-quart model.
Allstar Stacey admires the sturdiness and size of the pot, reporting that it felt perfect while cooking down fruit for peach cobbler. She also appreciated that the handle was comfortable to hold, which made pouring easy. Stacey’s main complaint about the saucepan was the mirror finish. “Due to the shiny stainless steel, it shows watermarks and finger smudges easily,” she says. “This one washed nicely, but it showed water spots when I let it air dry a bit.”
The Details: Stainless steel pot and lid; 3-quart capacity; oven safe up to 500°F
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Stacy Rennie
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Stacy Rennie
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Stacy Rennie
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Stacy Rennie
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Stacy Rennie
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Stacy Rennie
Best Design
Caraway Saucepan
PHOTO: Amazon
$165 at Amazon
$165 at Target
$165 at Nordstrom
Why It’s Great: Sleek and seamless design; small steam vent; flat lid
Grain of Salt: Pricey; not dishwasher-safe
There’s one word that describes all of Caraway’s cookware, and that word is gorgeous. The brand is known for pleasing colors and eye-catching designs. Even the monochrome stainless steel saucepan is stylish. This pleasantly round 3-quart pot has a flat lid to make storage much easier and a brushed finish. It’s definitely a pretty addition to any kitchen.
So it has fashion in aces, but how does it function? Allstar Maura reports that the pot heated quickly when she boiled water for tea. She appreciated the long handle, which kept her hands away from the heat. “This is for the cook that loves cooking and wants to have the best tools,” she says. “Top of the line name and top of the line price. It may outlast all the other saucepans, and it should.”
There was only one minor caveat to the Caraway saucepan. Maura noticed a few small marks where food got stuck, but she was able to clean them off with the special eraser that comes included with the pot.
The Details: Stainless steel pot and lid; 3-quart capacity; oven safe up to 550°F
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Maura Rawlette
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Maura Rawlette
PHOTO: Allrecipes / Maura Rawlette
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Our Takeaway
After testing several popular options, we chose the Cuisinart Contour Hard-Anodized Saucepan as our top pick because of its superior heating capabilities, contoured pot design, and easy-to-clean nonstick interior. If you’re looking for a more budget-conscious model that’s perfect for beginner cooks and college students, consider the Farberware Classic Saucepan.
How to Pick the Right Saucepan
Material
Stainless steel saucepans are popular because they are durable and excellent at conducting heat. Nonstick saucepans allow liquids to pour out quickly and can be easier to clean, though they won’t last as long as stainless steel options. Enameled cast iron saucepans are made using heavy-duty cast iron coated with enamel glaze, which makes for a perfect combination of nonstick capabilities and superior heat retention. Cast iron is quite heavy and can be more expensive than nonstick, but it will last a long time with the proper care.
Size
Saucepans come in several capacities, but the most common are 2-quart saucepans, 3-quart saucepans, and 4-quart saucepans. A small saucepan that holds 1 or 1.5 quarts can come in handy for single or double servings of sauce or even heating leftovers, but generally, a medium saucepan will be the most useful option for a standard kitchen. If you have a larger family or tend to cook your sauces in bulk, opt for a 4-quart saucepan—just know that it may be heavier or more difficult to store.
About Our Tests
We enlisted the help of Allstars Stacey Rennie and Maura Rawlette to find the best saucepans available. They tested each one in their kitchens by making pasta, boiling water for tea, making fresh marinara sauce, and cooking down fruit for peach cobbler, all while paying special attention to the following factors:
- Design: Does the saucepan seem sturdy and durable? Does the saucepan easily show fingerprints or smudges? Does it have design features that make it easier to use, such as a pour spout, built-in strainer, or measurement markings? Does the lid have a hole to allow steam to escape?
- Performance: Does it take a long time for the saucepan to heat up? Does it retain heat well? Does the handle stay cool, or do you need an oven mitt to move it? Does the handle have an ergonomic shape that's comfortable to hold? Is it easy to pour liquids out of the saucepan?
- Size and Versatility: Is the saucepan large enough for a wide range of needs? Is it easy to store while not in use?
- Cleanup: Is the saucepan easy to clean? Do any pieces require extra effort to clean? Is it easy to clean around the rivets, or does food get stuck there? Does food stick to the bottom of the saucepan? Are any of the pieces dishwasher safe?
Common Questions
What is a saucepan used for?
Saucepans are designed for recipes that require a lot of liquid, such as soups, stews, instant noodles, pasta sauce, and grains like rice or quinoa. The sides of a saucepan are tall and straight to prevent spills, and they have a single long handle. They’re usually smaller than a stockpot, which typically has two handles and is used for cooking larger portions of stock, broth, chili, and pasta.
What's the difference between a saucepan and a saucier?
A saucepan will have a flat bottom and high, straight sides, while a saucier will have shorter, curved sides with no corners. Because of the rounded edges, sauciers can be easier to clean and are better suited for reducing sauces, whisking ingredients, and finishing pasta, but a saucepan will keep your liquid from bubbling over and contain spills better.
How do you clean a burnt saucepan?
If washing by hand doesn’t do the trick, the best way to clean those stubborn burnt-on messes will depend on the saucepan’s material. For stainless steel saucepans, you can try adding some water to the pan and bringing it to a boil before gently scraping the bottom with a silicone tool or soft sponge. If that doesn’t work, some other common household hacks include simmering a mixture of vinegar and baking soda, boiling lemons, or even using ketchup. For cast iron saucepans, try using coarse kosher salt and water to gently scrub the stuck-on debris, but remember to re-season the pan with a thin coat of oil afterward.
Why Take Our Word for It?
Allison Wignall is a kitchen product writer whose work has been featured in The Spruce Eats, Food & Wine, Southern Living, and other publications. Allrecipes Editor Katherine Gallagher also contributed to this roundup.
Allstar Maura Rawlette, also known as Chef Mo, has tested a number of products for Allrecipes, including ice cream scoops, knife sets, and Dutch ovens. Allstar Stacey Rennie has tried and reviewed over 700 recipes on Allrecipes and posted 31 of her own.
Want to know more about the Allrecipes Allstars? Learn about their favorite recipes, kitchen hacks, and product picks.
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