In the past, we haven’t included nonstick saucepans in our testing. We’re not huge fans of nonstick pans of any kind because they need regular replacement, can’t handle high heat, and become pretty useless if they get scratched by someone mistakenly using metal utensils on them. However, we do recognize that nonstick cookware of all types is ubiquitous, so we included it in our most recent testing to see how it performed against stainless steel. We still stand by our preference for stainless steel, though some nonstick options did end up surprising us.
All-Clad D3 Stainless Tri-ply Bonded Stainless steel Saucepan
The All-Clad D3 Tri-Ply is a really good saucepan, but if you’re considering it, we recommend spending a little more (only about $20 at the time of writing) to get our upgrade pick, the D5, which has 5-ply construction, a rounded lip, and the extra handle opposite the main one.
All-Clad Stainless Steel Tri-Ply 3-Quart Saucier
We liked this All-Clad saucier, but it doesn’t have the 5-ply of our top pick and it’s 60% more expensive than the affordably priced Misen (at the time of publishing). It performed well in all our tests, but is more pan than we think you need to buy if you’re going with a tri-ply option.
Sardel saucepan
The Sardel saucepan impressed us with its responsiveness and the control it offered when making lemon curd. However, it’s priced comparably to the All-Clad and didn’t melt sugar as well or provide the same ease when pouring broth. The pour test is particularly notable because we tested the 2-quart size as Sardel doesn’t actually have a 3-quart and the 3.5-quart is presently unavailable.
Heritage Steel 316Ti 3-Quart Saucier
Heritage Steel puts a lot of thought into constructing its stainless-steel cookware—which they do in Clarksville, Tennessee—and we found a lot to like about the 316Ti 3-Quart Saucier. The body shape is somewhere in between a straight-sided saucepan with low sides and a traditional saucier, which makes it an incredibly versatile pan, and the 5-ply construction allows for even heat distribution. But we found the uniquely shaped hollow stainless-steel handle to be far less comfortable than the handles on the Misen and the All-Clad. As we’ve mentioned, handle shape is an issue of personal preference, so others may have different opinions.
Heritage Steel 316Ti 2-Quart Saucier
We were surprised to find that the Heritage Steel 316Ti 2-Quart Saucier had a different body shape than the 3-quart version. The smaller model is more tapered at the bottom and has relatively taller sides. Though this pan has the same 5-ply construction (and handle) as the larger size, we noticed when melting sugar for caramel that it didn’t heat quite as evenly.
Heritage Steel 316Ti 3-Quart saucepan
Aside from the body shape, there’s no discernible difference between this Heritage Steel 316Ti 3-Quart saucepan and the 3-Quart Saucier. As we’ve mentioned, we find the saucier to be a more versatile shape, but if you want a high-quality straight-sided pan and don’t mind the signature Heritage Steel handle shape, that keeps your hands quite close to the pot itself, this is a great saucepan.
Tramontina Stainless Steel Tri-Ply Clad saucepan
We’ve seen home cooks and reviewers alike compare the Tramontina Steel Tri-Ply Clad cookware to All-Clad, and we were especially excited to try the 2-quart saucepan based on its tall, slender build, since it would be a good pan to have in addition to a wider 3-quart saucier. Unfortunately, even though it’s billed as dishwasher-safe, the lip of this pan has an exposed core, and after just a few months of use, the core began to deteriorate, leaving a sharp edge around the rim.
Tramontina Gourmet Tri-Ply Clad 2 Quart Covered Saucepan
$70
at WalmartTramontina Gourmet Prima saucepan
The Tramontina Gourmet Prima saucepan has a comfortable handle and shallower depth than other saucepans, but unlike the the Tramontina Tri-Ply Clad saucepan above, the tri-ply construction only appears in the base of this pan, so the heating isn’t as even along the sides of the pan.
Tramontina 1.5 Quart Prima Covered Saucepan
$45
at AmazonGreat Jones Saucy
With its retro-looking copper handles and super sleek design, the Great Jones Saucy, another 3-quart saucier, gets a perfect score for aesthetics, and like the winning All-Clad, has an extra handle opposite the primary one, which makes transferring a full pot from, say, the stovetop to the oven, extra comfortable and safe because you can securely carry it using both hands. But it didn’t heat as evenly as the similarly priced Misen (or the more expensive All-Clad), and the well-intentioned pouring spout creates an escape for steam that complicates tasks like making rice. But if you’re looking for a saucepan that you can serve from at the table, this is the one.
Demeyere Stainless Steel Essential Pan
At six pounds, the Demeyere Stainless Steel Essential Pan was the heaviest pan of the bunch, which made it sturdy to whisk in, but difficult to pour from with one hand. Shapewise, it’s somewhere between a saucier and a standard saucepan, with sloping slides that hit the flat bottom at a more direct angle than some of the rounder options; this made it difficult to get into the corners while cooking.
Demeyere Industry 2-quart saucepan with Lid
The Demeyere Industry 2-quart saucepan with Lid is a heavy-duty 2-quart pan with 5-ply construction. The handle is welded to the pan, which the brand claims is a more hygienic option than rivets like you’d find on similar pans. Unfortunately, we found the handle uncomfortable to hold, even before adding anything to the pan (though we stress again, handle comfort is a matter of personal preference).
Demeyere Industry 2-quart Saucepan with Lid
$210
at ZwillingDemeyere Atlantis 2-Quart Saucier
This thick, heavy pan has a whopping 7-ply construction and, for a saucier, the sides are a nice height. The welded handle on this model is much more comfortable than on the Demeyere Industry pan we tested, and the 30-year warranty is nice, but the price for the 2-quart size ($270 at the time of publication) is hard to swallow for what we consider to be a secondary saucepan. There is a 3.5-quart option as well, but empty, that model weighs a hefty five pounds and doesn’t have an additional handle for stability and support.
Made-In Saucier
The Made-In Saucier comes in three sizes (2-quart, 3-quart, and 5-quart) and the five-ply construction and slightly offset stay-cool handle were plusses. In the end, though, the cost ($99 just for the 2-quart size) and relative thinness knocked it out of the running.
Cuisinart French Classic Tri-Ply
The handle on the Cuisinart French Classic Tri-Ply model has a genius little depression for your thumb—which makes it surprisingly comfortable to grip. But its thinner construction meant less even heating than the Misen or All-Clad pans.
Cuisinart French Classic Tri-Ply Stainless 3-Quart Saucepot with Cover
$95
at AmazonCuisinart MCP193-18N MultiClad Pro
Like the Cuisinart pan above, the Cuisinart MCP193-18N MultiClad Pro didn’t heat as evenly as the Misen or All-Clad pans we tested.
Cuisinart Multiclad Pro Triple Ply Stainless 3-Quart Saucepan
$60
at AmazonCalphalon Tri-Ply Chef’s Pan
The Calphalon Tri-Ply Chef’s Pan has an extra-rounded flare from the base, which makes it a bit shallower in depth than other sauciers we tested. This could be an advantage or disadvantage depending on your preferences. Its main drawback is the glass lid, which just isn’t as durable as a metal one. Note: This model is no longer available.
Le Creuset Stainless Steel Saucepan
While we could wax poetic about Le Crueset’s Dutch oven all day long, their stainless steel saucepan was just…fine. We ended up testing a 2-quart size (the brand’s 3-quart saucepan is currently out of stock), and it performed each task adequately, though it took a long time to melt sugar and its slightly taller sides made things tricky as we stirred our curd, which still managed to splash out sometimes.
Farberware Classic Stainless Steel Saucepan
The Farberware saucepan is your classic piece of college student cookware—it’s super affordable and comes with some extra features like pouring spouts and a straining lid. But it’s a lot lighter than some of its peers at a little over 1 pound. where the All-Clad and Misen clock in around 3 pounds, which makes us wonder about the pan’s longevity and if it would warp or dent. It’s also not fully clad and sounded almost tinny when we tapped it, so needless to say, controlling the heat during use is tough.
Farberware Classic Stainless Steel Saucepan with Lid
$27
at AmazonCaraway saucepan
The Caraway saucepan features a ceramic nonstick coating over an aluminum core, and comes in a variety of on-trend and stylish shades. However we weren’t super fond of the pan’s overall construction. This pan weighs about four pounds and felt heavy and tough to pour from. The lid is also flat like a sandwich press, with just two small grooves on either side that allow it to rest securely on top of the pan. Most of the other lids we worked with featured a slight dome shape and some sort of lip that catches condensation. The Caraway doesn’t have a lip, so any condensation that collected on the lid would waterfall off all over the stovetop, which is not a huge problem for the functionality of the saucepan, but is certainly annoying.
Hestan Pro-Bond Saucepan
The Hestan Pro-Bond saucepan retails for over $200, and it has a luxury about it that justifies that price tag. Though it has the same capacity as the All-Clad, the Hestan’s dimensions are totally different. It measures a little over 13 inches in diameter and 4.5 inches in height to the All-Clad’s 8.6 inch diameter and 6.2 inch height. This made the Pro-Bond shallower and wider, which actually offered easier distribution when whisking together lemon curd and sugar. The Pro-Bond is also quite light at about 2.7 pounds. As we saw with the Farberware, if a piece of cookware is lightweight, that can be an indication of low quality, but in Hestan’s case it’s an indication of smart design. This pan keeps its weight down by featuring thinner sidewalls between a substantial core and thick rims. The result is something that feels elegant and maneuverable, but still durable. Ultimately we think the All-Clad provides enough quality that you don’t need to spend any additional money, but this is a fantastic pan.
Hestan ProBond Collection Professional Clad Stainless Steel Sauce Pan
$200
at AmazonHestan NanoBond Saucepan
Take everything we just told you about the Pro-Bond and turn it up a notch; that’s the Hestan NanoBond saucepan. Made with titanium, the NanoBond is even more expensive (at a whopping $400) and incredibly conductive. In fact, in some cases it was perhaps too conductive. Even over the fairly low heat required for making curd, the pan got so hot the mixture began bubbling, and when we put our head over to check it, we could feel the vacuum of heat slamming us in our face. This was something that also happened with the All-Clad, but with the Nanobond it almost made it feel uncontrollable. A quality like that might be useful in a saute pan that you will periodically need to get searingly hot, but it makes less sense for the more delicate tasks you often use a saucepan for.
Hestan NanoBond Collection Stainless Steel Titanium Sauce Pan
$340
at AmazonGreenPan Valencia Pro Saucepan
Another nonstick options, GreenPan’s Valencia Pro Saucepan ended up pleasantly surprising us. It performed pretty on par with the Hestan Pro-Bond when curding (though it did often take a longer to heat up), poached an egg quickly, and, though it technically weighed more at 4.4 pounds, its maneuverability felt similar to the high-quality Hestans. Our only hesitation with the GreenPan is its longevity considering its ceramic coating, which in our experience are prone wear overtime. (One other thing to note: the GreenPan has a glass lid. This can be useful for visibility as you’re cooking, but glass doesn’t retain heat as well as stainless steel, so many cooks prefer a metal lid.
GreenPan Valencia Pro Ceramic Nonstick 1.5-Quart and 3-Quart Saucepan Set with Lids
When we recommend a certain saucepan, you may be tempted to look for it as part of a full cookware set, but we recommend against that because the best cookware set is the one you build yourself. If you’re looking for exhibit A, see our experience with the Hestan Nanobond series, which we really liked as a skillet but not so much as a saucepan. This isn’t to say there aren’t some good cookware sets on the market, but because different materials are better suited for particular purposes, we suggest building a set from our top picks in various categories. It’s a little more work in the beginning, and it may end up being slightly pricier than what you’d pay for a full cookware set, but the results will be worth it.
A 3-quart saucepan will be a workhorse in any kitchen, and a fully-clad 5-ply stainless-steel model will do nearly all the jobs with aplomb—for years if not a lifetime. With a higher price tag than many of its competitors, the quality of the classic All-Clad D5 3-quart saucepan comes through in the signature fully clad construction, which makes for fast and even heating. This saucepan also features superior design features, like a convenient helper handle that makes it easy to maneuver, and rounded edges that allow you to reach into the corners during stovetop whisking. If you prefer a saucier to a straight-sided saucepan, we recommend the well-priced Misen 3-quart saucier, which also has fully-clad 5-ply construction, a shape that’s easy to move a whisk around in, plus a comfortable handle and well-designed lid.
Kat Chen contributed to the reporting of this story.