There’s a lot more that goes into great home cooking than just the ingredients.
For delicious meals that the whole family will enjoy, you need to use the right cookware.
A quality pan can create the perfect steak, and great saucepans will help you to make delicious soups, stews, sauces, and more.
It can be difficult to find the best type of saucepan, especially considering that there are hundreds of options available.
We’ve rounded up two impressive options that are easy to use while offering great results and durability to match.
What is a Saucepan?
If you’re like many people, you probably refer to a saucepan simply as a pot.
While larger pots are often referred to with their formal names (stockpots and Dutch ovens are great examples), saucepans are so ubiquitous in kitchens that they often don’t need the same distinction.
Saucepans are typically small capacity, have high edges, and have long handles.
Every major cookware manufacturer offers saucepans in their cookware sets. Two or three in a set is the industry standard.
What Material Makes the Best Type of Saucepan?
From aluminum to stainless steel and even copper, there are several different materials used in home cookware today.
When considering durability, stainless steel is the absolute finest.
Stainless steel saucepans are the best types of saucepans for home cooking, but they can be prohibitively expensive for many families.
Fully-clad stainless steel comes with a price premium, and, if you’re just getting started with home cooking, you might not be ready to spend so much.
The next best type of saucepan for home cooking is hard-anodized aluminum.
This material has the strength of stainless steel and sometimes it is even harder.
However, it needs to be coated with a non-stick surface to keep the cookware nontoxic, and this means that the durability will never be quite the same as stainless steel.
Both options provide excellent value. Let’s look at the examples so you can make an informed decision.
Rachael Ray Cucina Hard-Anodized Saucepan
It’s hard to argue against the value of hard-anodized cookware.
The strength and resilience of the material are beaten only by stainless steel.
The larger-than-average size means you can use it for anything from sauces and glazes to soups and stews.
If you only cook for yourself or two people, then this saucepan could even take the place of a larger stockpot.
The interior of the saucepan is covered with a non-toxic and non-stick coating to keep even the stickiest ingredients from getting stuck.
Non-stick makes it more difficult to burn food, and it also helps during clean-up.
The saucepan has stainless steel handles used on the body and a glass lid to increase durability.
Best of all, this saucepan comes with a lifetime limited warranty and is incredibly affordable.
If you want the best type of saucepan for home cooking but want something that won’t empty your wallet, this is the one to choose.
If you like this saucepan but want it in a complete cookware set, you can consider the Cucina Set by Rachael Ray.
Going Premium With Stainless Steel
At the other end of the spectrum, we have stainless steel saucepans.
Stainless steel isn’t nonstick so it takes more skill to use.
However, it can last a lifetime when choosing quality pots and pans.
All-Clad is our favorite brand for durability and performance.
Made in the USA, All-Clad is a brand that doesn’t go light on quality or premium materials.
The design adds strength while also ensuring even heat distribution.
There are no hot or cold spots when cooking with All-Clad.
The saucepan has solid riveted stainless steel handles and a stainless steel lid that will never crack or break as a glass one could.
This particular saucepan is oven safe up to 600°F without the lid, so it can go directly under a broiler if you’re following a complex recipe.
You’ll pay a premium for a quality stainless steel saucepan, but one like this All-Clad pan could last you a lifetime, making it worth the investment.
If you want a set of the same quality, consider this All-Clad Copper Core Cookware Set.
The Final Verdict
The best type of saucepan for home cooking is the one that meets your needs and your budget.
If you want durability and a great cooking experience, along with a non-stick surface at a reasonable price, the Rachael Ray Cucina range is a great choice.
If you want premium quality, don’t need non-stick, and want to cook like a pro at any temperature, then All-Clad stainless steel is hard to ignore.