The 9 Best Saucepans to Use Every Single Day

The GHI Lab report was glowing for this All-Clad line: It distributed heat perfectly evenly, simmered steadily, and didn’t scorch when cooking tomato sauce without stirring. The tight-fitting lid and helper handle also give this saucepan a leg up. In addition, it has all the “nonstick does that now?” bells and whistles: Works with induction cooktops, safe for metal utensils, dishwasher safe, and oven safe to 500˚F.

If you want an affordable nonstick saucepan for knocking out ramen and heating up marinara, this is your pick. The aluminum alloy construction means it heats quickly, and the Bakelite handle stays cool while you cook. The glass lid has a large, comfortable knob.

Farberware is a familiar presence in American kitchens — it celebrated its 120th anniversary this year. This particular line has been simmering since 1947, and it’s still a solid choice. It’s affordable, the stainless steel base includes an aluminum core for faster heating, and the iconic bell-shaped lids are designed to fit tightly and keep foods moist. It has rolled edges to help with pouring. It’s also dishwasher safe and oven safe to 350˚F.  

The GHI Kitchen Appliance Lab gave Scanpan high ratings for its ability to release foods, making this a good choice for cooking rice and creamy dishes. The handle is locked on with a patented system that doesn’t use rivets or screws, so the inside of the pan is easy to clean. It’s designed with 100% recycled aluminum that’s reinforced with ceramic-titanium particles. The pan is safe for metal utensils, dishwasher safe, and oven safe to 500˚F.

This pan uses triple-ply construction to deliver fast and even heating: The aluminum core brings quick heat conduction, and the inner and outer layer of stainless steel ensure consistent heat distribution. The outer layer is also magnetic, so the pan is compatible with induction cooktops. The rounded interior makes it easy to whisk and stir in the pan, so it’s a good choice for rouxs and risottos.

This copper-clad line secured perfect scores for heat distribution in our Lab tests. The hard-anodized aluminum construction includes a layer of copper, which is valued for its high conductivity. It works with induction cooktops, it’s oven safe to 500˚F, and it has a metal-utensil-friendly nonstick coating. Bonus features that make this saucepan stand out: It has pouring spouts on both sides of the pan, and the lid can be rotated to allow straining. Plus, the flush rivets are also treated with the nonstick coating.

Enamel cast iron pans are a wise investment for serious and casual cooks. They work on any cooktop, distribute and retain heat well, are oven safe, and are very easy to clean. They’re also gorgeous and come in a variety of colors, which is nice if you have open shelving or hang your pots. The rounded design makes stirring and whisking easier, and the light-colored enamel interior helps you keep an eye on scorching. The helper handle makes it easy to transport to the table for serving.

This pan ticks all the boxes: Tri-ply stainless-and-aluminum construction, dishwasher safe, oven safe to 500˚F, compatible with induction cooktops, rounded base for efficient stirring and rolled edges for fuss-free pouring. What sets it apart is the laser-etched volume markings on the inside of the pan to save you time when making a recipe and give you a clearer sense of how much your liquid has reduced. The etching means they won’t fade quickly like painted-on markings, and they're listed in standard and metric measurements.

This saucepan passed our boil and scorch tests with flying colors. It came to a boil quickly and held a simmer for more than an hour, and no sauce was burned on. Williams-Sonoma developed the pan with Scanpan, so it’s made in Denmark and constructed with recycled aluminum that’s reinforced with ceramic-titanium particles. The patented Green Tek nonstick coating is PFOA-free and safe for metal utensils. The tempered glass lid allows you to see what’s happening in the pan, and the handle is designed to stay cool.