The Ultimate Guide to Saucepans

We put a variety of saucepans from several retailers, including Amazon, Argos, John Lewis, and Lakeland, to the test to see which ones heat food rapidly and evenly and have an effective non-stick coating.

If your saucepan has a poor non-stick coating, you will need to use extra oil to prevent food from sticking to the bottom of the pan. If the heat is not dispersed evenly, you may also wind up with burnt food particles on the bottom of the pan, which are difficult to remove. We evaluated ten saucepans with a diameter of 20 centimetres from well-known manufacturers such as Le Creuset, Salter, and Scoville. The saucepans’ prices ranged from eight pounds to one hundred fifty-five pounds, and our goal was to help you avoid purchasing a faulty product. Find out which ones we recommend and which characteristics are worth looking out for, as well as the best way to clean a saucepan that has been burned on without causing the non-stick coating to be damaged.

 

The most impressive saucepans from our evaluation

Best Buy: Eaziglide Neverstick2 Aluminium Non-Stick Saucepan

 

 

The price of £60 is only available at John Lewis.

Available sizes: 16cm, 18cm, 20cm

Compatibility with hobs: Suitable for use on all types of hobs, including induction.

The following are some of the key features: a lifetime guarantee, oven safety up to 260 degrees Celsius (including the cover), dishwasher safety, non-stickiness, and a strainer integrated into the lid.

The strainer, saucepan, and lid that are built-in to the product are all oven-safe, have good non-stick coatings, are simple to clean, have excellent heat conduction, are sturdy, and have outstanding build quality.

Even though the brand claims that it can be cleaned in the dishwasher, we suggest that you wash it by hand.

Our conclusion is that this saucepan from Eaziglide is a delight to use when cooking, and it achieved the highest possible temperature in our heat conduction test with the least amount of time.

In our scratch testing, we discovered that the coating on the interior of the pan was quite scratch-resistant, and it also had a really good non-stick surface. When we cooked the baked beans in this manner, very few of them adhered to the bottom of the pan, and later, the pan was very easy to wash by hand. This saucepan has a very thoughtful design. The curved handle is easy to grasp, and the lid features lips and strainer holes that are built right in. These features make it simple to filter water that has been brought to a boil and should help cut down on the quantity of dishes that need to be cleaned. The only issue that should be mentioned is that throughout our investigation, we found out that some owners found that this pan exhibited symptoms of wear after being cleaned in a dishwasher for an entire year’s worth of meals. Even though our testing didn’t turn up any problems, we have a strong belief that you can extend the life of this saucepan by hand washing it with a sponge that won’t damage it. If the prospect of washing a saucepan by hand seems like too much of a bother, then continue reading for a recommendation of an alternative Best Buy that should hold up better to repeated cleaning in a dishwasher. However, it is important to keep in mind that the high heat of a dishwasher will ruin the majority of non-stick cookware.

The ProCook Professional Granite Saucepan and Lid is an Excellent Buy.

The price of £49 is only available at ProCook.

Available sizes: 14cm, 16cm, 18cm, 20cm

Compatibility with hobs: Designed to work with the majority of hob types, including induction, but not with hotplates.

Non-stick, withstands temperatures in the oven up to 260 degrees Celsius, is dishwasher safe, and comes with a guarantee of 25 years.

The product has a very high non-stick rating, is simple to clean, is long-lasting, and has outstanding build quality.

Heat is not conducted as well as with other materials.

Our conclusion is that this saucepan from ProCook’s Professional line lived up to all of the expectations we had for a quality saucepan.

Even though it was only slightly better than the other Greatest Buy, we were impressed to find that this saucepan has the best non-stick coating out of all of the pans in our list. Despite this, we still recommend the other Best Buy. It was simple to clean, and it was nicely manufactured, but it did not have the best heat conduction of any of the options. In actuality, this meant that the water that was being cooked in this pan reached the boiling point approximately one minute later than the water in the majority of the other pans. In the first scratch test, we used wire wool, and the surface withstood the abrasion quite well. However, in the second scratch test, we used a metal spatula, and the coating that prevented sticking was significantly damaged.

How the remaining saucepans that were put to the test performed

In alphabetical sequence, these are our conclusions regarding the remaining saucepans that we tested.

Aluminum, nonstick saucepan and lid made by AnyDay, sold by John Lewis & Partners.

The price of £10 is only available from John Lewis.

Available sizes: 16cm, 18cm, 20cm

Compatibility with hobs: Suitable for use on all types of hobs, including induction.

Steam vent and non-stick coating are two of the key features.

Advantages: It conducts heat well.

Negatives: It was a bit of a pain to clean, and it wasn’t particularly durable.

Our conclusion is that despite its low price and inclusion in the John Lewis AnyDay collection, this saucepan does not live up to our expectations. As we warmed the baked beans, they grew sticky and stuck to the bottom of the pan. Because of this, it was more difficult to clean the pan because the food residue had been adhered to it. On the other hand, this saucepan was one of the ones that heated up the quickest and reached the boiling point the quickest. The interior of the pan exhibited some resistance to the wire wool, but it was very quickly destroyed when we scraped a metal spatula against the surface.

Argos Home Aluminium Saucepan

 

The price of £20 is only available at Argos.

Available sizes: 16cm, 18cm, 20cm

Compatibility with hobs: Suitable for use on all types of hobs, including induction.

The following are some of the key features: a steam vent, a one-year guarantee, oven safety up to 150 degrees Celsius, dishwasher safety, non-stick coating, a pour spout, and a lid with an integrated strainer.

Advantages include good heat conduction and an integrated strainer.

Negatives: It was a bit of a pain to clean, and it wasn’t particularly durable.

The Saucepan from the Argos Home line did not perform very well in our tests, and as a result, we are unable to recommend purchasing it. It is capable of performing the fundamental tasks, but the non-stick surface did not perform well when cooking baked beans, and it was also somewhat more difficult to clean than some of the other saucepans that we put to the test. It did well in our tests of heat conduction, and it only took a few minutes before the water started boiling. This was not the quickest time we’ve seen, but it was faster than some of the other saucepans we examined. This pan was wrecked by both of the durability tests, rendering it useless owing to the amount of non-stick coating that was worn away during the testing process. It was not at all scratch resistant.

Dunelm Essentials Aluminium Saucepan

 

The price of £9 is only available at Dunelm.

Available sizes: 16cm, 18cm, 20cm

Hob compatibility: Suitable for the majority of hobs, but not induction hobs

Steam vent and suitable for dishwasher use are two of the key features.

Easy to maintain and clean

Heat is not conducted very well, and the material is not particularly durable.

The bottom line is that this saucepan from Dunelm’s Essential range was the least expensive option, and the quality of it reflects that. Although the baked beans we cooked inside didn’t stick too much and it was one of the easiest pans to clean, this saucepan was swiftly destroyed in both of our durability tests. Despite the fact that it was one of the easiest pans to clean. When compared to other of the more efficient pans in our collection, the amount of time it took for the water in this saucepan to reach a boiling temperature was around one minute longer. In addition, we didn’t think it was particularly nicely crafted. The handle of the saucepan that we bought has a number of thick mould lines running across it, and the handle of the lid has a large, rough plastic spike.

GreenPan Venice Pro Extra Ceramic Non-Stick Saucepan With Lid is a Product of GreenPan

GreenPan offers the lowest price of £56 for this product, which is also sold at John Lewis.

Available sizes: 16cm, 18cm, 20cm

Compatibility with hobs: Suitable for use on all types of hobs, including induction.

The following are some of the key features: a lifetime guarantee, oven safety up to 220 degrees Celsius (including the lid), dishwasher safety, and non-stick coating

Positives: It has a good non-stick coating, is simple to clean, is long-lasting, and is well-made.

Heat transfer is not as efficient as it could be.

Our conclusion is that this ceramic saucepan from GreenPan is of high quality and performs extremely well in our tests, however it does not compare favourably to our Best Buys. The non-stick coating performed pretty much as advertised, as evidenced by the fact that only a few baked beans were left adhered to the pan’s inside. Because it had a highly effective non-stick coating, the saucepan was also much simpler to clean. On the other hand, we discovered that the heat conduction in this saucepan was not particularly good. When compared to our most efficient saucepan, it took over a minute longer for the water contained within it to begin to boil. Having said that, when it came to being long-lasting, this saucepan performed rather admirably. A significant amount of damage was not inflicted by either the ball of wire wool or the metal spatula.

Bell-shaped saucepan with Lakeland’s signature hard anodized finish

 

The price of £54.99 is only available at Lakeland.

Available sizes: 16cm, 18cm, 20cm

Compatibility with hobs: Suitable for use on all types of hobs, including induction.

Non-stick coating, three-year warranty, safe use in ovens up to 180 degrees Celsius, and dishwasher resistance are among the key advantages.

The product has a high non-stick rating, is very simple to clean, is very robust, and has a great build quality.

Heat is not conducted as well as with other materials.

The Lakeland saucepan in the shape of a bell performed exceptionally well in terms of its construction and style, although it took a long time to heat up the meal. The non-stick inside of this saucepan helped us avoid having to deal with an excessive amount of baked beans becoming stuck to the bottom, and it also contributed to the saucepan’s ease of cleanliness. However, in our tests it did not have the finest heat conduction, and it took around two minutes longer for the water to reach the boiling point than it did in the majority of the other saucepans we tested. Because of the design of the saucepan, it has a form similar to a cauldron, which, as we discovered, makes it much simpler to stir food while it is cooking.

Toughened non-stick saucepan with lid from Le Creuset, made in France

 

 

The most affordable price is $168.99, which is offered by Robert Dyas. It is also offered by John Lewis and Le Creuset.

Available sizes: 16cm, 18cm, 20cm Compatibility with hobs: Suitable for use on all types of hobs, including induction.

Key characteristics include a three-year warranty, heat resistance up to 260 degrees Celsius (including the lid), resistance to sticking in the dishwasher, and non-stick coating.

Pros: It’s easy to use, it doesn’t stick, and it’s manufactured really nicely.

Convection of heat is not particularly efficient.

Our opinion is that despite the fact that this saucepan from Le Creuset is significantly more expensive than the other options, we believe that it does not give as much value as our Best Buys.

Although it has a modern design and is clearly of high quality for its price, this saucepan did not emerge as the winner of our competition, despite its attractive appearance and solid construction. This pan has a non-stick coating that functions effectively, which also makes it simple to clean after use. On the other hand, it came in dead last in our heat conduction test, requiring an entire three minutes more to bring 500 millilitres of water to a boil than the winner. In the first of our durability tests, the pan was able to endure the wire wool without suffering any obvious damage. However, in the second of our tests, it was unable to withstand the metal spatula.

Salter Geo Hex Non-Stick Aluminium Saucepan

Only available at Argos: £30.

Available sizes: 16cm, 18cm, 20cm

Hob suitability: Suitable for use on all hobs, including induction

Key features: Steam vent, 10-year guarantee, dishwasher safe, non-stick

Pros: Scratch resistant to wire wool

Cons: Not the finest non-stick, hard to clean, slow in terms of heat conduction

Our verdict: This saucepan from Salter was a letdown in many of our tests and it’s somewhat smaller than the rest of our pick. This is because while the pan has either a 16cm, 18cm or 20 cm diameter across the top rim, the pan tapers inwards towards the base which provides you less overall area inside. The baked beans became pretty stuck to this saucepan and it also was one of the tougher saucepans to wash. It didn’t have the best heat conduction, and the water inside it reached boiling point roughly a minute slower than those with the best heat conduction. During our durability testing this saucepan seemed undamaged by wire wool, however its non-stick coating was extensively damaged by the metal spatula.

Scoville Neverstick Saucepan

Cheapest price: £18 available at Amazon, ASDA, also available at Dunelm, Scoville.

Available sizes: 16cm, 18cm, 20cm

Compatibility with hobs: Suitable for use on all types of hobs, including induction.

Steam vent, lifetime guarantee, non-stick coating, and safe for use in the dishwasher are among the key characteristics.

The product has a high non-stick quality, is simple to clean, has good heat conduction, and is well built.

The non-stick coating is prone to scratching, which is an inconvenience.

Our conclusion is that the Scoville Neverstick Saucepan performed rather well in the most of our testing; however, it is not the most durable of the products we tested. Because of this saucepan’s efficient non-stick surface, almost all of the baked beans were able to be removed without any difficulty, which left us really impressed. In addition to being one of the greatest saucepans for heat conduction, it gave the impression of being well manufactured overall. During the course of the durability tests, the issues manifested themselves. Both the wire wool and the metal spatula had little trouble scratching the surface of this pot.

How to remove the char from a saucepan.

Food has been accidentally burned at least once by each of us at some point in our lives.

You can try using this method to quickly remove burnt food residue from your saucepan while preventing harm to the non-stick coating:

Check to see that the saucepan has reached the desired temperature.

A dishwasher tablet or one spoonful of biological washing powder should be added to the water in the saucepan after it has been filled with water.

Return the saucepan to the stovetop and place it over medium heat. Bring to a boil.

Allow the contents of the pot to simmer for approximately ten minutes.

Clean up the mess by rinsing the pan and using a sponge that won’t scratch the surface.

After that, wash as usual.

If required, repeat the process.

Is it possible to clean pots and pans in the dishwasher?

 

Even while many contemporary saucepans, if not the vast majority of them, make the claim that they are dishwasher-safe, we nevertheless advise that you wash your saucepans by hand whenever possible, particularly if they are non-stick. The reason for this is that the high temperature of the water that is contained within a dishwasher can eventually cause the non-stick surface to become worn down. During the course of our investigation, we came across a large number of complaints from consumers who had used a dishwasher and noticed that the pan’s non-stick surface quickly became damaged.