Best Stainless Steel Saute Pan: Ultimate Guide

If you're looking for the best stainless steel sauté pan, there are a few great options to consider. Serious Eats recommends the Made In Stainless Clad 3.5-Qt. Saute Pan for its even heating, comfortable handles, and responsiveness. It also has a wide cooking surface, which is ideal for shallow frying and braising. Another top pick is the All-Clad D3 3-Qt. Stainless Steel Saute Pan, which also heats evenly and quickly, although it is a little pricier. If you're looking for a more affordable option, the Misen 3-Quart Sauté Pan is a great choice and is very responsive to temperature changes. It sears, braises, and shallow fries efficiently and is easy on the wallet.

Price

The price of a stainless steel saute pan can vary depending on factors such as brand, size, and construction quality. Here is a breakdown of the prices for some of the best stainless steel saute pans available:

Made In Stainless Steel Saute Pan:

The Made In Stainless Clad 3.5-Qt. Saute Pan is available for $169 on Amazon and $159 on the Made In Cookware website. It offers even heating, comfortable handles, and responsiveness, making it a great choice for its price.

All-Clad Stainless Steel Saute Pan:

The All-Clad D3 Tri-Ply 3-Quart Stainless Steel Saute Pan is a pricier option, retailing for $180 on Amazon, Williams-Sonoma, and some other websites. It offers the widest cooking surface among the tested pans and heats evenly and quickly.

Misen Stainless Steel Saute Pan:

The Misen 3-Quart Saute Pan is a more affordable option, priced at $114 on Amazon and the Misen website. Despite being the heaviest pan in its category, it offers excellent responsiveness to temperature changes and performs almost as well as the top picks.

Tramontina Stainless Steel Saute Pan:

The Tramontina 3-Qt. Stainless Steel Saute Pan is another budget-friendly option, with prices ranging from $30 to $40 on Amazon, Target, and Wayfair. It has a comfortable handle, well-designed sides, and flared edges for easy storage and drip-free pouring.

Calphalon Stainless Steel Saute Pan:

The Calphalon Tri-Ply Stainless Steel 3-Quart Saute Pan with Cover is a cost-effective choice, available for $72 on Amazon and the Calphalon website. It offers similar features to higher-priced brands, such as tri-ply construction, a helper handle, and compatibility with stovetops and ovens.

Caraway Stainless Steel Saute Pan:

The Caraway Saute Pan is a slightly more expensive option, retailing for around $145 on Amazon, the Home Depot, and the Caraway website. It offers top-notch nonstick performance, compatibility with various cooktops, and attractive modern design. However, its handles tend to get hot during use.

Made In 5-Quart Stainless Clad Saucier:

The Made In Stainless 5-Quart Clad Saucier is priced at $179 on Amazon and the Made In Cookware website. It features a generous helper handle, a stay-cool handle, and excellent heat conduction and distribution. Its rounded edges make it easier to whisk sauces and release fond from the corners.

Durability

When it comes to durability, the best stainless steel saute pans should be resistant to wear and tear, corrosion, and warping. Stainless steel is a highly durable material that, with proper care, can last decades. However, not all stainless steel pans are created equal, and some may be more prone to scratches, dents, or warping over time.

To ensure durability, look for a stainless steel saute pan with a fully-clad construction. This means that the pan has a core of highly conductive aluminum or copper sandwiched between two or more layers of stainless steel. This type of construction is more durable than disc-bottom pans, which have an aluminum core disc welded only to the bottom of the pan.

The number of layers or "ply" can also impact durability. 3-ply pans tend to be lightweight and less expensive but may be more prone to scratches or dents and may not heat as evenly. On the other hand, 5-ply pans are typically heavier and more expensive but offer better heat conduction and resistance to wear and tear.

Additionally, the weight of the pan can be a factor in durability. While lightweight pans may not retain or distribute heat as well, heavier pans can be impractical for everyday use due to their weight and awkward handling. A moderate weight of around 3 to 4 pounds is ideal, as it provides a balance between heating capabilities and maneuverability.

The design of the handle is also important for durability. A sturdy, riveted handle that is comfortable to grip and angled for ergonomic handling will enhance the durability of the pan. Some pans also feature a helper handle, which makes it easier and safer to transport the pan, especially when it is full or hot.

Finally, the warranty offered by the manufacturer can be an indicator of the pan's expected durability. A lifetime warranty or a limited lifetime warranty demonstrates the manufacturer's confidence in the product's longevity.

• Made In Stainless Clad Saute Pan: This pan has a 5-ply construction and a riveted handle, and it comes with a limited lifetime warranty. It performed well in durability testing, showing only some scuffing.
• All-Clad D3 Stainless Steel Saute Pan: This pan has a 3-ply construction and a riveted handle. While it is dishwasher-safe, strong detergents can degrade the surface over time. All-Clad pans are known for their high performance and build quality, and they are backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
• Misen Stainless Steel Saute Pan: This 5-ply pan lost some points in durability testing due to minor warping at the base. However, it is still a high-quality and durable option, especially considering its lower price point.
• Tramontina Stainless Steel Tri-Ply Fry Pan: This 3-ply pan is not the most durable option on the market, but for its price, it offers good value.
• OXO Mira Series Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Fry Pan: This 3-ply pan showed slight physical shifting during a thermal shock test but overall demonstrated good durability.

In conclusion, when assessing the durability of stainless steel saute pans, consider the construction, weight, handle design, and warranty. These factors will help ensure that your investment in a high-quality pan will last for years to come.

Ease of cleaning

When it comes to ease of cleaning, there are a few things to keep in mind for stainless steel sauté pans. Firstly, while many stainless steel pans are marked as dishwasher-safe, hand-washing is often recommended to prolong the life of the pan and maintain its finish. This is because dishwashing detergent can sometimes cause adverse effects such as pitting, discolouration, and extra wear.

To hand-wash a stainless steel pan, it is important to first let the pan cool down before submerging it in water to avoid thermal shock, which can cause warping. Then, for everyday cleanup, scrub the pan with hot soapy water and a non-abrasive sponge. For tougher messes, a mixture of baking soda and water can be brought to a boil in the pan and then scrubbed with a non-abrasive sponge. For very tough stains, commercial cleaners such as Bar Keepers Friend can be used, though it is important to follow the manufacturer's instructions. To prevent food from sticking in the first place, it is recommended to preheat the pan before adding oil and to avoid using it for cold foods.

Heat distribution

In testing, thinner pans tended to have centres that were 20 to 30 degrees hotter than the edges, which can lead to uneven cooking. Thicker pans heated more slowly but had more even heat distribution. The best performance came from moderate-weight pans, which heated up relatively quickly and evenly, and maintained their temperature well when food was added.

The All-Clad D3 Tri-Ply 3-Quart Stainless Steel Sauté Pan is a favourite among cooks due to its solid construction and performance. It has an aluminium core sandwiched between two layers of durable stainless steel and distributes heat wonderfully, giving an even browning to chicken. The Made In Stainless Clad 3.5-Qt. Saute Pan is another top pick, with its aluminium core clad in stainless steel providing even heating, comfortable handles and responsiveness to temperature changes.

Handle comfort

The weight of the pan also plays a role in handle comfort. A heavier pan may require two hands to lift and move, whereas a lighter pan can be easier to manoeuvre with one hand. The All-Clad D3 12-Inch Stainless-Steel Skillet, for instance, weighs just under three pounds and is described as not too heavy to cause wrist strain.

The distribution of weight in the design of a saute pan is an important feature. While some weight will allow for durability, a pan that is too heavy will be difficult to manoeuvre. Look for a pan that is light enough to hold comfortably, as it is a kitchen tool you will use frequently. The weight should be evenly distributed so that it is not straining on your wrist when pouring or flipping its contents.

Frequently asked questions