15 best saucepan sets to bring your kitchen A-game
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Buying one of the best saucepan sets on the market is a rite of passage into real, actual adulthood. Let's face it: owning a good-quality cookware set is a non-negotiable if you want to boil, sauté, bubble and steam your way to culinary success. An essential everyday piece of cookware, saucepans can be used for everything from making and reducing sauces, to boiling vegetables — so it's well worth looking for a high-quality selection that'll cover all different kinds of meals.
For a cohesive kitchen and cookware cupboard, it's worth investing in a cookware set that contains lots of different sizes and types of pots and pans. You'll have no trouble finding a set that suits your hob type, space requirements, and material preferences — and buying in a bundle is a great way to save money.
Whether you're simply looking for three different-sized saucepans, or fancy a versatile bundle that'll see you through everything from frying an egg to whipping up a big batch of bolognese, you're guaranteed to find at least one set that's well-suited to your culinary needs in this carefully curated edit.
SKIP TO: What type of material is best for your cookware? | What other pots and pans might be included in a saucepan set? | Our full reviews.
The best saucepan sets at a glance:
- Best investment set: Ninja Foodi Zerostick Frying Pan & Saucepan Set, £219.99, John Lewis
- Best basic set for beginners: 4 Piece Ceramic Coated Aluminium Pan Set, £100, M&S
- Best set for versatile cooks: ProCook Professional Cookware Set,
£199£159, ProCook - Best set for chic chefs: ProCook Soho Cookware Set,
£149£129, ProCook
What type of material is best for your cookware?
- Aluminium: Lightweight feel, easy to use and quick to heat up, aluminium pans make a great choice for beginners. It'll usually have some kind of non-stick coating — but depending what this is, it can wear and chip over time. They're usually the most affordable option, but will need replacing more regularly, and can't be used with metal utensils.
- Hard adonised aluminium: Considerably more hardy (and pricey), hard adonised aluminium pans have been electrochemically treated to produce a hard finish and non-stick coating that will not chip, crack, peel or react with acidic foods. They can usually be distinguished from standard aluminium pans by their deep grey or black colour.
- Stainless steel: Resistant to rust and corrosion, stainless steel cookware will last you a lifetime. It's famous for its pretty polished and scratch-resistant finish, and heats up quickly — but will require a little extra oil and elbow grease when it comes to cooking and cleaning up. On its own, it struggles with heat conductivity — so it's often combined with aluminium or copper at its core.
What other pots and pans might be included in a saucepan set?
While a typical 3-piece saucepan set will just include three different-sized saucepans, there are also quite a few more extensive sets that come with other key pieces of cookware. Here's everything you need to know about those other precious pots and pans:
- Frying pan: As you'd expect from it's name, a frying pan — or “skillet” — is predominantly used for frying. Some non-stick frying pans are higher at the sides than others, but they all typically have moderate curved walls that make the frying, browning, and tossing of foods a breeze.
- Sauté pan: If a saucepan and a frying pan had a baby, then we reckon it would look something like a sauté pan. Their high sides make them perfectly capable of holding quite a bit of liquid — so they're a great piece of cookware for braising, shallow-frying, and sautéing. A must-have for saucy dishes.
- Milk pan: Delivering heat in an even and controlled way, milk pans are perfect for precise tasks like heating up milk or soups, preparing custards, and melting butter for baking. They're just like mini saucepans – but generally have pouring lips on either side.
- Stockpot: Typically the largest pot you'll have in your kitchen, stockpots come with a handle on either side and a lid, and are used to create stocks and soups. Their tall and narrow shape makes them ideal for long simmering sessions.
- Casserole pot or dish: Wide and shallow in shape, casserole pots are great for slowly cooking stews, chillis, and — you guessed it — casseroles. If you want to be able to put it in the oven, then look for a cast iron casserole dish or ceramic dutch oven, instead.