How we pick our products
Welcome to our big cookware test 2023. Here we present all the cookware we have tested in detail. We have compiled detailed background information for you and also added a summary of customer reviews on the web.
We would like to make your purchase decision easier and help you find the best saucepan for you.
You will also find answers to frequently asked questions in our guide. If available, we also offer interesting test videos. In addition, we have summarised important information on this page that you should be aware of if you want to buy a saucepan.
Contents
- 1 Summary
- 2 The Best Cooking Pot: Our Picks
- 3 Guide: Questions you should ask yourself before buying a Cooking Pot
- 4 What types of Cooking Pots are there and which is the right one for you?
- 4.1 What distinguishes a cast aluminium saucepan and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
- 4.2 What distinguishes a coated cooking pot and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
- 4.3 What distinguishes a stainless steel cooking pot and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
- 4.4 What are the characteristics of an enamel saucepan and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
- 4.5 What distinguishes a cast iron cookware and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
- 4.6 What distinguishes a cooking pot for induction cookers and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
- 5 Buying Criteria: You can compare and evaluate Cooking Pots based on these Factors
- 6 Facts worth knowing about Cooking Pots
- 6.1 How do I clean a saucepan?
- 6.2 My saucepan has become discoloured – what does this mean?
- 6.3 My saucepan is calcified – what can I do about it?
- 6.4 My saucepan is leaking – what should I do now?
- 6.5 How do I open a pressure cooker?
- 6.6 Challenges with the pressure cooker quickly solved
- 6.7 How long do I have to cook things in the cooker to sterilise them?
- 6.8 What do I do with a broken saucepan?
Summary
- You should match the type of saucepan to the food you want to cook in it.
- Be aware that each saucepan requires different care and check the product description.
- Pay particular attention to the size of the saucepan in order to cook in the most energy-efficient way.
The Best Cooking Pot: Our Picks
Guide: Questions you should ask yourself before buying a Cooking Pot
What can I use a saucepan for?
Of course, there are also different cooking pots for the different types in which your dishes can be prepared – for example, cooking pots with a sieve insert or special jam pots that have been specially coated. This way, your jam won’t burn immediately and you can pour it directly from the pot into the jar without making a big mess.
A cooking pot is even very welcome at a children’s party. The game “pot knocking” is a real hit at every children’s party. All you need is a pot, some sweets to hide underneath, a wooden spoon and a blindfold. You can read more about how the game works here.
Can I buy cooking pots in sets?
It is better to buy special cooking pots separately, as you usually only need a few of these. In addition, a set of special cooking pots can quickly become very expensive.
How much does a cooking pot cost?
The prices range from 8 euros to 230 euros for a cooking pot.
| Cooking pot type | price |
|---|---|
| Cast aluminium | 20 EUR to 130 EUR |
| Coated pot | 23 EUR to 170 EUR |
| Stainless steel pot | 10 EUR to 140 EUR |
| Enamel pot | 8 EUR to 240 EUR |
| Cast iron pot | 20 EUR to 230 EUR |
| Induction pot | 15 EUR to 120 EUR |
| Classic pot | 10 EUR to 150 EUR |
What are the alternatives to a saucepan?
If the food has already been cooked and only needs to be warmed, using a microwave is also sufficient. For healthy preparation without fat, a steamer can of course also be used.
What types of Cooking Pots are there and which is the right one for you?
Basically, we distinguish between these types of cooking pots:
- Cast aluminium pots
- Coated cooking pots
- Stainless steel cooking pots
- Cookware made of enamel
- Cookware made of cast iron
- Cookware for induction cookers
In the following, we explain the different types and their respective advantages and disadvantages. In this way, we want to help you find the cooking pot that is best for you.
What distinguishes a cast aluminium saucepan and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
These pots have a non-stick coating that prevents burnt food from sticking to the pot. You can easily remove this residue after cooking. It is important to note that the coating does not last forever – for optimal grip, do not use forks or knives in the pot. Wooden spoons protect the coating.
Another bonus point of the coating is that you can cook without oil. This supports a healthy diet without a lot of fat. The saucepan is suitable for all types of cookers, with the exception of induction cookers.
Cast aluminium pots are made of rather high-quality material and are also very energy-saving. The heat distributes itself on the pot walls and ensures that even there the food is seared/cooked.
What distinguishes a coated cooking pot and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
Coated pots can be understood to mean many things. Generally, it is said that these are pots that have been coated with a certain material on the inside. This material gives the pot a certain property – usually that something does not easily stick to the bottom of the pot.
Cast aluminium and other types of pots fall into this category. They convince with their short cooking time even at low temperatures. In addition, they make cooking easier even with little fat. Nevertheless, care must be taken with the coating, as it can be destroyed by too much scratching.
What distinguishes a stainless steel cooking pot and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
Stainless steel is a versatile material. A saucepan made of exactly this material will last a very long time if well cared for and will not break so quickly. Whether for sautéing, boiling or steaming – this cooking pot helps you to prepare your food optimally.
Because a stainless steel pot is usually not coated, unless it is explicitly stated, food can easily burn or stick to the bottom. Likewise, stains can appear in the pot when it is very hot (more on this below under “My cooking pot has discoloured – what does that mean?”). Nevertheless, every kitchen should have an all-rounder.
What are the characteristics of an enamel saucepan and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
Enamel consists of a certain material mix that makes it possible to keep the cooking pot resistant and rust-free. There is a steel core in the pot that conducts the heat optimally in the pot. The pot is also suitable for an induction cooker.
Even the taste is not adulterated, because enamel pots are aroma-neutral. Furthermore, they can get very hot very quickly, so your hands should always be protected from the heat when you touch this pot.
What distinguishes a cast iron cookware and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
The material of cast iron pots prevents the coating from being damaged due to its resistance. The pot is very energy-saving because the material guarantees optimal heat conduction. However, the cast iron pot must be dried very thoroughly, as it can rust.
The pot itself is rather heavy and therefore the handle, which is welded directly to the pot, helps immensely when carrying it and ensures optimal grip. The pot can even be used over a fireplace or in the oven.
What distinguishes a cooking pot for induction cookers and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
The special pot base makes it possible for the pot to work very energy-efficiently by fitting the pot exactly on the cooker and heating it only there. The heat conduction ensures that the food is optimally prepared.
Even burning on the cooking pot or burning the food is no longer possible with this pot. Cleaning is also very easy and can also be done in the dishwasher. The heat in the pot is retained even after the plate is switched off.
Buying Criteria: You can compare and evaluate Cooking Pots based on these Factors
In the following, we would like to show you which factors you can use to compare and evaluate cooking pots. This will make it easier for you to decide whether a particular saucepan is suitable for you or not.
In summary, these are:
Purpose
For optimal enjoyment, you need to prepare your food in the right pots. Every saucepan has special properties and not every saucepan is suitable for every food or stovetop. These properties can be caused either by size, shape or coating.
Think in advance about the food you are preparing and only then choose the right cooking pot.
Asparagus pots are accordingly very long or high, as is the pasta pot, which usually even includes a colander. A casserole, on the other hand, is rather small and has a long handle, as it is mainly used only for preparing sauces.
Compatibility
Not every pot fits on every cooker. Most pots are suitable for classic stovetops or ceramic hobs. However, if you have a gas cooker or a cooker with induction, we recommend that you look carefully when buying cooking pots.
You can see whether the saucepan is compatible with your cooker by looking at the symbols or the product descriptions. Otherwise, you may have a great saucepan but not be able to use it on your cooker.
Size
The size again depends on the food you want to prepare. For pasta you will need large pots, while you can cook eggs in small pots. However, make sure that the pot is not too small. Otherwise the food can overflow very easily.
…the first types of pots were used as early as the Neolithic Age. People at that time formed similar specimens into pots from various raw materials. They used them to fry meat and more.
We advise you to buy pots in different sizes or to get a cooking pot set to start with. The different sizes allow you to choose the perfect pot for your food, so you don’t waste energy heating pots that are too big. It also makes cooking faster.
Brand
There are different brands that vary completely in price. Examples are WMF, RIESS, Le Creuset, Berndorf and many more. Of course, you can also find no-name cooking pots on the market; these are usually found at discounters.
Special features are the hallmarks of the brands. RIESS, for example, is known for its coating and the famous enamel pots. WMF, on the other hand, stands for durable stainless steel pots.
Cookware from well-known brands is usually of a higher quality and therefore also in the premium segment in terms of price. Brand pots often come with long guarantees and many pots are even used for several decades.
Accessories
There are various accessories for cooking pots – starting with oven gloves and trivets. They also include pot inserts that make it easier for you to cook certain foods. You can find the right accessories wherever you buy pots.
There are also utensils that make it easier to take out your food, such as special cooking spoons, pasta tongs, scoops or meat forks. It’s best to get wooden spoons or suitable plastic spoons so that you don’t damage the coating on your pots.
Appearance
The appearance of cooking pots depends very much on the type and the way they work. Some cooking pots have handles, others have handles for lifting. Many pots offer a matching lid that ensures tender cooking.
Furthermore, the brand also plays a big role in appearance – because each brand has its own look. For example, enamelware can be recognised even from a distance, as it clearly stands out from other pots in terms of appearance and colour.
So there are cooking pots in a wide variety of colours and shapes and some have even won design awards. Especially in this day and age of food bloggers and with Instagram, the appearance of the pots is becoming increasingly important.
Facts worth knowing about Cooking Pots
How do I clean a saucepan?
There are a few solutions – an insider’s tip for removing burnt food is a powder with a strong sodium carbonate content, such as baking powder. Other cooks swear by a simple washing-up liquid and some boil the pot again with water.
My saucepan has become discoloured – what does this mean?
This usually only occurs with stainless steel cooking pots. The bottom can become discoloured if the saucepan has been heated too much. It is best to regulate the heat a little the next time you cook.
As long as only the bottom discolours, it is relatively harmless and the pot does not have to be thrown away immediately. However, if the overheating takes place over a longer period of time, it can damage the cooking pot.
My saucepan is calcified – what can I do about it?
If you live in an area with very calciferous water, stains can quickly form on the bottom of stainless steel pots, for example. Especially when boiling eggs, limescale residues settle and burn in. Even the dishwasher does not always manage to remove these stains.
Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean the end of your saucepan. Simply use a coarse cleaning sponge – make sure that it is suitable for pots and that you don’t scratch the pot – and a little washing-up liquid to help it along. The pot will shine like it used to.
My saucepan is leaking – what should I do now?
If you have noticed that your pressure cooker is taking longer than usual to cook, it is probably leaking. One possible cause is that the sealing ring has become porous and no longer seals. You can easily buy a new ring from most suppliers. Otherwise, the valve may be broken.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to throw away a pressure cooker immediately if it can’t be repaired. You can still use it as a normal cooking pot.
How do I open a pressure cooker?
Opening a pressure cooker is quite a challenge and not without danger. If it is opened too soon, an explosion can occur. That’s why it’s important that you turn off the hob before opening it and always make sure that you use it correctly.
Either you let the pressure cooker work on its own and it balances the pressure, or you help manually so that this is done more quickly. To do this, push the corresponding slider forwards/backwards and the pressure valve opens a little more than usual. This way the equalisation is done faster and you can enjoy your meal faster. Attention: it whistles very loudly and take your time!
Be sure to read the instruction manual – every pressure cooker can work slightly differently.
Challenges with the pressure cooker quickly solved
We have summarised all possible challenges with the pressure cooker and how you can solve them in the following table:
| Challenge | Cause | Solution | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food is burnt | Too little liquid/fat when cooking too hot | Baking soda, washing-up liquid or boiling again helps with cleaning | Cleaning also suitable for rest of saucepan |
| Cooking pot is discoloured | Can occur with stainless steel pots when overheated | Reduce heat when cooking | If overheated too often, damage can occur |
| Cooking pot is calcified | Can occur with calciferous water | Clean manually with cleaning sponge | Occurs, for example, when cooking eggs |
| Pressure cooker is leaking | Broken valve or leaking sealing ring | Replace valve or sealing ring | If it cannot be replaced, you can continue to use it as a normal cooker |
| Pressure cooker is under pressure | valves in pressure cookers create enormous pressure | let it cool down and/or manually adjust the pressure with a regulator | pay attention to the operation, otherwise injuries may occur |
How long do I have to cook things in the cooker to sterilise them?
Baby bottles and lollipops are sterilised after only 10 minutes of boiling time – this is very important to protect the baby’s immune system. You can read more about how this works here.
Other items can also be sterilised by boiling them for at least 10 minutes. Please take care of your fingers when you take out the sterilised item.
What do I do with a broken saucepan?
Nowadays, there are simple instructions on the internet to upcycle items and not have to dispose of them immediately. A simple and very chic solution is to plant a broken cooking pot.
Alternatively, the pot can be disposed of. Please observe the local waste separation regulations and the type of cooking pot. Not all cooking pots belong in the same bin.
Image source: pixabay.com / sgrunden
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