Interiors

15 best saucepan sets 2025, to make you feel like a fully-fledged adult

Play chef with these chic pot and pan sets.
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HexClad 13pc Hybrid Cookware Set w/ Lids

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Joseph Joseph Space Folding Handle Saucepan Set


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 its 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.

Scroll for our full edit of the best saucepan sets to shop in 2024.