What to look for in a saucepan set
A good set of saucepans will be something you use every day, so it’s worth treating it as an investment and picking a set that will last the test of time. Many come with guarantees, so that’s worth checking for, particularly if you’re spending a lot.
Beyond that, here are some things to consider before purchasing:
Cleaning: Can you put the pans in the dishwasher? And if you can, should you only do it occasionally? Non-stick coatings often make cleaning easier as the food debris will slide off.
Non-stick: Some pans come with a non-stick coating, which means you only need to use a small amount of oil while cooking. Most non-stick coatings are made from PFOA-free Teflon, a material many people are suspicious of and can be damaged easily. A more eco-friendly alternative is ceramic non-stick.
Storage: A five-piece pan set will take up a lot of room in your kitchen cupboards. If storage is an issue, look for pans that can be stacked inside each other, or share a single handle and lid.
Oven safe: A pan that can be put in the oven is a versatile addition to any kitchen. For instance, you may want to keep the contents warm as other recipe elements are finished off. If this sounds like your cooking style, buy an oven-safe pan set and check the maximum temperature they will withstand, usually between 200 and 260 degrees.
Weight: When cooking, your pans will be full of food, such as warming soups or fragrant curries, so if the saucepans you are considering are too heavy when empty, think carefully before buying them.
Handles: Stay-cool, plastic or hollow handles will make moving your pans around the kitchen safer and more comfortable. Short handles will be closer to the heat so they will get much hotter, but it will make the pan easier to move as it will feel more balanced. If a pan is hefty due to its large capacity, helper handles on either side will be helpful.
What’s the best material for a saucepan?
On the Mumsnet forums, some home cooks swear by stainless steel saucepans, whereas others wouldn’t use anything other than non-stick. Both have merits and disadvantages and in the end, it comes down to personal preference and the type of dishes you cook regularly.
Stainless steel
Stainless steel is a popular material for cookware; they are usually easy to clean and are ideal for everyday use. Stainless steel pans tend not to have a non-stick coating, so typically more oil will be needed during cooking.
Aluminium
Standard aluminium pans are usually robust, and don’t need as much TLC as other materials. Often, aluminium saucepans have a non-stick coating. Aluminium will heat up fast and evenly spread that heat across the entire surface of the pan.
Hard-anodised aluminium is very strong and looks similar to cast iron. The best thing about pans made from this is that you can usually use metal utensils because they are so tough – just check the manufacturer's guide first to ensure you don't void your warranty.
Cast iron
Cast iron is magnetic and perfect for induction hobs. It is also a very durable material. In addition, it holds heat well so you can save money by turning down the temperature controls to a lower setting.
If you like the idea of a natural non-stick coating, cast iron is excellent as you can build one up with regular use of oil and heat to season the pan.
Ceramic
Ceramic is usually used in a non-stick saucepan coating. It can withstand very high temperatures, is often mixed with other rigid materials such as titanium and is easy to clean. It is, however, prone to scratching, so wooden utensils are often a must; we recommend you always check the brand's care instructions if you're unsure.
Copper
Copper pans are often beautiful but pricey. They heat up fast and retain that heat, so chefs love them. Copper pans for use in a domestic kitchen will likely include stainless steel in the materials for practicality; this may also make them induction hob safe, but pure copper pans can't be used on an induction.
Related: The best cake tins for perfect bakes
What’s the best saucepan set to buy?
The Ninja Foodi ZEROSTICK Saucepan Set is the best one to buy. The pans look the part, and they have close-fitting lids, stay-cool handles and great heat conductivity. Mumsnetters really rate their durability and effective non-stick capability. They also work well on both gas and induction hobs.
How we chose our recommendations
Suggestions from real Mumsnet users
Mumsnet users love cooking for their families and friends and have lots of opinions on the best tools for the job. So, the Mumsnet forums were the first stop on our journey to find the best saucepan sets.
It was important for us to know what saucepans our users had tried, tested and loved in their own kitchens, and the ones they still rated after years of extensive use.
Expert opinions
Next, we scrutinised feedback from trusted food industry experts. We wanted to be entirely sure that all products we recommended were fit for purpose, so we focused on award-winning saucepan sets and those that were well thought of by professional chefs and food writers.
Verified consumer feedback
Finally, in our definitive list of the best saucepan sets available in the UK, we investigated comprehensive customer reviews on retailer websites such as Amazon and John Lewis to get honest opinions from a range of sources.
About the author
Gemma Lumley is a Content Writer at Mumsnet. With many years of experience as a copywriter for her family business Urban Media Publishing, Gemma has written articles and blogs on travel, the outdoor industry, parenting and finance.
Finding the products that will make parents' lives easier is important to Gemma. She loves the research and detective work that goes into our best buy lists, and has produced many home and kitchen guides for Mumsnet.
Gemma is a mum of two grown-up children and has two dogs and a tortoise. Alongside her writing, she spent many years as a home and travel expert and breastfeeding counsellor at a leading nursery retailer. Gemma is also a sensory analyst (chocolate taster!).
When she isn’t writing in-depth product reviews, Gemma loves to hike and enjoy the great outdoors.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust, and we spend hours scouring the Mumsnet forums and online bestseller lists to find products that real parents rate.
Transparency is really important to us, and that's why we're always upfront about where we find our recommendations. We write about products we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones our users recommend to their friends and family.
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