Once you’re using one of the best saucepan sets in your kitchen, you’ll understand why upgrading the quality of your cookware is so essential. While it can be tempting to opt for a cheap set, no kitchen can thrive without high-calibre pots and pans, so it’s fair to say that everyone from beans-on-toast masters to Michelin-star wannabes should be invested in their cooking tools.
For that very reason, we’ve decided to put the saucepans below to the test, with our Kitchen Appliances Editor and our resident home economist reviewing them at our test facility and at home. Trying out sets from the likes of Le Creuset (a brand that also features heavily in our guide to the best cast iron cookware), Ninja and Tefal, we’ve been able to gauge the quality of each set so that you can make the most informed decision before you invest.
This list has picks for all requirements – whether you’re looking for the best pans for induction hobs or you’re looking for non-stick options that will help to keep your cooking disasters to a minimum. The downside of good quality cookware is that it can be pricey, but the upshot is improved cooking results, and less need to replace it any time soon. Here are all of our tried and tested top picks.
The best saucepans – the quick list
If you’re short on time but still want to make sure that you’re buying the best saucepans, take a look below. We’ve put together a quick list of everything you need to know before we get into the more detailed nitty-gritty.
1. Le Creuset
3-Ply Stainless Steel Cookware Set
Best overall (if you have the budget)
Le Creuset is known for its cast iron, but their 3-Ply cookware will seriously blow you away. It comes with a lifetime warranty as the brand is so sure you’ll love it, and conducted heat beautifully in our tests, especially on an induction hob. It’s gorgeous too, obviously. The one kicker is that the non-stick pan in this set is not dishwasher safe which might spell a lot of future washing up.
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2. Joseph Joseph
Joseph Joseph Space Folding Handle Ceramic Non-stick Saucepan Set
Best design for busy homes
Joseph Joseph are a brand that the Ideal Home team use constantly in their own homes, so the arrival of its pan sets was hotly anticipated. During our tests these pans did not disappoint, with seriously high quality finishes and a very clever folding design, as well as a lid storer. If it’s true non-stick pans with a design-edge you want, then there’s no better pick than Joseph Joseph – trust us.
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3. IKEA
HEMKOMST 7-Piece Pan Set
Best stainless steel set under £100
This 7-piece set is obviously incredible value, but its also made from quality materials that will go the distance in your home. Our reviewer was so impressed by the heating capabilities of this set and the small user-friendly features (like built-in strainers and tactile handles) and really enjoyed cooking with this set day to day. It’s an oven-safe set too – a total win.
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4. Ninja
Foodi ZeroStick 3-Piece Pan Set
Best non-stick saucepans
Ninja has cracked the code when it comes to non-stick, and this impressive set is not only great for flipping and frying, but for boiling and stewing. It’s lightweight, easy to keep clean and looks good as new even after months of use according to our expert tester. It’s available in two different configurations: with 3 saucepans or 5.
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5. John Lewis
Classic Pan Set 5 Piece
Best durable
This set is a reliable favourite of ours from John Lewis after being tried and tested at home. The comfy handles never get hot while cooking, and clean after clean, they emerge looking brand new. The measurements on the saucepans and easy-pour spouts are simply genius, as well as the fact that absolutely everything included is dishwasher safe. The kicker is its not compatible with metal utensils and there’s no lid for the milk pan or fry pans.
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6. Zwilling
Simplify 5-Piece Cookware Set
Best user-friendly features
This is a pot-heavy saucepan set, perfect for if you prefer high sides for your cooking. Plus, this is another set simply packed full of clever features, including built-in lid holders for when you’re stirring and handles that actually stay cool for the duration of cooking. The integrated sieve holes shouldn’t be overlooked either.
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7. GreenPan
Premiere Stainless Steel Ceramic Non-Stick Saucepan & Lid Set
Best ceramic non-stick coating
Though there is a coating on these pans, it’s PFAS-free and seriously durable, as per our rigorous tests. The stainless steel exterior is a match made in heaven with the interior of these pans, creating a set that is so versatile for family cooking. With a high-quality feel, this oven safe set is a real overachiever. Our biggest bugbear with it? There are no air vents in the lids and its not the easiest design to store.
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9. Tefal
Ingenio 22 Piece Saucepan Set
Best large set (with removable handles)
This is an all encompassing pan set with 9 pans, 3 lids, 2 handles, 4 separators and 4 spatulas. Though it covers all bases, it’s not necessarily hard to store thanks to its USP: removable handles. The set also stacks like a dream – our reviewer loved the indicators on the pans to let you know when they’re ready for cooking too.
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Best saucepan set overall
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Strikingly high–quality, this 3-ply Stainless Steel 4-piece Cookware Set from Le Creuset is backed by a lifetime warranty, which is rare to find when it comes to cookware. We all know the brand is renowned for quality cast iron and our reviewer found the same emphasis on design carried over into this stainless steel collection.
Included is a 16cm saucepan, 18cm saucepan, 20cm deep casserole, and a 24cm non-stick frying pan, which is a versatile mix.
Our reviewer enjoyed how well this set stacked together, and the double handle design means you can lift these pans in and out of the oven without any trouble. The lids are made of stainless steel, so you won’t be able to look in as your food cooks, but in our reviewer’s experience this material lends itself to lasting longer and yields the best possible cooking results.
We also found that the base heated quickly due to the 3-ply stainless steel construction. The one downside is that the non-stick frying pan is best not placed in the dishwasher.
Best saucepan set design
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Joseph Joseph is a brand renowned for its clever designs. That same ethos has been applied here with this excellent pan set which wowed our reviewer Annie when testing.
She found that the stackable pans and foldable handles were the perfect small space storage solution, while the non-stick remained ‘superior’ even after weeks of testing in her kitchen. The overall quality was standout here, with a weighty (but not too heavy) feel, good heat retention and a durable finish. Though the handles can get a little hot to the touch after prolonged use, which is something to look out for.
Though the results from all of Annie’s tests were impressive, the non-stick ability of these pans was particularly notable during the scrambled eggs test. Cooking rice and pasta was also a breeze, though Annie did wish there were internal markers for water.
All in all, this pan set is truly worth investing in if you want something built-to-last with features that make storage easier.
Read our Joseph Joseph Folding Handle Ceramic Non-Stick Saucepan set review for the full details.
Best affordable stainless steel saucepan set
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IKEA is an Ideal Home go-to for so many essentials, but we never had it down as a cookware hub. Now, after testing this HEMKOMST set, we’re sold on the quality of the pots and pans from this brand.
For under £100, there’s no denying that this stainless steel set is phenomenal value for your kitchen. But beyond that, our reviewer also found the quality really shone through. It has impressive heating capabilities and the non-stick coating on the frying pan is so impressive that you don’t necessarily need to fry with oil. The handles make it easy to manoeuvre the pots on your hob and the built-in strainers cut out a job for you when cooking. This safe is also oven-safe, so you can practice all of your hob to table recipes in it. For under £100, this is a certified steal.
Read our IKEA HEMKOMST 7-Piece Pan set review for the full details.
Best non-stick saucepan set
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One standout feature of the ZeroStick range from Ninja is that you are free to use metal utensils when cooking. During our tests, it felt pretty weird to use a metal whisk and slatted spoon when cooking in the set, but it was one less thing to worry about in the kitchen, and also cuts back on the less-durable and often plastic alternatives you’re forced to buy with non-stick saucepan sets.
The handle is angled upwards, which makes for an ergonomic experience and also lightens the load when it comes to pouring. All of the pans and lids can go in the dishwasher, and even in the oven, up to 260°C. We like this set for the price, which is very reasonable for such a durable range. Our major gripe is that the set is tricky to stack, and the ZeroStick coating is a little less attractive than more conventional cookware.
Best saucepan set with two frying pans
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John Lewis is a staple for many for cookware, so we had to try out one of the brand’s bestselling sets to see why this is such a favourite of shoppers. Our reviewer found it to be well-designed, with a great mix of pots and pans, as well as phenomenal in terms of quality.
Highlights with this set include the fact that they fare well in the dishwasher, and have a bunch of small qualities to make your life easier. That includes curved rims for pouring and oven-safe material for finishing off dishes, as well as measurements on the inside of the saucepans. The kicker is there’s no lids for the milk pan or the two frying pans and that using metal utensils on them is a big no.
The non-stick on the coated pans also really impressed our reviewer, which is essential for pans for a family kitchen.
Read our John Lewis Classic Pan set review for more details.
Best saucepan set with keep-cool handles
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This set is more pot than pan heavy, which is essential if you’re regularly catering to a lot of people or simply if it suits your cooking style. For our reviewer, it really helped with making stews and soups a simpler affair – not least because of its array of user-friendly features.
It includes a saucepan, stockpots and a huge stew pot, so everything from rice to casserole is covered. The integrated sieve feature on each of the pots was lauded as genius by our reviewer and would suit novice cooks and experienced home chefs alike. It is pricey (though you can often find it on offer) and while bulky, it’s sure to last you for a long time when you need to feed a crowd.
Read our Zwilling Simplify set review for the full details.
Best ceramic non-stick saucepan set
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This set, which consists of three quality saucepans, is a fabulous investment for a family kitchen. Our reviewer Annie loved that this set combined PFAS-free non-stick coating with a durable stainless steel finish – the perfect combination for creating truly hardy pans.
The set is dishwasher-friendly and oven-safe (even with the lids on), so you don’t need to worry about particular usage of them as you cook. In tests, Annie was impressed by the non-stick ability throughout and found that each pan had a good weight to it without being overly heavy. The handles are comfortable too.
Quibbles she had with the set included the lack of vents in the lids and the storage problem that this set posed – it’s not the most stackable.
Read our GreenPan Premiere Stainless Steel Ceramic Non-Stick Saucepan and Lid set review for full details.
Best large saucepan set
This set of pans has one of the cleverest design on this list, with removable handles to make stacking in your cupboards so much easier. You can pick up either the 3-pan set, the 5-piece version or the whopping 22-piece which is the set we reviewed. All in all it features 3 saucepans (with lids), 4 frying pans, a sauté pan, a wok, felt pan protectors and 4 different utensils.
Despite how large this set is, its one of the easiest to store thanks to the detachable design that allows the pans to nestle together. It wowed our reviewer in testing, who said it can do it all. She found the novel handle system easy to work with, though it was slightly annoying that you need to unclip the handle when the pan is hot, as its made of plastic.
Ideal Home team member Andrea Childs also owns the five-piece set and loves cooking with them at home. Not only does she love the space-saving design, but also the fact that they come with airtight lids, which means that you can pop any leftovers in your pan straight into the fridge instead. Andrea also loves the draining slots in the lid to make pouring away pasta water or boiling water much easier. A crowd pleasing pan set!
Read our Tefal Ingenio 22-Piece Pan Set review for the full details.
How we tested the best saucepan sets
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How did we review the best saucepan sets? Every set in this guide has been used hands-on by a member of the Ideal Home team for at least two weeks, as well as during a grouped testing session at our review facility. Certain pans have also been tested long term within the homes of team members, so that we can tell you more about durability and wear.
We looked out for how evenly the pan heated, the quality of the design, how enjoyable the handles and lids were to use and store, and the versatility of each set. Where a saucepan set was non-stick, we made sure that this would last and tested how well it cooked our fried eggs and bacon. Other features to look out for are oven-safe designs and heat-resistant handles. We tested for both, where appropriate, as well as evenly heated bases and the convenience of cleanup and day-to-day use.
FAQs
Is it worth investing in a high quality saucepan set?
As Ideal Home’s Kitchen Appliances Editor, after testing dozens of saucepans, the main difference I’ve found in using a high-quality version is improved consistency in cooking results. You don’t just have to take my word for it. I spoke with Irini Tzortzoglou, winner of series 15 of MasterChef UK, to find out why investing in a good quality saucepan set was so important to her.
Irini says ‘One of the first things I knew I needed to do when I applied to MasterChef was to buy a good set of saucepans. Previously I bought based on looks and over my 30+ years in London I got through quite a few (the lids came apart, the handles fell off, the coating got damaged, etc.)’
‘The set I bought and have enjoyed for 5 years now – my stepdaughter wants them left to her in my will – are English made (which is important to me) by Samuel Groves. They are good looking, easy to clean, suitable for all stove tops and oven too, in that sense ideal for when I want to brown something quickly and then finish in the oven.’
The main thing that Irini loves about her high-quality saucepan set? ‘They are made of stainless steel which is durable and conducts heat evenly and doesn’t react with alkaline or acidic foods either. No special care or cleaning is required. I think they are perfect and you don’t need a mortgage for them either.’
What size saucepans do I need?
After trying out many different combinations, I think saucepans measuring 16, 18 and 20cm are good standard sizes to aim for if you want a set of three. Then optionally a larger stockpot for big dishes. The other size worth considering is a 14cm milk pan; these tend to have pouring spouts but no lids, perfect for sauces, gravy, custard, hot chocolate and more.
Features of a good saucepan set
What are the pans made from?
Materials-wise, most modern pans use a combination of aluminium and stainless steel. The stainless steel is durable and low maintenance while the aluminium (usually a disc of it, encapsulated in the pan base) is light and spreads heat quickly and evenly. Meanwhile, cast iron is tough and induction-friendly but takes a long time to heat up (and cool down).
Should I go for non-stick coatings?
Non-stick coatings are easy to clean and tougher than they used to be, but they do wear over time. Ceramic pans are an alternative that avoids the chemicals in traditional non-stick coatings made using Teflon and PFOA.
What style of pan handle is best?
Phenolic (black, plasticky) handles are cooler to the touch, so you can handle pans and lids without resorting to oven gloves. Metal handles and knobs get hotter but they’re oven-safe to higher temperatures. If you like to finish dishes in the oven or grill, go for metal. If not, weigh up the practicality and looks of both options. The trend is currently more for metal handles.
What other extra features are handy?
Nice extra features include graduations for measuring quantities and lid materials – metal is tough and easy to clean; glass lets you keep an eye on cooking without lifting the lid. And if you’re short of storage space, look out for pans that stack well or fit inside each other neatly.
Are they dishwasher safe?
Most pans (and all the ones featured here) call themselves ‘dishwasher safe’ but the care instructions usually suggest hand-washing is better for them in the long term. It’s your call, but you won’t do them major harm by using the dishwasher.
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