The Best Small Saucepans for Those Quick Cooking Tasks

How We Selected

After extensive research, in addition to testing 40 different stainless steel cookware sets side-by-side in our Lab, we selected the best small saucepans. When testing in the Lab, each set was rated on its performance, heating ability, durability, design, ease of cleaning, and overall value. For untested models, we took into account a saucepan's design, material, size, ease of cleaning, and value.

What to Look for in a Small Saucepan

Material

Saucepans are made from a variety of different material, with most being made from stainless steel or aluminum. These two metals are known for being quick to heat and, if well constructed, should heat the saucepan evenly. Stainless steel will usually have an uncoated surface so you can use metal utensils, but food can get stuck-on. If that happens, you can soak the pan and use an abrasive to fully clean the pan. Aluminum is typically found in nonstick and ceramic-coated cookware. Food is less likely to stick to the coating, though it can be damaged if you use metal utensils or abrasive cleaners.

You can also find cast iron and copper small saucepans. Cast iron takes longer to heat thoroughly, but when it does, it stays hot for longer and can be heated to high temperatures. It is heavy though. If the cast iron isn't enameled coated, you will have to maintain its seasoning in order to have a slick surface. Copper cookware has amazing heat conductivity and it's incredibly easy to control the heat, making it wonderful for delicate dishes. But it's very costly and needs regular maintenance to avoid tarnishing.

Construction

With a small saucepan, you need to pay extra attention to construction to avoid broken sauces and burnt dishes. Make sure the base of the pan is wide enough for comfortable stirring, and that it's easy enough to peer in for a glance. Additionally, take a look at how the handle is attached. “You want a handle that is actually screwed into the pot and not glued or welded—you should see screws on the inside of the pot,” says Tanorria Askew. If you know you'll be stirring while holding the handle, test that it's comfortable in your grip and will stay cool during cooking.

Additionally, take a look at the lid. Many small saucepans come with one, either metal or glass. If you like knowing what's happening in a saucepan while covered, choose tempered glass. Glass lids do sometimes come with small built-in strainers, which is an added bonus. Whichever you choose, make sure it's tight-fitting. Moisture escaping a small saucepan can quickly lead to a ruined dish.

Size

We consider small saucepans to be anything 2-quart and under. This does mean a range of sizes! Under 1 quart, you'll typically see "butter warmers." These are very tiny, but can be very versatile. Butter warmers can be used to quickly warm up anything you need, from butter (naturally) to milk, chocolate sauce, or maple syrup. Above 1 quart, you can get saucepans in any quarter-size. The smaller sizes are good for warming up single servings, while the larger end is more useful for sauces and anything that needs to be whisked.

FAQs

What size is a small saucepan?

Saucepans come in all sizes from tiny 0.5-quart butter warmers to your everyday 4-quart pot. Most classify the small saucepans as anything 2 quarts or under. You can find saucepans at every quarter-quart interval. Of these, the most versatile versions are 1.5-quart and 2-quart saucepans, as that's large enough for a can of soup, but small enough to quickly warm a sauce.

How should you choose what size saucepan to buy?

What size saucepan does come down to how you need to use it. If you want something to warm milk for your morning coffee, to melt butter, or to make a single-serving of soup or oatmeal, choose something 1-quart or under. If you'd like to do all of that, plus be able to make rice or other dishes with multiple servings, go for a 1.5-quart or 2-quart saucepan.

Can you put a saucepan in the oven?

This varies depending on the saucepan and what it's made of. Always check with the manufacturer's guide regarding oven safety and maximum heat threshold. If your saucepan is oven proof, it is typically referring to the pot itself and might not include the handles or the lid. If your lids are oven-safe, they will usually have a slightly lower temperature threshold, particularly if they are glass. If you aren't sure what the heat maximum is for your lids, it's best to err on the side of caution and use aluminum foil as a lid in the oven instead. Of course, if there is any plastic in the construction or a regular nonstick coating, it's best to keep the saucepan out of the oven.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Joy Manning is a food writer and recipe developer. Her work has appeared in many publications including The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Washington Post. She’s the author of "Almost Meatless" and "Stuff Every Cook Should Know."

This piece was edited by Bernadette Machard de Gramont, an LA-based writer who specializes in global food and wine content. After a 2-year stint at Williams-Sonoma Headquarters in San Francisco, she now researches and tests a variety of cookware, bakeware, and wine tools, and interviews field experts for their insight.

The Spruce Eats Editor Siobhan Wallace compiled testing data from our official Lab as well as insights from our home testers' full product reviews to update this roundup.

Donna Currie, one of our expert home reviewers, put the All-Clad G5 to the test and highly recommends it as an investment piece.