They sound and look comparable, so is there even a distinction between saucepans and sauciers? Are you going to break your meal should you use one as a substitute of the opposite? The respective solutions listed below are sure (there are variations) and no (you gained’t break something), however understanding the nuances of those pans can assist you make a extra knowledgeable determination subsequent time you’re purchasing for a brand new piece of cookware.
Spot the Distinction
Critical Eats / J. Kenji López-Alt
Saucepans have straight sides and are useful for duties like boiling water, cooking pasta, reheating soupy leftovers, poaching eggs—you get the thought. Saucepans are inclined to have increased sides than sauciers, which makes them helpful for holding something susceptible to effervescent up and spilling over.
Sauciers, however, have a shallower profile with barely flared, rounded sides (which suggests there are not any corners). They’re purpose-built for stirring, with curves that cozy proper as much as a whisk or wood spoon. Sauciers are perfect for making risotto, pastry cream, or—shockingly—sauces. When you’ve made a velvety roux in a correct saucier, you’ll in all probability discover your saucepan spending much more time within the drawer.
Finally, we desire sauciers over saucepans as a result of they’ll do every little thing a saucepan can do, after which some.
Materials and Efficiency
Critical Eats / Russell Kilgore
Most saucepans and sauciers are made from chrome steel. This materials is flexible, sturdy, and, since many are tri-ply—that’s, the bottom is a stainless-steel sandwich with an aluminum heart—warmth is performed effectively.
After we tested saucepans, we assessed every pan’s competency with boiling water, cooking rice, browning butter, and, within the saucepans that impressed us essentially the most, we additionally whipped up a batch of pastry cream. We discovered that we are inclined to desire saucepans with a wider diameter (between seven and eight inches was our candy spot) and a large, rounded deal with for straightforward pick-up and switch.
Our saucier tests included making pastry cream, risotto, and pâte à choux. For these delicate duties, we favored sauciers with a beneficiant floor space (all the higher for stirring) and a just-right weight (all the higher for maneuvering). Heavy-bottomed sauciers have been efficient at retaining warmth, however they have been much less agile and took longer to heat up.
Professionals and Cons
Critical Eats / Tim Chin
The true benefit of a saucepan is its excessive sides. You’ll be able to put water on to boil and, in these panicked milliseconds earlier than it boils over, have time to avoid wasting your self from a multitude. (Hopefully.) Saucepans are generally obtainable in sizes between one and 6 quarts, so if you have already got a favourite and need a smaller or bigger model, you’ll be able to in all probability discover it with ease.
The saucier’s strengths lie in these curved, sloping sides and rounded edges. There are not any “corners” during which issues can get caught whilst you’re whisking with abandon in a saucier, whereas a saucepan’s practically 90-degree angle between base and sides means your sauce (or cream, or tender grain) is vulnerable to sticking because the whisk skims proper previous. Sauciers have a tendency to return in sizes between two and provides quarts, and we desire them within the 3- to 4-quart vary.
Now,, saucepans and sauciers each often include a lid, in order that half is straightforward!
So, Which One is Higher?
Critical Eats / Tim Chin
“Higher” is a subjective time period, however the Critical Eats crew tends to prefer sauciers to saucepans. We recognize the flexibility of those smooth vessels, which—after adjusting for capability, after all—can nonetheless be used for all the identical issues as a saucepan. For those who’re going to put money into a shiny new pan, you could as properly get essentially the most bang on your buck and maximize usefulness.
Our Favourite Saucier
![Stainless Clad Saucier](https://www.seriouseats.com/thmb/OMGDu-qHBi3VsxJlAz3S7WvFxm4=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/1_ffeb2f98-4cc3-4462-a20c-f35e45bf5fe2_1016x-5e73f9807fad4a03bb7e90e2fe0a92ad.jpg-069607a6e33a49e69a6598029c0aaa84.jpg)
Made In
When you already know, you already know. Or ought to we are saying, once you’ve examined an entire bunch of them, it is fairly simple to inform which one is the very best. And after reviewing sauciers, our favourite is the one from Made In. It was mild, performed warmth properly, and stirring in it was merely a dream. We advocate beginning out with the 3-quart measurement.
Critical Eats / Tim Chin
Our Favourite Saucepans
![Zwilling Spirit 3-ply Stainless Steel 4-Quart Saucepan](https://www.seriouseats.com/thmb/0_niPsQzQ9iXlwFnN83gd4omHpU=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ZwillingSpirit3-plyStainlessSteel4-QuartSaucepan-51e7b4d7d58a4ea19b1b55ac3566e5db.jpg)
Zwilling
Preferring a saucier doesn’t imply we’re banishing saucepans from our kitchens! Plus, most cooks are accustomed to saucepans, and it’s pure to desire to purchase the factor we already know.
This saucepan from Zwilling aced our tests because of its flared rim that permits for straightforward stirring, a snug deal with that stays cool whereas boiling water, and useful particulars like inside measurement markings and a glass lid.
Critical Eats / Irvin Lin
![Amazon Tramontina Covered Sauce Pan with Helper Handle](https://www.seriouseats.com/thmb/gzan2a9WF6ywJPF0j8Ag3qlsuvI=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/tramontina-covered-sauce-pan-with-helper-handle-57f036e74b4a472ebcd9b208285ee61c.jpg)
Amazon
Tramontina has impressed us earlier than (we additionally like their reasonably priced stainless steel skillets), so we weren’t shocked that this mid-priced saucepan carried out as properly—with even heating and cozy handles on each the pan and the lid—as a few of the fashions that price twice as a lot.
Critical Eats / Irvin Lin
FAQs
What does a saucepan appear like?
Saucepans and sauciers look very comparable! You’ll spot the saucepan by its excessive, straight sides.
What’s a non-reactive saucepan?
Non-reactive cookware implies that the fabric gained’t react with acidic meals, doubtlessly lending a tinny, “off” style to your dish. Cast iron, for instance, is reactive—which is why it’s best to in all probability select a special pan should you plan on simmering a tomato sauce for a number of hours.
Ought to I purchase a saucepan or a saucier?
This actually depends upon what you’re planning to make use of it for. For those who simply want one thing to boil water a few occasions per week, be happy to seize a finances saucepan and name it a day. However if you wish to often make sauces, risotto, or usually have extra flexibility along with your pan, spring for a saucier.