I can say with some authority that some sauté pans are way better than others…
One that’s too shallow could mean your food won’t fit, or worse yet, it won’t have a lid to retain that all important moisture.
The solution is to read articles like this one that provide good, honest reviews on the best sauté pans on the market, AND provide you with a handy buying guide that will walk you through all the key points to consider before you buy.
What’s more, I tested out all the sauté pans mentioned in this article myself, so I know what I’m talking about.
And at the end, I’ll even throw in answers to your most frequently asked questions on the subject.
Anyway, let’s get straight to it. Here’s my number one pick…
OUR TOP PICK
HexClad 7 Quart Hybrid Deep Sauté Pan Fryer
EDITORS CHOICE
Rachael Ray Cityscapes Nonstick Sauté Pan
BEST VALUE
Copper Chef Non-Stick Sauté Pan
OUR TOP PICK
HexClad 7 Quart Hybrid Deep Sauté Pan Fryer
HexClad is one of the biggest names in cookware, used by the likes of Oprah Winfrey and famous TV chef Gordon Ramsey.
The brand has a huge following and there’s no way I wasn’t going to test one out for this article.
It’s a bestseller with the leading online retailers, and on Amazon it has seen impressive customer ratings, with an average customer rating of a full 5 stars out of 5, even after over 100 individual customer ratings.
HexClad is somewhat unique – it features hybrid technology, combining the best of both worlds of stainless steel with a ceramic non-stick surface…
Basically, there’s a base layer of magnetic stainless steel, that can be used on both a regular stove top and an induction stove, then there’s a middle layer of aluminum to provide nice, even heating, and this is topped with another layer of steel which is etched to create a series of valleys and peaks to prevent food from sticking to the pan.
At 7 quarts, it’s noticeably larger than most other sauté pans, which are typically 5 quarts in size, so you can cook more food.
What’s more, it comes with a see-through lid, features two cool-to-the-touch handles, and is both dishwasher safe and oven safe.
And if all that’s not enough, it also comes backed by a lifetime warranty!
The only real drawback to this pan is the price tag, but judging by the customer reviews, there are a great many people who believe it’s worth every cent.
Amazon occasionally has deals on this particular sauté pan, and when this article was written, you could save 24% off the listing price – simply click on “Check price” to see if there happens to be a deal on now.
My experience with it: I’ve now made several dishes with this pan. I was impressed with how quickly and evenly it heats up, and how food does not stick, making it a breeze to clean.
I also tried putting the plan in the oven after browning, and the transition was a breeze.
Pros
- Recommended by TV chef Gordon Ramsey
- Unique non-stick scratch resistant surface
- Comes with a see-through lid
- Both dishwasher safe & oven safe
- Backed by a lifetime warranty
Cons
- Premium product at a premium price
Also available to buy at:
EDITORS CHOICE
Rachael Ray Cityscapes Nonstick Sauté Pan
Rachael Ray is another big name in cookware, and this pan is inspired by Rachael’s love of hygge.
But thankfully, it’s not quite as expensive as the HexClad pan I showed you earlier.
It’s not as prominent a bestseller as the HexClad range either, but it has been met with excellent customer ratings and reviews, earning an average Amazon rating of 4 and a half stars, after over 150 individual customer ratings.
It’s of a very nice shape and size, with a good 5-quart capacity, an oval base, with no awkward corners, and very deep sides.
It comes with its own see-through lid, and there are two cool-to-the-touch handles, one on either end of the pan.
It’s made with durable aluminum, and also features a non-stick interior, and an enamel porcelain exterior.
It’s available in two color options, turquoise or sea salt gray.
It also happens to be perfectly safe to be put in the oven, up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
It’s more expensive than your average sauté pan, but if you’re a fan of the Rachael Ray cookware hygge aesthetic, then the price tag might not bother you.
My experience with it: I have no issues with this pan whatsoever. I didn’t want to risk putting it in the dishwasher because it’s not described as dishwasher safe, but no food stuck to the pan, and it was easy to clean up.
I made the most of being able to put it in the oven, and was surprised by how lightweight it is.
Pros
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Cons
- If you decide to buy through my link to Amazon, be careful what you click on because there are other pans on the product page besides the sauté pan.
- Many of the reviews on the product page will relate to other pans besides the sauté pan.
Also available to buy at:CalphalonBed Bath and Beyond
RUNNER UP
T-fal Specialty Nonstick 5 Quart Jumbo Sauté Pan With Lid
T-fal is also another well established brand, and it’s particularly well known for its non-stick surface.
This pan has been selling particularly well on Amazon, where it’s a prominent bestseller.
There have been well over 6000 customer ratings for it on Amazon, yet the average still comes out at an impressive 4.7 stars out of 5!
What’s more, this is by far the most affordable sauté pan on my shortlist, so if you’re looking to spend wisely, and you’re happy to go with a budget brand, you need look no further.
And yet it still manages to tick all the boxes. It has a generous capacity, coming in at 5 quarts, and deep sides. It has a nice round shape with no awkward corners.
It comes complete with a see-through glass lid, which has a vent to let off steam.
And in addition to the long handle on one side, there’s also another cool-to-the-touch handle on the opposite side for easy handling.
But its best feature is its superior pro-glide toxin free nonstick interior.
It also features a handy thermo-spot indicator, which turns red to indicate when the pan is preheated.
It’s also safe to put into the oven up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and safe to put in the dishwasher too.
And if all that’s not enough, it also comes backed by a lifetime manufacturer warranty.
My experience with it: I loved sautéing with this pan. Nothing ever stuck to the non-stick surface, even when I transferred the pan to the oven.
The indicator came in really handy. And cleaning up was an absolute breeze, thanks to the pan being dishwasher safe.
Pros
- Bargain, affordable price tag
- Generous capacity at 5 quarts with deep sides
- It comes complete with a vented glass lid
- Superior pro-glide toxin free nonstick interior
- There’s a handy thermo-spot indicator inside
- It’s safe to put into the oven or the dishwasher
- Backed by a lifetime manufacturer warranty.
Cons
- Not made in the USA
- Could be more resistant to scratching and warping
Also available to buy at:
Buying Guide
As promised, here’s your buying guide. Let me walk you through the key points to consider when shopping for a sauté pan. It makes for a handy checklist.
Width
The wider your sauté pan, the more food you can cook, and the more people you can cater for. So if you have a lot of mouths to feed, the wider the pan the better.
Depth
As with width, the deeper your sauté pan is, the better, too. Your sauté pan should be at least 2 inches deep.
But, be careful because some sauté pans look deeper than they actually are because they have a thicker base.
Shape
Personally, I think round sauté pans are best, because when you’re plating up, it can be quite awkward to spoon food out of the corners of a square pan.
Lid
I only recommend sauté pans that come with lids. Having a lid over your food helps to retain the food’s moisture, which makes all the difference to its juicy taste.
If you got one without a lid, and the recipe you want to follow called for one, that would suck.
And if you ever wanted to give the food a quick stir, or turn some meat over, all you have to do is remove the lid for a minute or two.
And to that end, the lid needs to have a handle that’s cool to the touch.
I’d also recommend going for a lid that’s see-through, because that way, you’ll be able to keep an eye on your food as it cooks.
Material
You need your sauté pan to be able to conduct heat well and conduct it evenly, so it needs to be metallic.
Most metals will work well as the exterior of a sauté pan. Stainless steel is very popular, as is aluminum, but if you go for copper, this will also work on an induction stove.
Non-Stick Coating
Even though you are meant to use oil when you’re sautéing, the healthiest way to sauté your food is with as little oil as possible.
But, with minimal oil, you get a greater chance of food sticking to the pan.
So what you need is a sauté pan with a non-stick coating of some description. Hard to say which is the best non-stick coating, though.
Cool to the Touch Handles
Sauté pans are generally made with a long handle that remains cool to the touch.
But the best ones also have another handle on the opposite side that is also cool to the touch. This makes it easier to get around the pan when you’re cooking.
Dishwasher Safe
If you’re lucky enough to own a dishwasher, wouldn’t it be great if you could wash the pan in your dishwasher and save yourself some time and effort.
Oven Safe
Once you have sealed the sides of any meat you’re cooking, many people like to slide their sauté pan into the oven to allow their food to bake or roast. But only certain sauté pans are safe to go in the oven.
Brand
There’s a lot to be said for going with a brand that you know and trust.
And I made a point of testing out some of the best brands of sauté pans out there, including the likes of HexClad, Rachel Ray, Copper Chef, Calphalon, and T-fal.
Value for Money
Sauté pans can really vary in price. You can get some for a mere $25, while at the other end of the scale, you can expect to pay over $100 for a high-end one.
We don’t include prices in our reviews on this site in case they change, but if you have a budget to stick to, I 100% recommend checking prices as you go along.
That way you can see what features your money buys you and from there determine what your budget should be.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Kind of Pan is Best for Sautéing?
I would argue that the best pans for sautéing are ones with a truly non-stick surface, and with nice, even heating.
I prefer sauté pans with glass lids to retain heat moisture, with handles on both sides, that you can also put in the oven if you wish.
