Top 15 Best Saute Pans To Buy in 2021

Firstly, to be honest, saute pan is not something familiar in every US kitchen, right? If you do not cook daily, your kitchen may only have necessary cookware such as pots and frying pans. Some people think that a frying pan can handle a saute pan’s tasks, so why do they have to buy a saute pan?

However, this is not the case. Saute pans have become more popular with such a diversity of available options that confuse you at first sight. More customers are searching for a particular product for some specific cooking performances, with the highest quality that frying pan cannot offer.

That is how saute pans are getting more critical in the kitchen. Let’s start with some fundamentals about this cookware before reading the central part of my top 15 best saute pans reviews.

What Is A Saute Pan?

A saute pan, from my point of view, is a combination of a saucepan and a frying pan. What does that mean?

A saute pan is seemingly a saucepan with a larger diameter, lower sides, and a long handle, making it look like a frying pan (or skillet). However, there are some distinctive features between these three items, which we will discuss in the following part.

Saute Pan Vs. Skillet Vs. Saucepan

Let’s make a short comparison table to clarify the differences among a saute pan, a skillet, and a saucepan:

Saute Pan

• Diameter: 10 inches – 13.5 inches
• Sides:  Straight
• Bottom: Flat
• Helper handle: Yes
• Lid: Yes

Saucepan

• Diameter: 5.5 inches – 8 inches
• Sides: Straight
• Bottom: Flat
• Helper handle: No
• Lid

Skillet

• Diameter: 8 inches – 14 inches
• Sides: Slightly round
• Bottom: Flat
• Helper handle: No
• Lid: No

Firstly, regarding the shapes, saute pans tend to have straight sides and flat bottom, which is designed for accommodating movement while cooking. It is similar to saucepan, however saute pan’s diameter is wider than saucepan.

On the other hand, skillets are formed by lower walls that are slightly rounded, with a wide range of size.

Secondly, the three types consist of form-fitting handles but saute pans also have another helper handle besides the main one, which looks like the handle on a pot. In contrast, the others do not.

Thirdly, similar to a saucepan, a saute pan comes with a cover (or a lid), while a frying pan usually does not.

What Are The Best Saute Pans?

If you can not have enough time to read all my reviews, you can quickly check my highlighted saute pans with specific characteristics. Your best saute pan may be right in this part!

• Best Overall – Calphalon Saute Pan
  “Hard-anodized aluminum; 5 quarts; gray; dual-layer nonstick; including tempered glass cover; oven safe.”
• Best Budget – T-fal B36290 Saute Pan
  “Aluminum; capacity of 5 quarts; black; nonstick; Thermo-spot technology applied; PFOA, lead, cadmium free.”
• Best for Oven – All-Clad 4403 Saute Pan
  “Triple-ply construction with an aluminum core; 18/10 stainless steel material; 3 quarts; nonstick feature; silver.”
• Best Nonstick – Emeril Lagasse 62928 Saute Pan
  “Heavy-gauge aluminum; 5 quarts; gray; triple-layer nonstick coating; including tempered glass lid. ”
• Best Ceramic – Cooking Light Ceramic Saute Pan
  “Ceramic; riveted stay-cool silicone handle; 4 quarts; red; tempered glass included; oven-safe; dishwasher safe.”
• Best for Induction – Cooks Standard Saute Pan
  “Stainless steel with aluminum disc bottom; induction compatible; 5 quarts; silver; oven-safe; dishwasher safe.”
• Best for Searing – Bialetti Impact 07554 Saute Pan
  “Heavy-gauge aluminum; 4 quarts; Micro-Divot textured nonstick coating; over safe; tempered glass cover.”
• Best for Stir-fry – Bruntmor Enameled Cast Iron Saute Pan
  “Enameled cast iron exterior; matte black enameled interior; 4.2 quarts; attractive design; pumpkin spice color; over safe.”
• Best with Lid – Greenpan Prime Midnight Saute Pan
  “Ceramic with a hard-anodized aluminum core; 5 quarts; black; durable glass cover; oven safe.”
• Best Unique – T-fal C41195 Saute Pan
  “Heavy-gauge aluminum and ceramic; 6 quartsf; square-shaped; oven-safe; dishwasher safe; metal utensils safe.”

Saute Pan Comparison Table 2021

Before moving to the detailed reviews of each saute pan, let’s look at this short comparison table to get an overview of my top 15 best saute pans to buy in 2021.

My Reviews For The Best Saute Pans in 2021

Now it is the most significant part that can help you deeply understand the features, advantages, and back draws of my top 15 best saute pans to buy in 2021. After reading those following reviews, you can decide on the most suitable saute pan for you!

1. Calphalon Saute Pan

(Best Overall)

Calphalon Saute Pan is ranked first in my list as the best overall saute pan I would love to recommend.

This kitchen utensil, designed with a wide bottom to maximize the surface of cooking and low sides to flip food conveniently, is a versatile pan for any dishes made by either novices or gourmet chefs. Featuring a dual-layer nonstick interior, Calphalon saute pan enables you to release food and clean it easier.

Regarding material, the pan body is made of hard-anodized aluminum, allowing you to cook faster due to its quickly conducting heat. Meanwhile, the stainless steel handle will stay cool, keeping you safe and comfortable while cooking.

Costing a reasonable price with a lot of advantages, this cookware from Calphalon is undoubtedly the best worth-buying saute pan!

Key Features:

• Constructed from hard-anodized aluminum;
• The capacity of 5 quarts;
• Dual-layer nonstick;
• Flat bottom and low sides.

Product Specifications:

Brand	Calphalon
Capacity	5 Quarts
Material	The hard-anodized aluminum body; stainless steel handle
Color	Gray
Lid	Tempered glass lid
Oven safe	450ºF
Dishwasher safe	No
Warranty	Full lifetime

2. T-fal B36290 Saute Pan

(Best Budget)

This T-fal B36290 saute pan is the best budget item offering exceptional features that you can find now on the market!

This fantastic product features a durable nonstick layer, a heat mastery system that allows you to make delicious dishes every time easily.

What is more, T-fal continuously strives for developing innovative products that can smartly support their users, and Thermo-Spot is one of their creative applications. This unique heat indicator in the bottom of the pan will turn solid red for letting you know that it is properly preheated and ready for cooking.

Key Features:

• A durable aluminum saute pan;
• Thermo-spot technology applied;
• Has a heat mastery system;
• PFOA, lead, cadmium free.

Product Specifications:

Brand	T-fal
Capacity	5 Quarts
Material	Aluminum
Color	Black
Lid	Tempered glass lid
Oven safe	350ºF
Dishwasher safe	Yes
Warranty	Full lifetime

3. All-Clad 4403 Saute Pan

(Best for Oven)

All-Clad is already a reputable brand with high-quality products delivering exceptional cooking performances, right?

Constructed by prime material, this All-Clad 4403 Saute is the best saute pan for the oven in my reviews, which can withstand high temperatures up to 600ºF.

Moreover, this stainless steel saute pan is the three-ply bonded construction with aluminum core, ensuring quick and even heating. Besides, All-Clad cookware features a stick-resistant interior thanks to 18/10 stainless steel material, straight, tall sides, and large bottom, making it ideal for searing, sauteing, and simmering.

Despite the relatively high price, this product offers the high quality and versatility that no other saute pan can compare. Trust me; in this case, you get what you pay for!

Key Features:

• Triple-ply bonded layers of stainless steel and aluminum;
• Stick-resistant 18/10 stainless steel cooking surface;
• The capacity of 3 quarts.

Product Specifications:

Brand	All-Clad
Capacity	3 Quarts
Material	Stainless Steel & Aluminum
Color	Silver
Lid	Stainless steel lid
Oven safe	600ºF
Dishwasher safe	Yes
Warranty	Full lifetime

4. Cuisinart MCP33-24HN Saute Pan

If you love the All-Clad high-quality product but consider the high price, I have another suggestion for you with similar features but a more affordable price. It is MCP33-24HN Saute Pan from the Cuisinart brand.

Despite not being made of the 18/10 stainless steel like All-Clad items, this saute pan is also constructed with three layers: stainless interior, a pure aluminum core for even heat distribution, and a brushed stainless exterior.

However, this saute pan is not guaranteed to be nonstick; therefore, be careful with your delicate food.

Key Features:

• Triple-ply construction;
• Tapered rim;
• 3.5 quarts of capacity.

Product Specifications:

Brand	Cuisinart
Capacity	3.5 Quarts
Material	Stainless Steel & Aluminum
Color	Silver
Lid	Stainless steel lid
Oven safe	550ºF
Dishwasher safe	Yes
Warranty	Limited lifetime: free repair (or replace if needed) if there are defects in material and workmanship under normal home use from the date of original purchase throughout the original purchaser’s lifetime.

5. Cuisinart 633-24H Saute Pan

This is another saute pan from Cuisinart, named Cuisinart 633-24H Saute Pan, which is made of hard-anodized aluminum.

Aluminum is famous for its excellent heat conductivity, and this feature remains in the hard-anodized version. However, this amazing material is non-reactive to food, keeping healthy dishes.

This cookware has an advanced QuanTanium nonstick coating, which is tough enough for you to use the metal utensils while cooking.

Key Features:

• Made of hard-anodized aluminum;
• 3.5 quarts of capacity;
• QuanTanium nonstick interior;
• Measure markings interior.

Product Specifications:

Brand	Cuisinart
Capacity	3.5 Quarts
Material	Hard-anodized aluminum
Color	Silver
Lid	Stainless steel cover
Oven safe	500ºF
Dishwasher safe	No
Warranty	Limited lifetime: free repair (or replace if needed) if there are defects in material and workmanship under normal home use from the date of original purchase throughout the original purchaser’s lifetime.

6. Emeril Lagasse 62928 Saute Pan

(Best Nonstick)

Nonstick-resistance should be one of the most critical features in family cookware now. If you are looking for a nonstick product, I think Emeril Lagasse 62928 is the best nonstick saute pan that will impress you.

This saute pan is constructed with a triple-layer coating, which is durable and highly stick-resistant. You can make a flip easily; even the most delicate food like fish will wipe right off.

Furthermore, the manufacturer instructs that the durable and scratch-resistant coating allows you to use metal utensils while cooking and put it in the dishwasher for cleaning.

However, despite its high-quality nonstick coating, I believe that it will last for a longer time if you use the wooden utensils instead because some users reported that it was not scratch-resistant as they had expected.

Key Features:

• Triple-layer nonstick coating;
• Made of heavy-gauge aluminum;
• The capacity of 5 quarts.

Product Specification:

Brand	Emeril Lagasse
Capacity	5 Quarts
Material	The hard-anodized aluminum body; riveted stainless steel handle.
Color	Gray
Lid	Tempered glass lid (safe to 350ºF)
Oven safe	450ºF
Dishwasher safe	Yes
Warranty	N/A

7. Cooking Light Ceramic Saute Pan

(Best Ceramic)

If you are looking for an allure-designed saute pan with multifunctions for your kitchen, the ceramic product line will never let you down. Based on my research and comparison, the cookware from Cooking Light is the best ceramic saute pan I have ever seen.

The super nonstick ceramic coating enables you to use less oil for healthier dishes, release the food effortlessly, and clean the pan easily.

What is more, this deep cookware is perfect for cooking a wide range of different dishes, including entire meals, pasta, sauces, chicken, beef, or fish. What a multipurpose saute pan!

Key Features:

• 4-quart-ceramic saute pan;
• Super nonstick ceramic coating;
• Riveted stay-cool silicone handle;
• The manufacturing technology is water-based and PFOA free.

Product Specification:

Brand	Cooking Light
Capacity	4 Quarts
Material	Ceramic body; silicone handle
Color	Red
Lid	Tempered glass lid
Oven safe	300ºF
Dishwasher safe	Yes
Warranty	N/A

8. Cooks Standard Saute Pan

(Best for Induction)

Are you searching for an induction compatible saute pan which can be used for many purposes in your cooking? If yes, congrats! You have already found out your perfect matching product here. This item from Cook Standard would be the best saute pan for induction available now.

Thanks to the multi-layer bottom with an aluminum coating outside, this saute pan works effectively on temperature control. Besides induction, it can be compatible with gas, ceramic, electric, glass, and oven with high temperatures up to 500ºF.

Key Features:

• Made of stainless steel with an aluminum disc bottom;
• Flat base and flat sides;
• The capacity of 5 quarts.

Product Specification:

Brand	Cooks Standard
Capacity	5 Quarts
Material	Stainless steel with an aluminum disc bottom
Color	Silver
Lid	Stainless steel lid
Oven safe	500ºF
Dishwasher safe	Yes
Warranty	N/A

9. Tramontina 80110/045DS Saute Pan

This is another nonstick ceramic saute pan I would like to recommend you—the item from the Tramontina brand, with allure appearance due to the metallic copper porcelain enamel outside.

Constructed with heavy-gauge aluminum, the Tramontina 80110/045DS can distribute heat in a short time. What is more, the nonstick ceramic coating interior makes it easy to release the food and quick to clean.

Additionally, this Italian product features an ergonomically designed and riveted cast stainless steel handle with soft-grip silicone accents for a comfortable grip.

Key Features:

• Heavy-gauge aluminum construction;
• Metallic copper porcelain enamel exterior;
• Ceramic nonstick interior;
• PFOA, PTFE, lead and cadmium free.

Product Specification:

Brand	Tramontina (Made in Italy)
Capacity	3 Quarts
Material	Heavy-gauge aluminum; ceramic; enamel
Color	Copper
Lid	Tempered glass cover
Oven safe	350ºF
Dishwasher safe	Yes
Warranty	Lifetime

10. Bialetti Impact 07554 Saute Pan

(Best for Searing)

For those who love searing, this Bialetti Impact 07554 cookware would be the best saute pan for your searing dishes.

Featuring the Micro-Divot textured coating interior, this saute pan is superior nonstick. It can distribute the oil evenly, which allows you to use less oil than usual, promoting the better, healthier searing for your health.

Besides, due to a process of pellet impact blasting when manufactured, the pan’s interior is hardened and textured for more consistent cooking.

Key Features:

• Made of heavy-gauge aluminum;
• Micro-Divot textured nonstick surface;
• 11-inch deep pan.

Product Specification:

Brand	Bialetti Impact
Capacity	4 Quarts
Material	Heavy-gauge aluminum
Color	Gray
Lid	Tempered glass cover
Oven safe	400ºF
Dishwasher safe	No
Warranty	N/A

11. Bruntmor Enameled Cast Iron Saute Pan

(Best for Stir-Fry)

If you are looking for an allure cookware piece that can help stir-frying dishes, do not miss the best design saute pan from Bruntmor Enameled Cast Iron!

This saute pan is made of cast iron with an enamel coating exterior, which looks elegant in your kitchen, going from the stove to the table. What is more, it can be a perfect gift for your mother, sisters, or friends on any occasion due to the gorgeous design.

Thanks to the cast iron material, this pan can distribute and retain the heat evenly, so that it can be used for many types of dishes, especially it is the best saute pan for stir-fry!

Key Features:

• Enameled cast iron exterior;
• Matte black enameled interior;
• 12-inch-sized and 4.2-quarts pan.

Product Specification:

Brand	Bruntmor
Capacity	4.2 Quarts
Material	Enameled cast iron
Color	Pumpkin spice
Lid	Enameled cast iron cover
Oven safe	500ºF
Dishwasher safe	No
Warranty	N/A

12. Greenpan Prime Midnight Saute Pan

(Best with Lid)

Most saute pans include a cover for heat retention and food’s nutrition keeping. However, some types of lids cannot be overheated in the oven. This GreenPan Prime Midnight’s lid is outstanding, which is oven safe up to 425ºF. This saute pan is undoubtedly the best with lid!

Moreover, GreenPan products are famous for their invention of healthy ceramic nonstick coating, which never releases any toxic fumes, even if it is accidentally overheated. This healthy coating allows you to make daily meals healthier for your family.

Key Features:

• Made of ceramic with hard-anodized aluminum core;
• Free of PFAS, PFOA, lead and cadmium;
• Matte stainless steel handle.

Product Specification:

Brand	Greenpan
Capacity	5 Quarts
Material	Ceramic with hard-anodized aluminum core
Color	Black
Lid	Tempered glass lid (up to 425ºF)
Oven safe	600ºF
Dishwasher safe	Yes
Warranty	Lifetime for the body, 5 years for coating

13. Eslite Life Saute Pan

This Eslite Life saute pan features a granite stone nonstick coating both interior and exterior, making it easy to cook and deep clean.

Constructed with die-casting aluminum, this pan is guaranteed to be break-resistant and not to warp. Moreover, the 4.5mm bottom is great for heat release, and the 2mm wall is excellent for heat conduction, which is a safe temperature up to 700ºF on the stovetop.

However, please keep in mind that this saute pan is not suitable for neither dishwasher nor oven.

Key Features:

• Nonstick granite stone coating interior and exterior;
• The die-casting aluminum body;
• Ergonomic handle and knob.

Product Specification:

Brand	Eslite Life
Capacity	5 Quarts
Material	Die-casting aluminum body, granite stone coating exterior & interior
Color	Black, white
Lid	Tempered glass lid
Oven safe	No
Dishwasher safe	No
Warranty	N/A

14. Farberware 21946 Saute Pan

This Farberware 21946 saute pan is another budget-friendly I would love to recommend you.

With a large, deep size, this pan is spacious enough for you to fry a chicken, without anything sticking to the pan.

What is more, the nonstick works so well that you can easily clean it less than two minutes. However, it is reported by some users that this coating is not durable. Therefore, you should use silicone utensils for better durability.

Key Features:

• An aluminum saute pan;
• The capacity of 6 quarts;
• Double-riveted handle.

Product Specification:

Brand	Farberware
Capacity	6 Quarts
Material	Aluminum
Lid	Shatter-resistant glass lid
Color	Blue
Oven safe	350ºF
Dishwasher safe	Yes
Warranty	Lifetime

15. T-fal C41195 Saute Pan

(Best Unique)

This T-fat C41195 product is the best unique saute pan in my list of reviews due to its unique shape. It is not round-shaped as usual. It is square-shaped with a big capacity of 6 quarts.

If you get bored with usually round pans and want to try something new, this saute pan is particularly created for you! Costing a limited budget but offering dozens of different uses, this saute pan deserves a try!

Key Features:

• A square saute pan with a capacity of 6 quarts;
• Made of heavy-gauge aluminum;
• Nonstick ceramic coating.

Product Specification:

Brand	T-fal
Capacity	6 Quarts
Material	Heavy-gauge aluminum, ceramic
Color	Copper
Lid	Glass lid
Oven safe	350ºF
Dishwasher safe	Yes
Warranty	Limited Lifetime: it is warranted of defects in materials and workmanship, under the condition of home use for throughout the lifetime of product.

Buying Guide

In case you have already finished reading my reviews but cannot select a suitable saute pan that is perfectly matching your need, here is my suggestion for some factors you should consider when choosing a saute pan.

Capacity

Capacity is one of the most significant factors you need to pay attention to when choosing any cookware. It will depend on your daily needs when cooking and the number of members in your family.

A small-capacity saute pan cannot serve a big meal of a big family, especially on special occasions. Meanwhile, a generous-capacity one will turn out to be not cost-effective, and inconvenient to cook and clean if your daily demands are not that much.

Nonstick Feature

For many people, I believe that nonstick features are an essential characteristic of a saute pan because they help a lot in food release, making it easier to cook and clean. However, some others assume that the nonstick coating, whether made of any materials, can be reactive to the food, creating toxic fumes that harm our health.

Therefore, consider your preference, and make sure that you know precisely if the saute pan features a nonstick coating or not.

Induction Compatibility

Useful cookware must work well on your existing stovetop first, right? Most saute pans are compatible with gas, electric, glass top stoves. However, regarding induction, some products cannot work well on it.

Thus, do not forget to check the induction compatibility of the saute pan if your kitchen has an induction.

Brands

If you do not have any specific criteria for considering, let take it easy by picking a saute pan from one of these well-known brands, which are trusted and used by a lot of people all around the world:

All-Clad: This brand is famous for its superior quality cookware, which is built to exceed the expectations of professional chefs and home cooks around the world. Each piece of All-Clad cookware is handcrafted, with high-quality American-made metals, ensuring a genuinely unmatched cooking experience for any users.

T-fal: At T-fal, “Innovation is our DNA”. This company strives to make use of technology, creating the best innovative products to solve its customers’ problems. Determined by innovation in both function and design, T-fal successfully sets a new trend of innovation in housewares.

Cuisinart: This company was started in 1971 as an electric food processor on the US market. The well-known Cuisinart brand is not limited to the food processor; it becomes a full-service culinary supplier with a wide range of kitchen products, preferred by both chefs and home cooks.

Tramontina: it is an old brand since 1911, founded in Brazil. Tramontina is reputable for making a diversity of cookware lines for many different markets, including the US. Despite the high quality, the prices of Tramontina cookware are relatively lower than those from other brands.

How To Keep Your Saute Pan More Durable

How To Use

Although most saute pans are designed to withstand high temperatures, usually up to 350-500ºF, I think they should not be usually overheated for staying longer.

Moreover, nonstick coating can be scratched even though the instruction says that it is metal utensils safe. Therefore, it is preferable to using wooden or silicone utensils with the nonstick saute pans.

How To Clean

If you want your saute pan to stay longer, the first thing to remember is washing your pan by hands. Even when the label indicates that it is dishwasher-safe, the machine will gradually affect your pan.

Secondly, wash your pan with a mild soap and a soft scouring pad. Then rinse it with warm water. Keep in mind that the hot water can help to wash it faster but always shortens the lifetime of the pan. If it is not an urgent case, do not use the hot water.

Additionally, you can use baking soda powder to remove stubborn gunk on the pan’s coating. Mix water and powder to create a paste, and then dip the pad into the paste, gently dab it onto the interior of the pan. Wait for 10-15 minutes and rinse the pan with water to remove all the paste and gunk. Do not rub your pan when it has baking soda on.

Lastly, remember to store your saute pan in a cool, dry place after cleaning.

My Top Pick

I guess you have already decided on your buying saute pan after reading my top 15 saute pans reviews, right?

For me, my best choice is the best overall product – Calphalon Saute Pan. This durable product costs a reasonable budget but brings me a fantastic experience when cooking.

How about you? What is the best saute pan that you would love to buy for more fabulous cooking performances? Or do you know any other items that worth a try? Do not hesitate to share with me in your comments.