5 Best Saute Pans for Your Kitchen

While others cook to solely produce food for survival, others treat it as a form of art that requires proficiency and passion. Nonetheless, to produce a piece of magnum opus in the field of cuisine, one would have to utilize the right set of cookware. This includes sauté pans that are crucial to perform basic cooking techniques such as sautéing, braising, and simmering a variety of food items.

However, finding the perfect piece can be tiresome due to the multitude of options lurking everywhere. With that, let us save you from all the trouble of scanning the endless list of available sauté pans in the market.

Scrutinized personally by personal chefs and ergonomic specialists, we made a round of the best sauté pans that you can purchase to help you have the best possible kitchen experience.

Best Sauté Pans Comparison & Rating

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There are numbers of considerations that you should look into before coming up with the best choice. With this, let us have a closer look at the crucial points our field of experts noticed during our in-depth testing session of the sauté pans we collected. Once you’re ready and have weighed the pros and cons of each item, feel free to click the yellow buttons below to get their best deals on Amazon.

All-Clad 4406 Stainless Steel 3-Ply Bonded Sauté Pan

All-Clad 4406 Stainless Steel 3-Ply Bonded Dishwasher Safe Saute Pan with Lid Cookware, 6-Quart, Silver
Specifications

Brand

All-Clad

Weight

6 pounds

Dimensions

23 x 13.75 x 5.63 inches

Materials

Stainless Steel

Rating: 97% Overall
98%
Performance
95%
nonstick
96%
ergonomic
99%
durability
Pros
  • A 6-quart sauté pan with a large cooking surface and tall walls
  • Compatible with all cooktops such as induction
  • Oven and broiler safe up to 600 degrees F (without lid)
  • Offers 3-ply bonded construction feature composed of durable stainless steel that encapsulates an aluminum core for even heating throughout
  • Has a highly polished cooking surface with starburst finish offers stick resistance and easy maintenance
  • The contoured stainless steel handle is permanently secured with stainless-steel rivets.
  • Comes with a flat stainless steel lid that is reliable and durable
  • Limited lifetime warranty and made in the USA
Cons
  • The lid offers no visibility of food items being cooked in the pan.
  • Mode ideal for a hand wash cleaning as the stainless steel coat could be scratched by rough metals easily such as steel wool
  • The handle could conduct heat when exposed to very high temperatures.
  • The handle isn’t very comfortable in the hands due to the edges of the steel.
Verdict

This All-Clad stainless steel sauté pan has just the right structure to accommodate for the perfect cooking experience. It has a wide diameter for its base providing ample space for sautéing foods and tall walls to prevent unwanted spillage. This makes it a perfect choice for sauteing, browning, and searing processes of foods. The stainless steel encapsulating the aluminum core doesn’t just provide even heat distribution, but it also prevents any possible stickiness provided that the item is used properly.


Goodful Aluminum Non-Stick Sauté Pan

Goodful Aluminum Non-Stick Sauté Pan Jumbo Cooker with Helper Handle and Tempered Glass Steam Vented Lid, Made Without PFOA, Dishwasher Safe, 5-Quart, Charcoal Gray
Specifications

Brand

Goodful

Weight

6.65 pounds

Dimensions

21.81 x 14.09 x 5.43 inches

Materials

Aluminum

Rating: 97% Overall
96%
Performance
97%
nonstick
97%
ergonomic
97%
durability
Pros
  • A 5-quart jumbo cooker sauté pan with tempered glass lid
  • Features a durable non-stick coating that allows food to slide out of the pan effortlessly
  • The non-stick coating on this sauté pan is manufactured without PFOA and totally safe even at high temperatures.
  • The aluminum material in the pan assures optimum heat distribution for fast and even cooking.
  • Dishwasher safe
  • The comfortable grip handle makes this pan easy to hold, especially while the surface of the pan is hot.
  • A helper handle that gives additional assistance when transferring food from stove to table
  • It has a transparent glass lid that allows visibility and locks just the right amount of moisture, thanks to its vented feature.
  • The spiral pattern on the bottom of the pan allows even heating.
Cons
  • Fairly heavy that somehow affects the easy maneuverability in the fan, especially when flipping food items
  • The non-stick coating is fairly delicate and needs ultimate care when being cleaned.
  • Space-consuming
Verdict

The Goodful aluminum sauté pan offers an excellent thickness making it a heavy-duty pan perfect for all sorts of the cooking process. It also offers a non-stick coat feature that would absolutely satisfy kitchen enthusiasts. It provides impressive smoothness on its surface allowing effortless sautéing and flipping of food items during the cooking process. It also makes cleaning the pan easier as the grease and the remaining bits of food easily slide off the pan. Nonetheless, it is better to be careful in using this pan with other utensils such as metal spatulas as they can easily scratch its non-stick coating.


ESLITE LIFE Deep Frying Pan / Nonstick Sauté Pan

ESLITE LIFE Deep Frying Pan with Lid Nonstick Saute Pan with Granite Stone Coating, 11 Inch (5Quart)
Specifications

Brand

ESLITE LIFE

Weight

5.61 pounds

Dimensions

14.92 x 13.66 x 5.39 inches

Materials

Aluminum

Rating: 96% Overall
95%
Performance
96%
nonstick
97%
ergonomic
96%
durability
Pros
  • The interior and exterior surfaces are coated with a premium non-stick granite coating.
  • A pan that is 100% free from PFOA, PFOS, PTFE, lead, and cadmium
  • Showcases a sturdy reinforced die-casting aluminum body that resistant from warping and breaking
  • The thickness of the induction compatible bottom allows fast heat induction and prevents hot spots.
  • Comes with heat a resistant bakelite knob and handle
  • Tempered glass lid with a steam vent makes viewing food easily, heat-resistant, and anti-slip due to its ergonomic lid handle.
  • Suitable for gas, electric, induction, ceramic, or halogen.
Cons
  • Only ideal for low to medium heat
  • The handles would require installation.
  • The helper handle is a direct part of the pan itself and conducts heat.
  • Not ideal for oven and dishwasher uses
Verdict

The ESLITE LIFE has an 11-inch diameter that is wide enough to allow easy sautéing of food. With its wall’s height, it also doubles as an effective deep-frying pan. Using it during our test gave us an impressive outcome. However, you might want to just use it with some average sizes of food items for deep frying as it is relatively smaller than other pans on the list. Nonetheless, given its efficiency in heat distribution (thanks to its 4.5 mm thicken induction compatible bottom), this is a good steal for everyone.


GreenPan SearSmart Hard-Anodized Ceramic Nonstick Sauté Pan

GreenPan SearSmart Hard Anodized Ceramic Nonstick Black Sauté Pan with Lid and Helper Handle, 5QT
Specifications

Brand

GreenPan

Weight

5.69 pounds

Dimensions

22 x 13 x 5 inches

Materials

Aluminum and Stainless Steel

Rating: 94% Overall
94%
Performance
95%
nonstick
93%
ergonomic
95%
durability
Pros
  • Offers GreenPan’s Thermolon Diamond Advanced healthy ceramic nonstick coating that is free of PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium; tasteless and safe cooking process
  • Fast heating and effortless cleanup due to its advanced diamond-infused ceramic nonstick coating
  • Offers 25-40% more cooking space than the type of conventional cookware
  • Dishwasher, oven, and broiler safe up to 600 degrees F
  • The lid offers additional visibility for foods while being cooked (oven safe up to 425 degrees F).
Cons
  • The lid lacks steam holes to aid in the release of excess steam.
  • Suitable for all stovetops except induction
  • The handle easily heats up at high temperatures.
Verdict

If there is one thing that put this GreenPan sauté pan on our list, it is its extra-thick nonstick coating that sets it apart from the cheap ones in the market. The coating is truly thick and shiny allowing extreme ease while sautéing food items. This is the same reason why it is comparatively safer to be used with other metal utensils like metal spatulas. It has a unique texture for crisp browning and aiding the easy release of foods.


Rachael Ray Brights Hard-Anodized Nonstick Sauté Pan

Rachael Ray Brights Hard Anodized Nonstick Saute Pan / Frying Pan / Fry Pan - 5 Quart, Gray
Specifications

Brand

Rachael Ray

Weight

7.5 ounces

Dimensions

26.25 x 11 x 6.5 inches

Materials

Aluminum

Rating: 92% Overall
93%
Performance
92%
nonstick
91%
ergonomic
91%
durability
Pros
  • Sports 5-quart, oval-shaped nonstick sauté pan with a lid and a helper handle
  • Features hard-anodized cookware construction for durability and even-heating of food
  • Covered with a superior nonstick coating inside and out for effortless food release and easy, dishwasher safe cleanup
  • The handles are dual riveted and rubberized for durability.
  • Oven safe to 350 degrees F
  • The deep sides provide extra capacity.
  • Lifetime Limited Warranty
Cons
  • The oven heat capacity of the pan is a bit low which means it could warp when exposed at high temperatures for a long time.
  • Though the oval shape says to take up less space on the stovetop, storing it could be a bit difficult due to the extended size of its main handle.
  • The lid lacks steam holes to aid in the release of excess steam.
Verdict

This Rachael Ray cookware offers all the basic features you need for a functional sauté pan. It offers a solid grip using its rubberized handle that is riveted on the side of the pan. The shape of the pan is also a plus as it is oval in shape making it a perfect cookware piece for frying long fishes. The nonstick coating is pretty much an impressive detail. However, the pan itself is a bit thin which could make it prone to warping.

Sauté Pans Buyer's Guide

handles and lids

You can often find cookware pieces with cool-touch, easy-to-grip handles, but you’ll also want to consider the ergonomics of the handles that can go from stovetop to oven for the recipes you like to make. Make sure the item includes ergonomic lids as well, as many recipes will require them for food to cook properly.

durability

Always consider the materials that are used for the sauté pan you are going to choose. Remember that their materials would dictate their durability and capacity to withstand high temperatures.

price

Don’t always settle for costly items that promise to offer you incredible performance. Find the item that has all the essential features that you need but is offered at the most reasonable price.

heat conduction

The best sauté pans are those that have special bottoms that are designed specifically to conduct heat and spread it evenly across the surface of the cookware. This is important because it means less energy loss and more efficient cooking in the kitchen.

easy to clean

It is very important for cookware to be easy to clean after they are used for cooking. A sauté pans that offer nonstick features are easier to clean as they are commonly dishwasher safe and bits of remaining food items easily slide off from them.

FAQs

Why are sauté pans wide and flat?

There is a need for sauté pans to be wide and flat to accommodate the process of sautéing food items. The wide diameters of the sauté pans allow the cook to move the food items around the pan freely while the flat feature of such a pan helps in the easy distribution of oil and heat.

Are all sauté pans oven-safe?

No, they are not all ideal for oven cooking since sauté pans vary in materials. Others are made from ceramic materials while others come in stainless steel or aluminum. The thickness and quality of the materials would determine their capacity and reliability when used in the oven.

Should sauté pans be nonstick?

Having a nonstick coating in your sauté pans is an essential feature to help you easily sauté the food and to avoid sticky moments. This also helps in the easy cleanup of the cookware which saves you time and effort.

Should I get pans with high sidewalls?

It is better to opt for sauté pans that have high sidewalls to avoid food spillage. This is important, especially when flipping food items like pancakes and other fried food products.