It seems every homemaker wonders how professional chefs know where to get the best sauté pans. The answer to that question is the knowledge inherent in the job description. Chefs need to know the uses of different pans, which is most effective to use in specific applications and the principals of heating that go into the construction of each type of pan. The sauté pan has a smooth and wide bottom with steep (90-degree) walls that rise to a higher level than with other pans. With the sauté pan design, lids fit tighter, and the heat distributes evenly along the full bottom of the pan. The sauté pan is not made for tossing; it is made to enclose heat and discourage evaporation. Here a few of the sauté pans favored by chefs.
Related review: 10 Best Nonstick Skillets
1. The T-Fal B36290 Sauté Pan
The T-Fal sauté pan comes in a five-quart and six-quart size. The pan is incredibly affordable and is equipped with three features that extend the life of the pan. First, the non-stick coating that coats the pan is treated for extensive use and will not peel. Second, the bottom of the pan has an anti-warping characteristic. Third, the pan uses a Thermal Spot technology that activates with heat—the spot turns red when the desired temperature is reached. The pan comes with a glass lid.
2. Calphalon Classic Sauté Pan
One of the favorite sauté pans used by professionals is the Calphalon Classic. The pan’s main feature is its hard anodized-aluminum construction that guarantees the fast build-up of even heat across the full surface of the bottom. The interior of the pan is coated with a dual-layer non-stick surface that makes cleanup easy. The pan comes with a tempered glass cover that can withstand temperatures up to 450 degrees. This pan can handle five quarts of gravies or sauces.
3. Cuisinart Chef’s Choice Sauté Pan
The Chef’s Choice from Cuisinart is one of the most durable stainless-steel sauté pans on the market. The pan is polished to a brilliant sheen that reappears after each washing. The stainless-steel construction ensures fast and even heating across the entire surface and sides of the pan, which holds up to five and a half quarts of ingredients. The riveted stainless steel handle is protected from heat transfer by a thin layer of heat resistant material where the handle and pan meet.
4. The All-Clad Stainless-Steel Sauté Pan
All-Clad created this sauté pan to be one of the most durable on the market. Though the pan is relatively small with only a three-quart capacity, its three-ply stainless-steel construction has demonstrated itself to last far beyond the measure of other sauté pans. The pan is beautifully finished to a mirror-like surface that withstands the forces of time to maintain its new appearance for a lifetime. The tempered glass lid provides a complete seal and resists even the smallest warp.
5. The Stone & Beam Sauté Pan
The Stone & Beam Sauté Pan is a cheap version of the expensive stainless-steel pans that famous chefs prefer. With this pan, the finish is not as bright, but the action is just as reliable as those pans that hand in the famous gourmet kitchens. This pan is ideal for the homemaker. It is constructed with three layers of stainless-steel to ensure quick and even heating. The panhandles as much as three-quarts of material, and the lid delivers the ultimate seal to encourage the even distribution of flavors.
You may also like: 10 Best Woks
6. Cooks Standard Stainless-Steel Sauté Pan
The low-cost Cooks Standard stainless-steel sauté pan has a unique design that allows even quicker heating without hotspots while cooking up to five quarts of material. The bottom of the pan has the traditional three-layer construction with a twist—the middle layer is an anodized-aluminum disk that moves heat faster and more evenly than stainless-steel. The lid sits in a recessed seal, and the portion of the pan’s side that sits above the lid is flared to allow non-drip pouring.
7. The Le Creuset Saucier Pan
Le Creuset produces a traditional saucier pan that consists of cast iron covered with enamel inside and out. The inner enamel is treated to maintain its non-stick capability years into the future, and the outside is treated to resist chipping when dropped from a height. Many famous chefs use this 2 ¼ quart pan for smaller gravies and sauces as its construction retains the heat build-up in the cooked material without transfer of unwanted flavors.
8. The Vremi 12-Inch Non-stick Sauté Pan
Vremi designed this pan to work as a frying pan and a sauté pan. The dual-purpose is evident with its shiny Teflon material interior countered by a shiny exterior in multiple colors. The pan comes with a tight-fitting tempered glass lid that allows the cook to watch the cooking process while reintroducing the flavors that otherwise is lost through evaporation. The five-quart pan consists of an aluminum framework that includes a spiraled bottom for easy cleaning.
9. The Emeril Lagasse Deep Sauté Pan
The Emeril Lagasse deep sauté pan is designed to be durable, dependable, and performance-ready. The body of the pan consists of heavy-gauge anodized aluminum that has a hefty feel. The pan cooks up to five quarts of material at one time. The aluminum structure allows for quick and even heat build-up over the entire 12-inch bottom. The pan comes with a tempered glass lid to ease the monitoring of your cooking efforts. The non-stick nature of the pan makes it dishwasher safe.
10. The Farberware Jumbo Cooker
If you have a gang to feed and are looking for an affordable and durable pan to cook large meals, then you will be happy to find this Farberware Jumbo Cooker. The Jumbo Cooker is essentially an oversized sauté pan that cooks and heats ingredients in as large a quantity as six quarts. The size reflects the heavy-duty construction of the pan that resists dents, chips, or discoloration due to heat. The interior is coated with a durable non-stick material that is easy to clean and dishwasher safe.
Good sauté pans are abundant. If you watch advertising, then you will find many sauté pans everywhere on the market. The challenge is to find the best pan for your needs. Several world-famous chefs advertise their favorites, but that does not mean that those pans are appropriate for you. Look over this list of the best sauté pans and find the one that is ideal for your kitchen and your circumstances.
Related review: Top 10 Stainless-Steel Skillets
By BCR Staff
August 2019
More Articles of Interest:
