Pots
Which are comfortable to hold and easy to pour from?
Our test includes 20cm saucepans, all suitable for induction cooktops. We tested how long each pot took to boil one litre of water, how comfortable they are to hold and pour from without dripping, how hot the handles and lid knobs became during cooking, and how easy they were to clean.
From our test
View allHomemaker
20cm Stainless-steel Saucepan P_42283034
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SCOREAvg price
$24
Snapshot: The Homemaker 20cm Stainless-steel Saucepan P_42283034 weighs 1.6kg. How fast does it boil water?
Baccarat
Capri + Saucepan 20cm 1024662
score
SCOREAvg price
$140
Snapshot: The Baccarat Capri + Saucepan 20cm 1024662 has a 3.6L capacity and weighs 1.8kg. How fast does it boil water?
Chasseur
Cast Iron Saucepan French Blue 19503
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SCOREAvg price
$369
Snapshot: The Chasseur Cast Iron Saucepan French Blue 19503 has a 2.4L capacity and weighs 3.4kg. How fast does it boil water?
Le Creuset
Classic 3 ply Stainless-steel Saucepan
score
SCOREAvg price
$290
Snapshot: The Le Creuset Classic 3 ply Stainless-steel Saucepan has a 3.8L capacity and weighs 2kg. How fast does it boil water?
Raco
Contemporary 20cm/3.8L Stainless-steel Saucepan 764420
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SCOREAvg price
$110
Snapshot: The Raco Contemporary 20cm/3.8L Stainless-steel Saucepan 764420 has a 3.8L capacity and weighs 1.6kg. How fast does it boil water?
Stevens
Cook Gourmet 20cm/3.9L
score
SCOREAvg price
$140
Snapshot: The Stevens Cook Gourmet 20cm/3.9L induction saucepan has a 3.9L capacity and weighs 1.9kg. How fast does it boil water?
Scanpan
Coppernox 26003
score
SCOREAvg price
$229
Snapshot: The Scanpan Coppernox 26003 induction saucepan has a 3.5L capacity and weighs 2.1kg. How fast does it boil water?
Cuisinart
IA+ 47172
score
SCOREAvg price
$239
Snapshot: The Cuisinart IA+ 47172 induction saucepan has a 3.6L capacity and weighs 2kg. How fast does it boil water?
Scanpan
Impact 22003
score
SCOREAvg price
$159
Snapshot: The Scanpan Impact 22003 induction saucepan has a 3.5L capacity and weighs 1.9kg. How fast does it boil water?
Miele by Iittala
KMKT2040
score
SCOREAvg price
$189
Snapshot: The Miele by Iitalla KMKT2040 induction saucepan has a 4L capacity and weighs 1.7kg. How fast does it boil water?
Greenpan
Kyoto 20cm Saucepan 631011
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SCOREAvg price
$149
Snapshot: The Greenpan Kyoto 20cm Saucepan 631011 has a 3L capacity and weighs 1.5kg. How fast does it boil water?
Chasseur
Maison Stainless-steel Saucepan 19803
score
SCOREAvg price
$90
Snapshot: The Chasseur Maison Stainless-steel Saucepan 19803 has a 3.7L capacity and weighs 1.8kg. How fast does it boil water?
Essteele
Per Vita 20cm/3.8L Covered Saucepan 792860
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SCOREAvg price
$230
Snapshot: The Essteele Per Vita 20cm/3.8L Covered Saucepan 792860 has a 3.8L capacity and weighs 2.2kg. How fast does it boil water?
Jamie Oliver by Tefal
Professional Series Hard Anodised 20cm Saucepan
score
SCOREAvg price
$209
Snapshot: The Jamie Oliver by Tefal Professional Series Hard Anodised 20cm Saucepan has a 2.9L capacity and weighs 1.6kg. How fast does it boil water?
Circulon
Symmetry Hard Anodised 20cm/3.8L Saucepan 840020
score
SCOREAvg price
$250
Snapshot: The Circulon Symmetry Hard Anodised 20cm/3.8L Saucepan 840020 has a 3.8L capacity and weighs 1.7kg. How fast does it boil water?
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What to look for – induction cookware
Induction-suitable pots and pans have a ferrous metal base, which means a magnet will stick to it.
An induction pot or pan should be the same size as the element it sits on. Will it fit easily in your sink for cleaning?
A heavy base helps with heat distribution and evenness of cooking. Stainless steel is strong, hard and non-corrosive but it doesn’t conduct heat well – so it’s often combined with aluminium in multi-layered bases (the aluminium is better at conducting and dispersing heat). Cast iron gives a very even heat at low settings but its thick and heavy base takes longer to heat up and cool down than other cookware.
Check the weight. If it’s heavy when it’s empty, it will be a strain on your wrist when it’s full.
The handle should stay cool to the touch and have a non-slip grip. Stainless-steel handles can get dangerously hot.
A pot that has a rim with a curved edge or a lip reduces the chances of the contents dripping on to the bench or table when you pour.
A glass lid lets you keep an eye on what’s cooking without lifting the lid (which wastes heat). You can also see when your pot’s about to boil over. However, a glass lid can accumulate grime and be fiddly to clean.
Tips for care and use
While some saucepans are dishwasher safe, a dishwasher’s detergent can be too harsh, especially for non-stick surfaces. It’s better to hand wash in warm soapy water and use a soft sponge for cleaning. Never wash a hot non-stick pan in cold water; this can damage the non-stick surface and may cause the base of the pan to buckle.
To get the most out of your saucepan only use wooden or silicon utensils. Even though some manufacturers claim using metal utensils is OK, using or wooden or silicon ones will prevent scratching and extend the life of your pan.
Add salt to boiling water only, as adding salt to cold water can cause pitting of the base.
Food preparation
We’ve tested a range of small kitchen appliances, including food processors, rice cookers and breadmakers, as well as kitchen tools like knives.
