A stock pot can’t be beat when it comes to large, liquid based recipes or simply boiling water for various cooking tasks. That can be a big deal when you’re moving around 10-quarts of hot liquid. Since sticking is not a big problem for most stockpot uses, I dont think a nonstick option is the cuisinart soup maker best way to go. It may save a few minutes of cleanup time, but it won’t last nearly as long as a good stainless steel option. The stainless steel handles are very secure, easy to grab, and flat for better pouring leverage, and there are useful measurement markers etched inside the pot.
The Le Creuset Enamel-on-Steel 8-Quart Stockpot with Lid ($95) is, like most other products from this iconic brand, a total looker. The color choices are fun and playful, but online reviewers warn that the coating chips over time and bemoan the fact that it isn’t dishwasher-safe. The tall, skinny shape took up little space on our stove, heated quickly, and featured a “stay cool” knob on the lid, but we preferred the stainless-steel models for durability. Even after controlling for capacity, the shape and height of the stockpots we tested varied greatly. Finding the perfect pot on the spectrum from short and wide to tall and narrow has a lot to do with personal preference, but there are some universal factors to consider. We found that the shorter and wider pots stacked more easily with the others we own, which made them easier to store after use.
“Like the see-through glass lid which is also easy to handle when hot.” Others say these work great on glass stovetops because “it’s not so heavy it will break the surface,” as one explains. The RSVP International Endurance eight quart stockpot has a stainless steel construction, is narrower than other eight quart stockpots, and is cuisinart pots and pans set safe to use in an oven. This eight-quart stockpot comes with strong riveted handles that are large and incredibly easy to grip. This 12-quart stockpot is made from 18/10 stainless steel and has an aluminum core in the bottom encased in stainless steel. The set includes the stockpot plus a steamer basket, pasta basket, and lid.
The heavy duty tri-ply bottom consists of an impact bonded 4-millimeter core of pure aluminum, encased between two layers of 18/8 stainless steel for strength and superior heat distribution. These offer good conductivity with fast and even heat distribution across the bottom, they’re long-lasting and durable, easy to clean and dishwasher safe, and they have a good weight distribution . Large stay-cool loop handles on the pot and lid are ergonomically designed to provide maximum comfort, even with large oven mitts. And all handles are solidly secured in place with stainless steel rivets for a safe and secure grasp.
Bayou Classic stockpots are a favorite with online shoppers, and they definitely fill a market niche. The first involves a relatively small number of reviewers who have reported leaks or weeping, primarily from around one inch above the bottom of the pot. The 24-quart size is the baby of the Bayou batch, an option that can still sit fairly comfortably on the home stove for indoor use. The main ingredients cuisinart clermont cover in this coating come from mineral sources – essentially dirt, sand, and rocks. These are not the synthetic petroleum polymers used in traditional nonstick coatings, and as such, it’s completely free of PTFE and PFOA. It’s easy to understand why the striking Retro line won the prestigious Red Dot Design Award in 2014, a juried international competition that appraises new designs and products annually.
The 12-quart All-Clad is America’s Test Kitchen’s winning pot, and it is well built (as is the 16-quart version, which we also evaluated), but it took 10 minutes longer to bring water to a boil. Our winning Cuisinart has a similar build quality, but boils water faster. How easily and securely you can grab a stockpot matters, especially when it’s filled with quarts of hot stock, soup, or sauce.
It has a tempered glass lid, and soft-touch coated handles on the lid and pot. One thing to note is that this pot is only oven-safe up to 350 degrees, which is a low threshold compared to many stockpots. Made with polished 18/10 stainless steel, it has an encapsulated aluminum disc in its base for optimum heat conductivity, ensuring even heat distribution and preventing hot spots from forming. It also has a stainless steel lid that keeps heat and moisture in, so long-simmering broths and stews won’t evaporate too quickly. The Cook N Home eight quart stockpot is made of stainless material, the dimensions of this product are 12 by 10 by 8 inches, and it is safe to use in an oven.
SOME Cuisinart cookware is fully clad and that stuff is BIFL, but you want to check carefully because Cuisinart puts their name on a lot of different lines. Same with Tramontina – their tri-ply line, which you can buy through walmart or sam’s club online, is excellent but the stuff they sell in store at Walmart is absolute junk. Cuisinart, like many cookware brands, makes different tier products for different stores. The stuff that winds up at Walmart or Target is generally lesser quality than stuff that you can buy online or from higher end retailers. To help you find the best stockpot for your needs, we’ve turned to reviews from actual customers who have purchased and used the cookware for themselves.
Most of the pots achieved a boil in 49 to 50 minutes, indicating that whatever small differences there are in terms of a pot’s dimensions and build specs make little difference to its boiling performance. The only exception was All-Clad’s stockpot, which took just over one hour for the water to boil, so we disqualified it. Then we dumped the water out to gauge how comfortable they were when being tipped.
If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission. Fish, burnt food, broccoli, bacon — all leave lingering odors in your kitchen. We apologize for the inconvenience and are working to get this product back in stock. Our delivery program lets you get the qualifying items delivered from the store to your door by a helpful Ace associate. Ace Rewards members are eligible to receive free delivery on orders of $50 or more.