With cool-grips handles, multi-layered stainless steel design, and a glass lid with a steam vent, it is versatile enough for simmering soups, boiling seafood, and blanching vegetables. And weighing 4.4 pounds, it’s lightweight enough to lift from stove to oven and sturdy enough to handle years of use. One shopper said, “Not only is this pot very well made and without all the harmful ingredients, but they also give you everything you need to properly take care of the pot itself.”
It’s guaranteed for life to be free of manufacturing and material defects for home use. A well-fitted lid is also constructed of the same bilaminate combination, and it sits tightly on the rolled, dripless edge to seal in flavor and moisture. This beautiful pan is very expensive – but, it’s also one that will become a multi-generational heirloom. And if you can afford it, you’d be hard-pressed to find another that will deliver the same high quality in this unique niche. The high walls of this stewpan make it ideal for stewing and braising meat, fish, and vegetables.
If you have a gas or electric stove then you don’t have to worry too much about what stockpot you choose. If you’re cooking with induction then you’ll want to make sure your choice is compatible with your stove. However, if you’ll be cooking things like mac and cheese or other sticky recipes, then the quick and easy cleanup of nonstick could be worth it for you. This is extremely important when lifting and pouring from a large stockpot. At home, I still use one to make my own stocks, but that’s just one of its uses. Today, I’m excited to share three of the best stock pots that you can buy right now, and why this is one of the most essential cookware pieces.
This piece was edited by Bernadette Machard de Gramont, an LA-based writer who specializes in global food and wine content. A Williams-Sonoma HQ alum, she researches and tests a variety of cookware, bakeware, and wine tools, and interviews field experts for their insight. A 12-quart capacity stockpot works well for making large amounts of, well, anything. Use it to simmer bone broth, whip up a batch of chili or Bolognese sauce, steam crab legs, or boil a family-sized amount of pasta. Deep stockpots can also be used for sous vide cooking, instead of having to buy a special container. People praise this stockpot for being of similar construction and quality to more expensive versions, but at a fraction of the price–especially considering the extra colanders included with this set.
But the sides are thinner, because they’re stainless steel rather than clad. The NSF-certified stainless steel is non-reactive, making these pots an ideal selection for cooking or brewing, and the vast size selection makes getting the right one for your needs easy. With their sturdy build and quality tri-ply disc bottom, the larger cgwm-081 sized Update International stainless steel stockpots are a sure bet in their class. The lid handle is spot welded, which provides more than ample strength for its comparatively lighter duties. It’s constructed of rugged stainless steel and fits snugly on the lip of the pan, which is slightly flared for clean, dripless pouring.
The lid is constructed of 304 grade stainless steel, and has a precision fit on the rolled pan lip, designed for clean, dripless pouring of liquids. And the stainless steel lid fits snugly on the drip-free rim to retain moisture and minimize evaporation. Plus, a good number of folks use the larger sizes for brewing purposes, as the high-quality stainless steel imparts no flavor of its own to the suds. If your cooking requires something this big, definitely get one of these clad-bottom kettles in the larger sizes.
Two thick inner layers of aluminum ensure that heat is transmitted evenly throughout the vessel and minimizes hot spots. And finally these finally crafted pans have a thin core of of manganese alloy which stiffens and strengthens the pan. This heavy pot wasn’t as comfortable to pour from as the other pots, and it took the longest to bring water to a boil because of its thick base. Additionally, this stockpot’s flared rim made it difficult to position its lid securely in place. The All-Clad Tri-Ply eight quart is made of durable stainless steel material; the dimensions of this product are 14.3 by 11 by 5.75 inches and has a total capacity of approximately eight liters.
If the stainless steel discoloration doesn’t bother you then this is probably the smartest pick of the bunch. Sure, the handle design could be a little better, but for less than $50 this pick is durable and will boil water as well as any other. This pot is dishwasher safe but that is where the most severe discoloration occurs.
And the lid is perfectly fitted – an aspect often missing in lower quality pots. Unlike some cheaper options, these are good on all stovetops including induction, and they’re also oven and broiler safe to 500°F. Especially if you’re just going to use it to make stews and stock, a cheaper product with a disk bottom would be more than acceptable – in fact, that’s what we recommend for larger sizes. This sturdy vessel will quickly become a favorite in its size for preparing stocks, soups, and stews, as it easily fills the role of the go-to multipurpose pot for many home cooks. The interior of each pan is engraved with capacity markings for your measuring convenience.