When Both Are Kitchen Essentials, Which Is Your True Essential? Enter The Showdown Between The Saucepan Vs Pot

Embarking on your journey as a home cook is simply exciting. Yet when it comes to the starting point of getting the right pots and pans for your cooking journey, you'll very likely find yourself caught deciding between two cookware classics; the saucepan vs the cooking pot. While the saucepan and pot couldn't sound any more different, these two cookware share as many similarities as they do differences.

So between the saucepan and the pot, which is better for you?

Which is why we'll delve into nitty-gritty of this showdown between the saucepan vs pot and give insights on which piece of cookware will suit your cooking style and kitchen that much better. Once you have a better idea of the key differences between the two, you'll be in for a smoother and more enjoyable time whipping up scrumptious delights in the kitchen.

First Of All, What Is A Saucepan?

A saucepan is a versatile cookware used in kitchens all around the world and is found in several sizes. It usually has a round surface and flat bottom, tall straight sides, and a single long handle, making it perfect for cooking food that utilises ample liquid.

Smaller saucepans tend to come without a lid, while the medium to larger ones often come equipped with a lid. The saucepan can be made from different materials such as aluminium, copper, Teflon, stainless steel, or ceramic non-stick.

Then, What Is A Pot?

When it comes to kitchen lingo, a "pot" is actually a broad term that include Dutch ovens, French ovens, stock pots, and casseroles. It typically has taller sides compared to that of a saucepan, and it is used to cook large portions of food. Pots always come with two looped handles on each side for an easier time carrying.

They are usually used for batch cooking and recipes that require longer cooking times with extra liquid such as simmering, stewing, braising, and boiling. You would usually find pots made from various materials such as cast iron, ceramic non-stick, stainless steel, and aluminium.

Saucepan vs Pot: 9 Similarities, Differences, And Ways To Utilise Them

1. Cooking Techniques

Saucepan

A saucepan has tall sides, a round flat base, and a long handle. The tall sides prevent liquids from spilling out, making it excellent for preparing sauces, simmering soups, and reheating leftovers. As its sides are not as tall as the pot's sides, it is faster to use a saucepan to heat up leftovers or single meal portions.

Meanwhile, the round flat base is ideal for distributing heat evenly throughout the pan. It does not have sharp edges, making it easy for you to stir without worrying whether your ingredients or roux will get stuck in the corners. The narrow opening and tall sides create a low evaporation rate, which allows the sauce to reduce slowly and develop complex flavours. 

The long handle is sometimes made from heat-resistant material, allowing you to easily handle the saucepan while cooking or even pop it into the oven if it's fully oven-safe. Some larger ones even have a helper handle on the opposite side for easy pours. The long handle also makes it easier to tilt the saucepan to pour its contents.

Pot

Think of the pot as a magnified version of the saucepan. It performs everything a saucepan can do but in greater magnitude. One of it involves how it caters to a wider range of cooking techniques such as making stocks, boiling large quantities of water, braising meats, and cooking stews.

Pots have a larger capacity compared to saucepans. Therefore, pots are great for cooking food in large quantities for your dinner party. Its wider surface also makes it suitable for accommodating recipes with large ingredients such as a whole chicken for poaching or a whole leg of lamb for braising.

2. Size And Capacity

Saucepan

Saucepans usually come in different sizes, ranging from 0.9 litres to 3.7 litres (1 to 4 quarts). For instance, the Cosmo Saucepan holds up to 1.8L which is ideal for preparing and reheating food for couples or small families.

This makes the saucepan exceptionally helpful when you want to prepare comforting soups or instant noodles of up to two servings when midnight hunger pangs strike. You can even cook one-pot meals for lazy days where you don't feel like cooking anything beyond a single dish. That also means fewer dishes to wash!

Pot

In contrast, pots are usually larger, ranging from 3.7L to 18.9L. Therefore, it's ideal for preparing large quantities of food for your dinner parties, meal prepping for the week, and cooking large one-pot meals, such as lamb shanks, spaghetti, beef stew, and pumpkin soup. Cosmo Casserole has a capacity of 4.5L which is a star for boiling, braising, and even baking! 

If you have a smaller kitchen storage space or only wish to prepare food in small portions, then a smaller pot, such as the Cosmo Mini Casserole, with a capacity of 2.2L, may be right up your alley.

3. Design And Storage

Saucepan

Nowadays, non-stick saucepans come in many colours that will look appealing while displayed in the kitchen or served on your dinner table. Like the Cosmo Saucepan, it comes in stunning colours such as navy blue, light blue, green, pink, and cream.

The small nature of saucepans also means it takes up less space in the kitchen, making it easy to stack on other cookware. However, it's good to place protective padding between the stacked cookware to prevent damaging the saucepan's base or cooking surface.

Pot

A pot has taller walls which makes it ideal for cooking large quantities of food. The taller sides also prevent liquid from evaporating too quickly. Thus, pots are suitable for recipes that involve slow-cooking, simmering, stewing, and boiling techniques.

Pots also come with two looped handles on opposite sides to evenly distribute the weight of the pot and its content, making it easier to carry at full capacity. Its design also makes it an excellent piece of cookware for dinner hosts to serve in style from the stovetop or oven to table.

If you're looking for a non-cast iron based cookware in stylish shades, you'll want to look into ceramic non-stick pots. They come in various colours which adds a vibrant touch to your dining table as you serve up a scrumptious feast. For instance, the Cosmo Mini Casserole and Cosmo Casserole come in flattering shades such as cream, grey, dark blue, light blue, and green.

In comparison with saucepans, pots are larger cookware that requires bigger storage space due to its larger size. However, its versatility and capacity definitely make up for its bulk.

4. Material

Saucepan

Saucepans are often made from aluminium, copper, and stainless steel, or non-stick such as Teflon and ceramic non-stick. 

Stainless steel is durable and resistant to rust. However, it'll take longer to heat up the stainless steel saucepan, and heat does not distribute as evenly as you'd like. Some lower-grade stainless steel may be susceptible to corrosion and leak heavy metals in your food. Besides, high-quality stainless steel tends to be more expensive, which is not recommended for beginner home cooks.

Aluminium conducts heat well, making the pan heat up faster while distributing heat evenly. Yet cooking acidic foods in an aluminium pan will accelerate its damage over time. This leads to a risk of aluminium leaching into the food, resulting in a hint of metallic taste.

While copper is the priciest of the lot, it is renowned for its responsiveness to temperature changes. Thus, copper saucepans are suitable for cooking proteins or preparing sauces that call for precise temperature control. However, copper requires a high level of regular maintenance to maintain its pristine state, making it ill-suited for beginner home cooks. 

Saucepans with non-stick coatings may make the cleaning process easier for you. However, avoid using metal utensils while handling food in the saucepan to prevent scratches. Besides, non-stick coatings may make it trickier when searing food perfectly, as these types of saucepans cannot handle high heat well.

Pot

Pots are commonly made from similar materials found in saucepans. They also come in cast iron, which is known for excellent heat retention and distribution. Cast iron pots are great for maintaining consistent temperatures, especially if you're preparing recipes that require prolonged cooking periods.

Besides, cast iron pots are also amazing camping companions while cooking outdoors. The only downside to the classic cast iron pot is its hefty weight.

5. Lids

Saucepan

A lid is usually included when you purchase a saucepan. The lid helps retain heat and moisture as well as regulate temperature. Some lids have a glass insert, making it convenient for monitoring the cooking process without needing to lift the lid. If you plan to reduce your sauces, leaving the lid off will help reduce the volume while intensifying the flavours. 

Pot

Pots also come with a lid to trap moisture and heat, which helps speed up the cooking process. Some lids for larger pots may have steam vents to prevent the liquids from overflowing and maintain the pressure throughout the cooking process. If you intend to thicken your soup, you can leave the lid off to let the soup simmer.

6. Ease Of Use

Saucepan

Due to its smaller size, a saucepan is easier to manage while cooking, cleaning, and storing. Its long handle provides a comfortable grip for you to pour food onto plates, especially if the handle is made from heat-resistant material. Besides, if the saucepan has a hole at the end of the handle, you can easily hang it wherever that is convenient, making it versatile and saves on storage space.

The longer handle also enhances safety by reducing the risk of accidental spills or toppling over while handling the saucepan. You will have better control while pouring contents from the saucepan as the hot part of the saucepan remains further away from you.

Pot

Larger pots may be trickier, especially when heavy and filled to the brim. Therefore, they have two short handles on opposite sides for a balanced lift while transferring food. Besides, it may be harder to clean and store the pot after cooking due to its large size.

Petite home cooks may have a trickier time handling large pots while those with wrist injuries or those who struggle with lifting heavier objects may struggle working with a large pot, especially when it is filled.

7. Cooking Versatility

Saucepan

While saucepans are smaller pieces of cookware compared to pots, they are very versatile for preparing food via different techniques, such as boiling, frying, steaming, and reheating food. You can use a saucepan to cook rice, quinoa, mashed potatoes, and beans, and even make desserts such as custards and caramel sauce. Smaller saucepans are also the best cooking companions when it comes to speeding through basic cooking tasks such as boiling water.

Pot

Pots are versatile cookware that caters to a wide range of cooking methods and can prepare large volumes of food. You can prepare large batches of tomato sauce, stocks, stews, and soups, as well as braising and deep-frying food. You can also boil large quantities of water to blanch vegetables and cook enough pasta to feed a crowd.

Certain pots, such as Dutch ovens, can be used on various heat sources, such as baking bread in the oven and braising meats on the stovetop!

8. Heat Retention And Heat Distribution

Saucepan

The narrow base also evens the heat distribution throughout the saucepan, reducing the sauces faster. Meanwhile, its long handle allows you to comfortably hold the saucepan to move it around.

The narrow base helps even the heat distribution throughout the saucepan, allowing you to cook food evenly. The saucepan is also perfect for simmering, thickening, and reducing sauces. This is essential for preparing delicate sauces that need consistent temperatures. Besides, a good saucepan retains heat well, reducing the chances of scorching food.

An aluminium saucepan conducts heat very well. Thus, it heats up fast and can evenly distribute heat. However, it does not retain heat well, which is not ideal for dishes that need consistent heat for a long time.

Meanwhile, a stainless steel saucepan requires more time to heat up and distribute heat evenly. Thus, you will have hot and cold spots across the pan. But once heated properly, it retains heat at a consistent temperature, which is great for searing and simmering food.

As for a copper saucepan, it is an excellent conductor of heat, heating up evenly and quickly.  Thus, it reduces the chances of having hot and cold spots across the pan. However, copper also cools down quickly after removed from heat, which is suitable for recipes that need rapid changes in cooking temperature.

A ceramic non-stick saucepan usually has excellent heat retention and even heat distribution, making it convenient for simple and precise cooking. It also lasts longer if you avoid using it regularly on high heat.

Pot

Not only is a pot great for cooking in large quantities, but it also excels in heat retention and distribution. Its wider base provides a larger cooking surface, which allows you to cook more ingredients without hot spots, as long as the pot's surface has been properly and evenly heated. You can even use some pots for deep frying and baking.

Some pots, such as Dutch ovens, are excellent for retaining heat for a long time. Thus, it's great for cooking food slowly and uniformly.

Due to its insulating properties, a ceramic non-stick pot like the Cosmo Casserole typically retains heat for a long time, which is perfect for slow-cooking recipes. However, it may not be suitable to heat up leftovers or fry food in a short amount of time as the ceramic pot has low thermal conductivity.

9. Evaporation Rate

Saucepan

Typically, saucepans usually have a moderate to high evaporation rate depending on the size of its opening. Thus, a saucepan is the best when it comes to reducing sauces.

Pot

In contrast, pots have taller walls and larger openings. Thus, it increases the rate of evaporation. If you wish to slow down the evaporation rate, you can use the lid to reduce the moisture from escaping or opt for a taller and narrower pot.

Is There A Difference Between Saucepans And Pots?

Absolutely! A saucepan is a smaller piece of cookware that is suited for preparing food in small quantities. It usually has a long handle, making it easy to shift the cookware on and off the heat. The narrow opening and tall sides make the saucepan ideal for cooking liquids and preparing sauces.

On the other hand, a pot is excellent for large-volume cooking and is ideal for boiling, stewing, and simmering food. It will come in handy, especially when preparing large volumes of food for your dinner party, such as soups, stews, chilli, beans, and pasta.

What Does A Saucepan Look Like?

Usually, a saucepan has tall and straight sides, a long handle, and a flat bottom. It typically comes with a lid to cover the saucepan while reducing sauces. Some saucepans might come with a small handle on the opposite side of the long handle so you can handle the saucepan better.

Is A Saucepan Used For Boiling?

Like a pot, you can use a saucepan to boil liquids in small quantities, making it perfect to quickly complete simple tasks like boiling water when a kettle or electric kettle isn't available. You can also use it to boil eggs, vegetables, and pasta that feeds up to 3 people, depending on the size of the saucepan.

Why Is It Called A Saucepan?

Saucepans were first created in the 17th century. The name "saucepan" derives from its job to cook sauces only. The design of the saucepan is suitable for preparing sauces, as it is suitable for reducing, simmering, and boiling liquids.

What Is The Difference Between A Saucepan And A Saute Pan?

While a saucepan and a sauté pan sound very similar, they highly differ in their functions. The saucepan is deeper than your usual sauté pan and is used for cooking food that involves liquids.

On the other hand, a sauté pan has shorter sides, straight edges, and a wider flat bottom, making it suitable for sauteing and pan-frying ingredients quickly.

But if you're wondering if a frying pan and a sauté pan are the same, you'd be surprised that the answer is no!

Is A Stock Pot Considered A Pot?

Yes, a stock pot is categorised as a type of cooking pot. It is ideal for large-volume cooking, such as preparing broths, stocks, stews, and boiling water.

Can Stock Pots Be Used To Reduce Sauces?

While stock pots are typically used for cooking in large quantities, you can also use them to reduce sauces, especially if preparing sauces in large quantities. As the stock pot is a larger cookware, the sauce reduction process will take longer than using a saucepan.