Best Sauté Pan 2023: 5+ Detailed Reviews

Top 5 Best Sauté Pans in 2023:

1. All-Clad 4403 Tri-Ply Saute Pan
2. Anolon Advanced Covered Sauté
3. T-Fal E76598 Ultimate Hard Anodized Deep Saute Pan
4. Cuisinart 733-30H Chef’s Classic Stainless Saute Pan
5. Calphalon Classic Stainless Steel Saute Pan

If you like to cook for your family and friends, you should acquire reliable recipes, fresh and tasty ingredients, and the proper equipment. You can do a lot with a few basic kitchen utensils, but if you want to take your cooking to a higher level and become a culinary maestro, you’ll need a full gastronomic arsenal.

Of course, not just any cookware will do – if you want to be the best cook, you need to buy the best kitchen tools too. 

A sauté pan can help elevate your cooking skills and turn your dishes into culinary masterpieces. People often think that they do not need a sauté pan if they already own a skillet or frying pan, but they are wrong.

If you want to find out what is a sauté pan, why you need one, and how it can help you improve your cooking, you have come to the right place. By the end of this article, you’ll not only realize the importance of owning the sauté pan but also be able to choose the best sauté pan for your culinary endeavors.

5 Best Sauté Pans In 2023: Detailed Reviews

1. All-Clad 4403 Tri-Ply Saute Pan – Versatile saute pan of the highest quality

All-Clad 4403 Saute Pan is an excellent high-quality stainless steel sauté pan, and you should definitely consider it if you can afford it. It might come with a hefty price tag, but it is an all-purpose pan that is sure to stand the test of time.

The stainless steel exterior of the most exceptional quality makes this sauté pan almost indestructible, while aluminum core guarantees uniform heat distribution. The three-layered construction adds to the durability too. It is easy to clean, as well as dishwasher, safe for your utmost convenience. 

The 3 qt capacity should satisfy the needs of an average user. The diameter of the bottom measures 11.3″ while walls are 5″ inches tall, preventing splattering. It comes with a practical lid too. 

The All-Clad 4403 sauté pan is quite versatile thanks to its sturdy steel exterior and highly-conductive aluminum core. In translation, you can use it with all sorts of heat sources – open flame and induction stove included! It is oven safe as well. The U-handle seems a bit flimsy and doesn’t quite match the quality of the pan.

2. Anolon Advanced Covered Sauté – A perfect combination of quality and affordability

It is hands down the best budget-friendly sauté pan we have tested so far. Yet, regardless of its low price, it is made to last.  Namely, it’s hard-anodized aluminum construction keeps it safe from the usual wear and tear that happens in your kitchen.

Heavy-duty construction provides balanced heat distribution so that your gourmet endeavors always come out perfectly done. The non-stick surface is of premium quality, so it will not get damaged any time soon, even if you use metal utensils while cooking.  You don’t even have to add oil for most food, and everything cleans easily too. 

It measures 13.5 x 5 inches and has a 4-Quart capacity – that makes it big enough to feed an average family and tall enough to prevent annoying splatters and overflows. It is a bit heavy, though, as it weighs 6.5 lbs.

Unlike our previous candidate, this sauté pan has a dual-riveted Anolon SureGrip handle that can measure up to its quality. The silicone grip keeps the handle cool to touch, and allows for a better hold and maneuverability. Practical design includes pour sprouts at each side, so you’ll have no problem with pouring your sauces and gravies.

Practical shatter-resistant glass lid not only seals in the moisture but also allows you to monitor the cooking process at all times. The pan can be used in the oven and can handle temperatures up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 

3. Cuisinart 733-30H Chef’s Classic Stainless Saute Pan – Affordable and versatile sauté pan of 5.5-quart capacity

Cuisinart 733-30H sauté pan offers a maximum 5.5 Quart capacity at the minimal price. It is a supremely versatile pan with 11.8  inches diameter and 4.5 inches tall walls, suitable for a larger family. If you want to prepare culinary specialties for fewer people, you can rely on practical measurement markings, so you don’t waste any food.

The chef’s choice stainless provides you with professional performance, and an aluminum encapsulated base guarantees excellent heat distribution. The pan heats up rather quickly and then spreads the heat evenly so there are no hot or cold spots that could ruin your dish.  The material does not react with any ingredient or influences the taste of your food.

The mirror finish looks excellent and cleans rather quickly, but it does require a bit of special care. The riveted handle is also made from solid stainless steel, but it stays cool to touch, plus there’s a helper handle on the opposite side for better hold and balance.

The tapered rim allows for drip-free pouring saving you from cleaning while tight-fitting cover eliminates any chance of unwanted splatters. The lid also helps in locking in the moisture, nutrients, and flavors, keeping your food juicy and tasty.

It is dishwasher safe, so you’ll have one less thing to worry about when cleaning the kitchen. You can use it in the oven too. It is also quite durable. 

4. T-Fal E76598 Ultimate Hard Anodized Deep Saute Pan – Comes with a handy Thermo Spot indicator for beginner cookers

T-Fal is a champion of the non-stick cookware, and this sauté pan justifies the good name of the company.  Of course, it features the famous Thermo-spot heat indicator that shows you when to start cooking, so there should not be any rookie mistakes even if you are new at culinary art. 

The thing that has made the T-Fal company so popular is the 100% scratch-resistant, toxin-free, interior coating that allows for super easy food release and clean up. This model features the Anti-Warp Techno Resist base too, so you need not worry about it becoming uneven even if you cook at high temperatures.  

The surface also distributes heat well for the best cooking results and tastiest meals. That is mostly thanks to the hard-anodized aluminum core. It never reacts with acidic foods either. Hard titanium reinforcement guarantees durability and years of good use.

The ergonomic silicone handles allow for a secure grip while a tempered glass lid allows you to monitor the cooking process and avoid any mistakes. You can use this pan in the oven, too, but avoid broiling. 

A lot goes in favor of this sauté pan, but we will stress the low price tag, lifetime limited warranty, and excellent performance. On the downside, it is not compatible with the popular induction cookers.

5. Calphalon Classic Stainless Steel Saute Pan – Reasonably priced, large and reliable sauté pan

Calphalon Classic Stainless Steel pan features a classic look for all those of you who have a traditional-looking kitchen at home. The price is more than reasonable considering the quality of this all-stainless-steel sauté pan. The fact that it features a two-layered construction can be a bit disappointing, though, especially for those of you who cook at high temperatures.

Designed for durability, the Calphalon Classic Stainless Steel sauté pan features a resilient impact-bonded aluminum base that delivers fast and balanced heating. The etched fill line allows you to cook as much food as you need. The cast stainless steel handle is long and stays cool to touch even when on the stovetop so you are always comfortable. 

This is not a very large pan (3-quart capacity), but thanks to a wide, flat bottom (12.8 inches diameter), it can still satisfy the needs of an average family. Walls sit a bit low too as they are 3.98 inches tall, but splatters can be prevented if you use the tempered glass lid. 

Speaking of the lid, we must say that it allows you to check out your dish without letting any heat or moisture out! Unfortunately, you can not use it when the pan is in the oven, at least not at high temperatures.

Calphalon offers a lifetime warranty for this product so that you can enjoy your cooking trouble-free. It is dishwasher safe, but we still recommend washing it by hand.

Why Buy A Sauté Pan?

Even if you have both skillet and a frying pan, you still need to buy the sauté pan and learn when to use each pan retrospectively. What’s the difference?

The main difference is its shape. While frying pan typically has flared sides and is rather shallow, a sauté pan has taller vertical sides at a 90-degree angle and large, flat cooking surface area. Because of this difference in shape, a sauté pan allows for better and more efficient heat distribution and evaporation. Thanks to this, you do not need to fry your food in a lot of unhealthy cooking fat, you can make a sauté with as little as a tablespoon of olive oil.

Unlike other pans, a sauté pan most often comes with its lid. It enables you to close the pan, prevent excessive loss of moisture, and slowly fry or cook your food to perfection.

Many sauté pans double as a baking dish as they can be placed in the oven. Sauté pans are considered to be the most versatile of all types of pans, as there are many methods and techniques to utilize them. You can fry all sorts of meat and fish in a sauté pan as well as saute your veggies.

In fact, you can make an entire meal with only a sauté pan at your side – so investing in one is a good idea.

How To Choose The Best Sauté Pan?

Now that we have established that you definitely need a sauté pan, let’s see what sauté pan you should buy. Not just any sauté pan will do, not if you want it to enhance your cooking skills.

You should choose quality, that goes without question, but we will go over all the other things you need to look for when buying a sauté pan. Here it goes:

1. Material

When speaking of quality, most of us actually think about the material. It is true that the quality of the material greatly determines the overall quality of any item, sauté pans included. Hence, we have tried to figure out what material makes the best sauté pans. What are the results?

There are a few options that are almost equally good but quite different, and those are:

Stainless Steel

• Stainless steel sauté pans are used in most professional kitchens, and that says a lot about their quality and performance. They are massive, oven & dishwasher safe, and quite versatile.
• If you prefer non-stick cookware, stainless steel might not be the best option for you.

Cast Iron 

• Cast iron sauté pans are usually the most affordable, but they are quite versatile as well. They can go in the oven, and the food does not stick to their surface. On the downside, they cast iron is rather heavy and not dishwasher safe. You not only have to hand clean it, but it also requires reasoning from time to time. 

Teflon

• The non-stick coating is quite popular among modern cooks, and so are the Teflon sauté pans. They are light, practical, and most straightforward to use but not the easiest to maintain. Even though it is a common belief that non-stick dishes are super-easy to clean, we must warn you that they have to be washed by hand, and you cannot rely on your dishwasher. The cooking surface is quite sensitive, too, so you will have to buy rubber or wooden utensils and be extra careful not to damage it.  

Copper 

• A good old copper is a heat distribution champion and can handle some serious heat. However, the price of a copper sauté pan can be too high for those of you on a tight budget.  

Aluminum 

• An aluminum pan is always a good option. Such pans are usually cheap but also lightweight, durable, and easy to clean. You should best stretch your budget a bit and opt for a hard-anodizing aluminum pan as it is harder than stainless steel and unreactive to acids. 

As we have said, all these materials are quite different and different purposes too. Therefore, you would not make a mistake if you buy all three types of sauté pans and be best prepared for any cooking scenario.

2. Handles

People are now crazy about ergonomic handles, and we agree that that is important. However, do note that besides comfort, you should also consider the material of the handles. If they are plastic or made from some other materials that cannot stand high temperatures, they will limit the use of your sauté pan.

Therefore, look for comfortable, riveted handles that do not become too hot, or even better, that are oven-safe as well. 

3. Size

Size does matter. The size of your sauté pan makes a significant difference when it comes to different cooking methods, but also the number of people that you will be able to feed.

Sauté pans typically have 12-14 inches diameter. There are non-standard options as well, but there is no need to explore that territory. You should also check out the height of the walls and make sure they are straight, or you might end up buying a skillet or a wok.

4. Warranty

High-quality sauté pans usually come with high price tags. When you spend a lot, at least make sure the sauté pan you buy will be one of the last you will ever have to pay for. The warranty guarantees that you will not have to throw your pan after only a few months, so it would be wise to choose a sauté pan that has one attached to it. Of course, nothing beats the lifelong guarantee.

Final Word & Our Recommendations

We have tried to stay at the lower end of the price range, but if you want exceptional quality, you must break your bank and go for All-Clad 4403 Tri-Ply Saute Pan.

If you are on a tight budget, choose from the rest of the pack, you cannot go wrong. We still give a small advantage to Anolon Advanced Covered Sauté and T-Fal E76598 Ultimate Hard Anodized Deep Saute Pan since they balance the price and quality the best.

Enjoy your cooking!