We might come across some basic questions if we are not entirely professional in cooking, but we do not usually obtain much information online. One of them is, “What is the difference between saucepan and pot?” Pancakes and pots may appear to be the same thing at first glance. They indeed have some things in common. The practical functions, on the other hand, serve entirely different purposes. Each cookware item is designed to serve a specific purpose in our kitchen, and the same holds for saucepans and pots. Therefore, I will provide you with a brief introduction of Saucepan vs. Pot, and their uses in this post.
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Saucepan vs. Pot
What is a Saucepan?
A saucepan makes cooking easier and more convenient. Therefore, it is always recommended to include it on your essential list of kitchen items. This valuable cookware item is excellent for preparing sauces, pastes, and even omelets. Moreover, this pan can be used for preparing meals in the oven, microwave, or stovetop. Taking a closer look at what a saucepan is, what exactly is it?
| Service | Main Features | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
1 Badge | Badge Utopia Kitchen 2 Quart Nonstick Saucepan
| More… |  $19.95 |
2  | Cuisinart Nonstick Hard-Anodized 1-Quart Saucepan
|  $14.51 | |
3  | Le Creuset Toughened Nonstick PRO Saucepan
|  $119.95 |
Shape of Saucepan
Usually, you find the saucepan in a circular shape, with high sides and long handles. You can choose a variety of models of saucepans in the market, available with or without lids. If you select the saucepan with a lid, in most cases, you will get a glass lid that is heat resistant. The benefit of the glass lid is that you can check your food while cooking. However, you can also go for metal lids; the choice is up to you.
The handles of saucepans typically have surface areas smaller than the height of the pan, distributing heat evenly. Generally, saucepans are meant for use on a stove. The basic saucepans are usually 2-3 quarts, but they come in a variety of sizes. The height of a saucepan is one of its main selling points, as it allows for a large volume of liquid to be contained in a small area.
Material of Saucepan
Saucepans are available in different materials, but the most common is the copper-coated bottom. Some of the options available in the material of saucepan are:
Stainless Steel
The first option of pan available is stainless steel. These pans are highly versatile as it is not reactive to different food whether it is alkaline or acidic in nature. The best thing about stainless steel is that it does not alter the flavor and taste of food. Whether it is a cooktop or oven, you can easily use the steel saucepan anywhere. All you have to care about is the handles; if it is also available steel, it may heat up and burn your hands. Cookware made of stainless steel is highly durable, as it is dishwasher safe, resists scratches or dents, and allows you to use any utensil – even metal, without causing any damage. The drawback of stainless steel saucepan is that you have to use excessive oil while cooking, as food can easily stick in steel, especially protein-rich food.
Copper
Copper saucepans are the best option when it comes to heat distribution. Because it heats and cools down quickly, it allows you to manage your food while cooking and control the amount of heat delivered to it. A copper saucepan can be pretty heavy, but the heavier it is, the stronger it is. Chefs around the world prefer and use heavy gauge copper as it has superior cooking capabilities. In terms of proportions of copper in cookware, ninety percent copper and ten percent stainless steel are the ratios most chosen by professional chefs.
Aluminum
You usually find the aluminum saucepan lined with stainless steel or a nonstick coating. This is the reason that most aluminum pans fall in the stainless steel or nonstick pan categories. Drawbacks to aluminum pans and pots include a fragile structure that scratches quickly and cannot withstand extreme temperatures. In addition, high heat will cause aluminum to warp and lose its shape, so we don’t recommend putting these pans in your oven.
Nonstick
The primary material you find in nonstick coatings is Teflon, PTFE, or Ceramic. However, apart from these coatings, a variety of other options are also available in the market. For example, nonstick cookware is excellent for beginner chefs as well as oil-free or lower-fat cooking. In addition, these kinds of pots and pans are easy to use and clean. Compared to a PTFE nonstick coating, ceramic is more scratch-resistant, safer, and also more environment-friendly.
What is a Pot?
Essentially, It is a large, shallow pot with long, deep sides and a narrow bottom surrounded by two looped handles. In cooking different volumes of liquid, you can use both pots and pans. However, in comparison to pans, pots are cylindrical and have two loop handles. For liquid-intensive dishes, such as tomato sauce, stews, and soups, pots are a good choice because they can hold a lot of liquid and can be cooked for longer durations. Thus, the pot is ideal for slow-cooking stews, soups, sauces, and roasts while reducing the content.
Types of Pots
There are different types of pots that complement other dishes and techniques:
Dutch pot:
An oven with a thick wall, lid, and handles is called a Dutch oven. Traditionally, this sturdy pot has been used for slow-cooking soups, stews, sauces, and bread. It comes in various options, for example, cast iron, enameled, aluminum, and ceramic. The usual method is to make them with seasoned cast iron.
Saucepot:
Similar to a saucepan, sauce pots have tall sides and a large base.
It is a cooking pot having a handle on each side and a close-fitting lid, used primarily for stewing and simmering. However, evaporation takes longer with such a large volume of fluid, making this type of pot more suited to reductions or slow-cooked food.
Double Boiler:
In general, this utensil consists of two sets of similar pans for boiling water and cooking ingredients. The lower pot holds heated water during cooking, while the upper pot keeps the food. It must be placed inside and positioned above a lower pot containing water to be boiled or heated. Heat-sensitive foods can be cooked this way without directly submerging them in water or burning them. In addition to custards, puddings, sauces, and chocolate, double boilers are often used for preparing other foods.
Stockpot:
This large, deep pot is used for making stock and cooking healthy meals. This stock is typically used as the basis of soups or sauces. The difference between stock and broth is that stock contains bones, while broth does not.
Good stock pots are designed for quick heating and long-simmering. When choosing a stockpot, be certain that it can cover an entire chicken, leaving plenty of room for healthy vegetables.
| Service | Main Features | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
1 Badge | Badge Farberware Classic Stainless Steel 4-Quart Covered Saucepot
| More… |  $29.99 |
2  | La Cuisine Cast Iron Covered Dutch Oven
|  $49.90 |
Conclusion
A saucepan and a stockpot differ in their size and purpose. In your kitchen, both of these pieces of cookware are essential. Making sauces, or reducing liquids of a small volume is much easier in a saucepan that’s non-stick coated. A stockpot can be used to boil pasta for a large gathering, to make chili, to boil corn, and to make sauces for a large gathering.
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