In brief
- A Saucepan is more versatile than the name suggests: also ideal for rice, soup, vegetables, and small portions.
- The high sides and smaller diameter make it perfect for smaller quantities.
- With a well-fitting lid, you retain moisture and heat, useful for rice and sauces.
- For sauces, you reduce liquids easily; for rice, use the absorption method.
The saucepan is often underestimated. Named after sauces, it is actually the most handy pan for a whole range of smaller kitchen tasks.
What is the difference between a saucepan and a skillet?
A skillet is a small pan with a long handle, and a saucepan is similar but often has a slightly larger capacity and higher sides. In practice, both names are used interchangeably: what one calls a skillet, another sells as a saucepan.
For most tasks, it doesn’t matter much whether you use a skillet or a saucepan. Pay attention mainly to the capacity and whether it comes with a lid, as you need that for rice and simmering sauces.
What can you use a saucepan for?
Besides sauces, a saucepan is ideal for rice, a small portion of pasta, soup, cooked vegetables, boiling eggs, and reheating leftovers. The high sides prevent splashes and keep moisture inside, making it suitable for anything that needs to simmer gently.
Why is a saucepan handy for small portions?
Because of the smaller diameter and high sides, little heat and moisture are lost, even when cooking for one or two people. You don’t need to heat a large pan for a small amount, which is faster and more economical.
Saucepan for sauce and rice
For a sauce, let the liquid reduce gently in the saucepan; how to do this is explained in our guide on reducing. For rice, the saucepan with lid is perfect for the absorption method, as described in cooking rice.
Which pan do you use for sauce? The saucepan. Thanks to the high sides and smaller diameter, you can reduce a sauce in a controlled way without splashes, and with the lid on, keep it warm afterwards.
The CuliStack saucepan
The CuliStack saucepan (21 cm, 2.3 L) comes with a lid and has a full stainless steel base, suitable for all cooktops. Which pan is most useful for what, you can read in our pan guide.
