Zwilling and Tramontina Named Best Saucepans in Tests
Serious Eats tested 12 saucepans, finding the Zwilling Spirit 4-quart pan the best overall and the Tramontina 3-quart the top budget pick.
The Zwilling Spirit 4-quart saucepan is the best overall, while the Tramontina 3-quart model is the top budget choice, according to a test of 12 popular pans by Serious Eats. The publication evaluated saucepans on boiling water, cooking rice, browning butter, and making pastry cream to assess heating, handling, and cleanup.
Wider saucepans, measuring about eight inches across, were significantly more user-friendly than narrower models. Testers found the extra width made it easier to maneuver a balloon whisk into the pan's sharp corners when making pastry cream and simplified cleaning. In comparison, some less-favored pans were only 7.25 to 7.75 inches wide.
Handle Design and Comfort
Handle design was a critical factor. Rounded, wider handles, like those on the Tramontina, or handles with depth and width, like the Zwilling's, were deemed most comfortable and offered better balance. Most importantly, handles needed to stay cool during use. While most performed well, some heated up considerably, making the pans difficult to handle when pouring. A minor but notable flaw in some pans was a lower handle placement, which positioned the interior rivets lower and made them traps for food, complicating cleanup.
Lid Shape and Performance
The test favored lids that were slightly arched. This shape allows condensation to run down the sides and back into the pot rather than dripping off the edge. Lid handles also needed to stay cool enough to touch without a towel or mitt, a feature linked to larger or taller handles. The Zwilling's included glass lid, which is oven-safe to 400°F, allowed cooks to see when water was boiling without lifting the cover.
Construction: Tri-Ply Versus Five-Ply
The majority of tested pans were tri-ply, constructed with a core of conductive aluminum between layers of stainless steel. A few models, like the All-Clad D5 and Avacraft, featured five-ply construction or hybrid designs. While the All-Clad D5 heated "beautifully" and was responsive with no hot spots, its added weight-nearly a pound heavier than the brand's tri-ply D3-could be a drawback. The test found that tri-ply pans generally struck the best balance between performance and usability, heating evenly with minimal hot spots.
The Material pan cooked unevenly, possibly due to an extreme curve on its bottom, while the Avacraft had a slightly uneven bottom that caused food to cook more around the sides. The Farberware pan, which was neither tri-ply nor five-ply, felt cheap and heated unevenly due to thin metal.
Top Picks and Specifications
According to Serious Eats, the Zwilling Spirit saucepan stood out for its responsive, balanced, and versatile performance. Its handle stays cool and features a comfortable indentation, and the pan cleans easily. The Tramontina saucepan was praised as a "fantastic budget pick" for well under $50, performing remarkably well across all tests.
| Model | Capacity | Weight (with lid) | Cladding Layers | Lip-to-Lip Diameter | Induction Compatible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zwilling Spirit | 4 quarts | 4 lbs, 8 oz | 3 (Tri-Ply) | 8 inches | Yes |
| Tramontina | 3 quarts | Not specified | 3 (Tri-Ply) | 8 inches | Yes |
The test focused on three- to four-quart saucepans, a size recommended for serving up to four people. For most home cooks, the criteria include a tri-ply construction for even heating, a wide eight-inch diameter for easier stirring and cleaning, and a comfortable handle that stays cool. The only noted drawback for the Zwilling winner was its seven-inch handle length, which testers said could feel too short for people with larger hands.
