Best saucepan set 2024 UK — reviews of the top 11 for your kitchen

No kitchen can function without the best saucepans, and it’s fair to say that everyone from beans-on-toast masters to Michelin-star wannabes use pots and pans regularly. And while it’s entirely possible to buy cheap and cheerful saucepan sets on a budget, you have to wonder whether the low price also reflects the quality. 

That’s why we’ve decided to (quite literally) put some of the best saucepans to the test instead. The Ideal Home team has pipped saucepan sets from the likes of Le Creuset, Ninja, ProCook and Tefal against each other to see whether the slightly higher - but still very affordable - price point guarantees high quality and life-long durability. 

After rigorous testing, we’ve put together the best saucepan options for all budgets and requirements - no matter if you’re looking for the best pans for induction hobs or you’re looking for non-stick options that will help to keep your cooking disasters to a minimum. 

The best saucepans - the quick list

If you’re short on time but still want to make sure that you’re buying the best saucepans, take a look below. We’ve put together a quick list of everything you need to know before we get into the more detailed nitty-gritty. 

Best saucepan set overall

With a thick, well-made ceramic non-stick body, this cookware set impressed us from the outset. It’s backed by a 25 year guarantee, and the curved riveted handles remained sturdy throughout our testing. We love the look of them too. The saucepans took a little longer to heat than thinner alternatives, but we preferred the well-balanced base that comes with a thicker build, which means it sits happily on gas stoves as well as electric and even induction. 

The included non-stick pan is a good size for most families, and it’s paired with 14, 16 & 18cm saucepans that each come with a glass lid for visibility. The set is oven safe up to 260° and it can all go in the dishwasher. This ProCook set is astoundingly good value, but even if it was twice the price, we’d still give it full marks.

Best premium saucepan set

Coming into this testing, it’s fair to say that our cookware editor was slightly biased towards the Le Creuset cookware set. Her parents’ set has been banging around in her family kitchen since they got married 25 years ago, and it’s still performing flawlessly. Strikingly high–quality, the 3-ply Stainless Steel 4-piece Cookware Set is backed by a lifetime warranty, which is rare to find when it comes to cookware. Included is a 16cm saucepan, 18cm saucepan, 20cm deep casserole, and a 24cm non-stick frying pan, which is a versatile mix. 

We really enjoyed how well this set stacked together, and the double handle design means you can lift these pans in and out of the oven without any trouble. The lids are made of stainless steel, so you won’t be able to look in as your food cooks, but in our experience, this is a longer-lasting design. We also found that the base heated quickly due to the 3-ply stainless steel construction. The one downside is that the non-stick frying pan is best not placed in the dishwasher.

Best non-stick saucepan set

We're big fans of Ninja. Not only does the brand come out with some of the best air fryers, food processors and other kitchen innovations, but they've also dipped into cookware with their ZeroStick range. The verdict? A smashing success. 

One standout feature is that you are free to use metal utensils when cooking with this range. It felt weird to use a metal whisk and slatted spoon when cooking in the set, but it was one less thing to worry about in the kitchen, and also cuts back on the less-durable and often-plastic alternatives you're forced to buy with non-stick saucepan sets.

The handle is angled upwards, which makes for an ergonomic experience and also lightens the load when it comes to pouring. All of the pans and lids can go in the dishwasher, and even in the oven, up to 260°C. We like this set for the price, which is very reasonable for such a durable range. Our major gripe is that the set is tricky to stack, and the ZeroStick coating is a little less attractive than more conventional cookware. 

Best saucepan set for small kitchens

Robert Welch may be best known for making some of the best chef's knives and best knife sets, but that doesn't mean the brand can't make a brilliant saucepan. The Robert Welch Campden Saucepan Set 3-Piece is really tactile to use, and the flat handles make it a very stackable set of pans. 

Tested by our resident head of reviews, who has a small kitchen and a love of quality cookware, we couldn't fault much when it came to meal prepping for two people with these pans. The large one was plenty for making a batch of bolognese, and the small was brilliant for egg poaching or reheating soup. Of course, if you're in a larger home or have more mouths to feed, this set may be a bit snug for meals for four and over. 

The metal lid rattles a little when simmering stocks or slow-cooking, which is because there's no in-built ventilation. We do prefer a glass lid, but at least these ones can go through the dishwasher. For the price, there's a lot of quality in this set. 

Best saucepan set for speed

The Lakeland Hard Anodised Bell Shaped 5-Piece Pan Set is a winner for big kitchens or those with a lot of hungry mouths to feed. These bell-shaped pans heated up in record time thanks to the wide base, and the narrower top prevented spitting or bubbling for a cleaner kitchen when you're done. 

The non-stick is exceptional, and we also really enjoy that despite the heat-resistant coating on the handles and lid, they can still go in the oven (and the dishwasher!)

With a more unusual shape of pan, this set isn't the most stackable. It comes with a frying pan, a milk pan with pouring spouts on each side, and three pans. The largest is 20cm but due to the wide base it has a brilliant 3.3 litre capacity. 

Best saucepan set

Buying the best saucepan set will often mean spending a lot of money, but if it's within your budget, the Samuel Groves 3-Piece Classic Set is a worthy investment. 

While it's not the typical kitchen set set, its three components are all necessary for any kitchen and will allow you to cook just about anything you may wish. It comes with a 26cm casserole, 20cm saucepan and 28cm non-stick frying pan The saucepan is ideal for boiling veggies and heating up smaller portions, whereas the casserole has a quality design and sturdy handles to cook up large servings of bolognese or rice.

While not heatproof, the longer handles do stay a little cooler throughout use thanks to the elevated design. Enjoyable features include the fact that it comes in a burlap bag that can be used for groceries and other storage needs, and that it’s handcrafted in the UK. The brushed exterior meant that heat spread evenly in testing, and the tri-ply stainless steel feels high quality and long-lasting. The company also offers a 'Pan for Life' refurbishment service, so they will re-polish and restore any damage it may incur over the years.

Best stainless steel saucepan set

We’ve tried to be fair to the non-stick sets out there, but in our view the best saucepans are typically those high-quality fuss-free stainless steel types. The Stellar 3 Piece Eclipse Saucepan Set is no exception. With a tri-ply construction for even heating, it comes with 16, 18 and 20cm pans all backed by a lifetime guarantee. We were so impressed with the sleek construction that felt incredibly high-quality, with riveted handles and inner markings to make measuring a little easier.

Each pan comes in a drawstring bag and the packaging is largely recyclable. Although the pans can go through the dishwasher, hand-washing will keep them blemish-free for longer - although the same could be said for any pan set. They are oven-safe, but up to 240°, which is less than some of the other pans in our guide.  

Best modern saucepan set

Visually, the BergHOFF Leo 3 Piece Non Stick Saucepan Set isn’t for everyone, but you’ll know instantly if it’s up your street. Taking the pans out of the box instantly divided the kitchen. The pans are lightweight and the phenolic handles clearly designed for balance and safe grip. 

These pans feel high quality, too. They’re induction-friendly and the lids are tempered glass, with silicone rims that rattle the least of any of the pans we tested. The lids are also fitted with modern-feeling handles and a vent for steam. This vent also comes in handy when draining liquid from veggies and pasta. That’s one less sieve for hand-washing. 

The set is non-stick and includes PFOA free non stick coating which cuts down on the amount of oil you’ll need. The three saucepans are 6cm, 18cm, and 20cm in width, so not the most versatile set out there when it comes to hearty portions, but it would be a good set for students or small households who want their pans to slot together neatly. Everything is dishwasher-safe too. A great value set.

Best pan and pot duo

If space is at a premium in your home, then you're going to need a one or two pans that do the job of an entire set. That's where this duo from Our Place comes in, with the promise of replacing an 18-piece cookware bundle with their Always Pan and Perfect Pot.

To put that claim to the test, our Ecommerce Editor Molly tried this set at home for several months, and used nothing else for every single meal she cooked. In her small London flat, there's really no space for a full saucepan set, but there's no need for one with this pair, which excel at everything from frying eggs to cooking rice. Even better, the new Always Pan is also oven-safe, so nothing is off limits recipe-wise either. 

These Instagram-famous pans sometimes get talked down a little due to the nin-stick, but in her time testing, Molly didn't find an issue with the non-stick capabilities. Her only complaint is that the pair can be a little trickier to clean than competitors, namely her Le Creuset cast iron pans. But it's a small price to pay for two pans that really can replace a full set. 

She's not the only one who thinks so too. Ideal Home's Deputy Editor Gin is also a signed up fan of Our Place. 

'I succumbed to the endless advertising on Instagram in early 2022 and snapped up the Always Pan. I loved using it so much that I soon after treated myself to the matching Perfect Pot. In hindsight, I should have bought both at the same time to save money! I love using them and while I have a selection of other saucepans and pots, I nearly always turn to these first. This is partly because they're both a really generous size (without being too big), but also because I tend to always leave them out on my hob - they're so nice to look at!'

Best durable saucepan set

This relatively inexpensive set from John Lewis wins top marks from Ideal Home's Ecommerce Editor Amy thanks to its durable design and useful features, such as the heatproof handles. 

Highlights with this set include the fact that they fare well in the dishwasher, and have a bunch of small qualities to make your life easier. That includes drainage holes in the side other lids for when you're boiling vegetables, and spouts either side of the pan for easy pouring. You can leave the lid on drain water out too, so that you don't have to dirty your colander during the cooking process either. 

Another plus is the lite measurements written on the inside of the pan, so that following a recipe is that little bit easier. They're also easy to manoeuvre thanks to their lightweight feel, and the holes in the handles mean that you can store them more easily. 

Best space saving design

This set of pans wins the accolade of the cleverest design on this list, with removable handles to make stacking in your cupboards so much easier. You can pick up either the 3 pan set or the 5-piece version, which also features two non-stick frying pans that work on induction hobs. 

Ideal Home team member Andrea Childs owns the five-piece set and loves cooking with them at home. Not only does she love the space-saving design, but also the fact that they come with airtight lids, which mean that you can pop any leftovers in your pan straight into the fridge instead. Andrea also loves the draining slots in the lid to make pouring away pasta water or boiling water much easier. 

How we tested the best saucepan sets

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Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Millie Fender

Millie Fender used to be head of all things cooking and kitchenware here at Ideal Home and previously headed up our reviews hub. Millie tested every set in this guide from her own flat in South London. She has a gas hob, which came in handy for testing how well-balanced each set was. She also has a dishwasher, which got plenty of use where pans were advised as being dishwasher-safe. 

How did we review the best saucepan sets? Every set in this guide has been used hands-on by a member of the Ideal Home team for at least a few weeks. We looked out for how evenly the pan heated, the quality of the design, how enjoyable the handles and lids are to use and store, and the versatility of each set. Where a saucepan set was non-stick, we made sure that this would last and tested how well it cooked our fried eggs and bacon. Other features to look out for is oven-safe designs and heat-resistant handles. We tested for both, where appropriate, as well as evenly heated bases and the convenience of cleanup and day-to-day use.

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