Cook's Illustrated magazine: March/April 2012
The latest Cook’s Illustrated magazine features a story about rating and testing nine sauté pans. The rating is based on performance, ease of use, and the sauté pan’s dimensions.
For performance, Cook’s observed heat distribution, shape and size of cooking surface, fit of the lid, and the ability of the pan to withstand oven heat.
Cook’s also assessed capacity and the ability of the sauté pan to maintain consistent temperatures. For ease of use, Cook’s considered the pans’ weight, balance, handle shape, and the width of the cooking surface.
The Best Sauté Pans
The top two sauté pans tied in the performance and ease of use categories. The Viking Stainless 7-ply 3 quart Sauté Pan came out on top with a highly recommended rating, although it has one of the highest prices at $220. The All-Clad Stainless 3-quart Tri-Ply Sauté Pan was also highly recommended with only a slightly negative comment about the increased price from last year. This year’s new price is $225.
Cook’s overall “best buy” rating was for the next on the list: Cuisinart’s MultiClad Pro Triple-Ply 3.5 quart Sauté Pan with lid. It was rated as having slightly less quality, but a much more affordable price of $80.
For the print version of article see the March/April 2012 issue of Cook’s Illustrated.
Where to Purchase
If you’d like to purchase any of the above models, here’s where to find them:
- Top Rated: Viking Stainless 7-Ply 3-Quart Sauté Pan #VK-VSC0303 at metrokitchen.
- Second Rated: All-Clad Stainless 3-Quart Tri-Ply Sauté Pan #16711 at chefscatalog.
- Best Buy Rating: Cuisinart MultiClad Pro Triple-Ply 3.5 Quart Sauté Pan with lid at chefscatalog.
Barbara Schmidt, bstyle, inc., is a nationally recognized interior designer and author whose work is featured in numerous publications, social media and television.
