Saucepan sets are an affordable way to kit yourself out in the kitchen, whether you're moving into a new home or you're a keen cook who wants an upgrade. The latest designs feel great in the hand and combine multiple materials for a superb performance: heat is transferred efficiently and evenly, without hotspots. They're ideal if you're going for an induction hob.
Not sure which saucepan set to buy? We've picked out seven of the best, at a range of prices and with a range of designs, so you can pick the one that belongs in your kitchen.
How to buy the right saucepan set for you
How much should I spend?
Most good saucepan sets cost between £100 and £200, with a few edging in under £100; the Judge Classic 5-piece Saucepan Set really is superb value at £80. Spending more typically buys you more pans or a more unusual look rather than radically improving features.
Will I have enough pans?
It's pretty rare to use more than three pans at a time, so this is less a question of whether your saucepan set includes enough pans and more a question of whether they're the right size or not.
Two smaller (16 and 20cm) pans plus a frying pan are enough if you're looking to save space. But if you have a family, love entertaining or batch-cook big dishes like soups you'll definitely need a large pan or stockpot. Some sets, like the Tefal Jamie Oliver pans, feature a good-sized stockpot. If your set doesn't, supplement it with one large pot – you can usually buy extra pans to match a set.
Will I have enough space?
We love the Tefal Ingenio Pan Set for this reason: the handles pop off and the pans can nest inside each other. Otherwise, decide on where you'll store pans before buying. If you're going to hang them, they'll need good loops on the end of their handles. If you're going to stack them, you need pans with a lid design that allows this.
What materials are best?
Most pans use a combination of materials. Aluminium is used to spread heat evenly and keep the pan light, while stainless steel is essential to make sure the pan works on all hobs. If you have an induction hob, or might upgrade to one in the future, check that pans are induction compatible before buying – all the pan sets featured here are.
Handles-wise, the trend is for metal. These have a professional feel and can withstand high temperatures, so they're oven-friendly, but be warned that they can get hot so you may need to use an oven glove.
Non-stick interiors and anodised exteriors are both great for cleaning but even though coatings are far tougher than they used to be, they need handling with care. All the pans featured here say they're dishwasher safe, but read the small print and they often say hand-washing is better for the pans. If you're concerned about the chemicals that go into Teflon non-stick coatings, ceramic pans are a good alternative.
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The best saucepan sets to buy from £80
1. Tefal Ingenio Pan Set, Stainless Steel, 13-Piece: The best space-saving saucepan set
Price when reviewed:£241
The Ingenio set is expensive when you consider that 13 pieces translates as five pans, but they have a clever design that sees them nest like Russian dolls, saving valuable cupboard space. Build quality is outstanding too, with titanium for extra toughness, internal capacity guides inside the stainless steel saucepans and a non-stick coating inside frying pans including a Tefal Thermo-Spot that changes colour at the optimum frying temperature. The other eight pieces of the set are glass lids for cooking, airtight plastic lids for storage and two handles that click on and off so you can swap from pan to pan. The handles work brilliantly and without them the pans are oven-safe to an impressive 260°C. A great space-saver but the largest has a 2.6 litre capacity; you'll need to supplement this set with an extra pan or two if you like cooking up big soups.
Key specs – Saucepans: 16, 18, 20cm; Frying pans: 22,26cm; Induction compatible: Yes; Dishwasher safe: Yes (except handles)
2. Judge Classic 5-piece Saucepan Set JPC1: The best saucepan set under £100
Price when reviewed:£80
These straightforward stainless steel pans are a steal (sorry) – you really do get a lot for your money. The frying pan, which is a good size, boasts a non-stick inner. The others are straightforward stainless steel pans with aluminium handles riveted on. The handles are curvy and feel good in the hand and the pans are pleasantly lightweight. They're oven-safe to 240°C. Toughened glass lids with vents let you keep an eye on your cooking in the main three saucepans. The mirror-polished stainless steel design is timeless and internal capacity guides add to the quality feel of these surprisingly affordable pans.
Key specs – Saucepans: 14 (milk pan), 16, 18, 20cm; Frying pan: 24cm; Induction compatible: Yes; Dishwasher safe: Yes
3. GreenPan Venice Pro Ceramic Non-Stick 4-piece Set: Natural, chemical-free non-stick pans for sensible money
Price when reviewed:£145
These three saucepans range in capacity from 1.5 to 3.1 litres, each with a glass lid. Then there's a 1.6 litre milk pan that differs very little from the smallest in the set: it simply has no lid and has spouts on both sides for pouring. We'd have preferred a stockpot or a frying pan to the milk pan. If you love neutral colours, you'll like these: the pans are an anodised matt black on the outside and an unusual, subtly sparkly grey ceramic finish inside. Unlike traditional non-stick finishes which require chemicals, GreenPan's ceramic coating is made from natural materials: sand enhanced with diamonds for hardness. Curved metal handles sit very comfortably in the hand and mean the pans are oven-safe up to a respectable 220°C.
Key specs – Saucepans: 16 (milk pan), 16, 18, 20cm; Induction compatible: Yes; Dishwasher safe: Yes
4. Tefal Jamie Oliver Hard Anodised Premium Series 5 Piece Cookware Set, Black: A superbly versatile saucepan set
Price when reviewed:£162
These five pans cover all the sizes a keen cook might need. The three saucepans range from a very useful 2.1 litre pan up to a 5 litre stockpot, each with an attractive, curved lid. Plus there's a good-sized frying and a large sauté pan. All boast a titanium non-stick interior and the frying and sauté pans also have a Tefal Thermo-Spot that changes colour at the optimum temperature. Outside, the pans are anodised for an easy-to-clean finish in gunmetal grey. The bases are induction friendly but aluminium is used extensively in the base, for even cooking and making the pans surprisingly light in the hand. But note that the handles are stainless steel with a nice-to-grip silicone insert, which means they’re oven-safe (175°C, 210°C without lids) but also means you'll need an oven glove to pick them up if they get hot.
Key specs – Saucepans: 18, 20, 24cm; Frying pans: 22,26cm; Induction compatible: Yes; Dishwasher safe: Yes
5. Stellar 6000 Hard Anodised 5 Piece Pan Set: Great quality pans for less than you might expect
Price when reviewed:£150
This is good value for a set of five pans from a brand like Stellar. They're known for professional-style pans and these are no exception. The sizes are a good range and the build quality impresses: they're not fancy, just well made. The pans are made from aluminium for good, efficient heat distribution, but the base is induction-friendly. Inside has a non-stick coating and outside is anodised in a dark, matt grey that wipes clean easily. The three saucepans have aluminium lids too, but the milk pan and frying pan don't. Handles are aluminium and fairly comfortable in the hand but they will get hot. The plus side of the all-metal design is that the pans are oven-safe to an impressive 240°C.
Key specs – Saucepans: 14 (milk pan), 16, 18, 20cm; Frying pan: 26cm; Induction compatible: Yes; Dishwasher safe: Yes
6. Morphy Richards Special Edition Pan Set, 4 Piece, Sand: A pan set with a striking design
Price when reviewed:£123
A striking design sees these pans' exteriors coated in a combination of matt cream and a grey brown. A strip of grey-brown silicone is used under the handles and inside the rings that serve as handles on top of the glass pan lids, and they look thoroughly modern and unusual as a result. Inside, the saucepans are brushed stainless steel, with just the frying pan benefiting from a non-stick coating. The bases incorporate a 4mm disc of aluminium, which makes for even heat distribution, but the use of stainless steel means they're also induction-friendly. We like the unusual design on the whole, but the jury's still out on whether the unconventional ring handles are the most practical choice.
Key specs – Saucepans: 16, 18, 20cm; Frying pan: 24cm; Induction compatible: Yes; Dishwasher safe: Yes
7. Lakeland 5-piece Hard Anodised Saucepan Set: A professional feel
Price when reviewed:£159
Lakeland has served up a good range of saucepans and a frying pan, all with a non-stick interior and an easy- clean anodised (dark matt grey) exterior. These are complemented by polished stainless steel lids on the three saucepans – the milk pan and frying pan aren't lidded. The design has a simple, professional feel. The pans are light in the hand thanks to extensive use of aluminium, which also helps with heat conduction. Handles are curved aluminium and feel good in the hand – but can get hot. And while we do like a good glass lid to look through, these aluminium lids are well made with a good handle. Oven safe up to 220°C.
Key specs – Saucepans: 14 (milk pan), 16, 18, 20cm; Frying pan: 24cm; Induction compatible: Yes; Dishwasher safe: Yes