Pot vs. Saucepan — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 7, 2024
A pot is typically larger and used for boiling or simmering large quantities of food, while a saucepan has a single long handle, designed for sauces and smaller dishes.
Difference Between Pot and Saucepan
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A pot, often larger and deeper, is designed for cooking substantial quantities of food, such as soups, stews, or pasta. It typically comes with two short handles on either side for better stability when handling. Whereas a saucepan, smaller and with a single long handle, is ideal for making sauces, reheating food, and cooking small meals, offering easier maneuverability and control.
Pots are essential for bulk cooking, effectively handling tasks that require more volume, such as boiling large amounts of water or cooking family-sized portions of soups and broths. On the other hand, saucepans are versatile kitchen tools for everyday cooking, perfect for tasks that need direct heat control, such as simmering sauces or cooking grains.
In terms of construction, pots usually feature a heavy base and may come in various sizes, from medium to very large, to accommodate different cooking needs. Saucepan, designed for specific tasks like making sauces or cooking vegetables, often has a thinner base for quick heat conduction and is available in sizes ranging from small to medium.
When choosing between a pot and a saucepan, consider the cooking method and the quantity of food. Pots are better suited for boiling, stewing, and making large meals, whereas saucepans excel in sautéing, simmering, and preparing smaller dishes.
Despite their differences, both pots and saucepans are fundamental in a well-equipped kitchen, each serving unique purposes that complement a wide range of cooking techniques. Understanding their specific functions can enhance culinary efficiency and broaden the scope of recipes one can prepare.
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Comparison Chart
Size
Larger, designed for bulk cooking
Smaller, suitable for sauces and small dishes
Handles
Two short handles for stability
One long handle for easy maneuvering
Ideal Use
Boiling, stewing, and soups
Sauces, reheating, and quick cooking
Base
Heavy, to distribute heat evenly in larger volumes
Thinner, for quick heating and direct control
Volume Capacity
Generally larger, for family-sized portions
Smaller, tailored for individual or small group servings
Compare with Definitions
Pot
Ideal for making soups, stocks, or cooking large quantities of food.
The chef used a large pot to prepare chicken soup for the restaurant.
Saucepan
Saucepan sizes are versatile for individual servings or side dishes.
The saucepan was just the right size for cooking rice for two.
Pot
A large, deep cooking vessel with two short handles, used for boiling or stewing.
She filled the pot with water to boil pasta.
Saucepan
Commonly used for reheating leftovers and boiling small quantities of water.
She reheated the soup in a saucepan for a quick lunch.
Pot
Often made from materials like stainless steel, cast iron, or aluminum for even heat distribution.
The stainless steel pot was her favorite for making homemade stocks.
Saucepan
A medium-depth cooking vessel with a long handle, designed for making sauces and small meals.
She whisked the gravy in a saucepan to achieve the perfect consistency.
Pot
Pots are essential for recipes requiring immersion in liquids, like boiling potatoes.
They used a heavy-duty pot to boil corn on the cob for the family reunion.
Saucepan
Often features a spout for easy pouring and a lid to control evaporation.
The saucepan's spout made it easy to pour the hot custard into the dessert cups.
Pot
Typically comes with a lid to cover the cooking contents, preserving heat and moisture.
He covered the pot to let the stew simmer for hours.
Saucepan
Perfect for tasks requiring precise temperature control, such as melting chocolate.
He carefully melted the chocolate in a saucepan for the fondue.
Pot
A round, fairly deep cooking vessel with a handle and often a lid.
Saucepan
A deep cooking pan with a handle.
Pot
A short round container for storing or serving food
A jam pot.
A mustard pot.
Saucepan
A deep cooking vessel with a handle and sometimes a lid; used for boiling, stewing and making sauces.
Pot
A coffeepot.
Saucepan
To cook in a saucepan
Pot
A teapot.
Saucepan
A small pan with a handle, in which sauce is prepared over a fire; a stewpan.
Pot
Such a container and its contents
A pot of stew.
Brewed a pot of coffee.
Saucepan
A deep pan with a handle; used for stewing or boiling
Pot
A potful.
Pot
A large drinking cup; a tankard.
Pot
A drink of liquor contained in such a cup.
Pot
An artistic or decorative ceramic vessel of any shape.
Pot
A flowerpot.
Pot
Something, such as a chimney pot or chamber pot, that resembles a round cooking vessel in appearance or function.
Pot
A trap for eels, other fish, or crustaceans, typically consisting of a wicker or wire basket or cage.
Pot
The total amount staked by all the players in one hand in cards.
Pot
The area on a card table where stakes are placed.
Pot
A shot in billiards or related games intended to send a ball into a pocket.
Pot
(Informal) A common fund to which members of a group contribute.
Pot
Often pots Informal A large amount
Lost a pot of cash in the stock market crash.
Made pots of money on their investment.
Pot
(Informal) A potshot.
Pot
(Informal) A potbelly.
Pot
(Informal) A potty or toilet.
Pot
Marijuana.
Pot
See potentiometer.
Pot
To place or plant in a pot
Pot a geranium.
Pot
To preserve (food) in a pot.
Pot
To cook in a pot.
Pot
To shoot (game) for food rather than for sport.
Pot
(Informal) To shoot with a potshot.
Pot
(Informal) To win or capture; bag.
Pot
(Games) To hit (a ball) into a pocket.
Pot
(Informal) To take a potshot.
Pot
To make or shape objects from clay, as on a potter's wheel.
Pot
A flat-bottomed vessel (usually metal) used for cooking food.
Pot
Various similar open-topped vessels, particularly
Pot
A vessel (usually earthenware) used with a seal for storing food, such as a honeypot.
Pot
A vessel used for brewing or serving drinks: a coffeepot or teapot.
Pot
A vessel used to hold soil for growing plants, particularly flowers: a flowerpot.
Pot
A vessel used for urination and defecation: a chamber pot; a toilet; the lavatory.
Shit or get off the pot.
Pot
A crucible: a melting pot.
Pot
A pot-shaped trap used for catching lobsters or other seafood: a lobster pot.
Pot
A pot-shaped metal or earthenware extension of a flue above the top of a chimney: a chimney pot.
Pot
A perforated cask for draining sugar.
Pot
(obsolete) An earthen or pewter cup or mug used for drinking liquor.
Pot
A glass of beer in Australia whose size varies regionally but is typically around 10 fl oz (285 mL).
Pot
Pothole, sinkhole, vertical cave.
Pot
A shallow hole used in certain games played with marbles. The marbles placed in it are called potsies.
Pot
Ruin or deterioration.
After his arrest, his prospects went to pot.
Pot
(historical) Any of various traditional units of volume notionally based on the capacity of a pot.
Pot
(historical) An iron hat with a broad brim worn as a helmet.
Pot
(rail transport) A pot-shaped non-conducting (usually ceramic) stand that supports an electrified rail while insulating it from the ground.
Pot
The money available to be won in a hand of poker or a round of other games of chance; (figuratively) any sum of money being used as an enticement.
No one's interested. You need to sweeten the pot.
Pot
A favorite: a heavily-backed horse.
Pot
(slang) potbelly: a pot-shaped belly, a paunch.
Pot
(slang) potshot: a haphazard shot; an easy or cheap shot.
Pot
A plaster cast.
Pot
(historical) nodot=a: a former size of paper, 12.5 × 15 inches.
Pot
Marijuana.
Pot
A simple electromechanical device used to control resistance or voltage (often to adjust sound volume) in an electronic device by rotating or sliding when manipulated by a human thumb, screwdriver, etc.
Pot
(RPG) potion
Pot
To put (something) into a pot.
To pot a plant
Pot
To preserve by bottling or canning.
Potted meat
Pot
To cause a ball to fall into a pocket.
Pot
To be capable of being potted.
The black ball doesn't pot; the red is in the way.
Pot
(transitive) To shoot with a firearm.
Pot
To take a pot shot, or haphazard shot, with a firearm.
Pot
To secure; gain; win; bag.
Pot
(British) To send someone to gaol, expeditiously.
Pot
To tipple; to drink.
Pot
(transitive) To drain (e.g. sugar of the molasses) in a perforated cask.
Pot
To seat a person, usually a young child, on a potty or toilet, typically during toilet teaching.
Pot
To apply a plaster cast to a broken limb.
Pot
To catch (a fish, eel, etc) via a pot.
Pot
To score (a drop goal).
Pot
To fade volume in or out by means of a potentiometer.
Pot
A metallic or earthen vessel, appropriated to any of a great variety of uses, as for boiling meat or vegetables, for holding liquids, for plants, etc.; as, a quart pot; a flower pot; a bean pot.
Pot
An earthen or pewter cup for liquors; a mug.
Pot
The quantity contained in a pot; a potful; as, a pot of ale.
Pot
A metal or earthenware extension of a flue above the top of a chimney; a chimney pot.
Pot
A crucible; as, a graphite pot; a melting pot.
Pot
A wicker vessel for catching fish, eels, etc.
Pot
A perforated cask for draining sugar.
Pot
A size of paper. See Pott.
Pot
Marijuana.
Pot
The total of the bets at stake at one time, as in racing or card playing; the pool;
Pot
A plain defensive headpiece; later, and perhaps in a jocose sense, any helmet; - called also pot helmet.
Pot
The total of the bets at one time; the pool.
Pot
To place or inclose in pots
Pot
To shoot for the pot, i.e., cooking; to secure or hit by a pot shot; to shoot when no special skill is needed.
When hunted, it [the jaguar] takes refuge in trees, and this habit is well known to hunters, who pursue it with dogs and pot it when treed.
Pot
To secure; gain; win; bag.
Pot
To tipple; to drink.
It is less labor to plow than to pot it.
Pot
To take a pot shot or shots, as at game or an enemy.
Pot
Metal or earthenware cooking vessel that is usually round and deep; often has a handle and lid
Pot
A plumbing fixture for defecation and urination
Pot
The quantity contained in a pot
Pot
A container in which plants are cultivated
Pot
(often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent;
A batch of letters
A deal of trouble
A lot of money
He made a mint on the stock market
It must have cost plenty
Pot
The cumulative amount involved in a game (such as poker)
Pot
Slang terms for a paunch
Pot
A resistor with three terminals, the third being an adjustable center terminal; used to adjust voltages in radios and TV sets
Pot
Street names for marijuana
Pot
Plant in a pot;
He potted the palm
Common Curiosities
Can both pots and saucepans be used on any type of stove?
Yes, but ensure they are compatible with your stove type (e.g., induction, gas).
How do I decide between buying a pot or a saucepan?
Consider what you cook most frequently; for a wide range of tasks, owning at least one of each is beneficial.
Is a saucepan good for deep frying?
No, a pot with deeper sides is safer and more effective for deep frying.
Are there foods that can only be cooked in a pot or a saucepan?
While not exclusive, certain foods are more conveniently or traditionally cooked in one or the other due to size and heat distribution needs.
Can a saucepan handle the same volume of food as a pot?
No, saucepans are generally smaller and meant for less volume.
Is it better to have a set of pots and saucepans or just one of each?
A set can provide versatility for different cooking needs, but starting with one high-quality piece of each can suffice for basic cooking.
Can I use a pot instead of a saucepan for making sauces?
While possible, a saucepan's design offers better control for tasks like sauce making.
How do I care for pots and saucepans to ensure longevity?
Follow manufacturer instructions, typically involving gentle cleaning, avoiding overheating, and using the right utensils to prevent scratching.
Do pots and saucepans come in non-stick versions?
Yes, both are available in non-stick versions for easy cooking and cleaning.
Can I use metal utensils with pots and saucepans?
It depends on the material. For non-stick surfaces, use wooden or silicone utensils to avoid damage.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
