Sauce Pans & Lids

148 products

Commercial sauce pans and lids

Sauce pans are the everyday pans for sauces, grains, blanching and reheating. This collection includes tapered and straight-sided aluminum sauce pans, heavy-weight aluminum pans, stainless steel sauce pans and sauciers, non-stick sauce pans, and the covers that fit them. Brands include SignatureWares, Browne Thermalloy, Vollrath (Wear-Ever and Intrigue) and Le Creuset.

Sizes run from about 1.5 qt for small-batch sauces up to 10 and 11 qt for rice and vegetables. See the rest of the cookware range on the Pots & Pans page.

Types of sauce pans

  • Tapered sauce pans: sloped sides make whisking and stirring easier and the pans nest for storage; widely used in aluminum from 1.5 to 11 qt.
  • Straight-sided sauce pans: more usable volume for the footprint and a better fit for covers; good for rice, grains and blanching.
  • Stainless steel sauce pans: SignatureWares, Browne and Vollrath Intrigue pans that resist pitting from acidic sauces.
  • Sauciers: rounded-bottom Le Creuset pans that let a whisk reach the corners for emulsions and reductions.
  • Non-stick sauce pans: coated pans for custards, porridge and sticky starches.
  • Covers and lids: aluminum covers sized to tapered or straight-sided pans, stainless universal covers and glass lids.

What to consider when choosing sauce pans

  • Tapered or straight-sided: tapered for whisking and nesting storage; straight-sided for capacity and a snug cover.
  • Material: aluminum heats fast and evenly; stainless holds up to acidic foods and is needed for induction.
  • Capacity: match to batch size; keeping a few standard sizes per station simplifies lids and replacements.
  • Handles: silicone-sleeved handles stay cooler; larger pans with a helper handle are easier to carry full.
  • Cover fit: covers are usually sold separately and are sized by pan style and quart; a tapered pan cover won't fit a straight-sided pan of the same capacity.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a sauce pan and a sauce pot?

A sauce pan has one long handle and usually holds up to about 11 qt. A sauce pot has two loop handles and holds much more for batch cooking.

Do sauce pans come with lids?

Most commercial sauce pans are sold without covers. Choose the cover that matches the pan style (tapered or straight-sided) and capacity.

What is a saucier?

A saucier is a sauce pan with rounded sides where the wall meets the base, so a whisk reaches everywhere. It's useful for emulsions, custards and reductions.

Which sauce pans work on induction?

Stainless steel pans are the usual choice. Plain aluminum pans won't work on induction cooktops.

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