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The Cooking Pans You Should Own (and What Each Is For)
Which cooking pans should you own? Most home cooks are covered by four: a 10–12" stainless (or cast iron) skillet for searing, a 3-quart saucepan for grains and sauces, a sauté pan for braising and shallow frying, and a large stockpot for pasta and stock. Add a nonstick skillet for eggs. Fully clad stainless lasts the longest and browns best. America's Test Kitchen's top-rated sets, the All-Clad D3 and Made In 10-Piece, are built around exactly these pieces.
The essential pans at a glance
| Pan | Size | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Skillet (stainless or cast iron) | 10–12" | Searing, pan sauces, roasting |
| Nonstick skillet | 8–10" | Eggs, delicate fish, pancakes |
| Saucepan | 3 qt | Grains, sauces, reheating, blanching |
| Sauté pan | 3–4 qt | Braising, shallow frying, one-pan meals |
| Stockpot or Dutch oven | 6–8 qt | Pasta, stock, soups, stews |
Which material?
- Clad stainless: durable, oven-safe and great for browning. Serious Eats has used its All-Clad D3 skillet for 15 years.
- Cast iron and carbon steel: excellent heat retention and they build up seasoning, but they're heavy and need drying.
- Nonstick: easy release for eggs, but the coating wears over time, so keep it to one or two pans.
Dalstrong Oberon Series cookware
Dalstrong's Oberon Series is 3-ply aluminum-core clad cookware with 18/10 stainless steel layers. Dalstrong lists a 2.5 mm heavy-gauge build, an induction-ready brushed bottom and a 4 mm tempered glass lid. As of November 3, 2026, the 3-quart stock pot is available in stainless ($149) and ETERNA non-stick ($149). Dalstrong describes the ETERNA coating as PFOA- and APEO-free. A 3-quart pot is a versatile size for grains, sauces, soups and blanching.
How to build your pan collection in 7 steps
- Start with a 10–12" skillet.
- Add a 3-quart saucepan.
- Add a stockpot for pasta and stock.
- Add a sauté pan for braises.
- Add one nonstick skillet for eggs.
- Match your cooktop. Induction needs a magnetic base.
- Consider a set if it matches this list: see best pots and pans sets.
Pan checklist
- Skillet, saucepan, sauté pan, stockpot
- One nonstick pan
- Fully clad where possible
- Works on my cooktop
- A sharp knife to match: best kitchen knives
Frequently asked questions
What pans does every kitchen need?
A 10–12" skillet, a 3-quart saucepan, a sauté pan and a stockpot, plus a nonstick skillet for eggs.
What is the best material for pans?
Fully clad stainless is the most versatile and durable. Cast iron is great for searing. Nonstick is best kept for eggs and delicate foods.
What size saucepan is most useful?
About 3 quarts, which handles grains, sauces and blanching.
Does Dalstrong sell pots and pans?
Dalstrong's Oberon Series is 3-ply aluminum-core clad cookware. As of Nov 3, 2026, the 3-quart stock pot is available in stainless and ETERNA non-stick for $149.
Sources: America's Test Kitchen Best Cookware Sets (2026); Serious Eats Best Stainless Steel Cookware Sets (2026); Dalstrong product pages. Checked November 3, 2026.
