The Saute pan is almost like the perfect balance of a frypan with a casserole. You have the benefits of being able to heat and sear food quickly with a wide surface area, while having a larger capacity with deeper walls to allow for more ingredients to be added without spillage when stirring, allowing for quick reduction of sauces without burning. A quality saute pan should come with a longer handle to keep your hand away from the hob's heat while stirring with an additional helper handle to make handling the heavier amount of ingredients easier. Saute pans also tend to come with a lid to allow you to reduce evaporation when cooking or to keep food warm after cooking.
Our top saute pan choices and buying guide
We've summarised which are the best saute pan options in our range below that will help you select the best pan to suit your needs.
If you have been following our blog and product guides for some time, you probably would have noticed that we tend to continually repeat ourselves on which are the best non-stick cookware brands. The two brands which continually win the non-stick choice for us is always European made brands like Scanpan which are made in Denmark and Woll who manufactures theirs in Germany. Woll Diamond Lite 32cm Saute Pan Woll produces some of the best performing cookware in the world, with their range of Diamond Lite nonstick cookware being one of our top-selling lines. This range is an evolution of their Saphir Lite non-stick where the company was able to improve the longevity and performance of their nonstick with a multi-layered construction that has diamond crystals embedded to create a slightly rough surface which makes it more resistant to scratches and perfect for braising. Durable and able to withstand oven temperatures of up to 250°C, what makes us love this range by Woll and which sets it apart from other cookware brands is that the handles are removable with the simple press of a button. It makes it perfect for oven roasting (especially in smaller ovens!), much easier to clean in the sink as well as store in cupboards. No longer do you need to shift things around to stack multiple pans or fine a large drawer or cupboard, you can simply remove the handles and then stack them on top of each other for space-efficient storage. While our favourite is the 32cm for its generous proportions, it is also available in 24cm and 28cm sizes. Scanpan HaptIQ Deep Saute Pan 26cm 3.7L Scanpan is one of Australia's most popular brand of cookware with a reputation for producing high-quality pans with an environmentally conscious ethos. The company produces their nonstick pans in Denmark with 100% recycled aluminium pressure-cast cores. Their new non-stick surfaces known as Stratanium+ is an evolution of their Greentec coatings that are now much harder wearing, PFOA free and oven safe up to 260°C. The multi-layered non-stick provides great food release and durability. This Deep Saute pan by Scanpan is from their most prestigious HaptIQ range that features stunning polished stainless steel handles and exterior with deep sides providing a generous 3.7L capacity, perfect for cooking larger batches of pasta sauces, curries or searing multiple chops and fillets.
The hardest wearing saute pan
For those that are looking for a saute pan that you can use at any temperature, with metal utensils and scourers and will handle abuse in the kitchen, we recommend the Scanpan Clad 5. The benefit of a stainless steel or carbon steel cooking surface is that they can handle high-heat which unlike non-stick cookware ends up damaging the cooking surface. It's important to note that these pans then require the use of more oil when cooking and if you end up burning ingredients, it's a harder and more laborious task to clean than non-stick. Why we have chosen the Scanpan Clad 5 range is that it is a better performing cookware line than other stainless steel options as it features a multi-layered construction. There are combined layers of aluminium enveloped in 3 layers of stainless steel which allows you to conduct heat quickly while also ensure it disperses evenly throughout the pan. This prevents heat spots and Scanpan Clad 5 Saute Pan 30cm
The largest saute pan
The Scanpan Techniq range was developed in conjunction with chefs and engineers to create a small yet highly versatile range of cookware suitable for both hospitality and home cooking environments. Featuring Scanpan's fantastic Stratanium+ hard-wearing nonstick, this saute pan provides an impressive 5.5 litre capacity and 30cm diameter, making it perfect for stirring through a family-sized portion of pasta into a sauce, braising large quantities of meats or vegetables and is deep enough for curries or stew dishes. The entire base is covered in non-stick making it super easy to clean while it features striking stainless steel handles with a mirror finish. The pan is also suitable for any cooktop including induction. What's more the Techniq saute pan also has a matching 30cm lid sold separately. Scanpan Techniq The Giant Braiser
The best cast-iron saute pan
We love cast iron cookware as it is considered a low-tox cookware type whether it is raw cast iron or enamelled, require less energy to cook as it conducts heat better than most forms of cookware, is induction ready and if used correctly will last a lifetime. Raw cast iron is fantastic as it can be used with high heat on any heat source including an open campfire flame and will build up a natural non-stick with regular seasoning. Enamelled cast-iron requires slightly more care to ensure a long-life and should only be used on low to medium heat and silicone or nylon utensils, however, it's easy to care for and doesn't require continuous seasoning. Lodge Cast Iron Deep Skillet 26cm Made in the USA, this raw-cast iron saute pan (named a deep skillet) comes pre-seasoned and is a great and affordable option, particularly for those who are familiar with raw cast-iron pans. This saute pan by Lodge is the perfect choice for high-heat braising and searing of meats, and provided it is regularly seasoned will last for years to come.
The most affordable saute pan
The most affordable pan in this list is the Pyrolux Pyrostone pan that has a PFOA-free nonstick cooking surface and forged aluminium construction. While this range of cookware doesn't compare to the other non-stick pans listed above, it is a very good option for those on a tighter budget. Pyrolux has earned a reputation for providing quality products at a very affordable price point. Pyrolux Pyrostone 28cm Saute Pan This Saute pan features Pyrolux's Pyrostone nonstick which is a durable non-stick with a maximum heat threshold of 180°C and with a comfortable soft-touch handle. With a 28cm diameter and 3.8 litre capacity, while it certainly doesn't win awards as being the best cookware on the market, you will be hard-pressed to find a better non-stick pan at this price point.
The best value saute pan
When it comes to finding the best value pan, one that has a balance of cooking performance, quality and price, it hands-down must be awarded to Scanpan's Classic range. Recently updated with Scanpan's improved Stratanium nonstick, this range of cookware like the Haptiq and Techniq ranges, is also made in Denmark. Scanpan Classic Saute Pan With Lid 28cm Oven proof to 260°C, PFOA-free and quality nonstick that's made in Europe with a 2.75 litre capacity, this is a great all-rounder that provides quality Scanpan construction and cooking performance in a more affordable package.
What are my other saute pan options?
Are you still unsure of which Saute pan to choose from? You can browse our entire range of saute pans here. If you require more assistance, simply get in touch with our customer service who can help provide more information on our saute pan range so you can be sure you are choosing the best one to suit your needs.
While our favourite is the 32cm for its generous proportions, it is also available in 24cm and 28cm sizes. Scanpan HaptIQ Deep Saute Pan 26cm 3.7L 
Scanpan is one of Australia's most popular brand of cookware with a reputation for producing high-quality pans with an environmentally conscious ethos. The company produces their nonstick pans in Denmark with 100% recycled aluminium pressure-cast cores. Their new non-stick surfaces known as Stratanium+ is an evolution of their Greentec coatings that are now much harder wearing, PFOA free and oven safe up to 260°C. The multi-layered non-stick provides great food release and durability. This Deep Saute pan by Scanpan is from their most prestigious HaptIQ range that features stunning polished stainless steel handles and exterior with deep sides providing a generous 3.7L capacity, perfect for cooking larger batches of pasta sauces, curries or searing multiple chops and fillets.
Made in the USA, this raw-cast iron saute pan (named a deep skillet) comes pre-seasoned and is a great and affordable option, particularly for those who are familiar with raw cast-iron pans. This saute pan by Lodge is the perfect choice for high-heat braising and searing of meats, and provided it is regularly seasoned will last for years to come.
Oven proof to 260°C, PFOA-free and quality nonstick that's made in Europe with a 2.75 litre capacity, this is a great all-rounder that provides quality Scanpan construction and cooking performance in a more affordable package.
