How To Care and Maintain a Sauce Pan

Saucepans are generally pretty easy to clean and maintain, which is what makes them so popular. There are many great saucepans on the market today offering a wide range of quality and price points.

and a lot of that is due thanks to the metal finishes. These days most new saucepans are dishwasher safe, an excellent bonus when cleaning up after preparing a meal. Since oftentimes sauces or heavy liquids are boiled to high heat in pots, it’s also important to try to get off any food before it sets, thus making it more difficult to clean.

We like to immediately rinse our pots out with warm water, and let sit with a splash of dish soap.

When scrubbing a saucepan, try not to use harsh metal brushes that can scratch the interior finish.

It’s also important to consider what type of material your pot is made of before cleaning. 

Stainless steel saucepans are among the easiest to clean. Especially if you are using them correctly when making dishes like a crispy fried egg, minimal residue should be left behind.

With that being said, steel can be prone to scratches and rust, so for these pots it’s probably best to not let water soak in the pot for long periods of time. These pots do great in the dishwasher. But to get out stains and spots, it’s best to clean by hand. Simply use some warm water, dish soap, and a soft sponge/brush to buff out any inconsistencies.

Coated saucepans, like ceramic, can be prone to chips and scratches. Since these pots are not made of metal, they’re ideal to let soak with warm water and soap to get off any gunk. Since they’re prone to chips, it’s not ideal to place in the dishwasher, which can be harsh on the coating. Use a soft sponge, as harder bristles can leave scratches.

To maintain your pots for the years to come, try to use soft utensils when working in the saucepans. Metal can leave scratches, so it’s a better bet to use softer items made from silicon or wood to reduce wear and tear. And while it can be tempting to stack pots on each other to save space, this can also cause dents and dings. Try to store them separately so they don’t bang into each other, which can reduce their effectiveness longterm.