It heated fairly quickly, thanks to its thinner 3/16-inch-thick bottom, though we did have to keep an eye on sautéed onions to make sure they didn’t scorch. Still, it was a trade-off we were happy to make, as this model’s minimal heft and comfortable U-shaped handles made it easy to carry and pour from. Eight-quart stockpots are easily available on the market, but the quality of the product varies.
An inner core of aluminum ensures that foods heat quickly and evenly. We lined up four testers with varying hand sizes and strengths and asked them to pick up each empty pot, with and without mitts and towels, and provide feedback on the handles. Typically, the more expensive stockpots have full cladding that covers the bottom and sides of the cuisinart soup maker pot, while less expensive models have cladding only on the bottom. That said, a fully clad pot is always preferable, but not if the cost is unreasonable and the need isn’t as pressing. While researching which models to test, we focused on stainless steel pots that are compatible with an induction burner, which provides more flexibility.
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The Bayou Classic provides good value relative to cost, particularly with the “Big Daddy” sizes. The Classic Stockpot will work on all stovetops including induction – but, as mentioned above, finding a big enough burner on a non-commercial indoor stove may be a challenge for most of the larger sizes. The asking price is a bit steep for cast aluminum, despite its many fine qualities. But if you enjoy and appreciate the beauty cgwm-081 of the Retro stockpot, a few extra dollars may be well worth it for this lovely and highly functional little cooking vessel. Both the body and lid are constructed of cast aluminum, and these work together to create a convection effect within, circulating currents of hot air for more efficient cooking. Made in China, it comes with Calphalon’s limited lifetime warranty to be free of material and manufacturing defects.
In the case of their stockpots, the wide, ergonomically designed stay-cool handles, which are secured with stainless steel rivets, allows for a comfortable, steady grip. It took about 19 minutes to bring water to a boil in this pot, longer than most, and it had the heaviest lid, which weighed in at a substantial 2 pounds, 1½ ounces. Its V-shaped handles featured a curved point rather than an angled one, but we still found them comfortable to grip while holding and pouring from the pot. We previously tested stockpots, but most of the models we looked at have been discontinued, so we decided to retest. We focused on finding the best 12-quart stockpot because we think it’s the most useful size—big enough to accommodate most jobs yet small enough to easily store. Our efforts resulted in not only gallons of fragrant chicken stock but also a new favorite stockpot.
The porcelain-coated interior is as easy to clean as Le Creuset’s legendary porcelain-enameled cast iron Dutch ovens and frying pans. And with both the interior and exterior coated with Ecolon, cleanup is fast and easy too. One hundred percent dishwasher safe, cleanup couldn’t be easier – just use a dishwasher detergent that’s free cuisinart pots and pans set of bleach or citrus additives, or hand wash with warm, soapy water and a soft sponge. Calphalon recommends using plastic, silicone, or wooden utensils to prevent scratching the nonstick surface. The hard-anodized aluminum provides outstanding heat conductivity for energy-efficient performance, and is virtually free of hot spots.