Calphalon Classic Stainless Steel 1.5-Quart Sauce Pan Review

We purchased the Calphalon Classic Stainless Steel 1.5-Quart Sauce Pan so our reviewer could put it to the test in her kitchen. Keep reading for our full product review.

We're willing to bet you reach for a small saucepan quite frequently when you're cooking, as these 1- to 2-quart pieces of cookware are ideal for warming up leftovers, cooking pasta for one, melting chocolate, and more. The Calphalon Classic Stainless Steel 1.5-Quart Sauce Pan may seem like the perfect vehicle for all these tasks, but we wanted to test it for ourselves—here are the results of our hands-on testing.

Design: The perfect saucepan

The Calphalon Classic Stainless Steel 1.5-Quart Sauce Pan comes has a number of thoughtful features built into its design. For instance, we were surprised to find measurements in both cups and ounces printed on the inside of the pot. This way, instead of dirtying a measuring cup while cooking, we were able to pour liquids straight into the pan.

Next, there’s the glass lid, which has a metal rim and handle. The handle is fairly large, making it easy to grab, even when we were wearing an oven mitt, and on top of that, it has built-in slots for easy straining—no colander needed. Plus, there are pouring spouts on either side of the pot, which makes it easy to pour whether you’re left- or right-handed.

As for the pot itself, it has a taller and narrower form than most saucepans we’ve used to help lower the chance of its contents boiling over and limit the amount of evaporation when you’re boiling water for a long time. We didn’t mind this tall shape with the 1.5-quart pan, but we could see it being an issue with larger saucepans if you’re stirring with a short utensil. 

The handle of the Calphalon Sauce Pan is sturdy and easy to grip thanks to its ergonomic design, and it’s hand-riveted for extra security. Plus, because the handle is longer than normal, we found it was easy to carry.

Material: Not totally stainless steel

This is one of the best stainless steel saucepans we’ve ever used, but it turns out it’s not 100 percent stainless steel—the base is actually made from impact-bonded aluminum to help transfer heat to the rest of the pan. Plus, the lid is made from glass so you can take a peek at your food without taking the lid off.

Heating Capacity: Handle gets hot

The Calphalon Classic Stainless Steel Sauce Pan is a versatile piece of cookware, and it’s safe for use in the oven and broiler. When used on the stove, we found that it heats up evenly and quickly. We used it for lots of things, from reheating au gratin potatoes to making a small pot of pasta, and we didn’t have any issues with burn spots. 

Unfortunately, though, the handle—which is also made from stainless steel—heats up too. If we had the pan on the stove for more than 10 minutes, we found that an oven mitt was necessary to touch the handle or lid.

Cleaning: Easy and dishwasher safe

If you cook with stainless steel, you know that stuck-on food is often just part of the process, but thankfully, this stainless steel saucepan was easy to clean. And since you don’t have to worry about caring for a nonstick coating, you can use an abrasive cleaner or dish scrubber to get that tough residue off the pan.

The Calphalon Sauce Pan is dishwasher safe, and both the pan and lid did just fine when we put them through our dishwasher. That makes cleanup even easier!

Price: Reasonable for a high-quality pan

The Calphalon Classic Stainless Steel 1.5-Quart Sauce Pan has a mid-range price tag of around $45. It may seem a little high for a single piece of cookware, but the pan comes with a 10-year warranty so you can feel confident in your purchase. Overall, we think it’s a reasonable price for a high-quality saucepan.

Competition: Similar nonstick options

Farberware Dishwasher Safe Nonstick Aluminum 1-Quart Saucier: With a price around $12, the Faberware Nonstick Aluminum 1-Quart Saucier is significantly more budget-friendly than the Calphalon Sauce Pan. However, you’re trading quality for a lower price. The pan may be dishwasher safe and oven safe up to 350 degrees, but its nonstick coating chipped easily when we tested it. On top of that, you can’t use metal utensils with it, and you need to take care when washing and storing the pan to preserve its delicate finish.

Anolon Advanced Hard-Anodized Nonstick 2-Quart Covered Straining Saucepan: This pan has a similar design to the the Calphalon Classic Stainless Steel Sauce Pan, with its main differentiator being its nonstick finish. The Anolon Advanced Hard-Anodized Nonstick 2-Quart Covered Straining Saucepan is easy to clean thanks to its heavy-duty nonstick coating, which can even be used with metal utensils, and its lid includes a built-in strainer, just like the Calphalon pan. It even has a similar price, retailing for around $40.