We recommend saucepans with a CHOICE Expert Rating of at least 80%.

The CHOICE Expert Rating, our overall score that determines which products we recommend, is made up of performance (60%) and ease of use (40%). Weightings are in brackets.

We conduct two performance tests on the saucepans. We time how quickly one litre of water can be brought to a boil, and we assess the evenness of cooking and sticking of food when cooking scrambled eggs.

We time how long it takes one litre of water to come to a boil.

We assess evenness of cooking and sticking of food when cooking scrambled eggs.

We assess how comfortable the saucepan is to hold and pour from without dripping, taking into consideration the weight, balance, handle and rim. We also assess condensation build-up during cooking (steam vents, splattering and rattling lids). In addition to this, we comment on how much effort is required to clean the saucepan.

We measure how long it takes for one litre of water (starting at 21°C) to come to a boil.

'Tested model' refers to saucepans that are currently available in shops and online. 'Discontinued model' refers to saucepans that are no longer available in shops, but may be available second-hand.

This is the price we paid. The recommended retail price is not always a great indication of price, as cookware can be heavily discounted, so it's worth shopping around.

Whether the saucepan can be put in the dishwasher. Handwashing is generally recommended.

Whether the saucepan is oven safe, and if so, what temperature it can withstand.

All of the saucepans we've tested can be used on induction cooktops.

Measure marks on the inside of the saucepan will tell you the liquid level in litres.

A shaped lip or spout can make pouring from the saucepan easier.