Budget vs stylish: which of these two saucepan sets gets our vote? We've tested the Zwilling 5-Piece Pot Set, and the Amazon Basics 15-Piece Non-Stick Cookware Set, to find out which is worth investing in.
Both sets of saucepans were used over at least two weeks'-worth of family cooking, from scrambled egg to spag bog and everything in-between.
Firstly, let’s clarify – the Amazon Basics set is 15 pieces, but that includes lids, and the matching utensils; there are actually four pots and two frying pans. The Zwilling set features five pots and four lids. So don’t let the immediate numericals sway your decisions too early.
Like many (most?) people, my saucepans and frying pans have never matched – I’ve never reached the dizzy heights of achieving a full set of matching pots and pans. Suddenly, testing out these two sets, I feel very grown-up (even though I appreciate that grown-ups don’t call themselves grown-ups… Full disclosure, I am 38, I own my own home, I am married, with one child and another on the way – so you’d think I’d have felt grown-up before now).
But how do you choose a good set of saucepans? Or, do you normally receive them for a wedding present, or from a well-meaning aunt at Christmas who maybe should have checked and bought you those AirPods instead, so you never really have to choose them?
If you’re looking to invest in adulthood with a full set of matching pans, we’ve put two sets to the test – to find out what the quality is like, and where your money goes. We’ve chosen two sets with different price points – one costs £50, one £150 – that’s a big difference in investment. What’s the difference given the £100 extra cost?
First Impressions
Unpacking the two sets, you can immediately tell the difference in quality – the more expensive Zwilling set is fully stainless steel, and you can feel it straight away. There is a heaviness, a sturdiness, to these pans – the steel feels trustworthy in your hands.
The Amazon Basics set is much more lightweight, but with glass lids; plus, this set comes with matching utensils. They are also lightweight, although the description on Amazon doesn’t actually clarify what they’re made from. They do feel a bit cheap.
Head-to-Head Review:
They’re pots and pans; you know how they work. You prepare some food, cook it inside the frying pan or saucepan, then when it’s cooked you dish it up and enjoy. But there are some important aspects to consider when choosing your new pans.
The heaviness of the stainless steel builds confidence – they’re not too heavy to lift, but they’re sturdy and I did feel like a proper chef using the Zwilling pans. Call it status, but they felt like important pans, rather than your first set you bought when you first moved out of your parents’ house.
I preferred the lids of the Amazon Basics – it’s an obvious thing to say, but glass lids mean you can see what’s happening inside the pan. I like this; I know it doesn’t take a lot of time or effort to lift a lid, but it’s my preference. Keeping the lid on also keeps all the heat inside. This is important if you’re cooking rice. It’s a simple thing but it would make a difference to my buying decision.
The Zwilling pans do show heat marks after the first use, which is to be expected with stainless steel pans, but something to note if you’re buying them more for the looks and style than usefulness. The Amazon Basics did mark up on the inside after a couple of uses, with spoon marks - even if you're using wooden, rather than metal, utensils.
Washing Up
My husband recoiled in horror when I gave him the Zwilling saucepan to wash up after cooking scrambled egg (I do the cooking, he does the washing up, that’s our agreement). It took some scrubbing but did come clean eventually, although I’m confident over time the pan would get scratched and scuffed from the elbow grease required.
No such problems or look of pain when faced with the Amazon Basics’ non-stick qualities; hand-washing was a breeze and took hardly any time, even with scrambled egg. It didn’t even require soaking.
Both sets came clean when put in the dishwasher, without any problems.
Things To Note:
Do remember that the Amazon Basics pans are only for hob use – do not try to put them in the oven. They have plastic handles that will melt straight off if you put them in the oven, and the instructions tell you they are hob only.
The Zwilling pans are pure stainless steel so they can go in the oven. Details on Amazon weren’t clear but research on the Zwilling website suggests they can go into the oven up to 230 degrees.
Final Opinion:
If you compare prices of these two sets of pots and pans, the answer is pretty straightforward: choose the cheapest option and you’ll have a cheerful set of useful saucepans that do the job perfectly. But in fact, the decision can go a lot deeper in analysis and you might still come to the same conclusion.
The non-stick abilities of the Amazon Basics set must not be overlooked – they really are awesomely non-stick. Some pans claim to be non-stick, but we know they’re lying. These make washing up a breeze; even faced with the horrors of scrambled egg, they clean up quickly and effortlessly.
The Zwilling pans are not non-stick, and the difference is obvious; if you measure the time is takes to wash up by hand, these take significantly longer to scrub.
The non-stick qualities also make cooking a smooth process - no sticky bits at the bottom of your frying pan as you're stirring.
The Zwilling pans might be the best choice if you want to stare at your pans rather than cook with them; they are the better-looking choice, undeniably.
What's included:
20cm frying pan
25cm frying pan
1.41L saucepan with lid
2.12L saucepan with lid
2.83L casserole pan with lid
4.73L casserole pan with lid
5-piece utensil set: pasta server, soup ladle, slotted turner, serving spoon, and slotted serving spoon
What's included:
16cm cooking pot with lid
20cm cooking pot with lid
24cm cooking pot with lid
20cm drying pan with lid
16cm saucepan