The “Exceptional” Stainless Steel Pan I Cook With Every Single Day (That’s Half the Price of an All-Clad!)

Before now, I was skeptical about keeping a stockpot in my kitchen. I’ve been working with miniscule kitchens in New York City for the past half-decade, after all. When your kitchen only offers two cabinets, it’s hard to justify purchasing any “extra” piece of cookware beyond a fry pan and a saucepan. Not to mention, a roomy stockpot seems to be a little overkill for someone who is usually just making food for themselves.

That, however, was before I decided to start making large batches of food at a time so I’d have ready-to-go meals for the rest of the week. I had a chance to try out Quince’s — the affordable brand known for their high-quality cashmere clothing and bedding — new cookware collection, and it has been performing as great as it looks. Their stunning stainless steel stockpot sits on my stovetop permanently now, and it’s less than half the price of All-Clad’s similar version. Let me tell you why it’s a must-have for everyone, whether you’re meal prepping for yourself or whipping up large amounts for a crowd. 

PFA-, PFOA-, PTFE-, BPA-, lead-, and cadmium-free, Quince’s professional-grade, Italian-made cookware is fit for every kitchen. It features 5-ply construction, and the greater number of layers (which alternate between stainless steel and aluminum) means that it holds heat more efficiently. The stainless steel exterior also has a more subtle satin finish, as opposed to most shinier options. The design is simple and timeless, just like the classic brands, and is built to last. The stockpot has an 8-quart capacity, which is one of the most common sizes. If you decide to take advantage of its whole capacity, you can feed roughly eight people.

Quince’s cookware will instantly level up your daily meals without making an enormous dent in your wallet, like most other stainless steel options. After whipping up soups, chili, and pasta in this workhorse, I can say that confidently. Its sides are just high enough to prevent splatter, but not so tall that I couldn’t peek inside and stir easily. Despite its many layers, I haven’t found myself waiting impatiently for it to heat up. I tossed in a pound of ground beef for my chili, and it cooked all the way through impressively fast, and there was no sticking after preheating it for a minute or two. After letting the whole mixture simmer on low heat and even after letting it sit for half an hour, everything was still steamy. I saw the same results with chicken noodle soup. 

The most significant things that might be holding you back from using stainless steel are the weight and maintenance. Its heftiness means that it’ll last — you won’t see any warping happening here — but when moving it between locations, it can get a little tricky. However, in the case of this stockpot, I wouldn’t go as far as to say that it’s lightweight, but I will say that it was less cumbersome than I expected. Mind you, I’m not a gal with a ton of upper body strength. The ergonomic handles on either side helped that along (and I didn’t find that they were too hot to touch after sitting on the stove for a while, either). Washing it in the sink (which is the cleaning method you should use to keep it in good shape) took a little more effort, but I could handle it.

All in all, that’s a drop in the bucket compared to how much this piece has to offer. It’s a small price to pay for how well it performs every single time — and, not to mention, how beautiful it looks on my stovetop. If you’ve been holding off on buying a pricier brand’s stockpot, I recommend checking out this one instead, which will save you money and likely last just as long. It’s backed by a warranty, after all. While you’re at it, take a look at the rest of the collection here!

Buy: Quince 5-Ply Stainless Steel 8 Quart Stockpot, $149.90