Saucepan vs Sauce Boat - What's the difference?

It can be incredibly easy to confuse a saucepan and a saucier, especially if you don’t spend a lot of time in the kitchen! They look pretty similar and sound pretty much the same:

What is the difference between a casserole and a saucier? 

The difference between a saucepan and a saucier lies mainly in their shape: a saucepan has straight sides and a flat bottom, while a saucier has rounded sides and a rounded bottom. Other differences have to do with ease of use, versatility, and cooking surface.

If you are thinking about buying a saucepan or a saucier, and you don’t know which will be the right complement for your kitchen, here is everything you need to know!

Differences Between a Casserole and a Saucier

Below you will find all the differences between a casserole and a saucier.

They may look and sound alike, but they have different uses and functions, plus some minor differences that separate them.

1. Shape, size and design

You can tell the difference between a casserole and a saucier by looking at their shape.

A standard saucepan is relatively small and has straight sides and a flat bottom. It may have a lid or come without a lid and may have pouring spouts on the rim.

From the side, a saucepan will have a square or rectangular profile.

In contrast, a saucier is shaped like a bowl with a rounded bottom and edges. From the side, a saucier will have the profile of a semicircle.

The curve of the inside of a saucier is more like a bowl than a saucepan, with the edges going down in a straight line to meet the bottom of the saucepan.

Sauciers can be anywhere from the same size as saucepans to much wider and slightly flatter, more like a deep rounded pan or wok.

2. Ease of use

Saucepans and sauciers are easy to use, and both can perform quite a few functions in the kitchen.

However, when it comes to ease of use, most people find it easier to use a saucier than a saucepan.

This is mainly because the pan has sloping edges, so food or sauce doesn’t get stuck to the side of the pan like it would where the straight edges of a pan meet the bottom.

Due to the curved edges, food cooks more evenly and there is less chance of burning. You can also beat and mix food more easily. Less chance of burning is a big plus, as even a small burn can ruin a dish!

On the other hand, some pans may be too curved or too short to be used with a steamer basket.

If you regularly use a steamer basket in the kitchen, a saucepan may be better for you, or you may have to work a little harder to find a saucier that fits your steamer basket.

Try to find a saucier that is not too curved, and does not have rivets, to allow full insertion of a steamer basket.

A saucepan should easily fit into a steamer basket, but it’s not always as easy to use as a saucier, due to its straight sides. However, it is still a very useful saucepan to have in the kitchen!

3. Cleaning

With the straight edges of a saucepan and a higher chance of burning, they are more difficult to clean than a saucier. Sometimes food and burnt bits get stuck to the bottom edges of the pan, and you have to scrub a bit to remove them.

Many people choose to soak pans to remove burnt-on residue, but it’s not always a good idea to soak metal pans.

Even stainless steel pans can suffer irreversible damage if they are soaked often and for long periods of time, and this can significantly reduce the life of the pan.

The curved walls of a saucier reduce the risk of burns and, as a consequence, make it easier to clean the pan afterwards.

You don’t have to get into the little edges and corners to scrub away food and burns, and with no need to soak the pan, it will last much longer.

4. Versatility

Both a saucepan and a saucepan can be used to perform many different tasks in the kitchen, but the saucepan can be a bit more practical than a saucepan in some cases.

These pots are often used for stews, soups, risottos and, of course, sauces.

A saucier is great for many dishes that require a lot of stirring, beating and mixing, as the rounded bottom allows you to better and more easily reach the ingredients.

Although a saucepan and a saucier can be used for basically the same things, it’s easier to use a saucier, all thanks to those rounded edges!

5. Cooking surface

It is very important to consider the cooking surface when deciding which saucepan to buy.

The size of the cooking surface affects the evaporation process that occurs when cooking. The larger the cooking surface, the faster the moisture will evaporate from the food you are cooking.

The straight sides of the saucepan reduce the cooking surface, no matter how much liquid or food you put in it.

A saucer has a larger surface area, which translates into faster evaporation of food. The advantage of a larger surface area is that you can simmer food quickly and thoroughly to help further concentrate the flavours.

Comparison chart

Buy a casserole or saucier

When you know the differences between a casserole and a saucier, you’ll know which is better for you.

Here are some shopping tips to keep in mind when choosing the perfect casserole:

• Balance - Make sure that the saucepan you plan to buy has a good balance. Pots and pans are usually quite small but with long handles, so if the handle is heavy, the pan can easily lose its balance.
• Oven safety - Check if the pan is oven-safe if you plan to cook on the grill. If you are not going to use the pan in the oven, you can skip this step and you will have more options to choose from.
• Pan Weight – The weight of the pan will be more of a personal choice, but it is something to keep in mind. Heavy pans are more difficult to transport and use, but lighter ones can easily tip over while cooking. Try to find a nice middle ground between the two, and one that feels comfortable when you hold it.
• Non-Reactivity - Pots and pans are often used to cook liquids, which are often acidic, such as certain soups. Therefore, it is a good idea to choose a pan that is not reactive, so it will last longer.

If you are thinking about buying a saucier pan, we have another article dedicated to introducing you to the 5 best saucier pans on the market today.

Related questions

What is a saucier pan used for?

A saucier pan has a handle, a curved bottom, and a lid. A saucier pan can be used to cook just about anything a saucepan will cook. You can reduce sauces, cook pasta, boil potatoes, braise some foods or make a stew.

What size saucier pan do I need?

A good size saucier pan would be 3qts. It may seem a bit big at first, but it will be able to perform quite a few functions in the kitchen.

It’s better to have a pan that’s too big than one that’s too small and won’t fit all of your food. Plus, you can always make leftovers for later!

However, if you live alone and don’t usually have guests over, a smaller size may work for you. A smaller pan can also make it easier to cook multiple foods at once, giving you more counter space to work.

It all depends on your needs and preferences.

Should I look for a stainless steel pan?

Stainless steel pans are always a good choice. They are capable of operating at a higher temperature, more so than non-stick pans.

However, it can be quite difficult to get used to using a stainless steel pan compared to non-stick pans. Although, once you get the hang of them, they’re great!