Stews are one of the easy-to-make meals that are not only perfect for a family dinner but also for occasional dinner parties. Another plus point for stews is that you can easily cook them in large quantities and store them for the days that you do not generally feel like cooking.
It goes without saying, you will need the right appliance for perfectly cooking a particular dish. And the same thing goes with cooking stews as well. But getting the best stew pot among all of the options that are out there is something that is easier said than done.
Well, you would not have to worry about that anymore because we are here to make things easy..
5 Best Stew Pot Reviews
Like any other product in the market, there are plenty of stewpots in the market. And narrowing them down to a list where there is only recommendation worthy units can be a bit difficult. Well, for your convenience, we have done the task of narrowing down for you. And the ones that we think are worth every penny are as follows:
1. Cook N Home Stainless Steel Lid Stockpot saucier
Having a large number of options in the case of sizes can be quite convenient when it comes to choosing the best pot for cooking stew. And Cook N Home is here to offer you exactly that.
First of all, there are five different size options available for this unit. The smallest one is available in 3 quarts size, while the largest one that you can get your hands on is 20 quarts in size. So it would not be that difficult for you to find the right size for yourself.
No matter which size you opt for, cleaning will be an effortless task. All of the units are made of stainless steel and have mirror polishing on the exterior. That polishing does not only make them look good but also makes the pots easy to clean.
Apart from that, there is an aluminum disc on the bottom. Because of that disc, the heat is going to get distributed evenly throughout the entire surface. As a result, there is not going to be any hot spots.
You are also going to get a lid that is of tempered glass. It has a steam vent that will make it easier for you to monitor the stew during the cooking process. The handle that it comes along has silicone wrapping. That wrapping makes it comfortable to hold.
Lastly, it is compatible with most of the cookers. It works on gas, glass, ceramic, and even on top of induction cookers.
Pros
- Five different sizes available
- Has aluminum disc on the bottom
- Bundles along with a glass lid
- Glass lid has a steam vent
- Comes with a silicone wrapped handle
Cons
- Not compatible with oven
- Pots are considerably hefty
2. Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
Getting different options in the case of size is great and all, but do you know what can get even better? Yes, we are talking about having plenty of color options. And you are going to get both with this pot that Lodge is offering.
First, the pot is available in six different sizes. The manufacturer is offering all of them from as small as 1.5 quarts to the large-sized 7.5 quarts. Also, there are ten different color options available. As a result, you will be able to get the one that goes the best with all the other colorful utensils that you might have in your kitchen.
The color coating that these implements are of enamel. Because of that, worrying about the colors chipping off over time would not be something that you would have to do. The coating that is on the inside is of glass. As a result, it would not react to ingredients that you are going to use to cook your delicious stew.
Apart from that, the knob that it boasts on the lid is of stainless steel. That, along with the loop handles that it features on the side, you are going to get a substantial amount of control over the pot while cooking.
Other than that, the unit’s heat retention is up to par with the rest of the pots in the market. The bottom also distributes the heat evenly. As a result, your stews are going to cook perfectly.
Pros
- Available in six different sizes
- Has an enamel color coating on the exterior
- Ten different colors available
- Can retain heat exceptionally well
- Evenly distributes heat to the surface
Cons
- Not that durable
- Lid does not fully cover the top
3. AmazonBasics Enameled Cast Iron Covered Dutch Oven
Like all the other basic necessities, AmazonBasics is also offering some of the best pots for making soup in the market. And this one that we are going to talk about is one of them.
To begin with, you will have the freedom to choose from four different sizes. It comes in 4.3 quarts, 6 quarts, 7.3 quarts, and finally, 7.5 quarts. That means whether you are planning to cook soups for yourself only or the entire family, you are going to find one that has an adequate size easily.
Just like some of the other manufacturers, AmazonBasics is also offering a few color options. It is available in red, green, and blue. You can choose the one that will blend well with the other kitchen utensils.
Apart from that, the material that the manufacturer utilized for the overall construction is cast iron. That material makes these pots exceptionally durable. You can expect these to last for an extended amount of time. Also, the heat retention and the heat distribution capability is highly enhanced because of that material.
The handles that it features on the side will provide an adequate amount of control. Also, the fitted lid has a large-sized knob, which will make it easier for you to maneuver it during cooking.
Lastly, the pot is compatible with most of the cookers. You can even put it inside an oven without having to worry that much.
Pros
- Comes in four different sizes
- Available in three different color options
- Made of sturdy cast iron
- Has an excellent heat retention capability
- Features easy to hold handles on the side
Cons
- Surface does not have nonstick characteristics
- Enamel coating in the inside chips pretty easily
4. Cuisinart 644-24 Chef’s Classic 6-Quart Stockpot with Lid
The manufacturer Cuisinart has been in the kitchenware market for a long amount of time. While they are here, they have been bringing out a plethora of worthy utensils. And this pot that we are going to have a look at can perfectly illustrate that.
To start with, the size of the unit is six quarts. Even though there are not that many size options available, this size that they are offering is what most people opt for. It is neither too small nor too big. You can cook a small amount and fairly large-amount of soups using this.
Apart from that, the material that it utilizes is hard-anodized aluminum. That material makes it exceptionally lightweight. As a result, maneuvering it on top of a cooker will not be an easy task for you.
It is oven safe too. Also, the cooking surface has a nonstick coating on the top. For that reason, you would not have to worry about the cleaning process that much either.
Other than that, the handles that it boasts are riveted. That makes it highly easy to carry it around. Also, it has a stay-cool feature, which means you will not have to worry about your hands getting burned as well.
The lid that it comes along is made of tempered glass. It is highly durable and resistant to breaking. Moreover, it also has a steam vent, allowing you to monitor your stew throughout the entire cooking process.
Pros
- Features stay-cool handles
- Easy to maneuver around
- Reasonably lightweight
- Comes with a durable glass lid
- Has nonstick coating on the cooking surface
Cons
- Inside is not that resistant to scratches
- Included lid does not cover the top properly
5. Farberware Classic Stainless Steel Stockpot with Lid
Even though you will stumble upon plenty of units while searching for one of the best pots for making soup, you will hardly find a few that are dishwasher safe. Well, if you were looking for one, you should definitely put this one that Farberware is offering into your consideration list.
First of all, the manufacturer implemented high-quality stainless steel for the overall construction. It has a polished exterior, which makes it look elegant and classic. The polish also allows it to blend easily with the rest of the cooking utensils.
As it is entirely made of stainless steel, it is dishwasher safe too. Because of that, the cleaning process will be an effortless task for you. Also, it is compatible with almost all of the cookers. You can cook it on top of an induction cooker, oven, and other gas cookers.
Apart from that, there are several size options available too. You can choose from three different sizes. It comes in 6 quarts, 8 quarts, and 11 quarts. All of them come with a stainless steel regular lid or a straining lid.
Other than that, as the pot’s core has aluminum, it achieves a higher level of heat retention capability. That core also enhances the overall lifespan of the unit substantially. It can distribute the heat evenly throughout the entire surface as well.
Besides that, the handles that it sports on the side have riveting on them. That pattern makes it comfortable to hold and as a result, maneuvering it will be a fairly easy task for you.
Pros
- Three different size options and two different lid options available
- Dishwasher safe
- Compatible with most of the cookers
- Can retain heat exceptionally well
- Distributes heat evenly throughout the surface
Cons
- Included lid feels a bit cheap
- Tends to discolor over time
How Big of a Soup/Stew Pot Do I Need?
The one thing that buyers get confused about the most while buying a pot is the size. And this factor is something that is going to depend on your requirement. Let us explain why.
If you are planning to occasionally cook stew only for the family members, you would be more than fine with something that is around 5 quarts in size. That will enable you to cook in a small amount. Also, it will allow you to cook for your entire family.
On the other hand, if you plan to host dinner parties where you wish to serve your delicious stew, you should opt for something that is 10 quarts or larger. Those are ideal for cooking in bulk.
Also, those will enable you to took cook in a large amount and save some for later. You can easily serve it on the days where you do not feel like going near the kitchen.
Buying Guide for Newbies
We know that you already have a general idea about what a decent stew pot can offer. However, if you want to get the most out of the money that you are going to spend, you need to keep these factors in mind:
Durability
First of all, you would need to consider the build quality of the pots. The build quality is the thing that is going to dictate the durability of the unit. In this case, what you need to factor in is the material that the manufacturer utilized.
Most of the manufacturers will implement cast iron, aluminum, and stainless steel. And if you want the maximum amount of durability, you would want to opt for the cast iron ones. Those are the most durable among all of the units that are available in the market.
Ease of Use
In the case of ease of use, the heft is going to play an important factor. The heavier the unit, the harder it will be for you to maneuver it around. And even though the cast iron ones are exceptionally durable, they are the most heavier ones.
If you want something that is lighter, we would recommend you opt for the aluminum ones. Those are the most lightweight among the bunch. The stainless steel ones are also reasonably light too. So if you do opt for the stainless steel ones, maneuvering it would not be that much of an issue.
Heat Retention
No matter which material you decide to shoot for, you need to keep in mind the heat retention capability. If you opt for the one that can not retain the heat properly, cooking the stew will take hours and hours. For that reason, you should shoot for the ones that can retain heat appropriately.
Heat Distribution
Another factor regarding heat that you would have to factor in is the distribution of heat. If the unit’s surface that you opted for can not distribute heat evenly, then your stew will not cook properly.
So if you want to cook properly cooked delicious soups, you should opt for the ones that can distribute the heat evenly throughout the entire cooking surface.
Compatibility
Not all of the pots you will stumble upon will be compatible with all of the cookers. For example, there are many that are not oven safe. So if you are mainly planning to cook inside an oven, you need to get the ones that are ideal for oven cooking.
Cleaning Process
Usually, most of the units will have a bit of a nonstick coating on the surface. That nonstick coating will make the cleaning process easier. However, many might not have this coating, and those are the ones that you should steer clear of.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is it possible to cook stews in a stockpot?
Stockpots are mainly designed to heat up water and to make stocks. For that reason, they do not generally have thick walls. As a result, they are not really ideal for cooking stews. Also, you can not put them inside an oven.
2. What should I use to thicken the stew?
You can utilize flour to thicken up the overall consistency of your soup. Use the flour to cover the meat that you are planning to use in the stew. You can also put the flour directly in the stew to thicken it up.
3. Can I use cornstarch in soups?
Yes, if you want to thicken up the soups, you can use cornstarch. Alternatively, you can also use flour to thicken up the consistency of the soup.
4. Would it be possible to cook stew meat on top of a stove?
You can cook stew meat on top of a stove. We would recommend you to use a bit of oil while cooking it on top of a stove. It will help in the case of bringing the flavor out of the meat.
5. What process should I follow to avoid overcooking beef stews?
You should keep the pot full because if it is not full enough, the meat is going to cook faster. However, do make sure that it is not too full, or else you can make a mess on your countertop.
Final Words
Now that you have a proper idea about the best stew pot that the manufacturers are offering in the market, we hope that choosing one will be reasonably easy for you. With that being said, we wish to wrap things up here by hoping that the stews that you cook turn out delicious.