The Best Pasta Pots (Review) in 2020

What to Consider When Buying a Pasta Pot

• Budget

As much as we would all love to buy the best pasta pot on the market with unlimited money, we also know that, for most of us, this simply isn’t possible. Instead, we’ve brought you some of the best pasta pans for your money, with an emphasis of overall value- ensuring that each of these pasta pots provides a quality result at a reasonable price.

• Material

Materials make a colossal difference when cooking, as they can affect the speed of the cooking, as well as how evenly it cooks the food within. It also affects the longevity of the pan, so that a higher-quality material will be sure to last much longer, and therefore save you money in the long run. The most common materials used for pots and pans include:

Stainless-steel

Stainless-steel is a poor conductor of heat. However, it provides a sturdy surface that is easy to clean and is much less likely to rust over time. It is completely non-reactive and therefore is perfect for any kind of food, with a simple clean-up after use.

Copper

Copper looks great and gives your kitchen a rustic feel, as well as being a superb conductor of heat. Unfortunately, it is likely to react to food, so is usually kept as a lower liner to help with heat transference. If you do decide on getting a completely copper pan, make sure that it has been coated so that it doesn’t affect your food and will last much longer before rusting etc.

Cast iron

One of the most expensive materials in the culinary market, cast iron is an excellent heat retainer and perfect for slow-cooking meals and keeping food warmer, for longer. Naturally, this also means that it takes longer to heat up to a suitable degree.

 It also requires considerable prep work, referred to as “sealing”, where the pan is coated in oil and heated, before slowly being slowly cooled. This will help it to stay rust-free and non-stick. Luckily, there’s also the option of enameled cast iron, which takes away all of the prep work required to maintain your pan- just bear in mind that this can chip and wear down over time.

Aluminum

Extremely lightweight and an excellent conductor of heat, aluminum is easy to handle but reacts to most foods. As such, it is usually built-in to steel pans, to help with heat conduction. That said, there is now also anodized aluminum, which is sealed electrochemically to stop these reactions taking place- although these pots usually cost considerably more.

• Capacity

The capacity of your pasta pot will affect you in two ways; the first being how quickly the pasta will cook, thanks to the surface area and amount of pasta placed in the pot (smaller pans naturally heating up and cooking pasta at a much faster rate). The second is that a larger capacity pot is better for those who like to host and need the space for the sheer amount of pasta required, batch cook or have a larger family to feed.

If you have a smaller household, it’s likely you won’t need a spaghetti pot that can cover gallons of boiling water for your pasta. Indeed, this would be a waste of energy and the pot would take too long to cook such a small amount of food. Likewise, a small pot simply won’t cover the amount necessary for larger meals. So, consider the capacity you need before making your purchase.

• Extras

While this article is all about providing you with some great choices in pots for your pasta, it’s worth taking note of all the added features and extras that come with your purchase, which can help cut down on cooking time and make your cooking experience more pleasant. These can include:

Steamers

Many of our top choices naturally take advantage of the steam produced while boiling your pasta and include steaming baskets which allows you to take care of two things at once. This is great for those who want to focus on healthy eating, too as steaming is one of the best ways to cook your vegetables.

Removable baskets

A great benefit to owning a specialist pan is the design that allows you to cook everything with fewer burns. Having a pasta pot with a strainer often means you get a removable basket that negates the awkward draining that often causes splashes and can lead to lots of little burns from the water, as well as problems with the steam as your drain your pan.

Heat-proof handles

Arguably, the worst part of boiling anything is having to drain the scorching hot water when your food has been cooked. While owning a pasta pot takes away a lot of this pain, it’s no secret that having heat-proof handles on your pot can make moving your pans and draining the water away much easier- as well as safer.

• Reviews

The best way to decide on whether a pan fits well into your kitchen or not is to use it. Of course, without first purchasing the item yourself, this is impossible- enter the reviews. These honest considerations on what is loved and hated about each pan should be seen in much the same way as trying before buying, as the only difference is that someone else has tried it for you.

Why You Should Use a Pasta Pot

• Minimize burns

As mentioned above, the most awkward thing about cooking pasta or any boiled food is struggling to drain the water away after you’ve finished. You can easily burn yourself with the water that splashes back onto your arms or the steam as the water escapes. Using a pasta pot with strainer lid or a pasta pot with a basket completely disarms that risk and allows you to freely remove the pasta without risking your arms or steaming up your glasses.

• Even cooking

As pasta pots often come with capacity guidelines written on them and are made from materials that ensure even distribution of heat, you’re more likely to get even cooking throughout your pot when using this bit of kit.

• No loss of pasta

Everyone knows that, when you tip your pot of boiled pasta over the sink to drain your standard pan, you are pretty much guaranteed to lose pieces of pasta to your drain. Not so with specialist pasta pots, as they can firmly hold the foodstuff in place as you drain, or even remove the pasta in it’s entirely before draining your pan.

• Multiple uses

Pasta pots don’t need to just be used to boil your pasta. They can work with quinoa, rice, eggs, meats and anything that requires boiling and draining. Not to mention that many of these pots come with additional steaming baskets that allow you to achieve greater versatility from your new purchase.

How to Use a Pasta Pot

While each pasta pot will come with its own set of instructions, in terms of how to use the removable baskets or additional features, the majority of use can be achieved as follows:

• Check the instruction manual to check the suggested ratio of water to pasta required for effective cooking in your pan.
• Place your pot on a burner that covers roughly the same area as the base of the pot.
• Add in the recommended level of water.
• Turn your burner on and allow the water to boil. It can be worth adding in some salt at this point if you prefer a salted taste to your food, or if your recipe requests it.
• Add the required pasta to the basket/colander, according to the guidelines and dependent on how many servings you are looking to cook.
• Place the basket into the pot, ensuring that the boiling water covers all of the food being boiled. This will sit along the bottom of the pot or rest along the rim of the pasta pot, depending on which model you have purchased.
• As the pasta cooks, it will likely expand in size, so be sure to keep checking that all of the pasta is adequately covered with water as it boils.
• Use a wooden spoon to gently stir the pasta from time to time, to loosen them and keep the pieces from sticking to each other.
• Once the water is boiling again, turn the heat down just enough that the pasta can simmer.
• If you notice the water level falling below the top layer of pasta before it has been fully cooked, add in a little extra water.
• Wait for the time required as according to the food producer’s instructions.
• The best way to check if your pasta is done it by taste, so remove a single piece and let it cool a little before taking a bite.
• If you prefer your pasta to be cooked al dente (a little firm in the center) then reduce this time by a few minutes. For those who prefer thoroughly cooked pasta, you can wait a little longer.
• If your pasta is cooked to your preference, then remove the pasta from the pot- this can be done in different ways, depending on the pasta pot type. For some, you can remove the basket from the pot, while others will require you to firmly keep the perforated lid secure and tip the water contents from the pan.
• Serve with your chosen side dishes, or with a sauce of your choice.

Our Top Pick

With a focus on quality materials, the contemporary hard-anodized aluminum pasta pot from Calphalon may be a little more expensive than some of the others on offer but we feel that the value of this item is deserving of our top spot. Not only will this item come with a longevity that is backed by a full lifetime warranty, but you’ll notice how well your pasta and other produce cooks (whether boiled or steamed) at record speed.

Then there’s the usability that comes with being both oven and dishwasher-safe, which make this one of the most versatile pasta pots on the market. This is heartily backed-up by reviews, as many customers mention just how quickly and thoroughly this pot gets to work, while remaining so easy to clean. It’s no wonder that this is one of the most popular and best pasta pots online, today.

Source:

1. How to Cook Spaghetti Using a Pasta Pot & Colander Insert - Live Strong
2. The Best Pasta Pot Is Actually a Dutch Oven - Bon Appetit
3. These Magical One-Pot Pasta Recipes Only Need 5 Ingredients and a Glance - The Kitchn