Stock pots are a vital part of every well-equipped kitchen but it can be confusing knowing which stock pot to buy. Should you choose a stainless steel stock pot, a copper stock pot, or what about aluminum stock pots? First of all, let us look at what a stock pot is and its role in the kitchen.

A stock pot is a big pot with sides as tall as the diameter of the pot. These dimensions allow stock to simmer for many hours without reducing in volume too much. The size of a stock pot is usually measured in volume rather than height.

How Stock Pots Have Developed

Cookware used to be made of iron and bronze, since these were the only metals available. There was very little development for a long time after the first types of metal cookware were developed. In a standard medieval kitchen, there would have been a shallow earthenware pan, a cauldron, and a spit for roasting meat.

By the 1600s, there were baking pans, skillets, different sizes of pots and a kettle, in a standard western kitchen. These items were made by the local blacksmith in American colonies. Copper and brass saucepans and stock pots were common in Asia and Europe. Aluminum, steel, and stainless steel became more common during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Modern stock pots are made from high quality metals and they have features like drip-free, tapered rims for easy pouring, aluminum enriched bases for even heat distribution, and stylish mirror finishes. You can get different stock pots for different purposes. There is a Spanish one called a caldero, which is for cooking rice, and a special lobster stock pot. There are also extra large ones you can cook whole chickens in.

Why You Need a Stock Pot

A stock pot is not just for making stock. In fact, a lot of people have stock pots and use them often but never made stock. You can use a stock pot for making a stew, casserole, or soup. Its size and depth make it perfect for making anything, which is largely liquid, so you might want to make chicken noodle soup, for example, and freeze it in batches. A stock pot means you can cook a large amount of food at once. For this reason, it is also a handy size for making big batches of pasta or rice, if you are having a party.

Different Types of Stock Pots

The best stock pot to go for depends on what you want it for, how large your family is, and what kind of budget you have. Good stock pots should last for life, so it is worth finding out more about different types of stock pots before buying something that is going to last for many years to come.

Stock pots come in different sizes. A small one holds six quarts and a very big one holds thirty-six quarts. If you are not sure which size you need, choose a medium size stock pot, like a twelve-quart one. The huge ones are usually just for big restaurant kitchens. If you have the budget for it, you might want to get different sized stock pots a small one, a medium one, and a large one. You can stack them inside one another so they do not take up too much space.

Is a Stainless Steel Stock Pot or a Copper Stock Pot Better?

A stainless steel stock pot is a good choice because it is strong, durable and will hold up well when you use it frequently. Stainless steel is also heavy and solid and therefore dent resistant. The Cuisinart chefs classic stainless 12-quart stock pot is a particularly good choice.

A copper stock pot is heavy, durable, and able to transfer heat well. Copper actually conducts heat better than aluminum and it conducts heat ten times better than steel does, which mean you will have lower heating times and cooking times. Copper cookware is also attractive and you can display it on a bakers rack in your kitchen. Copper stock pots are lined with tin, stainless steel, nickel or a combination of these.

Aluminum Stock Pots The Budget Option

Aluminum is cheap and it also conducts heat well. If you are on a budget, you might want to consider aluminum stock pots. These are not the best, however. Aluminum can react with food or discolor some recipes. Aluminum is fairly durable but not as durable as stainless steel or copper.

Tips for Using a Stock Pot

Clean a new stock pot with hot, soapy water before you use it. This removes any chemicals or dirt from the surfaces. When you buy a stock pot, see if you can get long-handled spoons and ladles to use with it. You can get stainless steel utensils in all different shapes and sizes. Obviously, you will need long-handled utensils to use in a deep pot.

There are hundreds of recipes you can make in a stock pot and this handy piece of kitchenware is always a good investment.