My new saute pan is this one right here. Got it at my local kitchen gadget store on sale… score for me! I first learned about these great pans when I used one in a cooking class and fell in love. It heated so nice and evenly and my fish with white wine sauce was scrumptious – which I attribute to the pan and only the pan.  My skills are minimal.

In my experience, there are a couple of things to be aware of with stainless steel to maintain it’s beauty and shine.  First, always either immerse in it water or add wine or broth to the pan while it’s still hot after you remove your food.  You can add a little wine, reduce it a bit and have a nice sauce for your fish, steak or chicken and it serves a dual purpose to loosen those crusty bits on the bottom of the pan.  You know, the flavorful bits.  Second, you always want to let the pan warm up empty for a few minutes on medium heat before adding any oil or food to it.  Nothing gets stuck when you do this, so clean up is way easier.

The pan is… well, bullet-proof, to say the least.  Made of 5-ply 18/10 stainless steel and aluminum for durability and even heat distribution.  This one has a 5-quart capacity, but there are many sizes available, one to fit your needs perfectly.  Oven safe to 500 degrees F and dishwasher safe. One thing I really love about this pan is the curved handle – it’s not only more comfortable for lifting, but it just seems towork better for stirring and such.

KitchenAid Clad Saute Pan – $110