Whether you are an amateur cook or a seasoned chef, the importance of good pans and pots is unparalleled. Half the fun and enjoyment of cooking comes from the right cooking equipment.
If, like us, you are particular about the pans you use, you will definitely enjoy the versatility and functionality of a good rondeau pan.
While sauté pans, saucepans, and grill pans are all kitchen staples that most of us have used at some point or another, rondeau pans may not be as well known to most home cooks.
A versatile cooking tool that comes in handy while preparing a variety of dishes, a rondeau pan has several features that you must look for when choosing the best one for your cooking needs.
So, what are the best rondeau pans? The best rondeau pans are sturdy, have excellent heat distribution, are big enough to prepare meals without overcrowding the ingredients, have handles for ease of use, and usually come with lids.
Read on for a detailed buyer’s guide for choosing the best rondeau pans and our top picks of the 5 best ones!
What Is A Rondeau Pan?
Rondeau pans (also called brazier pans) are round shallow pans with flat sides and handles on both sides. To understand it more clearly, imagine a sauté pan with two loop handles or a short Dutch oven.
Popular for their durability, functionality, and versatility, rondeau pans are not limited to specific dishes and can be used to prepare a variety of food items.
Chefs prefer using rondeau pans for frying, roasting, and poaching, but they can be used for cooking absolutely anything, from broths to soups, vegetables, and meat.
What’s great about them is that they can also be used in the oven and are designed to hold the juices in very well to keep the food moist and delicious.
Buyer’s Guide
When buying a rondeau pan for your kitchen, there are a few things you need to keep in mind that include:
Size And Weight
Size and weight are two important factors to consider when buying any type of cookware for your kitchen.
Since rondeau pans are available in several different weights and sizes, you need to consider your usage and the number of people you would normally cook for.
Also, make sure to keep your burner size in mind as well since a relatively small burner for a big rondeau pan will result in uneven heat and uncooked food.
If you are living alone or have a small family to feed, you will not require a large rondeau pan. A 6-10 quarts pan would be ideal for home cooks without overcrowding the pan with ingredients.
For bigger families and special occasions, a 10-15 quarts pan should be more than enough.
However, for commercial use and restaurant kitchens, bigger rondeau pans of around 20-40 quarts should be ideal.
Regardless of the size of the pan, make sure to choose one that is lighter in weight so that it is easier to handle and carry. Heavy pans are not only difficult to handle but also challenging to clean.
Material And Construction
The material and construction of the pans matter a lot since they contribute to their strength, durability, and functionality.
Rondeau pans are generally made up of stainless steel, cast iron, aluminum, and non-stick materials, each of which plays a major role in their cooking time, heat distribution, and overall maintenance.
Stainless steel is one of the most popular choices when it comes to rondeau pans since it is durable, low-maintenance, and can handle high temperatures.
Although a bit on the pricier side, stainless steel rondeau pans offer great value for money if you invest in the right one.
Enameled cast iron is another great material for rondeau pans since it distributes and retains heat better than any other cooking material.
Similar to stainless steel pans, enameled cast iron pans are also a bit expensive, but are highly durable, can provide a good sear, and look good enough to be used directly on the dinner table.
Aluminum, on the other hand, while lightweight, inexpensive, and heats up quickly, can react with acidic ingredients making it difficult to cook with tomatoes.
In addition to that, rondeau pans made with aluminum may be susceptible to warping and become wobbly over time.
With non-stick rondeau pans, you get an incredibly easy cleanup but at the cost of sacrificing versatility and durability.
It can be difficult to get a good sear with this material and you are limited to using wooden and silicone utensils.
Handles
Since rondeau pans are mostly used for preparing large batches of meals, they need to have the necessary support in the form of handles on both sides.
The handles need to be sturdy to support the weight of the pan, while also being comfortable to hold and maneuver.
There are several great rondeau pans available in the market that provide an exceptional level of cooking but lack comfortable and sturdy handles.
Therefore, it is important to check the strength and the grip of the handles and whether they are welded safely with screws to provide the right balance.
If you are an amateur cook, we suggest you opt for a rondeau pan with bigger handles so that you get ample space for your fingers and hands to get a good grip.
For added convenience, look for heat-resistant handles that are covered with silicone grips so that they remain cool while cooking.
Lids
A tight-fitting and sturdy lid is an important part of any cookware, especially if you wish to cook something for several hours since it helps lock in the heat and prevents the steam and moisture from escaping.
Using rondeau pans without a lid may be frustrating at times, forcing you to use a large plate to cover the pan or to leave it open, in which case, you may not get the desired cooking results.
For convenience and value for money, whether or not you like cooking with a lid, we suggest you get a rondeau pan with a lid so that you can use it according to your recipe’s requirements.
Lids may also be used to cover your food and prevent the oil from splattering here and there. Therefore, having a properly designed heavy lid is a must.
The 5 Best Rondeau Pans
To make cooking with rondeau pans fun, you need to invest in one that is not only durable and functional but also perfect for your needs and requirements.
Here are our top picks of the 5 best rondeau pans to help you choose:
| Rank | Product | Best Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Mauviel M'Cook Stainless Steel Rondeau with Lid | Stainless steel-copper construction for best cooking results |
| 2. | Heritage Steel Rondeau with Lid | Uses a special grade of titanium strengthened stainless steel |
| 3. | Winware Stainless Steel 15 Quart Brazier with Cover | Stainless-steel tri-ply heavy-duty construction |
| 4. | Winco Premium Stainless Steel Induction Brazier | Commercial-grade pan featuring 18/8 stainless steel construction |
| 5. | Tramontina Stainless Steel Covered Braiser | Fully clad tri-ply 18/10 stainless steel construction with an aluminum core |
1. Mauviel M’Cook Stainless Steel Rondeau with Lid
Due to their classic style and design, Mauviel pans have been a top choice for both home cooks and professional chefs all around the world, and this stainless-steel rondeau pan is no exception.
Constructed with a mix of 100% copper blended with stainless-steel layers, it is a highly reliable and durable pan that can last you a long time. The stainless steel makes the pan durable while the copper makes it heat up quickly and evenly.
With a 2.6mm base thickness, not only does it heat up within minutes but also cools down just as quickly. Plus, it can work on all kinds of stovetops and can also be used in the oven.
With this pan, you don’t have to worry about burning your fingers as its handles are designed to always stay cool throughout the cooking process.
Designed to provide balance and ease of handling, they feature an electroplated finish that gives them a nice look.
Super lightweight that makes it easy to handle and carry around the kitchen, this rondeau pan comes with a lifetime guarantee.
2. Heritage Steel Rondeau with Lid
A renowned name in the world of kitchen cookware, Heritage is an American family-owned small business that guarantees a lifetime of great cooking.
This rondeau pan by Heritage uses a special grade of titanium strengthened stainless steel that makes it 5-10 times more resistant to metal leaching and up to 20 times more resistant to corrosion.
Its 5-ply construction uses multiple layers of metal, including 3 layers of aluminum for durability and better heat conductivity.
The cooking surface heats up very quickly and releases the food easily when cooked, making it effortless to clean.
In addition to that, it comes with a stainless-steel lid with a handle for easy opening and closing, along with two solid and sturdy handles on each side that remain cool during long cooking hours.
3. Winware Stainless Steel Brazier with Cover
This rondeau pan by Winware is a versatile piece of cookware that is perfect for browning meats or slow-cooking vegetables.
Its stainless-steel tri-ply heavy-duty construction makes it incredibly durable. It also has a sturdy induction-ready base that heats up quickly for even cooking.
It comes with a lid with top handles made with high-grade stainless steel, preventing them from rusting over time.
Also, the two handles on the sides of the pan are welded at 6 points to make them sturdier and allow you to lift and carry the pan without losing balance.
Available in 15, 20, 25, and 30-quart capacities, the size options are great for preparing food for both small and big families.
In addition to being NSF approved due to its durable construction, it is also lightweight, making it easy to carry around the kitchen and clean it.
4. Winco Premium Stainless Steel Induction Brazier
A must-have item for home kitchens as well as commercial kitchens, this commercial-grade rondeau pan by Winco is an ideal pan for browning meats and slow-cooking vegetables.
It features 18/8 stainless steel construction with a heavy-duty tri-ply bottom that distributes and retains heat evenly throughout cooking.
With an adequate 10-quarts capacity that provides enough room to cook for a big family, it allows you to cook on both high and low flames.
Cleaning the pan is very easy since the cooking surface releases the food as soon as it is cooked.
In addition to that, its tight-fitting lid makes it easy to trap in the heat and its extra-sturdy handles are welded at 6 points to ensure a comfortable grip and secure handling.
5. Tramontina Stainless Steel Covered Braiser
The Tramontina 6-quart stainless steel rondeau pan is a professional-grade pan that is the perfect size for home use.
With a fully clad tri-ply 18/10 stainless steel construction, it has an aluminum core that helps the pan heat up quickly and evenly across the entire cooking surface.
Highly durable and reliable, it requires minimum care and maintenance and is resistant to warping, corrosion, and hot spots.
Super easy to clean, it is induction compatible and can withstand temperatures up to 500°F in the oven.
It also comes with a tightly fitted lid that helps keep the moisture locked inside and ergonomically designed handles to make it easy to carry and maneuver.
Related Questions
Now that you know all about rondeau pans, how to choose the best ones, and our top picks of the 5 best ones, here are a few additional questions we thought you might have!
What is the difference between a rondeau pan and a Dutch oven?
A rondeau pan, sometimes called a brazier, is similar to a Dutch oven but is not as deep.
The best rondeau pans have straight sides, two loop handles, and almost always come with a lid. Also, they are generally made of stainless steel, copper, or a combination of metals.
Ideal for slow-cooking meats and stews, rondeau pans are ideal for braising, frying, oven-roasting, pan-roasting, poaching, searing, and simmering.
A Dutch oven, on the other hand, is a rondeau pan’s heavier counterpart. Usually made of cast iron, they can be used either on a stovetop or in the oven and can withstand extremely high heat.
What is the difference between a rondeau pan and a sauté pan?
Rondeau pans are best for slow cooking where the main objective is to prepare tender and juicy results. They are ideal for braising, frying, poaching, searing, and oven and pan roasting.
Sauté pans, on the other hand, have a flat bottom, wider surface, and high walls that allow them to store high volumes of liquid. They are not intended for slow cooking, which is why they are not available in as many sizes as rondeau pans.
How should you clean a rondeau pan?
Depending on the material with which the rondeau pan is made, it can be very easy to clean since good quality cooking surfaces do not make the food stick to them after cooking.
The first tip to remember when cleaning your rondeau pan is to save it from thermal shock, which means avoiding submerging a hot pan into water.
Most rondeau pans are dishwasher-safe, but if yours is too big for the dishwasher, you must wash it gently by hand.
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