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Nerdy Science in the Kitchen

Best Pot for Boiling Milk

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Boiling milk can be a tricky process, but with the right pot, it's a breeze.
Boiling milk can be a tricky process, but with the right pot, it’s a breeze.

Boiling milk is an essential process in many different recipes. You can use it when making mac and cheese, homemade yogurt and more!

My favorite is this Kitchen Aid…See it at Amazon.

On the surface, you would think that boiling milk is an easy task, and while it isn’t a process that involves a whole lot of steps, it can still be tricky to do without burning the milk.

The trick to boiling milk (without scorching it) is to get a nice thick pan that retains heat well without heating up too fast. You should also let the milk come to a boil slowly on a lower heat setting.

If you get the right saucepan and let the milk take its time to boil, along with occasional stirring so that the heat is distributed and it doesn’t burn, then you should be in good shape.

So let’s take a look at some pans that are suitable for boiling milk without scorching it.

Best Pot for Boiling MilkWhy We Like It
KitchenAid Aluminum Nonstick 2.0 quart Saucepan with Lid - Onyx Black, Medium
1. KitchenAid 2 Quart Sauce Pan thick, hard anodized steel retains heat while preventing burning
Anolon Nouvelle Copper Hard Anodized Nonstick Sauce Pan/Saucepan with Straining and Lid, 3.5 Quart, Gray2. Anolon Nouvelle Copper Hard Anodized Nonstick Saucepan excellent heat retaining capacity, works even on induction stovetops
Cuisinart MultiClad Pro Stainless Steel 3-Quart Saucepan with Cover
3. Cuisinart MCP193-18N MultiClad Pro tapered rim makes it simple to pour milk from pot without dripping or spilling
Calphalon Signature Hard-Anodized Nonstick 2-Quart Sauce Pan with Cover
4. Calphalon Classic Nonstick Sauce Pan with Cover, 2 Quart nonstick pan made of durable aluminum is good for a budget

KitchenAid 2 Quart Sauce Pan

KitchenAid Aluminum Nonstick 2.0 quart Saucepan with Lid - Onyx Black, Medium

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This KitchenAid saucepan can hold up to 2 quarts of milk (or any liquid really), and has a nonstick surface to make sure that your milk doesn’t burn onto the pan if you forget to stir it.

It is made from hard anodized steel, so it retains heat pretty well, but it is thick enough that the bottom of the pan will not get too hot and burn your milk. Also, the 5.5 millimeters hardened aluminum that it is made with will keep this pan in good shape for years down the line.

This saucepan is dishwasher safe and coated with a nonstick colorfast finish, and has a riveted stainless steel handle that will remain cool to the touch even while the pan is hot.

Should you get this pan?

Personally, I do not like nonstick cookware. The coating will begin to peel off over time and find its way into your food. But I do understand why some people like these pans so much, especially considering how easy the surface is to clean.

If you don’t mind the fact that you will have to buy another one of these in a couple of years, then this should do just fine for you.

Warm milk is great to drink on its own or with a few spices as well!
Warm milk is great to drink on its own or with a few spices as well!

Anolon Nouvelle Copper Hard Anodized Nonstick Saucepan

Anolon Nouvelle Copper Hard Anodized Nonstick Sauce Pan/Saucepan with Straining and Lid, 3.5 Quart, Gray

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This is a very good piece of equipment, and you can tell the moment you pick it up and feel the weight of the pan. It has a patented induction suitable double full cap base, which means is that this pan is an excellent heat distributor, giving you great cooking performance and will even work on induction stovetops.

The handle is stainless steel, attached to the pan by rivets so that the heat of the pan does not transfer to the handle. This gives you the freedom to pick this pan up whenever you need to.

It also has a deep-seated stainless steel dome lid, so that you can heat your milk faster, and it is coated with a professional grade nonstick interior.

It can hold 3.5 quarts of liquid.

Should you get this pot?

This is a good pan, and even though it is still a nonstick pan, the surface is a little bit more durable than most nonstick surfacing (hence the word “professional”). It is great at heat distribution, so your milk will not burn as long as you are paying attention to it.

Cuisinart MCP193-18N MultiClad Pro

Cuisinart MultiClad Pro Stainless Steel 3-Quart Saucepan with Cover

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This 3-quart stainless steel saucepan with Tri-ply construction that uses a pure aluminum core that is bonded to the stainless steel. It has “heat surround” technology, giving you consistent and even distribution of heat, not just at the bottom of the pan, but also on the sides of it.

It has a tapered rim so you can transfer the milk from pot to container without spilling any of it. It also comes with a glass cover to seal in the moisture, so the contents of the pan do not dry up.

As with nearly all stainless steel cookware, it is safe for temperature all the way up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, and the glass top is safe for temperatures up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Should you get this saucepan?

I have said over and over again that stainless steel is the absolute best cooking material to use, in my opinion. It lasts for decades when treated well, and they are versatile enough to be able to go straight from stovetop to oven cooking.

If you do not mind spending a little extra cash for a pan that will last nearly a lifetime, then stainless steel cookware is for you.

Calphalon Classic Nonstick Sauce Pan with Cover, 2 Quart

Calphalon Signature Hard-Anodized Nonstick 2-Quart Sauce Pan with Cover

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This saucepan is nonstick and made from a durable aluminum material. The saucepan is affordably priced and very highly rated. It has a maximum capacity of 2 Quarts or 64 US fluid ounces.

What’s cool about this saucepan is it has convenient measuring marks that make it easy to pour in the liquid, without needing to get out the measuring cups!

The saucepan is oven safe of up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and comes with a long stainless steel handle and will not burn your hand when you touch it!

The saucepan also comes with a Lifetime Warranty. The company will replace or refund you if your saucepan is found defective or unable to function properly under normal household cooking use.

Should you get this saucepan?

This is a nonstick saucepan. But I think for boiling milk it’s great! You might be new to the process and a nonstick saucepan might be the beginner’s way to learn without getting frustrated!

This saucepan is very affordable and very highly rated, if you are nervous about burning your milk or have done so in the past, this could be a good option for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the KitchenAid 2 quart Saucepan weigh?

The KitchenAid KC2A20PLOB Saucepan weighs 2.5 pounds. This saucepan is quite lightweight and should be no issue for people who have tender wrists or a weak grip. Although this pot is light, it is very durable and has a 3-layer nonstick interior, perfect for any of your needs.

How durable is the KitchenAid KCH KC2A20PLOB Saucepan, is there any warranty offered?

KitchenAid offers a limited lifetime warranty for all of their cookware. What a limited lifetime warranty means is they will replace any of their cookware products that become faulty due to their craftsmanship or materials used. This warranty will not cover any damage that you inflict to the saucepan. Such as dropping, burning, denting or scratching.

How deep is the KitchenAid Saucepan without the lid on?

The KitchenAid Saucepan is 2.5 inches deep and will hold 1.5 quarts of liquid or 48 US fluid ounces. This is more than enough to boil the amount of milk you will most likely need for almost anything. You may want to consider a different saucepan if you will need to boil a lot of milk or other liquid at one time.

How can I tell if my KitchenAid product is genuine and not a knockoff?

There are two different types of KitchenAid logos that must be imprinted somewhere on the product. If the product does not have this logo, it is not genuine and you should ask for your money back.

The old logo had a stamped logo and you could feel the imprint of it on the saucepan. The new logo is flat and more suitable for different cooktop surfaces such as ceramic and induction. This is to stop rough or unsmooth logos that could scratch the surface when not completely smooth.

Where is the Anolon Nouvelle Copper Hard Anodized Nonstick Saucepan manufactured?

The Anolon Nouvelle Copper Hard Anodized Nonstick Saucepan is manufactured in their factory in China. This does not diminish the quality of their product as most things these days seem to be made and manufactured in China. The quality will depend on the company, not the country it was made from.

Is Anolon Nouvelle Copper Hard Anodized Nonstick Saucepan dishwasher safe?

This saucepan has instructions and labels specifying not to put this item in the dishwasher. Because the saucepan is made with anodized aluminum, you will get some discoloration when washing through the dishwasher, especially on the bottom of the saucepan. This will not affect the usability or effectiveness of the saucepan, but from a pure convenience and aesthetic point of view, this could be of some concern to some people.

Can the Anolon Nouvelle Copper Hard Anodized Nonstick Saucepan handle metal materials inside without scratching it?

This saucepan has a nonstick coating. With all nonstick coatings, metal objects run the risk of scratching this nonstick surface off where ever the metal makes contact. If you would like the nonstick coating to remain fully effective over time, I will advise that you use nonstick utensils, ladles and spoons. Also, any object made of wood is safe to use too. Metal types of objects are the last thing you want to put in this type of pot.

Can I use metal objects and utensils inside the Cuisinart MCP193-18N MultiClad Pro Stainless Steel 3 Qt Saucepan w/ Glass Cover?

In short, yes you can. This saucepan is made with high-quality Stainless Steel and one of the advantages with stainless steel is that you are not limited to what objects you may put inside, unlike nonstick materials.

With nonstick saucepans, you run a huge risk of scratching and damaging the saucepan by putting metal inside them. With this stainless steel saucepan, you don’t have nearly as much risk causing any damage.

However, over time, continuous and forceful use of metal objects will scratch the bottom surface. This will in no way harm the ability of the saucepan to cook, but visually will not be as pleasing.

Does the Handle of the Cuisinart MCP193-18N MultiClad Pro Stainless Steel 3 Qt Saucepan become very hot to touch without a cover?

No, the handle does not get hot at all. This is due to Cuisinart’s CoolGripTM, which is made of a stainless steel and will not get hot at all, within reason. If cooking temperatures are extremely hot, way hotter than a temperature needed to boil milk, you may find the handle to not be not as super cool as you would like.

Can I use Cuisinart MCP193-18N MultiClad Pro Stainless Steel 3 Qt Saucepan pot on ceramic stove tops?

Yes, this saucepan is completely safe to be used on ceramic stove tops or any stovetops for that matter! The bottom is smooth stainless steel and you will not risk scratching the saucepan or cooking surface below. The size of this saucepan is not too big and will completely fit on any type of stove top.

Can I use cooking spray with the Calphalon Classic Nonstick Sauce Pan?

No, you can not. These cooking sprays are going to leave a residue that is very troublesome to remove and will actually cause food to stick onto your nonstick sauce pan! Please use oil for cooking. With this nonstick saucepan, you should not even need to use oil on a lot of food that you will cook!

Wrap – Up

Burning milk is incredibly easy to do with any type of pan you use. But boiling it without scorching takes some patience and the proper equipment. Any one of these pans is more than capable of boiling your milk without burning it.

It comes down to which pan you like best, how much you are willing to spend, and how you feel about stainless steel versus nonstick cookware.

If you’re looking for a pot specifically for boiling eggs, find the top rated ones.

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