Cook your favorite risotto recipes and perfect the art of preparing this delicate Italian cuisine by using the best pan for Risotto.
If you’re a fan of cooking shows such as MasterChef USA, then you know that Risotto can make or break an up-and-coming chef. When done right, it is one of the most delicious dishes you can find on the planet, but it is a dish that requires such precision in cooking that it can easily go wrong and be a total disaster.
Here, we are looking for pans that will make your life easier. It would be best if you had a pan that complements your skills as a chef, and we think we’ve found several options that will serve you well.
List Of Pan for Risotto
- Lodge L10DOL3
- T-fal C51782
- Faberware 50004
- Lodge L8DD3
- Cuisinart 619-14
- Calphalon Saute Pan
- Amazon Basics Dutch Oven
- Utopia Kitchen UK0265
- T-fal Speciality Nonstick 3qt Saucepan
Comparison Table for Best Pan for Risotto
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
  | ★ OUR #1 PICK! ★ Lodge L10DOL3 |
| |
  | T-fal C51782 |
| |
  | Faberware 50004 |
| |
  | Lodge L8DD3 |
| |
  | Cuisinart 619-14 |
| |
  | Calphalon Saute Pan |
| |
  | Amazon Basics Dutch Oven |
| |
  | Utopia Kitchen UK0265 |
| |
  | T-fal Speciality Nonstick 3qt Saucepan |
|
Top 5 Best Pans for Risotto Reviews
1. Lodge L10DOL3 | Best Pan for making risotto
Risotto baked in a dutch oven is absolutely delicious. It really is cooking at its finest and most skillful. Search Google and YouTube, and you will find thousands of recipes that suggest a cast iron dutch oven is essential to getting all the elements of a risotto right.
This Lodge dutch oven is American-made, with Lodge being a company out of Tennessee that has been making cast iron cookware since the later 19th century. That they remain a top cookware brand all these years later is a testament to the quality of pan they produce.
You’ll be hugely satisfied with this pan because it was built to last. Decades of cooking will be done using the pan, and we wouldn’t be surprised if it becomes a family hand-me-down.
It’s vital that a great pan aids in the easy release of the Risotto. You don’t want your Risotto to stick. This pan has already been seasoned, so it’s great for cooking from the start. Just ensure you maintain a seasoning routine.
Highlighted Features
1. Cast iron pan with the capacity to feed a large family
2. Perfect for simmering and slow cooking
3. Exceptional heat retention and beautifully even heat distribution
2. T-fal C51782
With a depth of 12 inches and a 21-inch diameter, this 4.73-liter capacity pan is certainly big enough that you’ll be serving Risotto for a large family.
This is the pan for those who want every bit of help possible with cooking perfect dishes.
While a cast iron dutch oven is cookware for experts, this pan will very much suit beginners.
To start with, this is a non-stick pan, with the non-stick element being extremely long-lasting and unlikely to suffer from peeling for many years. This feature is especially important for those who aren’t comfortable with seasoning a pan that doesn’t have non-stick properties.
Additionally, you want to ensure a pan is heated properly before you add ingredients. The Thermo-Spot will help you with that.
Pan handles are often overlooked by consumers when buying a pan. Rest assured, the stainless steel handles on this particular pan have been designed with rivets for both comfort and safety.
Highlighted Features
1. Reinforced titanium interior is non-stick for easy food release
2. Thermo-Spot aids you in telling when the pan is preheated to correct temperature
3. Compatible with induction cooktops
3. Faberware 50004
We’ve looked at one cast iron and one aluminum pan so far. Let’s now introduce another material – steel.
This 3.8-liter Faberware stainless steel pot has a classic look about it and would suit any kitchen that has a shiny metallic vibe about it.
As a piece of cookware, it has several features that prove helpful.
For a start, it is not entirely made from stainless steel, with the base having a core of aluminum. This dual-metal makeup allows for quick heating of the pan and a more even cook.
Should you wish to put the pan into the oven, rather than use a cooktop, then the pan is safe up to a temperature of 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
The pan is not non-stick and thus is a good option for anyone wary of the non-stick coating being toxic. Without a non-stick coating, there is the chance of food remnants remaining, but as the pan is dishwasher safe, you shouldn’t need a huge effort to clean it.
Highlighted Features
- The base features an aluminum core with stainless steel covering for improved heating
- Self-basting lid for moisture retention
- Dishwasher and oven safe cookware
4. Lodge L8DD3
We’ve already had a look at one cast iron lodge pan in this list, and here’s another for you to consider, which is slightly smaller at 5-quart capacity and has a few different features.
First of the notable differences is the lid of this dutch oven which converts into a skillet (10.25 inches), essentially meaning you are getting two bits of cookware in one purchase.
The second difference is the looped handles. The design of the handles means you can easily control the pan. Another advantage of this type of cast iron pan is that the handles have been cast as part of the pan itself – there are no screws holding parts together, so the handles won’t have a flimsy feel the more the pan is used.
All the benefits of heat retention and heat distribution remain with this pan, and it works equally well on all types of cooktop.
You will need to make sure you master pan seasoning to keep the pan cooking its best.
Highlighted Features
- The lid converts to a 10.25-inch skillet
- Pre-seasoned cookware lets you start cooking at optimum levels from day 1
- Loop handles offer a secure, controlled way to carry pan
5. Cuisinart 619-14
We realize that some of our readers may be cooking Risotto for one, and thus a huge capacity pot is not a requirement.
This 1-quart pot is perfect for making a little risotto across a 12-inch non-stick base.
Cuisinart is an established brand because they ensure that every pot, pan, and a bit of equipment they produce is of the highest quality.
The hard-anodized aluminum ensures that this pan will last you a long time, and while the pan handles are screwed on, they feel very strong and secure. This is not a pan that will leave you regretting the purchase in 6 months after a handle drops off.
A non-stick surface will mean that most of your meal doesn’t end up unremovable from the pan. It also means the entire clean-up operation after breakfast, lunch, or dinner is much easier than it would be if everything were crusted on.
Highlighted Features
1. Extra durable pan due to being a hard-anodized metal
2. Titanium reinforced non-stick interior will remain non-stick longer than inferior pans
3. Cool grip handles on pan and lid provide you safety from injury
What should I look for in a cooking pan for Risotto?
You can’t cook the perfect Risotto without the best pan for Risotto. Here is a brief overview of those features.
A) Size
Size matters for two reasons with a risotto pan.
Firstly, you want to make sure you have a pan suitable for the number of people you wish to cook Risotto for. Secondly, you need to make sure you own a cooktop or oven to make the best use of the pan you buy.
There is no point in having a 7-quart pan to cook Risotto for one. That will lead to a very thin layer of Risotto likely burning to the bottom of the pan. You’ll be left with nothing to eat.
Equally important, if the cooktop has smaller, one-ring burners, a pan with a huge diameter will likely not heat evenly across the whole pan. You’ll end up with a very poorly cooked risotto rather than the creamy dream you’re after.
B) Material
There are actually quite a few materials to choose from when buying a risotto pan.
Cast iron pans generally mean you’ll have to season them as they have no non-stick layer. They are pans that you should buy if you really know what you are doing.
Aluminum pans tend to be a bit lighter and will heat up more quickly. Often these do come with a non-stick coating, meaning they are easier to cook a risotto that will fully leave the pan. Additionally, they are easier to clean.
Stainless steel pans, while advertised as stainless steel, will likely have an aluminum core, as aluminum is a great heat conductor and distributor. They will not necessarily come with a non-stick coating, so you will have to check to be sure.
c) Handle Type
Ideally, you’ll get an ergonomically designed handle so that you are more comfortable when cooking and when transferring a pan’s contents to a plate or bowl.
Cool-touch handles are nice as they will prevent you from getting nasty burns, especially if you are one of those forgetful types who just instinctively grabs a pan handle even when it’s on the flame.
That could happen with a cast iron pot, where the handles may be cast with the pan and have no safety coating.
If buying a pan with handles screwed on, make sure that the handle is really secure. Cheap and poorly made pans often have issues with screws loosening, and you don’t want that to happen.
FAQ
1. Can you cook Risotto in a cast-iron skillet?
Risotto is a very precise dish to make and requires a lot of technique to do it right. It is possible to cook Risotto in a cast-iron skillet, and it has the potential to be amazing. Just be aware that cooking risotto in a skillet may require different temperatures and timings to cooking in another type of pan.
Cast iron skillets are used for Risotto by people who want to use a fast evaporation method without the risk of overcooking the Risotto. Usually, you will get faster cook times and a creamier result due to a skillets wide surface area.
2. Do you cover the pan when cooking Risotto?
You wouldn’t usually cook Risotto with a lid because the dish requires a lot of stirring and adding of liquid throughout the process.
However, you should, after removing the pan from the heat, let the risotto rest for a couple of minutes with a lid on. This helps it get that creamy feel.
3. How do you keep Risotto from sticking to the pan?
The simplest way to do this is to either buy a non-stick pan or make sure you season your cast iron pan really well.
Additionally, ensuring you add enough liquid to your Risotto is important.
Bottom Line
Go find some Italian risotto rice so that you can make a gorgeous, creamy risotto the second the best pan for Risotto arrives at your doorstep.
We’ve seen so many different types of pans. There are pans made from cast iron, aluminum, and steel. There are pans that will cook for huge gatherings and pans that will cook for one. Then there are the pans that have that extra bit of help, for example, a heat spot for telling when the pan is heated enough.
Whichever pan you choose, you’ll be enjoying great Risotto very soon.
