Better Homes And Gardens 22 Quart Stock Pot

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The best stockpot truly depends on your cooking style. But no matter if you are looking for a sturdy pot to slow cook your famous chili, or want to create a flavorful stock from scratch, there are few things to consider before shopping: the type of material the pot is made out of, the size of the pot, and the shape of the pot.

Most stockpots are made out of stainless steel, anodized aluminum, or enameled steel. These materials promote equal heat distribution, which decreases cook time and keeps food from burning. The best stockpot size and shape depends on your use. Stockpots can be as small as six quarts for single cooks and as large as 60 quarts to feed a small village. You can also find stockpots that are narrow with tall sides to help reduce the amount of evaporation that occurs during the slow cooking process.

To help you find the best stockpot for your needs, we've turned to reviews from actual customers who have purchased and used the cookware for themselves. Whether you need a budget-friendly vessel or are looking for an upgrade for make-ahead meals, these top-rated stockpots have thousands of reviews describing why they're so great.

Best Stockpots at a Glance

Keep reading to learn more about each option and shop the 11 stockpots customers love the most.

Best Overall Stockpot: Cuisinart 12-Quart Stockpot with Lid

Cuisinart 766-26 Chef's Classic 12-Quart Stockpot

Look no further if you need a stainless steel stockpot that checks all the boxes. This option from Cuisinart has an aluminum encapsulated base that reduces hot spots and heats liquids quickly. Its cool-grip handles are oversized for easy lifting on and off the stove, and it features a tight-fitting lid to seal in moisture. It's also oven-safe (up to 500 degrees F), making it a great addition to any chef's arsenal. One happy customer wrote, "It is wonderful. No sticking on the bottom and cleanup was a breeze. This is also a beautiful piece of equipment."

Buy it: Cuisinart 12-Quart Stockpot with Lid, $68; Amazon

Top-Rated Stockpot: Homichef 16-Quart Stainless Steel Stockpot

HOMICHEF Large Nickel Free Stainless Steel Stock Pot

Highly-rated by over 3,400 Amazon shoppers, this mirror-polished stockpot is a great option for both beginners and seasoned chefs. With cool-grips handles, multi-layered stainless steel design, and a glass lid with a steam vent, it is versatile enough for simmering soups, boiling seafood, and blanching vegetables. And weighing 4.4 pounds, it's lightweight enough to lift from stove to oven and sturdy enough to handle years of use. Reviewers love its even heating, size, shape, and durability. One shopper said, "Not only is this pot very well made and without all the harmful ingredients, but they also give you everything you need to properly take care of the pot itself."

Buy it: Homichef 16-Quart Stainless Steel Stockpot, $67; Amazon

Best Large Batch Stockpot: Mainstays 20-Quart Stockpot

Mainstays 20 Quart Stock Pot on a white background

It just so happens that the largest stockpot on this list is one of the best deals. At less than $30, this Walmart-brand stockpot is large enough for nearly any task, whether you're canning hundreds of jars of jam or want an extra-large stockpot for hosting. If you cook a lot and in big quantities, the 20-quart stainless steel stockpot is for you.

It boasts three layers of stainless steel to eliminate those pesky hotspots and is suitable for gas and electric stovetops, as well as oven use. Users love the pot's cool-grip handles eliminate the need for oven mitts when stovetop cooking, as well as its generous size for water bath canning. Plus, the see-through lid makes keeping an eye on your work easier.

Buy it: Mainstays 20-Quart Stockpot, $25; Walmart

Best Beginner Stockpot: Cook N Home 12-Quart Stainless Steel Stockpot

Cook N Home 12 Stainless Steel Saucepot with Lid Quart Stockpot

New cooks still need reliable equipment to learn on, and this Cook N Home stockpot doesn't disappoint. The 12-quart stainless steel stockpot comes with a tempered glass lid, cool-grip handles, and a reinforced rim for all of your pouring needs. It's oven-safe up to 350 degrees F and compatible with all stovetop types, and you can even toss it in the dishwasher for easy cleanup. Users love the sturdiness of the pot, with some commenting about the surprising quality at the price point. "This is an amazing product," one user wrote." It's durable and the handles are great. I use it over and over again."

Buy it: Cook N Home 12-Quart Stainless Steel Stockpot, $77; Amazon

Best Budget Stockpot: Cooks Standard 12-Quart Stainless Steel Stockpot

Cooks Standard 12 Quart Classic Stainless Steel Stockpot with Lid

No matter if you are making an impressive holiday meal or pickling your favorite seasonal vegetables, Cooks Standard's 12-quart stockpot lives up to its brand name. This is a surprisingly durable stockpot for its price point, with an aluminum disc layered in the bottom to prevent burning and a stainless steel lid to lock in heat and moisture. The only downside to this stockpot is that it takes special handling to ensure that it will stay long-lasting, something many users reported in their reviews. Still, users love the price. One buyer even stated: "Thick bottoms, rivets instead of cheap welds. Almost nothing to complain about. These are wonderful and dirt cheap."

Buy it: Cooks Standard 12-Quart Stainless Steel Stockpot, $52; Amazon

Best Premium Anodized Stockpot: Anolon Advanced Home 10-Quart Nonstick Stockpot

Anolon Advanced Hard-Anodized Nonstick 10-Quart Stockpot, Gray on a white background

Unlike stainless steel, anodized aluminum cookware is nonstick, scratch-resistant, and non-reactive to acids. It's a durable material many home cooks turn to for stockpots, and this option from Anolon Advanced Home is a premium pick.

The restaurant-tested (and approved) model boasts optimum heating control and some serious nonstick power. Its wide opening means it's also great for making soups and stews, and the shatter-proof lid is tough enough for any kitchen.

Anolon's Advanced Home Nonstick Stockpot comes in three different colors to match your kitchen and your style. With a lifetime warranty and the ability to withstand heat up with 500 degrees F, this sapphire-reinforced, metal-utensil-safe pot is truly the ultimate tool for any kitchen. One satisfied customer said, "I will be looking to get rid of all my older pots and starting my very own collection of Anolon products!"

Buy it: Anolon Advanced Home 10-Quart Nonstick Stockpot, $125; Amazon

Best Budget-Friendly Anodized Stockpot: Circulon Elementum 10-Quart Nonstick Stockpot

Circulon Elementum Nonstick 10 qt. Hard-Anodized Covered Stock Pot

Tired of food sticking to your pots? Never chisel out burnt residue again with the triple-layer non-stick coating that lasts ten times longer than the average finish. The Circulon Elementum is anodized aluminum that pays back itself in its sturdiness. This inexpensive anodized stockpot is a must for home chefs who want to test out the anodized capability. Use any type of utensil — including metal — to stir your broths, chilis, and more. "Overall, I like using this pot," one shopper wrote. "It's very sturdy, easy to clean, cooks food evenly, and looks great!"

Buy it: Circulon Elementum 10-Quart Nonstick Stockpot, $60; Amazon

Best Premium Enamel Stockpot: Le Creuset Enameled 8-Quart Stockpot

Le Creuset Enameled Steel Stockpot, 8 qt.

Add a little high-quality flair to your kitchen equipment with this perfectly-sized Le Creuset Enameled Stockpot. This heavy-gauge carbon steel stockpot with an enamel finish comes in a variety of different colors to match every chef's personality and taste. With this stockpot, your family will be complimenting your cooking before your meal is finished. "Love this pot! It's lightweight, cooks beautifully, and looks good," one happy customer writes.

Buy it: Le Creuset Enameled 8-Quart Stockpot, $99; Sur La Table

Best Budget Enamel Stockpot: Rachel Ray Enamel 12-Quart Stockpot

Rachael Ray Create Delicious 12qt Enamel on Steel Stockpot with Lid Red

Confidently host pasta night with Rachel Ray's 12-quart stockpot. The pot holds an impressive quantity, which means you don't have to break out two pots for family dinners. What's more, its bright coating not only adds a cheerful pop of color to the kitchen, but is also a breeze to clean. Users do not regret this buy, with one saying, "I only wish that I had bought them long ago instead of wasting time and money on less expensive products."

Buy it: Rachel Ray Enamel 12-Quart Stockpot, $40; Target

Best Splurge Stockpot: All-Clad 16-Quart Stainless Steel Stockpot

All-Clad Gourmet Accessories Stock Pot

All-Clad is a company known for its superior quality kitchen equipment. Cooking experts and home chefs both agree that the tri-ply cookware is what makes this stainless steel stockpot more durable than a majority of other pots on the market. Users love the quality of the All-Clad material; one reviewer excitedly remarked, "The materials used in their cookware allow you to control the heat and cooking time very easily!"

Buy it: All-Clad Stainless Steel 16-Quart Stockpot, $200; Williams-Sonoma

Best Value Stockpot: Made In 8-Quart Stockpot

Stock Pots Made In Promise

Austin-based Made In has not only gained the devotion of professional chefs with its premium-level cookware, but its direct-to-retailer model keeps prices affordable enough for most home cooks. The brand's stainless steel stockpots are excellent quality, made from a single piece of commercial-grade 5-ply metal for better heat retention and control. In addition to operating on both gas and induction-style stovetops, Made In pots can handle temperatures up to 800 degrees F in the oven. Talk about tough.

Unsurprisingly, customers love the cookware, leaving hundreds of raving reviews on the brand's site. "I haven't bought cookware for a good 15 years," one said. "I have never had such high quality, and it is worth every penny!"

Buy it: Made In 8-Quart Stockpot, $159; Made In