# Saucepans, stock pots and Dutch ovens — lean notes

Scope: single deep stovetop-and-oven pots bought one at a time: saucepans and sauciers, sauce pots, stock pots, pasta pots with insert, Dutch ovens/cocottes in any material, and braisers/rondeaux. Taxonomy leaf `supplies > kitchen > saucepans`. Siblings (not swallowed): `frying-pans` (skillets, sauté pans, woks), `cookware-sets`, `baking-pans` (ovenware/casseroles), `cookware-stove-accessories` (loose lids, inserts, induction discs), `pressure-cookers`, `stovetop-kettles`.

## Seed
- Ply count ("tri-ply", "5-ply") is this leaf's treadwear-equivalent: printed in titles, compared by shoppers, but only means something within one maker's line since core thickness (not layer count) decides evenness. Kept as a judgement, not a facet; `ply_count` itself is noise.
- Parts that have to match: base to hob (induction needs a ferromagnetic base), knob to oven (plastic knobs cap lower than the pot body), lid to pot. Kept as `induction_compatible`, `oven_max_temp_f`, `lid_type`.

## Sources
- `atk_dutch_ovens` americastestkitchen.com/equipment_reviews/1905-large-dutch-ovens — fetched excerpt — capacity bands by household, light-vs-dark interior, induction, knob ceiling.
- `atk_lightweight_dutch_ovens` .../2327-lightweight-dutch-ovens — fetched excerpt — "Dutch oven" is a loose label; judge by size/shape; cast iron needed for bread.
- `atk_saucepans` .../1819-large-saucepans — fetched excerpt — 4 qt all-purpose, disc vs clad, lid material, weight/diameter rows.
- `atk_stockpots` .../2026-stockpots — fetched excerpt — 12 qt most useful, cladding not needed for boiling, lighter preferred.
- `atk_braisers` .../2136-braisers — fetched excerpt — wider base than Dutch ovens, size-by-diners, weights.
- `centurylife_enameled_dutch_oven_guide` centurylife.org — fetched excerpt — capacity bands, round-vs-oval on induction, knob ratings (Staub 500°F, Le Creuset ~375°F).
- `centurylife_cladded_vs_disc` centurylife.org — fetched excerpt — disc-bottom fine/preferred for boiling liquids on induction; cladding matters for searing.
- `centurylife_heat_retention` centurylife.org — fetched excerpt — water ≈2.09 lb/qt, used for the loaded-weight metric.
- `centurylife_ply_guide` centurylife.org — fetched excerpt — ply count doesn't predict performance, core thickness does.
- `centurylife_thermal_properties` centurylife.org — fetched excerpt — conductivity table, aluminum >> stainless > cast iron.
- `rationalkitchen_saucepan_vs_pot` therationalkitchen.com — fetched excerpt — defines saucepan/saucier/sauce pot/stock pot/rondeau by shape; saucepans 0.5-4 qt.
- `rationalkitchen_best_dutch_ovens` therationalkitchen.com — fetched excerpt — 5.5-7 qt family size, weights 12-17 lb, light-interior trade.
- `rationalkitchen_3ply_5ply` therationalkitchen.com — fetched excerpt — core thickness over ply count; 400-series stainless and induction.
- `rationalkitchen_nonstick_brands` therationalkitchen.com — fetched excerpt — PTFE vs ceramic sol-gel; don't run PTFE past ~400°F; stone/granite naming.
- `rationalkitchen_bread_dutch_oven` therationalkitchen.com — fetched excerpt — heavy lid + 4-7 qt needed for bread.
- `rationalkitchen_aluminum_cookware` therationalkitchen.com — fetched excerpt — bare aluminum reacts with acid; anodized is usually nonstick.
- `lodge_dutch_oven` lodgecastiron.com product page — verbatim — 6 qt weighs 13.52 lb, oven safe 500°F, induction compatible.
- `staub_dutch_oven` staub.com product + care pages — verbatim — serves up to 7, oven safe 500°F with lid, works on induction.
- `amazon_listings_sample` amazon.com/dp/B000058AK7 — verbatim spec row — Farberware 1 qt saucepan, 1.3 lb.
- `fda_cookware_letter` fda.gov — fetched excerpt — warns imported aluminum cookware can leach lead.
- `kingcounty_lead_pdf` cdn.kingcounty.gov PDF (pdftotext) — verbatim — acid-simmer test, imported aluminum calderos/steamers above FDA children's reference level.
- `ca_ag_ab1200` oag.ca.gov PDF (pdftotext) — verbatim — coating-chemical disclosure required on the listing since 2024.
- `mn_statute_pfas` revisor.mn.gov — verbatim — PFAS cookware ban from 1 Jan 2025.
- `wikipedia_induction_cooking` en.wikipedia.org — verbatim — ferromagnetic base required; won't heat copper/aluminum.

## Branches
- `vessel_type = stock_pot`: capacity and weight matter, interior color doesn't (boiling, not browning) — atk_stockpots.
- `vessel_type = dutch_oven`: serves, interior color, oven ceiling, weight and lid all matter — atk_dutch_ovens, rationalkitchen_best_dutch_ovens.
- `vessel_type = braiser_rondeau`: base diameter is the point of the shape, plus serves and interior color — atk_braisers.
- `pot_material = stainless`: construction (clad/disc) and induction grade matter; no enamel color or coating to ask — centurylife_cladded_vs_disc, rationalkitchen_3ply_5ply.
- `pot_material = enameled_cast_iron`: interior color, oven ceiling, weight matter; induction/coating/construction are fixed by the material — atk_dutch_ovens, centurylife_enameled_dutch_oven_guide.
- `pot_material = bare_cast_iron`: only weight varies; everything else is fixed by the material — same sources as above.
- `pot_material = nonstick_coated`: coating type, oven ceiling, induction all vary since it's usually coated aluminum — rationalkitchen_nonstick_brands, wikipedia_induction_cooking.

## Noise (spec-sheet rows left out)
- `ply_count`: three sources agree it doesn't predict performance; kept as a judgement, dropped as a facet.
- `footprint_shape` (round/oval), handle style, exterior enamel color: photo-answerable, don't narrow the set.
- Pour spouts, self-basting lid spikes: single-source feature claims (ATK found both made little/no difference); not facets.
- Dishwasher-safe: kitchen-wide, not category-specific expertise.
- Insert/knob interchangeability: real (brands sell spares) but no source measures cross-fit.
- Quart capacity to the brim vs. a working fill line: plausible, no source found.

## Corrections (2026-10-26)
- `oven_max_temp_f`: lowered range min 400→375°F; centurylife_enameled_dutch_oven_guide (fetched, re-confirmed) states Le Creuset's phenolic knob is rated to "~375F", below the old min and matching the register's own `judgements` entry.
- `base_diameter_in`: raised range max 11→12 in; ATK's braisers Wayback capture has a model with "Cooking Surface Diameter : 12 in" (re-confirmed by fetch/grep).
- Added full facet `wall_height_in` (ATK "Side Height"/"Wall Height" spec row, uncovered); range 2-4.9 in from re-fetched atk_saucepans (4-4.9 in) and atk_braisers (2-3.25 in) Wayback captures; stock pots/Dutch ovens not measured by any fetched source, so left out of the range rather than guessed.
- `chemical_disclosure`: `source` listing→researched; its own `backfill_note` already said it's reliable only on CA-mandated listings, which is the `researched` definition, not `listing`.
- `capacity_qt`: replaced the uncited "182 of 187 sampled Amazon titles" stat in `backfill_note` with an honest, unverifiable-but-plausible description; no source for that sample size exists.
- Added vocabulary entry for "Fond" (used in `interior_colour`'s `why_experts_care`, previously undefined).
- `empty_weight_lb`: added `atk_dutch_ovens` and `rationalkitchen_best_dutch_ovens` to evidence; atk_dutch_ovens' own Dutch oven weight rows (re-fetched) run 11-18.15 lb under a plain "Weight" column distinct from its "Weight (Including Lid)" rows, a cleaner source for the ~18 lb max than the ambiguous braiser row; rationalkitchen_best_dutch_ovens (re-fetched) states weights up to "17 lbs" directly.