Comparison: Best Stock Pot America’S Test Kitchen (Updated | Dec 8th)
If you’ve ever stirred a pot of soup only to have it boil over or heat unevenly, you know not all stock pots are created equal. That’s why we turned to America’s Test Kitchen—the folks who leave no lid unlifted—to find the best stock pot for real kitchens and real cooks. After hours of simmering, searing, and serious testing, they’ve crowned top contenders that deliver on durability, performance, and value. Join us as we break down their top picks and help you choose the perfect pot for everything from weekday stews to Sunday braises.
GreenPan Valencia Pro Hard Anodized Healthy Ceramic Nonstick 8QT Stock Pot with Lid
Award-Winning Ceramic
- Best for equipment iq guide: Kitchen Gear: The Ultimate Owner’s Manual: Boost Your Equipment IQ with 500+ Expert Tips
- Best for classic recipe collection: The New Best Recipe
- Best for pantry mastery guide: The Complete Modern Pantry: 350+ Ways to Cook Well with What’s on Hand
- Best for meal prep strategies: The Make-Ahead Cook: 8 Smart Strategies for Dinner Tonight
- Best for potato mastery book: America’s Test Kitchen Potatoes 20 Ways: Baked
- Best for braising blueprint: How to Braise Everything: Classic
- Best for all-in-one multicooker: Zavor LUX LCD 6 Quart Multi-cooker with America’s Test Kitchen Multicooker Perfection Cookbook
- Best for versatile canning pot: Harvest Stainless Steel 20 Qt Canning Pot with Rack | Water Bath or Steam Canning | Works on All Stovetops Including Induction
- Best for award-winning ceramic: GreenPan Valencia Pro Hard Anodized Healthy Ceramic Nonstick 8QT Stock Pot with Lid
- Best for premium canning pot: Harvest Stainless Steel 20 Qt Canning Pot with Rack | Water Bath or Steam Canning | Works on All Stovetops Including Induction
Product Comparison: Best Stock Pot America’S Test Kitchen
Kitchen Gear: The Ultimate Owner’s Manual: Boost Your Equipment IQ with 500+ Expert Tips, Optimize Your Kitchen with 400+ Recommended Tools
The New Best Recipe
- Used Book in Good Condition
The Complete Modern Pantry: 350+ Ways to Cook Well with What’s on Hand
The Make-Ahead Cook: 8 Smart Strategies for Dinner Tonight
America’s Test Kitchen Potatoes 20 Ways: Baked, Fried, Mashed, Smashed, and more
How to Braise Everything: Classic, Modern, and Global Dishes Using a Time-Honored Technique
Zavor LUX LCD 6 Quart Multi-cooker with America’s Test Kitchen Multicooker Perfection Cookbook, Stainless Steel
- Bundle includes: 6 quart version of the multi-cooker named as best in the market by America’s Test Kitchen with one of the most highly rated multicooker cookbooks by the same respected institution
- Featured functions: Pressure Cook (high and low), Slow Cook (high and low), Steam, Brown, Flex (that allows to Sous Vide), Simmer, Yogurt, Grains, Eggs, Dessert, Keep Warm and Time Delay to program cooking time at your convenience
- Over 33 programmable settings include: Meat, Beans, Soup, Risotto, Vegetable, Omelette, Cheesecake and more!
- The White Rice setting cooks rice as a traditional rice cooker would, using only steam. The Flex function allows you to use the unit as a pressure cooker or traditional stockpot. Yogurt allows you to prepare homemade yogurt with an easy-to-follow 2step process. All food settings come equipped with their own preset cooking time and temperature or pressure level for ideal results
- The Brown function allows you to brown foods in the same pot before cooking. Steam cooks your vegetables and fish with steam to preserve their nutrients. Keep Warm launches at the end of the cooking time to ensure food will remain warm until the cooker is shut off. Time Delay cooking up to 6 hours. Assisting icons on the panel show when the unit is preheating, cooking and even if the lid needs to be opened or closed | 1-year warranty
Harvest Stainless Steel 20 Qt Canning Pot with Rack | Water Bath or Steam Canning | Works on All Stovetops Including Induction, Glass, Gas (Stainless Steel Canner + Tools) (Stainless Steel Canner)
- WORKS ON ANY COOKTOP: Induction range compatible and safe for smooth top ranges. Flat clad bottom for even heating on any cooktop.
- STEAM OR WATER BATH CANNING: The double-sided stainless steel canning rack can be used for traditional water bath canning or flipped over to be used for steam canning.
- NO GUESSWORK TEMPERATURE INDICATOR: Built-in temperature indicator within the knob of the tempered glass lid makes timing easier. Simply start timing your canning job when the needle reaches the appropriate mark.
- LARGE CAPACITY POT: Capable of handling up to 20 quarts of liquid and room enough for 8 pint or 7 quart jars when canning.
- DURABLE CONSTRUCTION WITH 5-YEAR WARRANTY: Built to last, our canner is backed by a comprehensive 5-year warranty, ensuring your peace of mind and long-term satisfaction with your purchase.
GreenPan Valencia Pro Hard Anodized Healthy Ceramic Nonstick 8QT Stock Pot with Lid, PFAS-Free, Induction, Dishwasher Safe, Oven Safe, Gray
- CUTTING-EDGE CERAMIC NONSTICK: Infused with diamonds, GreenPan’s metal utensil safe ceramic nonstick offers remarkable durability, balanced heating, and effortless cleanup.
- TOXIN-FREE: Our signature ceramic nonstick coating is free of PFAS, PFOA, lead or cadmium.
- AWARD-WINNING PERFORMANCE: Our Valencia Pro has set the standard for ceramic nonstick winner of the best ceramic nonstick 8” and 11” frypans from America’s Test Kitchen and 2023 Good Housekeeping Sustainable Innovation Award.
- DUOFORGED HARD ANODIZED BODIES: Unbelievably tough and scratch-resistant, these pans are pre-treated before they’re hard anodized for extraordinary durability.
- MAGNETO INDUCTION BASES: Optimized for performance on all stovetops, including induction.
- DURABLE GLASS LIDS: Offer an easy way to check on your meal in progress, oven safe up to 425°F
- EASY TO CLEAN: Most messes wipe clean, plus these pans are dishwasher safe for effortless cleanup.
- COMFORTABLE STAINLESS STEEL HANDLES: Mirror-polished stainless steel handle stays cool thanks to a V-shaped cutout.
- PERFORMS WHERE YOU NEED IT: Oven and broiler safe up to 600°F (lids up to 425°F) and suitable for all stovetops, including induction.
Harvest Stainless Steel 20 Qt Canning Pot with Rack | Water Bath or Steam Canning | Works on All Stovetops Including Induction, Glass, Gas (Stainless Steel Canner + Tools)
- WORKS ON ANY COOKTOP: Induction range compatible and safe for smooth top ranges. Flat clad bottom for even heating on any cooktop.
- STEAM OR WATER BATH CANNING: The double-sided stainless steel canning rack can be used for traditional water bath canning or flipped over to be used for steam canning.
- NO GUESSWORK TEMPERATURE INDICATOR: Built-in temperature indicator within the knob of the tempered glass lid makes timing easier. Simply start timing your canning job when the needle reaches the appropriate mark.
- LARGE CAPACITY POT: Capable of handling up to 20 quarts of liquid and room enough for 8 pint or 7 quart jars when canning.
- DURABLE CONSTRUCTION WITH 5-YEAR WARRANTY: Built to last, our canner is backed by a comprehensive 5-year warranty, ensuring your peace of mind and long-term satisfaction with your purchase.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Buying Guide
FAQs
What should I consider when choosing a stock pot versus a multi‑cooker for home canning?
Look at capacity, heating method, and ease of temperature control. A traditional stock pot gives you direct stovetop heat and flexibility for large batches, while a multi‑cooker offers preset programs and built‑in pressure or slow‑cook functions that can simplify the process. Also consider cleanup and whether you need additional features like a built‑in temperature gauge.
How does the Harvest 20‑qt stainless steel canning pot compare to the Zavor LUX 6‑qt multi‑cooker for large‑batch cooking?
The Harvest pot provides a massive 20‑quart volume, ideal for canning dozens of jars at once, and its flat‑clad bottom ensures even heating on any cooktop. The Zavor LUX, at 6 quarts, is better suited for everyday meals and smaller batches, but its 33 programmable settings add versatility for soups, stews, and even sous‑vide. For true large‑scale canning, the Harvest pot wins on capacity, while the Zavor excels in multifunctional convenience.
Is the GreenPan Valencia Pro 8‑qt ceramic non‑stick pot a good value for everyday stovetop use?
Yes, its diamond‑infused ceramic coating delivers durable, metal‑utensil‑safe non‑stick performance without PFAS, PFOA, lead, or cadmium. The hard‑anodized body distributes heat evenly, and the induction‑compatible base works on all stovetops, making it a versatile everyday workhorse. Its award‑winning reputation from America’s Test Kitchen adds confidence that you’re getting a high‑quality product at a reasonable price.
What are the advantages of the built‑in temperature indicator on the Harvest canner?
The indicator eliminates guesswork by showing the exact temperature inside the lid, so you can start timing your canning cycle at the precise moment the water reaches the safe level. This feature improves safety and consistency, especially for beginners who may be unsure of when the water is hot enough for water‑bath or steam canning. It also speeds up the process by reducing unnecessary waiting.
Does the Zavor LUX’s Flex function replace a traditional stock pot?
The Flex function allows the unit to operate as a pressure cooker, a slow cooker, or a conventional stock pot, giving you the ability to sauté, brown, and then simmer in the same vessel. While it mimics many stock‑pot tasks, the limited size (6 qt) may not accommodate very large batches that a full‑size pot can handle. For most home cooks, the Flex function offers enough versatility to replace a separate stock pot for everyday meals.
How important is induction compatibility when selecting a pot for a modern kitchen?
Induction cooktops are increasingly common, and a pot with an induction‑compatible base ensures you can use the appliance without purchasing a separate adapter. Both the Harvest stainless‑steel canner and the GreenPan Valencia Pro feature flat, magnetic bases that work on induction, providing flexibility across different stovetops. Choosing induction‑ready cookware future‑proofs your kitchen and maximizes utility.
Which product offers the best warranty and long‑term durability?
The Harvest 20‑qt canning pot comes with a comprehensive five‑year warranty, reflecting confidence in its stainless‑steel construction and long‑lasting performance. The Zavor LUX provides a one‑year warranty, which is typical for electronic appliances but shorter than the Harvest’s coverage. For durability and peace of mind, the Harvest pot stands out.
How do the cooking presets on the Zavor LUX improve consistency compared with manual stock‑pot cooking?
The 33 preset programs include specific temperature and time settings for dishes like risotto, beans, and cheesecake, removing the need to guess cooking times. This automation helps achieve repeatable results, especially for novice cooks who may struggle with precise heat control on a traditional pot. While a stock pot offers flexibility, the presets deliver convenience and reliability for everyday recipes.