Is the Made In Sauté Pan Worth It?
Based on tests by America's Test Kitchen (Dec 2025). How we score
Save $104Depends. Goldilocks for most people.
Amazon prices as of Sep 29, 9:38 PM EDT (details)
Why
America's Test Kitchen's top-pick sauté pan: "It browned food evenly on the stovetop and produced fluffy rice in the oven." But ATK's Best Buy, the Goldilocks, performed "nearly identically" at half the price and only dented a bit more in abuse testing. It's sold direct, not on Amazon. Buy the Made In if you want the lighter, dishwasher-safe pan with the higher oven limit (800°F vs 550°F).
Estimated cost per year of use
How we estimate lifespan
- Made In, ~25 yrs: Our estimate. Fully clad stainless has no coating to wear out; in America's Test Kitchen's abuse test it kept one small dent that "didn't affect the pan's stability."
- Goldilocks, ~20 yrs: Our estimate. Fully clad stainless with no coating, but America's Test Kitchen found it "dented slightly when we whacked it against concrete."
- Misen, ~25 yrs: Our estimate. Fully clad stainless with no coating; America's Test Kitchen called it "durable" and gave it top marks for cleanup/durability.
Cheaper alternatives, scored against the Made In
3.5-Quart Sauté Pan
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
America's Test Kitchen's Best Buy, performing "nearly identically to our top choice" at half the cost, with top marks for performance and ease of use, and 2 of 3 stars for cleanup/durability. It dented slightly in abuse testing; "as long as you take a little care with this model, however, it should serve you well for years." Sold only at cookgoldilocks.com, not on Amazon.
| Criterion | Made In | Goldilocks |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| Ease of use | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| Cleanup/durability | 3/3 | 2/3 |
From America's Test Kitchen: The Best Sauté Pans (updated Dec. 17, 2025)
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Sauté Pans (updated Dec. 17, 2025), Goldilocks product page (price and SKU)
5-Ply Stainless Steel Sauté Pan with Lid, 3 qt
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
America's Test Kitchen rated it Highly Recommended: "Everything we cooked in this handsome, durable sauté pan turned out well." It has the same 9.5" cooking surface as the Made In but half a quart less capacity, and it was one of the heaviest pans ATK tested.
| Criterion | Made In | Misen |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| Ease of use | 3/3 | 2.5/3 |
| Cleanup/durability | 3/3 | 3/3 |
From America's Test Kitchen: The Best Sauté Pans (updated Dec. 17, 2025)
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Sauté Pans (updated Dec. 17, 2025)
Common questions
Is the Made In sauté pan oven safe?
Yes. America's Test Kitchen lists it as oven-safe to 800°F, dishwasher safe, and induction compatible.
Is Goldilocks as good as Made In?
Nearly. America's Test Kitchen found the Goldilocks sauté pan performed "nearly identically" to the Made In at half the cost, but it dented slightly in abuse testing, and Goldilocks recommends handwashing.
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Sauté Pans (updated Dec. 17, 2025), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
