The school of thought on what a good stock pot should be made of varies widely. Each material has its own positive and negative attributes.
Generally stockpots are made out of aluminum, stainless steel, copper, cast iron, nonstick or a combination. The stainless steel stock pot is the material that is most commonly purchased. There are also a few companies that have created a hard-anodizing form of aluminum. This material is harder than the stainless stock pot and also non-reactive to acid. An even newer material is an infused anodized pot. It is not non-stick, but because of the material used it has the qualities of non-stick and is as versatile as the heavy gage aluminum stock pot.
Every metal conducts heat differently so the way you cook is important to finding the right match. You want your soup at the bottom of the pan to be cooking as evenly as the soup at the top. A well made pot is highly conductive meaning the heat is transmitted evenly throughout the pot.
In the end the choice comes down to what you find available, the cost you can afford, and what feels good in your hand for ease of use. A good stock pot will last for many years so its important to choose one that will fit your needs now and in the future.
Along with deciding on the type of material, you will need to look at the handle on the pot. The handle needs to be well constructed because whatever you use the pot for it is going to be heavy and hot when in use on the stove. Lifting a pot of hot liquid and having the handle give out is dangerous so its necessary to make sure heavy screws or rivets are keeping the handle firmly in place. You will also want to see that the handle is easy to grasp either with your bare hands or when using potholders or an oven mitt to lift it up.
Whether you decide on a stainless stock pot or an aluminum pot, or something in between, it's important to do your research and choose a pot that best fits your needs in the kitchen.
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