While cooking noodles should be an easy task, the wrong pot or colander can make it quite a challenge. Every pasta-lover knows the struggle of breaking long spaghetti noodles to fit in a too-small saucepan, burning yourself with steam while holding a colander, or losing precious strands of pasta down the drain attempting to strain your pasta one-handed.
To make pasta night easier than ever, we’ve rounded up the best pasta pots to add to your home kitchen. Whether you’re making Tik-Tok’s trendy feta pasta or plain ol’ spaghetti, a straining-lid multipurpose pasta pot and large pasta cooker make cooking noodles a breeze.
What Is a Pasta Pot?
As the name suggests, pasta pots are specially-designed for cooking pasta (though they can be used to cook countless other foods as well). These large pots make it easy to boil water, strain noodles, stir in delicious sauces, and clean everything up when you're done. Plus, they make it safer to drain boiling liquids and save time during clean-up.
There are two popular types you'll need to choose from while cookware shopping: pasta pots with strainer inserts and pasta pots with straining lids. Both styles are equally effective at cooking noodles, so pick one based on your personal preference and pasta-cooking needs.
What To Look For In a Best Pasta Pot
Safety
A pasta pot that is full of hot water and pasta can be dangerous to lift. It is heavy, and the boiling water and steam could burn you. The best pasta pot should come with a built-in strainer to help pour out the water.
Features
The best pasta pot should come with a built-in strainer, steamer basket, or steamer pasta insert so you can just grab the pot and drain the water or lift. The pasta cooker should also have a handle that gives you a nice grip while staying look.
No Pasta Spills
With traditional pots, there is always the risk of losing some pasta in the sink. The best pasta pot should ensure your pasta is safe and not wasted.
Past Pot Material
When purchasing a pasta pot, you may notice there are so many design and materials options. It may be hard to know which ones are durable, non-toxic, and best at meeting what you need.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is a popular material in the kitchen. It is durable and easy to clean if you use a little bit of oil, and it's also scratch-resistant. If you are going with this material pot, invest in high quality to minimize any potential leach of a small amount of nickel into food.
Nonstick
A nonstick interior cooking pot is usually coated with a layer of chemicals on the surface. However, the coating that is often used in the nonstick is usually with PTFE (usually known as Teflon) or silicon. These materials do raise a health concern. If you are going to pick a nonstick, go for one that is free of PFOA and PTFE.
Aluminum
If you are looking for a pasta pot that gets the job done quickly, then aluminum material is exactly what you need. It heats up quickly, it's affordable, and it can cook food evenly. Even though aluminum cookware is uncoated, it can potentially leach metals into your food during the cooking process.
What Else You Will Use It For
If you plan to use your pasta pot for other tasks, such as making sauces, go with non-toxic non-stick cookware. You’ll save countless hours scrubbing away dried-up tomato sauce in the pot, especially if you choose something that’s dishwasher-safe.
The Best Pasta Pots of 2021
Winware Commercial-Grade Aluminum Pasta Cooker
Turn your home stovetop into a professional kitchen with Winware’s commercial-grade Aluminum Pasta Cooker. The heavy-duty 20-quart pot comes with four stainless steel inserts that allow you to cook four different kinds of noodles at once. Each strainer insert holds three full servings, meaning you can prepare up to twelve servings of pasta at once. This would be the best pasta pot purchase if you got kids who want different shapes of pasta for dinner.
The convenient design of Winware’s pasta pot means you can kiss your colander goodbye. Each insert features perforated walls and a hanging clip for easy draining. Simply lift, give it a light shake, and voila!
Finish Type— Stainless Steel
Size— 6 Quart
Thanks to high-quality materials and user-friendly design features, Cuisinart is one of the most trusted brands in home cooking. Their stainless steel pasta pot set is a must-have for avid spaghetti-lovers and everyday home chefs alike. The three-piece set comes complete with a 6-quart stockpot, a pasta strainer insert, and a tempered glass lid.
Stainless steel doesn't react with food or alter its flavor, so you can use the set for cooking soups, sauces, and countless other delicious dishes. The pure aluminum-encapsulated base heats quickly and provides even heat distribution for consistent results when cooking. Plus, it’s oven-, broiler-, dishwasher-, and freezer-safe for maximum versatility at mealtime.
Finish Type— Stainless Steel
Size— 6 Quart
If you’re sick of losing noodles down the drain during straining, it’s time to add a pasta pot to your kitchen! All Clad’s stainless steel pasta pot comes with a perforated pasta insert that makes it safe and easy to cook and drain your favorite pasta. The three-piece set comes with a 6-quart stock pot, a perforated pasta insert for easy draining, and a stainless steel lid.
The heavy-duty cookware is extremely durable and built to outlast traditional pots. It’s designed with a warp-resistant base that heats up quickly, provides even heat distribution during cooking, and resists sticking to food. Plus, it’s oven-, broiler-, and dishwasher-safe.
Finish Type— Stainless Steel
Size— 6 Quart
While Demeyre's vertical steamer was initially designed for steaming vegetables, it's a perfect size and shapes for blanching, boiling, and cooking pasta. The vertical design means you won't need to cut or bend long vegetables or spaghetti noodles to fit them inside the steamer basket. Plus, it helps create even steam distribution during cooking.
The three-piece cookware set includes a 4-quart pasta pot, mesh steamer insert basket, and a lid. All parts are made using durable magnetic-brushed stainless steel. The set is compatible with all stovetop heat sources (including induction) and is dishwasher- and oven-safe. Not to mention, the slim shape is easy to store in tight cabinet spaces.
Finish Type— Stainless Steel
Size— 4 Quart
Kiss goodbye to flimsy mesh strainers with the versatile Multi-Pot from Bialetti. The 6-quart pasta pot’s strainer lid features built-in straining holes for convenient draining without a traditional colander. To help minimize splashes and steam burns, the lid locks into place and allows you to safely drain excess water without needing help. Plus, its convenient side handles ensure you get a good grip during straining.
In addition to a classic stainless steel finish, the Bialetti Multi-Pot also comes in black, blue, purple, and red non-stick finishes. It’s lightweight, easy-to-use, and dishwasher-safe for easy clean-up. Once you’ve mastered traditional spaghetti, use the multi-purpose pot to boil corn, potatoes, seafood, and more!
Finish Type— Stainless Steel
Size— 6 Quart
The Straining Stock pot from Farberware’s Classic Series is a worthy addition to any kitchen, especially if you love pasta. While straining used to be a chore, this versatile pot makes it easier than ever! The stock pot’s convenient straining lock lid with a simple twist, helping you safely and speedily drain excess liquid from inside the pot and making it a perfect pasta pot. Plus, it features easy-grip side handles for added control and stay cool while straining.
Like Farberware’s entire Classic Series of cookware, the 8-quart pasta pot and lid are made from heavy-duty stainless steel. The full cap base has a thick aluminum core that provides fast, even heating every time. It’s oven-safe to 350 degrees F, dishwasher-safe, and built to last for countless spaghetti nights to come.
Finish Type— Stainless Steel
Size— 8 Quart
If you’re tight on cabinet space, you’ll love the Stackable Ceramic Stock pot from GreenPan Levels! It’s part of their first-ever line of stackable ceramic non-stick cookware, meaning you can easily stack and store your pots without damaging them. The convenient stacking feature uses up to 30% less cabinet space than traditional cookware sets, making it the best choice for apartments and small kitchens.
The durable 6-quart pasta pot features a hard anodized aluminum body and a diamond-infused coating that’s metal utensil-safe and free from harmful chemicals like PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium. It’s oven-safe up to 400 degrees F, so you can safely cook one-pot baked pasta dishes. Its accompanying straining lid is perforated on one side for effortless pasta draining and easy storage. Both are dishwasher-safe for fast cleaning.
Finish Type— Non-Stick Ceramic
Size— 6 Quart
If you’re looking for a pasta pot with strainer lid that is versatile in the kitchen, you can’t beat AVACRAFT’s Multi-Purpose Saucepan. Use it as a stock pot to boil pasta, a sauce pot to cook spaghetti sauce, a soup pot to make noodle soup, or a saucepan to make mac-and-cheese. Its interior wall offers convenient measurement marks in both liters and quarts. The accompanying tempered glass lid features straining holes for removing excess water without needing a colander.
AVACRAFT’s saucepan comes in four different sizes (1.5-quart, 2.5-quart, 3.5-quart, and 6-quart), all of which are made using professional-grade stainless steel and silicone-coated handles. It’s suitable for use on any cooktop, including gas, electric, ceramic, and induction. Plus, this pot is both refrigerator- and dishwasher-safe.
Finish Type— Stainless Steel
Size— 6 Quart
Gotham’s Multi-Purpose Pasta Pot with strainer lid is one of the best on the market. In addition to a convenient straining lid, the pot features twist and lock handles that make it easier than ever to drain boiling pasta water. In addition to noodles, use them to boil, blanch, steam, and cook other delicious vegetables, soups, and stews.
The 5-quart capacity pasta pot is constructed from high-quality aluminum with Gotham’s signature Ti-cerama coating, made of titanium and ceramic materials for a non-stick finish. The durable coating is free from harmful chemicals like PTFE, PFOA, and PFOS. Plus, it’s dishwasher-safe for easy clean-up. The straining lid is made from tempered glass and stainless steel.
Finish Type— Non-Stick Gotham Steel
Size— 5 Quart
Tramontina’s sleek pasta pot set brings the feel of a professional kitchen right to your home! This three-piece set includes an 8-quart stock pot, a lid with a handle, and two mesh inserts. The large sauce pot fits the two accompanying semi-circular inserts that allow you to cook two types of pasta at once. Or boil pasta in one half and vegetables in the other to cut down on cooking time during spaghetti night!
Each piece of Tramontina cookware is constructed from durable stainless steel with a tri-poly base for even heating distribution during cooking and riveted handles for increased support during pouring. They’re compatible with all cooktops (including induction) and oven-safe up to 500 degrees F.
Finish Type— Stainless Steel
Size— 8 Quart
