We can’t all be like Willy Wonka and have our own chocolate factory run for us by some little orange men. Instead, we ordinary folk have to make candy at home. Don’t worry. Your home cooking utility unit will probably get the job done.
However, with that being said, you will still need plenty of utensils to make your candy with.
One of the most important utensils is the candy pot!
Yes, that’s right, you need a pot specifically designed with attributes that render it excellent for candy making.
So, I’m afraid you’ll have to put that standard cooking pot away.
But today, we’re going to explore some of the best candy pots out there and what makes them so great!
Here are my recommended picks:
Contents
Best Pots For Candy Making
We don’t do half measures here. If we’re going to make candy, we’re going to need the best pans we can buy. That way, we’ll be able to produce the best candy.
Remember, your candy pan will be an integral part of your candy-making kit. You’ll need to make sure you get it right!
So without further ado and in no particular order, here is my 5 top list of the best candy-making pans out there on the market right now.
Mauviel Made In France M’passion 3.7-Quart
This is a copper-made candy saucepan made by kitchen utensil designer Mauviel.
This company produces high-quality equipment, so I doubt this will be the last time we see their name on this list.
Specifically designed for heat dissipation, you can bet that Willy Wonka may have one or two of these inside his factory.
It’s incredibly lightweight, so easy to use, and heats its contents evenly and thoroughly.
It even has a nice pouring lip that’s very handy when transferring the pan’s contents to other containers.
The pan is incredibly versatile, so it is suitable for the stove, broiler, or even the freezer.
- Ideal to make caramel. The sugar saucepan is the typical utensil for making caramel
- Secure riveting. Copper fixed long riveting will keep handle cold; however pan needs to be used with great caution because of the high temperature that the sugar will take caramelizing
- Made in France. Mauviel is the leading cookware manufacturer for professional and household chefs throughout the world.
Tiger Chef Small Pot Set
Copper-plated mini stainless steel pots that TigerChef’s offer as great value for money.
The long handle allows you to prepare candy safely and easily. The multi-purpose design means you can be cooking your candy one minute and then preparing your breakfast the next.
Make sure you wash it in between, of course. Just like Mauviel’s addition above, it’s lightweight, and the copper material of the pan allows for an even distribution of heat.
Not only that, but you’re getting a set of 3 pans (pot + 2 pans) here for less than the Mauviel above. Not that I’m taking sides. It’s just a statement of fact.
Concord 7 QT Copper Non-Stick Pot
Up next is this little gem which is, in fact, taken from Concord’s Casserole Coppe-Ramic Series Cookware line.
Fortunately, it’s also great for cooking candy. Just like the other 2, it possesses a stainless steel handle as well as a convenient pour rim.
The non-stick attribute is particularly appealing, seeing as we all know how sticky candy can get. It comes with a glass lid, it’s suitable for use on various cooking utensils, e.g., stove, and it can even go in the dishwasher.
- 7 Quart Premium Grade Coppe-Ramic Non Stick Stock Pot
- Features our fully polished solid stainless steel handles and easy pour rim design
- Size: 9.5" Opening and 6.8" Depth
- NO PTFE NO PFOA. OVEN and Dishwasher Safe
- Works on all standard stoves include Induction Stove Tops.
All Clad Baine Marie
A completely stainless steel addition here from All Clad.
Incredibly durable, this pan is well worth the penny due to its impressive quality.
It’s designed to gently transfer heat for expertly melting chocolate, among other purposes. It possesses stick resistance and is easily maintainable.
- Features high, straight sides to assist with stirring a smaller surface area to hold heat and limit evaporation - perfect for making sauces or heating liquids
- Classic tri-ply construction, made with a responsive aluminum core bonded together with 2 layers of durable, stainless steel all the way around for maximum durability and fast, even heat distribution
- Secured with riveted stainless-steel handles to ensure a safe grip and to add a bit of style with stainless-steel lid to match
- Compatible with all cooktops including induction, and oven and broiler-safe up to 600°F
- Handcrafted in the USA at our Pennsylvania factory where we've been making bonded cookware for 50 years and backed by All-Clad's Limited Lifetime Warranty
What Types Of Pot Are Best For Candy Making?
You will need a pot that is the right size, shape, and material for YOU when it comes to producing homemade candy. Let’s go through each of these three factors.
Size
This, of course, will depend on how much candy you’re planning to make. If you’re making candy for, say, your own business start-up or for when you have lots of guests around, then you’ll require quite a big pan.
If you’re making candy just for yourself, family, and a couple of friends here and there, then you obviously won’t need a pan so big.
So your batch sizes will determine the size of the pan you need.
It is important that you have the right size; otherwise, if your calculations are off, you’re going to face complications.
For example, let’s say you have a relatively small pan, but you’re making a big batch.
If you caramelize the sugar in a pan that is too small for the batch, then the sugar at the bottom will burn, whilst the sugar at the top won’t melt easily at all.
The same goes if you flip the situation around. Say you put too little sugar in a pan that’s much bigger; then, it will take much longer to heat up and melt.
So getting the right size pan is so important. Here’s a way to work out how big your one should be.
Measure the total quantity of the ingredients you are planning to use for a batch of candy.
The pot you decide to buy and use should be between 3 to 4 times larger than the total amount of ingredients.
Shape
They come in all shapes and sizes. Seriously, they do. Some are round, some are straight, and others have angled edges.
But what’s the best-shaped pan for cooking candy? Well, I would advise that you purchase one with straight sides.
Why? Straight sides allow for a much even heat distribution.
You will have noticed that many of the pans on my top 4 list possessed this ability. Even heat distribution is vital for good candy making.
Material
Copper. Simple as that. Stainless steel is good as well, but copper is king!
Copper is great because the material can withstand the high temperatures often required for cooking candy.
It also cools down much quicker than other materials.
A pan’s handle will often be made of a different material, but this won’t affect the quality of the candy cooking.
To Stick or Non-Stick?
You’ll also need to decide whether you want a non-stick or a stick.
Let me break down the different advantages.
Non-stick is handy as the candy (I’m a poet, and I didn’t know it) won’t stick to the pan.
Now candy is pretty sticky.
So if it doesn’t stick to a non-stick pan, that’s great because it will be easy to wash it off.
However, there is a key advantage of not having a non-stick pan. That is that other pans can endure higher temperatures than non-stick pans.
So other pans are better suited when cooking candy at higher heat.
It will all depend on your method of cooking and what kind of heat you are using.
However, it is worth noting that most of the time, candy cooking is done on high heat.
What Pots Are Not Great For Candy Making?
Pots that have textured surfaces are not great for making candy.
You may have known that some surfaces of normal pans are textured. We don’t want this when we’re looking to buy a pan specifically for candy making.
Textured surfaces produce uneven heat distribution, which, as you know by now, is not desirable when it comes to candy making.
Why is uneven distribution such a problem?
The uneven heat distribution will tarnish the consistency of your sweet treat.
It also makes taking accurate thermometer readings more difficult as some parts of the heated mix will be hotter than others. So stick to the flat-bottomed ones.
Copper is the best material for a candy pan. Stainless steel is fine ok. But I would avoid anything else. Other materials won’t be as effective when it comes to candy making.
Thin and cheap pans are not suitable as they can scorch. This is bad as it means your candy will be cooked unevenly.
Finally
There you have it. You can make your very own candy in your very own pan, in your very own home.
A candy pan is an investment, so take some time to really ensure that you find the best one for your needs.
If in doubt, remember:
Copper
Straight sides
Non-textured surface.
Happy candy-making!
Related Questions
Why are copper pots used for candy making?
Copper pots are often used for candy making as this particular metal withstands the high temperatures often required for cooking candy.
Hello, I’m Matthew, a candy expert and enthusiast with over a decade of experience in the candy industry. My passion for candy started at a very young age. Since then, I have worked in numerous, large candy stores, and have been fortunate enough to try out hundreds of brands of candies, different types and flavors. In addition to my work, I enjoy sharing my extensive knowledge with others, and decided to create Sugar Stand in order to do so. My mission is to make the world a sweeter place, one candy at a time.