Elipso Saucepan 18cm vs Stew Pot 20cm: Which to Pick?
By Tefal Singapore | Published: 2026-10-31
Category: Comparisons
Compare the Tefal Elipso 18cm saucepan and 20cm stew pot on size, lid, and cooking role. Find out which one suits your soups, sauces, and braises.
Quick answer
Choose the Tefal Elipso 18cm saucepan with lid for everyday sauces, reheating, and small batches of soup. Choose the 20cm stew pot with lid when you need more depth and capacity for braises, stews, or family portions.
Size and shape: what the 18cm and 20cm difference means in practice
The 18cm saucepan is narrower and typically shallower than the 20cm stew pot. That makes the saucepan quicker to heat and easier to control when you are whisking a sauce or reducing a liquid. The 20cm stew pot offers more surface area and depth, so it holds larger batches and gives braising pieces room to sit in a single layer.
For soup, the 18cm saucepan suits one or two servings, while the 20cm stew pot is the better fit for a family pot or for recipes that start with browning meat and then simmer for a long time.
Lid and pouring: small details that change daily use
Both options come with a lid, so you can retain heat and moisture for simmering. The Elipso saucepan adds side pouring spouts, which help you pour off liquid without dripping down the outside of the pan. That is a real advantage for sauces, custards, and draining small amounts of broth.
The stew pot does not list pouring spouts in the supplied facts. If drip-free pouring is a priority, the saucepan has the edge; if you mainly ladle out stew, the lack of spouts is unlikely to matter.
Heat source and construction: shared strengths, different jobs
Both pans use cast aluminium with a ceramic non-stick coating and an induction base that works on all hob types. That means you can move either one between induction, gas, and electric without changing your cooking routine. The non-stick coating also makes low-fat cooking and cleanup easier.
Because the coating is ceramic and free of PFOA, lead, and cadmium, you get the same surface benefits in both sizes. The choice comes down to capacity and shape rather than a difference in coating technology.
Trade-offs to weigh before you choose
- Capacity vs. control: The 18cm saucepan heats faster and gives tighter control for sauces and reductions, but it holds less. The 20cm stew pot holds more for family meals and braises, but takes longer to heat and is heavier to handle when full. If you often cook for one or two, the saucepan's control wins; for four or more, the stew pot's capacity wins.
- Pouring vs. ladling: The saucepan's side pouring spouts make it easier to pour off liquid cleanly. The stew pot relies on a ladle or spoon, which is fine for thick stews but less precise for broth. Choose the saucepan if you regularly pour sauces or stock; choose the stew pot if you serve directly from the pan.
- Braising depth vs. everyday versatility: The 20cm stew pot's deeper shape gives braising meat room to be partly submerged, which is useful for stews and pot roasts. The 18cm saucepan is more versatile for quick sauces, grains, and reheating, but less suited to large braises. If braising is a weekly habit, the stew pot earns its space; if not, the saucepan covers more daily tasks.
Product facts
- Tefal Elipso Saucepan 18cm w/Lid G62023 / Stew Pot 20cm w/Lid G62044: The set includes an 18cm saucepan with lid and a 20cm stew pot with lid, both in cast aluminium with ceramic non-stick coating and induction base. You get two lidded options in one purchase, so you can match the pan to the batch size instead of forcing one pot to do everything.
Tefal Elipso Saucepan 18cm w/Lid G62023 / Stew Pot 20cm w/Lid G62044
Which one fits your kitchen?
Best for
- Cooks who mainly make sauces, custards, and small batches of soup
- Anyone who wants drip-free pouring from a lidded pan
- Small households or single cooks who value quick heating and easy handling
Not for
- Families cooking large stews or braises regularly
- Cooks who need one pot to handle both searing and long simmers for four or more people
