The stainless steel stockpot has become one of my most used and useful household tools. I think everyone should own one. (I now own two.) Buy the largest, heaviest one you can afford. Here’s why:
9 Ways to Use Your Stainless Steel Stockpot
Cook For a Crowd
A big stockpot allows you to steam a large amount of corn on the cob, boil a lobster, brine a small-to-medium-sized turkey, prepare a whole-chicken stew, or boil any amount of pasta without fear of it foaming over.
Make Broths, Stocks, and Soups
When you’re making soup or stock, why not make a lot? You’ll use about the same amount of fuel as you’d use for a small amount. If you have no plans for a dinner party or potluck, prepare your family meal and freeze the extra. Learn more about making bone broth.
Cook Dry Beans and Lentils
I’ve taken to soaking 5 or 6 pounds of dry beans or lentils in my stockpot overnight, draining and rinsing them in the morning, covering them with double the volume of fresh water, and simmering until soft. What I’m not using for the evening meal, I cool, ladle into appropriate containers, and freeze.
Blanch a Large Quantity of Vegetables
The stockpot comes in handy if you have a lot of green beans or broccoli coming in from the garden or from a local grower.
Allow at least 1 gallon of water per pound of prepared vegetables, and prepare a big pot or a food-grade plastic tub of ice water (containing lots of unmelted ice cubes) to quickly cool the blanched veggies when they emerge from the cooking pot. Boil the water vigorously before you add the cut veggies. Stir with a long wooden spoon until the water begins boiling again, then cover the pot and cook for the required amount of time.
Make a Big Batch of Yeast Bread
For a few years, I earned my living baking whole-grain bread in my kitchen. I still enjoy baking—usually two to four loaves at a time, but occasionally, I want to make a super-large batch. For example, when the holiday season rolls around, I like to make “pizza kits” for my friends: a couple of partially baked crusts, a pint of my homemade tomato sauce, and a bag of herbed cheese.
My stainless steel stock pot is perfect for canning small batches of fruits, jams/jellies, and tomatoes.
Make Laundry Detergent
I make a couple of gallons of detergent three or four times a year. After funneling the detergent into plastic bottles, I use the residue to clean the stockpot.
Wash Greens and Other Wild Edibles
I like to collect wild edible and medicinal plants, which often require extensive washing and rinsing to remove the grit. Whenever I find an abundance of a wild plant, I stash my harvest in a recycled mesh onion bag, rinse them under the faucet, and vigorously swoosh the bag around in my stockpot through several changes of water.
Store Emergency Water
When a big thunderstorm threatens, I hasten to the cellar sink and fill my stockpots with drinking and cooking water. We have some long-term water storage, but that’s chlorinated, and most outages last less than a day.
I’m sure I missed a few! What do you use your stainless steel stockpot for?
