For those times when you need a really, really big pot, a stockpot is essential. Not everyone needs one necessarily, but if you regularly make big batches of homemade soup or stock, or seafood boils (a summertime tradition), it's probably a good idea to have a stockpot. 

Related: Our Favorite Cookware for Making One-Pot Meals

More than just a large saucepan, stockpots are characterized by tall, narrow sides that minimize evaporation, making them ideal for thinner liquids like broths, soups, and stocks that simmer for hours, for boiling large batches of pasta or potatoes, and even for steaming vegetables. They are often made from aluminum or stainless steel and thus are both larger and lighter than a Dutch oven. If you're in the market for a stockpot, check out our top picks below to help kickstart your search and maybe invite us over for dinner? We'll bring wine.

Made with heavy-gauge carbon steel for quick heating and a stain-resistant enamel, this eight-quart stock pot from Le Creuset is a solid choice. The brand is known for quality craftsmanship (hello, iconic Dutch ovens that can be passed down through generations) and cookware in a rainbow of colors. True to form, you can get this pot in red, Caribbean blue, classic meringue, and many more shades.

If you're feeding a crowd, look no further than this massive stainless steel stock pot. It has a 16-quart capacity for your home canning and preserving needs, and it's also ideal for seafood boils.

There's plenty of food to go around when you cook in this 12-quart enamel stock pot designed by our founder. The classic Martha light blue hue will look great on your stovetop as you heat up and serve family-size soups, stews, pasta, and more. It comes with a vented tempered glass lid.

This affordable eight-quart stockpot gets the job done. It has a nontoxic, nonstick surface that keeps food from sticking to the bottom of the pot, plus ergonomic handles that make it easy to move around. It's also dishwasher-safe and oven safe up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Boasting a ceramic nonstick surface that's safe for metal utensils, this eight-quart stockpot offers an extra durable cooking surface. Its hard anodized aluminum construction offers even heat conduction and the stainless-steel handles are securely riveted on so that you can feel safe transporting it between burners and even into the oven.

This 4.8-quart stock pot and mesh basket duo is known as an asparagus steamer, but it can cook so much more than that. Use it to cook greens or potatoes, boil eggs, make pasta (no colander needed), deep fry smaller batches of fries or chicken—the possibilities are endless.