Best 8 quart stock pots

Top pick: Made In 8-Quart Clad Stainless Steel Stockpot. Clad stainless steel gives even heat with no hot spots, it's built to last decades, and it works on every cooktop including induction — the one pot you'd keep.

Who the others suit:

• Tramontina Signature Tri-Ply Clad — the same clad construction for less, if you want a workhorse without the premium name.
• Viking Contemporary 3-Ply — for cooks who want a heavier, restaurant-style pan and a brand with a following.
• Misen 8 QT — if you like a modern, direct-to-you brand and a tall, narrow profile for stocks.
• Hybrid Stock Pot with Lid — if you want a nonstick interior for easy cleanup on sauces and stews.
• Tramontina Gourmet with Lock and Drain — for seafood boils and pasta: the lid locks and drains.
• Farberware Brilliance / Coliware / 8 Quart Stock Pot with Cover — budget picks for occasional big-batch cooking; thinner metal, so stir more.
• Goldilocks 8 Quart — a 3-ply option if you want clad performance at a lower price.

Skip the non-induction models if you cook on induction.