Cooking for one can be complicated. Between the stress of grocery shopping, meal prep, and cleanup, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut of repetitive meals or fall into the convenience trap of takeout. As a registered dietitian and someone who cooks for herself often, I’m here to tell you that solo cooking doesn’t have to be a headache. No excessive delivery fees, zero hidden ingredients, and a meditative act of self-care? Sign me up.

And while cooking gadgets like air fryers and toaster ovens can certainly speed up your meal prep, I’ve found the best kitchen tool for the job is a small simple pan. My favorite? The 360 Cookware Stainless Steel 2-Quart Sauté Pan ($189), which has everything you need to cook for one, and more.

360 Cookware Stainless Steel 2-Quart Sauté Pan With Cover — $189.00

Size: 17″ x 2.75″ x 7″

Materials: surgical-grade stainless steel

Pros: 

• Sturdy, durable construction to allow for even heat distribution on a variety of surfaces
• Oven-safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit
• Vapor seal lid locks in moisture and prevents splatter
• Versatile
• Eco-friendly and made with Certified Green manufacturing without any harmful chemicals

Cons: 

• Pricey

First impressions

When I first unboxed this petite pan, I was delighted. Yes, I’m a cookware nerd and polished stainless steel brings me an embarrassing amount of joy, but this sauté pan exudes quality immediately—it’s really got some weight to it.

What stands out is its sturdy, ergonomic handle that’s perfect for easy simmering and not too heavy to pick up and give my food the occasional shake. It also comes with an equally robust stainless steel cover that nestles perfectly into the pan. Best of all, it’s dishwasher and oven-safe, so cleanup is easy peasy.

I always prefer to cook with stainless steel to avoid “forever chemicals”, or per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS), commonly found in nonstick cookware. These chemicals are known to negatively impact our health, with initial research showing that they can impair endocrine, reproductive, metabolic, and immune function (just to name a few).

But not all stainless steel products are created equal. Many don’t cook evenly, others aren’t oven-safe, and plenty more warp and bend under pressure. I’ve experienced none of these issues with the 360 Cookware Stainless Steel 2-Quart Sauté Pan.

My review of the 360 Cookware stainless steel sauté pan

As a solo diner, there’s no shortage of ways to prepare delicious meals with this piece of cookware. Its modest size perfectly fits a filet of fish or meat, burger, brat, tofu steak, or chicken breast or thigh. The even, heat-distributing surface helps you achieve a perfect sear on your protein to then be finished in the oven to your desired temperature. I also love that you can skip the splatter screen thanks to its snug-fitting lid.

This high-sided pan is also ideal for making a single serving of fried rice, curry, sauteed vegetables, eggs however you like them, or crispy grilled cheese. The sides on this pan are so high, in fact, that I actually use it as a sauce pot often. I’ve whipped up a quick pasta for one in this pan as well as boxed mac and cheese and even mashed potatoes. The vapor seal created by the lid helps boil water quickly, reheat food in a snap, or steam veggies without losing too many nutrients.

You can even treat yourself to dessert with this singular pan. Whisk up a quick pudding, use it as the base of a double boiler to melt chocolate for dipping fruit, or make a homemade fruit jam for shortbread cookies. Truly, there are few tasks this pan can’t accomplish when solo cooking.

I honestly couldn’t love this pan more, which is good given that I’ll have this high-quality cookware for a very long time (thanks, warranty!). And while the price ($189) may give you pause, I can assure you that this surgical-grade stainless steel product handcrafted in the U.S. is well worth the investment given its versatility in the kitchen—particularly for those cooking for one.