A 3-quart saucepan should be part of every cookware collection. It is a versatile pot that makes your kitchen activities run easily and smoothly.
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3 Quart Saucepan Size
On average, a 3 quart saucepan measures 18 by 10 by 8 inches. It is capable of holding 12 cups of water, which makes it handy for boiling, simmering, or blanching.
It is used on a stovetop and is smaller than the stockpot though quite deep. It is not as wide as a frying pan and is much narrower than a sauté pan.
Some recipes are specific and will even recommend the ideal saucepan to use. Most saucepans have their sizes indicated, but you can go ahead and measure it just to make sure it is big enough. The best things to use are a cup and a ruler.

Use the ruler to measure the saucepan’s depth by holding the ruler vertically inside the saucepan. To measure the width, do not include the thickness of the walls; you want to measure the distance between the walls.
3 Quart Saucepans are great for boiling lentils, mashed potatoes, lentils, risotto, and many other types of grains.
Summary
How Big is a 3 Quart Saucepan? On average, a 3 quart saucepan measures 18 by 10 by 8 inches, but be sure to measure yours or find the markings indicating its size as some recipes can be quite specific.
I have also been asked how big is a 3 quart pot. In this instance, the pot is the same size as the saucepan as described above.
For slightly smaller saucepans, read about medium saucepans here.