A small saucepan is a type of cooking pot with a shallow, wide base and sloping sides. It typically ranges from 1 to 3 quarts in size and is designed for heating liquids such as water or milk, simmering soups or stews, melting butter or chocolate, or making small batches of sauce. The shallow depth allows for efficient heat distribution while the sloping sides make it easy to stir and whisk ingredients within the pan.