Serve Your Beverages in Style With the Best Pitchers

As evident by our top picks, pitchers are available online in different materials, sizes, shapes, and features. While you can’t go wrong with any of the options we’ve curated, they all have different strengths and weaknesses. Here’s everything you need to consider to end up with the perfect pitcher for your needs!

Material

The first and foremost quality to consider in your next pitcher is what it’s made of! You can either go with glass or a BPA-free plastic that’s shatter-proof and food-safe. These two are broad classifications that have plenty of sub-categories.

For instance, there’s soda-lime-silica glass and borosilicate glass. The latter is relatively more durable and better handles sudden changes in temperatures without shattering. So, if you plan on pouring boiling water into your pitcher or storing it in the freezer for chilling, go with borosilicate glass!

You can also get a BPA-free plastic pitcher that’s much lighter, won’t break as easily, and is significantly cheaper. But it won’t look nearly as premium as glass pitchers, and you’ll have to deal with lots of scratches despite careful usage.

Capacity

Another key consideration is the pitcher’s capacity. Think about how many people (guests or family members) you generally have to serve drinks to and look for an appropriate pitcher size accordingly. The handle should also be sturdy enough to take on the full weight of a completely filled pitcher. We recommend sticking with pitchers with at least 64 ounces of fluid capacity, but depending on your needs, you can also pump that number up to 96 ounces with larger sizes.

Design and shape

Since a pitcher usually comes out when you’ve got guests over or have something to celebrate, aesthetics are important! Your pitcher should be attractive enough to add to the charm of your dining table. It should also ideally match your crockery and table, and that’s pretty easy to achieve with so many designs, colors, and materials to choose from! Plastic pitchers generally look cheaper, while glass ones scream premium, especially if they’ve got some metal parts as well!

Lid

The lid plays a vital role in a pitcher’s usefulness. Some provide an airtight and leakproof seal, while others are loose enough to pop out every time you tilt the pitcher to pour a glass out. Make sure to look for an airtight seal if you generally keep your drinks out for hours as it can help keep them fresh for longer. It also prevents dust, debris, and other pollutants from entering. Just make sure that the lid is made up of metal, glass, or BPA-free plastic with no toxic chemicals.

Features

Pitchers can also vary in terms of the features they offer. For instance, some are dishwasher-safe while others aren’t. Similarly, some pitchers cannot withstand the extreme heat of boiling water or the chilly temperatures inside the freezer and others don’t mind those conditions whatsoever. Look for the features that are most valuable to you depending on how you plan on using your pitcher and what you expect to get out of it.

Handling and convenience

Qualities like a well-positioned handle and a nicely contoured spout can make it way easier to handle the pitcher and pour a beverage without spilling it all over the place. Some pitchers are designed to be fridge door friendly with a slim, rectangular, and tall shape, which is a huge bonus.