Finding the Best Large Skillet for Your Needs: A Focus on Hestan Skillets

When it comes to choosing a large skillet, size isn't just about measurements—it's about finding the right tool that fits your cooking style, needs, and preferences. For Hestan skillets, the choice goes beyond mere dimensions. In this guide, we’ll explore what "large" truly means in the context of skillets and dive into the various materials Hestan offers to help you find the best large skillet for your kitchen.

What Does "Large" Mean for a Skillet?

If you only have a small, 8.5-inch skillet and a medium-sized 11-inch one, you likely have been referring to your medium skillet as your “large” skillet. But for experienced cooks, keeping your sizing straight helps to ensure you cook food evenly and properly. So you can sear steaks perfectly and create delicate sauces flawlessly.

While the diameter of a skillet is the most obvious measurement, the best large skillet for your needs encompasses more factors:

• Capacity and cooking space: The usable surface area is crucial. Skillets with straight sides or a larger bottom diameter offer more cooking space, allowing you to cook more food at once without overcrowding. Hestan’s 12.5-inch skillets provide ample room for searing multiple steaks or sautéing a large batch of vegetables.
• Weight and handling: Larger skillets can be heavy, and this is especially true for materials like stainless steel and copper. Hestan skillets are designed with ergonomic handles secured by flush rivets, but the thoughtful design doesn’t end there. These skillets are ergonomically designed for easy maneuverability, and the finger guard further enhances the ease of handling, preventing your hand from slipping or hitting the hot end of the pan.
• Compatibility with cooktops: The skillet’s base size impacts how well it sits on your cooktop. Hestan skillets are optimized for induction and other cooktops, ensuring even heat distribution regardless of the size.

Choosing the Right Material for Your Cooking Needs

The material of a skillet greatly influences how it performs in the kitchen, affecting everything from heat conductivity and retention to responsiveness and ease of cleaning. Different materials are suited to specific cooking tasks, making them an important consideration when building a versatile cookware collection.

Hestan offers skillets in four distinct materials, each with unique benefits.

ProBond and Thomas Keller Commercial Clad Cookware: The Best Stainless Steel Skillet

With Hestan, you have two of the best stainless steel skillets to select from!

• Overview: Featuring a tri-ply body with a pure aluminum core, both lines of skillets deliver fast, even heat distribution and maximum durability.
• Best For: Browning, searing, and deglazing. Ideal for cooks who value versatility and durability.
• Features:
  • 100% dishwasher-safe and metal utensil safe.
  • Oven safe up to 600°F (316°C).
  • Sealed rims to protect against delamination and splitting.
• Why Choose It? ProBond’s superior pan geometry and ergonomic handle provide comfort and control, making it a go-to for daily cooking, especially if you’re looking for a polished exterior. Also made of stainless steel, the Thomas Keller Commercial Clad cookware skillet shares all the same features of excellence as ProBond, but its handle sets it apart. Different from the handle of a ProBond skillet, the Thomas Keller skillet, with its brushed exterior, utilizes a seamless handle with a vent that decreases heat transfer by 20%.

NanoBond: The Best Titanium Skillet

• Overview: This innovative skillet uses Hestan’s Molecular Titanium technology, bonding thousands of titanium nano-layers to stainless steel, making it four times harder than regular stainless steel.
• Best For: High-heat cooking and tasks that require a resilient, scratch-resistant surface.
• Features:
  • Safe for oven, broiler, and grill use up to 1050°F (566°C).
  • Safe for metal utensils and resistant to scratching, staining, and salt pitting.
• Why Choose It? NanoBond skillets are perfect for those who push the limits of their cookware with high-heat cooking and need a durable, long-lasting skillet.

CopperBond: The Best Copper Skillet

• Overview: Combining five layers with a 100% copper core, CopperBond skillets offer rapid heating and exceptional temperature control.
• Best For: Precision cooking, especially delicate tasks like making sauces or candy where temperature control is critical.
• Features:
  • Induction compatible with a stainless steel wrap-around base.
  • Oven safe to 600°F (316°C).
  • Nonreactive 18/10 stainless steel interior for easy cleaning.
• Why Choose It? CopperBond’s quick responsiveness to temperature changes makes it ideal for chefs who need consistent control over their cooking, and its styling makes it the best choice for those looking for a modern copper aesthetic.

TITUM: Best Nonstick Skillet

• Overview: Featuring Hestan’s TITUM nonstick system reinforced with diamond particles, this skillet provides a robust nonstick surface made without PFOA. Because TITUM is Hestan’s best-in-class nonstick surface, you can find it on both ProBond as well as Thomas Keller Commercial Clad sauté pans.
• Best For: Cooking delicate items like eggs or pancakes, and for those who prefer low-fat cooking with minimal sticking.
• Features:
  • Oven safe to 500°F (260°C).
  • Durable nonstick coating that’s 22 times more durable than typical nonstick surfaces.
  • Dishwasher safe, though hand washing is recommended for longevity.
• Why Choose It? The TITUM skillet is perfect for everyday use when nonstick convenience is a priority, providing effortless food release and easy cleanup.

Do I Need an Oven-Safe Skillet?

For the experienced home cook, oven-safe skillets are a must. So many tasks take you from stovetop to oven that you limit your culinary capabilities with a skillet that isn’t oven-safe.

All Hestan skillets are oven safe, but the temperature limits vary, so consider your cooking habits—whether you're finishing dishes in the oven or cooking under the broiler. NanoBond Titanium skillets can withstand scorching oven temperatures of up to 1050°F (566°C), ProBond and CopperBond skillets can take temps up to 600°F (316°C), and TITUM nonstick skillets can be used in oven temperatures of up to 500°F (260°C).

Building Your Ideal Skillet Collection for Home Cooking

For experienced home chefs, a single skillet often isn't enough to meet the diverse needs of home cooking. Having a variety of skillet sizes and materials at your disposal can significantly enhance your culinary capabilities, allowing you to tackle everything from delicate omelets to robust searing tasks with confidence.

Building a well-rounded skillet collection tailored to your cooking style is key for any experienced home chef. By selecting a range of sizes and materials, you can ensure you have the right skillet for every dish. Here's how to strategically build your collection with Hestan skillets.

Why You Need Multiple Sizes

• Versatility in cooking: Different dishes call for different skillet sizes. The smaller 8.5-inch skillet is perfect for single servings or small tasks like toasting spices and nuts, while the 11-inch size is a great all-purpose skillet for everyday cooking. The large 12.5-inch skillet shines when you need to cook for a crowd, manage larger cuts of meat, or when you need extra surface area to prevent overcrowding.
• Efficiency in the kitchen: Having the right-sized skillet on hand means you can optimize your cooking time and energy use. A too-large skillet for a small task can lead to wasted heat and uneven cooking, while a too-small skillet can overcrowd ingredients, leading to poor browning and steaming instead of searing.

Choosing the Right Materials for Each Task

While you might have a favorite skillet material, different cooking tasks often require different surfaces for optimal results. Here’s how Hestan’s range can fit into your home cooking:

• Stainless Steel (ProBond and Thomas Keller Commercial Clad): These skillets are your go-to for everyday tasks. They excel in browning, deglazing, and creating fond—essential for building rich sauces. They are incredibly durable, easy to clean, and can handle high heat, making them suitable for nearly any cooking technique.
• Titanium (NanoBond): For high-heat tasks that push your cookware to the limit, such as searing steaks or grilling, NanoBond skillets are unmatched. Their resilience to scratches and stains means they stay looking new, even with heavy use, and they are ideal when you need a skillet that heats quickly and evenly without reacting to acidic ingredients.
• Copper (CopperBond): These skillets are indispensable for tasks that require precise temperature control, like making delicate sauces, cooking fish, or even frying eggs. Their quick responsiveness to heat changes makes them perfect for home chefs who like to fine-tune their cooking processes.
• Nonstick (TITUM): Even experienced chefs need a reliable nonstick skillet. These are perfect for cooking eggs, pancakes, or any delicate food that requires an easy release. It also works beautifully for reheating food instead of using a microwave. Hestan’s TITUM nonstick skillets offer durability that outlasts conventional nonstick pans, providing a versatile tool that requires minimal oil for healthy cooking.

Practical Considerations for Buying Multiple Skillets

• Cooking style and frequency: Consider what you cook most often. If you frequently prepare dishes that involve high-heat searing, a NanoBond skillet might be essential. For those who enjoy cooking complex sauces or dishes that require fine temperature adjustments, CopperBond will serve you well.
• Space and storage: Skillets like Hestan's, with flush rivets are designed for easy nesting and stacking, which is a valuable feature when space is limited. Owning multiple skillets in various sizes is more manageable when they are designed to store neatly. Hestan skillets also include a large loop at the end of each handle, and for skillets with such beautiful craftsmanship, you not only get a convenient storage solution by hanging but also get an opportunity to showcase their design in your kitchen.
• Budget vs. use: High-quality skillets are an investment, but they pay off in the long term with their durability and performance. Hestan skillets are meant to last a lifetime. So prioritize skillets that align with your most frequent cooking needs, then expand your collection over time. Starting with versatile sizes like the 11-inch ProBond or a 12.5-inch NanoBond can provide a solid foundation, allowing you to add more specialized pieces as needed.
• Complementing your existing cookware: Think about how Hestan skillets will fit into your current collection. For example, if you already have a great stainless steel skillet, consider adding a nonstick or copper option to round out your capabilities. Diversifying your collection allows you to match the right tool to the task, enhancing both the cooking process and the final results.

Hestan skillets, with their superior craftsmanship and thoughtful design, offer a versatile and durable choice that can grow with your culinary journey. Whether you're expanding your collection or starting fresh, investing in quality skillets tailored to your needs will elevate your home cooking to new heights.

Choosing the right large skillet is about understanding your cooking needs and preferences. Hestan skillets offer a range of sizes and materials that cater to different styles of cooking, from everyday tasks to high-precision culinary adventures. Whether you need a durable stainless steel workhorse, the advanced resilience of titanium, the responsive heat control of copper, or the convenience of nonstick, Hestan has a skillet that will elevate your cooking experience.

Invest in the right skillet, and you'll find that it's not just about size—it’s about making the perfect choice for your kitchen.