Is Hestan Cookware Worth the Splurge? In-Depth Review With Test Results

Hestan cookware is high-performing, durable, elegant, and crafted in Italy with premium materials.

But with all those positives comes a major downside — it’s expensive.

So, is Hestan worth the high price? What makes it so special?

In this Hestan cookware review, you’ll learn about its collections, designs, performance, and pricing.

You’ll also learn about the brand’s reputation in the marketplace, how much you can expect to pay, and any drawbacks you might encounter.

By the end, you’ll have a good foundation to guide your purchase decision. So, keep reading to learn all about Hestan cookware.

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Use the links below to navigate the review:

• Cookware Collections
• Design
• Performance
• Hestan vs. the Competition
• Price
• Downsides
• What Others Are Saying About Hestan
• Hestan Cookware FAQs
• Bottom Line: Is Hestan Cookware Worth It?

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Cookware Collections

Hestan offers multiple cookware collections, each featuring unique materials and design features.

Let’s look at what makes each collection stand out.

NanoBond: The Hestan NanoBond collection is made from high-quality 18/10 stainless steel, aluminum, and titanium. It’s fully-clad with tri-ply construction, featuring a conductive aluminum core, a stainless steel interior, and an induction-compatible stainless steel exterior. But it doesn’t stop there. The exterior and interior are bonded with thousands of nanolayers of titanium to reinforce the stainless steel, increasing its strength by 400%.

CopperBond: The Hestan CopperBond collection, winner of the Red Dot Award for product design, features a thick, pure copper core as part of its 5-layer stainless steel construction. Unlike most copper cookware, this collection is induction-compatible thanks to its magnetic steel base covering the bottom and partially up the sides.

ProBond: Another winner of the Red Dot Award for Product Design, this tri-ply, fully-clad stainless steel collection features a conductive aluminum core and an 18/10 stainless interior cooking surface. The exterior is primarily brushed stainless steel, and each piece has an induction-compatible steel base.

Thomas Keller Insignia: This collection draws on the insight and inspiration of Chef Thomas Keller, an accomplished culinary master. Chef Keller draws on decades of experience to offer commercial-level stainless steel cookware. The collection features a conductive aluminum core encased in high-grade stainless steel. Exteriors are brushed stainless, and interiors are either stainless or PTFE-based with a non-stick coating known as TITUM.

TITUM: The TITUM collection employs tri-ply ProBond construction. It features a 5-layer non-stick system consisting of three layers of diamond-reinforced, non-stick coating, a TITUM plasma primer, and a sandblasted stainless steel body. The sandblasting reinforces the grip of the non-stick layers on the interior cooking surface. It features a conductive aluminum core and a stainless steel interior and exterior as a foundation.

Design

One of the factors that make Hestan cookware so unique is its innovative design. As I mentioned, its CopperBond and ProBond collections both won Red Dot Design awards.

So what’s so unique about Hestan’s design?

Before I get into the design elements of each collection, let’s review the features consistent across all.

I’ll use the NanoBond skillet to point out the signature style of Hestan cookware.

Exterior

Unlike most fully-clad cookware collections with unsealed rims exposing the core layer, all Hestan cookware features sealed, reinforced stainless steel rims. Sealed rims protect against rust and prevent the layers from splitting over time.

The bottom of each pot and pan features the Hestan logo, origin of manufacture, and collection name.

The pots and pans have a rounded bottom and gently sloped or straight sides with flared rims for easy pouring.

Interior

Skillet interiors have slightly curved sidewalls, offering an expanded cooking surface that boasts 20% more space than comparable cookware of the same size.

All Hestan cookware features rivets flush with the interior surface, preventing food buildup and making it easier for pots and pans to nest to save space.

The cooking surfaces and rims are metal-utensil safe, perfect for using metal spoons to ladle pan juices, scrape the pan during a wine reduction, or whisk a creamy roux.

Handles

As shown on the NanoBond skillet, Hestan cookware features double-riveted handles. The long French-inspired handle has a defined bump on the underside to prevent your hands from getting too close to the pan.

The polished stainless steel handles ascend upward from the pan, bend slightly, and offer an indented design that makes for a solid grip. There is an engraved logo and teardrop-shaped hanging loop on the end of the handle.

Additionally, the short helper handles are thicker in the middle for a better grip and feature an engraved Hestan logo.

The stainless steel handles on lids are oversized and offer lots of room, especially if you’re wearing an oven mitt.

All handles are properly balanced and ergonomically designed for comfort.

Lids

Hestan’s polished stainless steel lids are identical across the collections (except for Thomas Keller Insignia). They are designed to fit snugly for superior moisture and heat retention.

You can flip the lids over and stack the cookware to save space.

Now that you know the design elements consistent across all Hestan collections, let’s take a close look at the unique features of each.

NanoBond

NanoBond doesn’t look like traditional stainless steel, and that’s because it isn’t. It undergoes a complex process to fuse titanium to the stainless steel surface.

As a result, it gives the cookware a darker hue. The cooking surface is glossy, smooth, and almost glass-like.

The titanium works with the high-grade stainless to create a hybrid cooking surface that is 400% stronger than stainless steel.

It resists stains and scratches because of the molecular application of titanium. It offers a sleek look, with a seamless presentation from base to rim.

CopperBond

CopperBond stands out. It offers a mix of stainless steel and copper that is stunning to look at.

This collection won a Red Dot Award for Product Design for its innovative layering of metals, elegant look, and versatility of use.

CopperBond pans have a brushed stainless steel interior. Most of the exterior is polished copper with a high-gloss stainless steel collar just under the rim of the cookware.

CopperBond features a magnetic steel base that extends slightly up the sides. Most copper cookware is not induction-compatible, but with the steel base, this cookware is.

ProBond

ProBond features a more traditional stainless steel cookware aesthetic. Like CopperBond, it’s a Red Dot Award for Product Design winner.

ProBond uses cold-forged stainless steel technology, a process that includes intelligent placement of metal for optimal performance in the kitchen and exceptional longevity.

The forging process thickens the base for even heating, but the side walls are thinner to balance out the weight.

These pans are designed to be workhorses but with a more lightweight feel than similar tri-ply stainless steel cookware. In short, they can handle the workload of a heavier pan without being cumbersome to hold or manipulate.

Brushed stainless steel makes up most of the exterior with a striking polished stainless band around the collar of the pots and pans, blending right into the sealed stainless rims.

Interiors are either brushed stainless steel or a black, diamond-reinforced non-stick.

Thomas Keller Insignia

This tri-ply clad collection is a beauty. The brushed stainless steel on the interior and exterior give it a sophisticated, modern look.

The long handles have a cut-out near the pan, which the brand claims helps defuse heat transfer and keep the handle cool.

The collection features universal lids with steam vents to reduce pressure and prevent water from boiling up and over the sides of the cookware. The steam vents are placed in a pattern shaped like the Hesten logo.

TITUM

TITUM is the most limited collection offered by Hestan. Although Hestan categorizes it as its own collection, it’s really an extension of ProBond. It consists of non-stick skillets and sauté pans only.

The pans have a tri-ply construction with conductive aluminum at the core. Unlike Hestan’s other collections, which feature a stainless steel cooking surface, the interiors in this collection are black and coated with 3-layer, diamond-reinforced PFOA-free non-stick.

Under the 3-layer non-stick is a layer of TITUM plasma primer. That layer adds strength to the non-stick coating above and adheres to a sandblasted stainless steel surface for increased durability.

These skillets do not come with matching lids, but lids from other collections will fit them. For example, lids for the 3.5-quart saute pan and 8-quart stockpot fit the 11-inch skillet.

Performance

The best way to understand how cookware performs is to use it over and over again. And that’s exactly what I did.

Over several months, I tested Hestan cookware by cooking various meals, including steak, chicken, vegetables, pasta, sauces, pancakes, eggs, fish, and much more.

I tried all culinary techniques, including searing, browning, sauteing, broiling, boiling, frying, and more.

My goal was to pressure test these pans to see how they perform in a variety of situations.

Overall, the performance was excellent. As soon as you pick up a Hestan pan, you know you’re working with a quality piece of cookware. It’s heavy yet balanced and has thick walls that distribute heat evenly.

The wide cooking surface provides extra room, so the food isn’t crowded, and the steep sides keep liquids contained and prevent splattering.

Throughout my tests, I seared several pieces of steak, salmon, and pork chops, and each time the browning and crust were completely even.

One of my favorite features of Hestan cookware is the flush rivets. The rivets on most cookware jet out and are notoriously difficult to clean. With Hestan pans, you don’t have that issue.

Despite the excellent performance overall, there were a couple of negatives worth noting.

First, Hestan cookware is heavy, which is great for durability and heat retention, but a downside if you’re looking for more maneuverable cookware.

Second, like most stainless steel cookware, food sticks. Even with a generous amount of butter, eggs and fish stick to the cooking surface.

You can mitigate this issue by cooking on low and greasing the surface at the right time, but it won’t release food as well as a standard non-stick pan.

Lastly, the handles get extremely hot. I love the ergonomic design of the handles, but if you cook for a while on the stove, you need to wear an oven mitt. Other brands like All-Clad and Calphalon do a better job dispersing heat, so the handles stay cool.

Hestan vs. the Competition

As you just learned, Hestan cookware performs incredibly well. But how does it compare to the competition?

To find out, I conducted two simple tests.

The first test measured how fast and evenly the cookware heats (heat conduction).

I poured two cups of cold water into a Hestan NanoBond frying pan. Then, I placed the pan on the stove and turned the heat to high. My goal was to see how quickly the pan boiled the water and how evenly it distributed the heat.

I measured heat distribution by observing how evenly the bubbles dispersed across the cooking surface.

At 1 minute and 52 seconds, the water began to bubble, and at 2 minutes and 47 seconds, it came to a full boil.

The bubbles concentrated at the center and outside edges of the pan, indicating a small cold spot around the center. I was surprised to see that considering how evenly the Hestan heats while actually cooking food.

I repeated the test with several other cookware brands to get a benchmark. Here are the results: 

Pan	Time to First Bubbles	Time to Boil
Made In fry pan	1 minute and 40 seconds	2 minutes and 21 seconds
Misen fry pan	1 minute and 50 seconds	2 minutes and 25 seconds
Anolon fry pan	1 minute and 55 seconds	2 minutes and 27 seconds
Rachael Ray fry pan	1 minute and 47 seconds	2 minutes and 36 seconds
Hestan fry pan	1 minute and 52 seconds	2 minutes and 47 seconds
Circulon fry pan	2 minutes and 7 seconds	2 minutes and 55 seconds
Calphalon fry pan	1 minute and 45 seconds	2 minutes and 40 seconds
All-Clad skillet	1 minute and 55 seconds	2 minutes and 55 seconds

As you can see in the chart, Hestan heated slower than most pans, which I expected since it’s thick and heavy cookware.

Cookware that heats slower is less responsive, meaning it reacts slower when you turn the heat up or down. In most cases, that’s not a major downside, but if you’re cooking something that requires precise temperature control, a slow-heating pan like Hestan is not the best option.

The second test I conducted was designed to measure heat retention. You want cookware that stays hot, even when you add ingredients. That is especially important when you’re searing. If you place a cold piece of meat on a hot pan and the pan’s temperature drops, the meat won’t sear evenly.

After the water in the Hestan pan began to boil, I took it off the stove and set it aside. After 5 minutes, the water temperature was 114°F.

After another 5 minutes (10 minutes total), the water temperature was 98°F.

Again, I repeated this test with the other pans to see how Hestan compared. Here are the results:

Pan	Temperature (5 min.)	Temperature (10 min.)
Made In fry pan	121.1°F	106.6°F
Misen fry pan	118.6°F	103.4°F
Rachael Ray fry pan	126.3°F	102.7°F
Circulon fry pan	133.3°F	102.0°F
Calphalon fry pan	112.8°F	101.1°F
All-Clad skillet	111.6°F	100.9°F
Hestan fry pan	114.4°F	98.0°F
Anolon fry pan	112.7°F	90.9°F

Hestan ranked 2nd to last in heat retention; only the Anolon fry pan was worse.

That said, it was only 3 degrees away from being the 3rd best, and the Anolon pan was 7 degrees worse than Hestan. So, Hestan may not retain heat as well as the top-ranking brands, Made In and Misen, but it’s pretty close. 

Price

I’ve reviewed many cookware brands, and Hestan is one of the most expensive. It’s right up there with Mauviel, Ruffoni, and All-Clad.

CopperBond and NanoBond are Hestan’s most expensive collections. ProBond is less costly, yet it’s still not inexpensive by any means.

In general, any cookware that includes copper will always cost more, as do fully-clad stainless steel options.

To view current pricing, refer to the following chart:

Downsides

As I’ve covered, there’s a lot to love about Hestan cookware. But no brand is perfect.

Before you decide whether to buy Hestan, here are some downsides to consider.

Price

Simply put, Hestan is one of the most expensive fully-clad cookware brands you can buy. It’s a high-end brand that employs durable construction and high-grade materials and bonding processes. Plus, it’s made in Italy, where production costs are much higher than in China (where most cookware is made).

Non-Stick Will Eventually Degrade

No matter how durable or reinforced the non-stick coating is, it will eventually break down. Based on the expense of this brand, it might be a better choice to skip the non-stick and opt for the stainless interior cookware.

Learning Curve

When it comes to using copper cookware like Hestan CopperBond, there’s a learning curve. It’s not for amateur chefs since copper has superior heat conduction and is highly responsive. Too much heat can burn food before it’s fully cooked, and not enough can prolong the cooking process.

High-Maintenance

You will need to polish or thoroughly clean Hestan cookware to maintain its stunning appearance. Also, the copper will develop a natural patina, so it must be restored with copper polish if you want it to stay shiny.

Although Hestan cookware is dishwasher-safe (except the CopperBond collection), you’ll need to wash it by hand with a bit of elbow grease to keep it looking new.

These pans can also develop a cloudy appearance, a splotchy rainbow-colored pattern, or blue marks known as heat tint.

Although heat tint is natural due to high-heat cooking, oils, and other factors, you will need special cleaners to eliminate the stains.

New Brand

Hestan cookware was launched in 2015, so it does not have a long track record of success. There’s no reason to think it won’t last long, but it hasn’t been in the market enough time to know for sure. When you’re investing in such expensive cookware, you want to know with certainty that it will last decades.

What Others Are Saying About Hestan

Recently, Good Housekeeping rounded up the 7 Best Stainless Steel Cookware Sets to Buy. The findings were based on reviews from kitchen experts. Hestan NanoBond 5-Piece Cookware Set took top honors as the Best Overall. Not only did the cookware exhibit excellent performance, but they were called “the easiest stainless steel pans to clean.”

Good Housekeeping also shared the 7 Best Copper Cookware Sets, and Hestan CopperBond made the cut. Named Best Overall, the cookware was called “especially impressive” thanks to stellar heat distribution, comfortable handles, ease of cleaning, and wider surface area on skillets.

Serious Eats tested 25 stainless steel skillets. Hestan NanoBond received an honorable mention in its review of the Best Stainless Steel Skillets, noting it performed well in testing and was easy to clean. Yet, the high price kept it from ranking in the top three because reviewers noted that lower-priced skillets performed just as well.

Bon Appetit praises the NanoBond collection in its Highly Recommended column, saying, “[it’s] the most durable stainless cookware that I have ever seen.” However, the reviewer admitted that it wouldn’t replace his non-stick pans.

Money asked professional chefs about the Best Pots, Pans, Dutch Ovens, and the reviewers picked Hestan’s NanoBond collection as the Best Overall. Experts see the collection as durable and highly resistant to scratches and stains. Furthermore, NanoBond was called “simply gorgeous.”

Hestan Cookware FAQs

Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions about Hestan cookware.

Bottom Line: Is Hestan Cookware Worth It?

Hestan has multiple design elements and intriguing, innovative construction that make it stand out.

Although it’s a relatively new brand, its parent company, Meyer, has produced quality cookware for decades.

But is Hestan cookware right for you? Is it worth the high price?

Before you decide, let me offer my thoughts and recommendations.

You should buy Hestan cookware if:

• You’re willing to invest in high-end cookware.
• You prefer fully-clad cookware brands that offer a copper option.
• You’re looking for induction-compatible cookware.
• You want cookware that can handle extremely high heat (NanoBond is oven-safe up to NanoBond is oven-safe up to 1050°F).
• You like the fact that a renowned chef designed a Hestan cookware collection.
• You want cookware that is metal utensil safe.
• You can’t stand cleaning grease and bits of food around rivets.
• You want the added durability of sealed rims.
• You want cookware with large cooking surfaces.
• You want premium cookware that’s crafted in Italy.

You should NOT buy Hestan cookware if:

• You are looking for inexpensive low- to mid-tier cookware.
• You prefer cookware brands with a longer track record; Hestan launched in 2015.
• You want cookware with color choices.
• You prefer tempered glass lids.
• You want low-maintenance cookware that never needs polishing.

Between the sealed rims, flush rivets, titanium-reinforced steel, and 20% larger cooking surface, these pots and pans are truly unique.

But is Hestan really worth the high price? The short answer is, it depends.

If you’re captivated by Hestan’s distinct construction and stunning design features, go for it. It’s a justifiable investment since premium stainless steel cookware is known to last for decades (or longer).

That said, you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on a single pan to get great results. If you’re simply looking for quality stainless steel cookware that gets the job done, plenty of more affordable opinions exist.

If you’re ready to buy or just want to read more reviews, check out Hestan on Amazon and HestanCulinary.com. 

If you’re looking for a less expensive but quality alternative, I highly recommend Made In. It’s ultra-durable, and based on my tests, it heats faster and retains heat better than Hestan. Plus, it’s made in the United States. Learn more on MadeInCookware.com.