Hestan vs. Demeyere Cookware: 9 Differences to Know Before Buying

Are you shopping for cookware but can’t decide between Hestan and Demeyere?

Both brands are high-performing, thoughtfully designed, and built to last. But they also share one major downside — they’re incredibly expensive.

In this comparison of Hestan vs. Demeyere, you’ll learn how their cookware differs in materials, construction, design, performance, price, and much more.

I’ll also share results from my heat conduction and retention tests.

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Use the links below to navigate the comparison:

• Hestan vs. Demeyere: Comparison Chart
• Difference 1: Construction and Materials
• Difference 2: Design
• Difference 3: Heat Conduction
• Difference 4: Heat Retention
• Difference 5: Oven-Safe Temperatures
• Difference 6: Company History
• Difference 7: Where It Is Made
• Difference 8: Price
• Difference 9: Downsides
• Bottom Line: Should You Buy Hestan or Demeyere?

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Hestan vs. Demeyere: Comparison Chart

If you’re in a rush, here’s a quick comparison of Hestan vs. Demeyere. I dive deeper and provide much more context in the sections that follow.

	Hestan	Demeyere
Cookware Collections	NanoBond, CopperBond, ProBond, Thomas Keller Insignia, and TITUM	Atlantis 7, Industry 5, Alu Pro 5, John Pawson 7, and Resto 3
Construction	3- or 5-ply construction	3-, 5-, or 7-ply construction
Design	Copper ring on CopperBond and blue-ish finish on NanoBond	Traditional stainless steel with a Silvinox finish
Oven-Safe Temperatures	500-1050°F	500-600°F
Induction-Compatibility	All collections	All collections
Company History	2013	1908
Where It’s Made	Italy	Belgium
Downsides	Newer brand, more maintenance, high price	Limited variety, heavy, poor fitting lids, high price
Price	$$$-$$$$	$$$-$$$$
Where to Buy	Amazon and HestanCulinary.com	Amazon and Zwilling.com

Difference 1: Construction and Materials

Hestan has five cookware collections:

• NanoBond
• CopperBond
• ProBond
• Thomas Keller Insignia
• TITUM

All Hestan cookware is fully-clad, and the materials vary by collection.

Demeyere also offers five cookware collections:

• Atlantis 7
• Industry 5
• Alu Pro 5
• John Pawson 7
• Resto 3

Demeyere’s Alu Pro is the only aluminum non-stick collection; all others are either fully-clad stainless steel or feature multi-ply bases. Each construction type varies in terms of materials and the number of layers in the fully-clad pieces.

Let’s explore each collection.

Hestan ProBond: A 3-ply collection with a pure aluminum core and 18/10 stainless steel as the top and bottom layers. 

Hestan NanoBond: The collection has unique construction incorporating 18/10 stainless steel, aluminum, and titanium. Its 3-ply construction is just like ProBond, but thousands of titanium nano-layers are bonded to the stainless steel. The added titanium gives the cookware more durability, an attractive finish, and increased heat resistance. I tested it and it really does make the pan more scratch resistant (see test results).

Hestan CopperBond: A collection that combines the superior conductivity of copper with the durability of stainless steel. The copper core offers precise heat control, while the stainless steel exterior makes it compatible on any cooktop, including induction.

Hestan Thomas Keller Insignia: A 18/10 stainless collection with a 3-ply construction designed in partnership with Thomas Keller, a Michelin-star chef and restaurateur (owner of The French Laundry in Napa Valley, Per Se in New York, and others).

Hestan TITUM: TITUM is a 3-ply collection with a pure aluminum core sandwiched between stainless steel. The interior cooking surface features a 5-layer non-stick coating with three layers of diamond-reinforced non-stick and two layers of titanium plasma.

Demeyere Atlantis 7: A cookware collection with a stainless steel interior and exterior that features a 7-ply base construction. The base, called TriplInduc technology, boasts three layers of stainless steel. Its tri-layer core features one layer of copper and two layers of silver. The top layer is 18/10 stainless steel.

Demeyere Industry 5: A collection with a triple layer of aluminum, a magnetic stainless steel exterior, and an 18/10 stainless steel interior. Check out this comparison of Demeyere Atlantis vs. Industry to learn more.

Demeyere Alu Pro 5: This cookware features a 5-layer non-stick coating called Ti-X. There are three layers of enhanced PTFE-based non-stick coating. The other layers include a Plasma Primer that resists damage from metal utensils and a protective layer that maintains the durability of the cooking surface.

Demeyere John Pawson 7: The collection, designed by minimalist architect John Pawson, features the same 7-ply construction as the Atlantis collection.

Demeyere Resto 3: A limited collection with a mix of constructions. All include an 18/10 stainless steel interior, and most have a 3-ply induction-ready base. The Maslin Pan features a 5-ply base.

Difference 2: Design

Most Demeyere cookware is stainless steel with a similar shape and look. Hestan collections are more versatile, offering a range of designs.

Exterior

If you’re looking for traditional cookware, Hestan’s ProBond collection is ideal. It features a brushed stainless bottom, and the rest of the cookware boasts polished to a high sheen. They designed the fry pans with a 20% larger cooking surface than pans of comparable size.

If you prefer shiny cookware in a darker tone, Hestan’s NanoBond can meet your needs. The titanium layer gives it a grayish-blue look.

Hestan’s CopperBond is a hybrid of stainless steel and copper. Unlike many copper cookware pieces, it is induction-compatible thanks to its 18/10 stainless steel base. It features a copper core and a thick copper band that runs along the cookware walls, contrasting with stainless lids and handles.

The Thomas Keller Insignia collection offers a modern and minimalist look. It features a brushed stainless exterior and rounded pan walls.

Hestan’s TITUM pieces feature polished or brushed stainless exteriors. The ProBond and Thomas Keller Insignia collections use TITUM non-stick coating.

Hestan cookware has either rounded or straight pan walls. Unlike most fully-clad cookware, which features exposed rims, all Hestan cookware feature sealed, rolled rims. Exposed rims can get rusty, and the bonded layers split over time, so having sealed rims is a significant benefit.

Demeyere Atlantis exteriors have straight or rounded walls. You’ll also find that some saucepans, Dutch ovens, and stock pots feature a thick base for superior heat conduction.

Most Industry cookware has a round or conical shape. The saute pans are the exception as they feature straight sides.

AluPro exteriors have a dark aluminum exterior with a matte finish.

Demeyere stainless steel cookware has a two-tone finish: brushed stainless with contrasting polished steel. And it keeps its bright, silvery look due to Demeyere’s Silvinox surface treatment.

Most Demeyere cookware features flared rims, making it easier to slide food out of the pan or pour pan juices or sauces. Alternatively, the John Pawson collection features straight rims.

The cookware collections, especially Atlantis frying pans (ProLine), boast thick walls and have significant heft.

Interior

Hestan cookware interiors are either ‌polished stainless, brushed stainless, or have a black TITUM non-stick coating.

Hestan’s flat rivets are an upgrade over standard rivets that stick out and collect grease and grime, but the seams around them still can catch food, so they’re not as easy to clean as pans without any rivets like Demeyere.

By contrast, Demeyere stainless cookware features only polished interiors. Demeyere aluminum cookware has black non-stick interiors made of either Duraslide Ultra or Ti-X. The Duraslide Ultra is not as durable as Ti-X (the coating on AluPro cookware).

Demeyere interiors either have exposed rivets or none ‌due to welded handles.

Handles

All Hestan’s handles are stainless steel, designed for comfort, and double-riveted to the cookware. The handles are flat with a slight indentation to rest your thumb, which gives you more control with tilting or pouring.

Rounder handles make pouring challenging because your hand can slip/rotate, especially if your hands are wet or you’re wearing an oven mitt.

Demeyere’s ergonomic handles are also stainless steel, but they feature a more modern look. The part that connects to the base has a Y shape to disperse heat and keep the handle cool.

Except for AluPro, which features riveted handles, all other Demeyere collections boast handles welded to the cookware, providing a seamless cooking surface.

Lids

Both Hestan and Demeyere utilize stainless steel lids. Most are slightly domed.

Hestan’s Thomas Keller Insignia is the only collection with flat, universal lids that feature steam vents. The lids on Demeyere’s John Pawson collection are somewhat flat and meet the rim to seal in moisture.  

Difference 3: Heat Conduction

Heat conduction refers to a pan’s ability to transfer heat from the burner quickly and evenly to the food.

Cookware that heats up fast makes cooking quick meals and boiling water more convenient. But, more importantly, you want cookware that distributes heat evenly without any hot or cold spots.

So, which brand provides better heat conduction?

To find out, I conducted a simple test.

I poured two cups of cold water into Demeyere Atlantis, Demeyere Industry, and Hestan NanoBond frying pans and put them on the stove with the heat set to high. The goal was to measure how long it took to boil water and how evenly the bubbles were dispersed across the cooking surface.

In terms of even heating, the two Demeyere pans passed the test. The bubbles were uniform across the water, with no signs of hot or cold spots.

I was surprised to see that the bubbles in Hestan’s pan were concentrated in the middle and around the edges, with a noticeable cool ring around the center. Despite this, I’ve never noticed issues with uneven heating while cooking food.

The Demeyere Atlantis pan took the longest to boil the water, which was not a surprise because it’s the thickest pan. In second place was the Demeyere Industry pan, and Hestan boiled the water the fastest.

I repeated this test with several other brands to see how Demeyere and Hestan stack up against the broader market. Here are the full 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
T-fal fry pan	1 minute and 50 seconds	2 minutes and 32 seconds
Gotham Steel fry pan	1 minute and 58 seconds	2 minutes and 32 seconds
Rachael Ray fry pan	1 minute and 47 seconds	2 minutes and 36 seconds
Calphalon fry pan	1 minute and 45 seconds	2 minutes and 40 seconds
Hestan fry pan	1 minute and 52 seconds	2 minutes and 47 seconds
GreenLife pan	2 minutes and 11 seconds	2 minutes and 47 seconds
Circulon fry pan	2 minutes and 7 seconds	2 minutes and 55 seconds
All-Clad skillet	1 minute and 55 seconds	2 minutes and 55 seconds
Demeyere Industry fry pan	2 minutes and 3 seconds	3 minutes and 10 seconds
Ballarini fry pan	2 minutes and 15 seconds	3 minutes and 12 seconds
Demeyere Atlantis fry pan	2 minutes and 11 seconds	3 minutes and 25 seconds

Difference 4: Heat Retention

Another important factor to consider when buying cookware is heat retention. You want cookware that can maintain its temperature as you add cold ingredients.

If the pan cools too much when you add ingredients, it won’t cook them evenly. Heat retention is vital if you’re searing a steak or piece of salmon. You need the pan to stay hot to develop a crispy crust.

To test Hestan and Demeyere’s heat retention, I removed the pans from the stove as soon as the water came to a boil.

After five minutes, the water in the Demeyere Atlantis pan was 122°F, and the water in the Demeyere Industry pan was 115°F. Water in the Hestan NanoBond pan was 114°F.

After ten minutes, the water in the Demeyere Atlantis pan was 106°F, and the water in the Demeyere Industry pan was 96°F. Water in the Hestan NanoBond pan was 98°F.

So, in terms of heat retention, Demeyere Atlantis was the best, but Demeyere Industry and Hestan NanoBond performed about the same. Again, these results are not surprising because Demeyere Atlantis is the thickest cookware in the group.

Below are the results from all the brands I tested:

Pan	Temperature After 5 Minutes	Temperature After 10 Minutes
Demeyere Atlantis fry pan	122.0°F	106.3°F
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
Demeyere Industry fry pan	115.2°F	96.6°F
Calphalon fry pan	112.8°F	101.1°F
All-Clad skillet	111.6°F	100.9°F
Ballarini fry pan	120°F	99.9°F
Hestan fry pan	114°F	98°F
GreenLife fry pan	119°F	95°F
Gotham Steel fry pan	113°F	95°F
Anolon fry pan	112.7°F	90.9°F
T-fal fry pan	108.7°F	88.0°F

Difference 5: Oven-Safe Temperatures

Both brands provide oven-safe cookware, but Hestan’s max temperatures are higher than Demeyere’s.

Even though Hestan NanoBond is a stainless steel collection, it boasts a unique construction (titanium-stainless hybrid) that increases its heat tolerance. It is oven-safe up to 1050°F, which is unusual for stainless. You’ll usually see that heat tolerance from carbon steel or cast iron, but rarely with stainless steel.

Copper Bond and ProBond can withstand temperatures up to 600°F. Cookware with TITUM non-stick coating maxes out at 500°F, which is typical for most PTFE-based non-stick cookware.

Most Demeyere cookware is oven safe up to 500°F. Demeyere Industry has a maximum oven temperature of 600°F.

Difference 6: Company History

Founded in 2013, Hestan is a newer brand than Demeyere. However, the founder, Stanley Cheng, is a longtime cookware aficionado. In fact, he pioneered non-stick hard-anodized aluminum cookware in the 1970s.

Hestan is based in Anaheim, California. Besides cookware, the brand makes commercial kitchen equipment, appliances, and outdoor grills.

Demeyere is now a brand under Zwilling J.A. Henckels, but it has been around since 1908. It started as a family business founded by Maurice Karel Demeyere. It remained family-owned until Zwilling’s acquisition in 2008.

Difference 7: Where It Is Made

Hestan is a United States-based company but manufactures its cookware in Italy.

Demeyere is based in Belgium and makes most of its cookware in Belgium. The Resto collection is made in Indonesia.

Difference 8: Price

There’s no sugarcoating it — Hestan and Demeyere are both expensive brands. Some pieces cost hundreds of dollars, and certain sets cost thousands. Neither brand is ideal if you’re on a budget.

If you want an introduction to Hestan, the TITUM non-stick collection is the most affordable. CopperBond is the most expensive collection, and NanoBond is the next most pricey option. ProBond and Thomas Keller are the mid-range options.

Demeyere’s lowest-priced collection is Resto, but it’s limited. It includes mostly miniature cookware pieces, a few specialty pans, and tea kettles. If you want a full collection that is more budget-friendly, go with AluPro. The John Pawson collection is the most expensive, and Atlantis and Industry are priced in the middle.

The exact pricing will vary based on multiple factors, such as where you purchase and whether the cookware is on sale.

The chart below shows current prices on Amazon for both brands. Click or tap the price to learn more about each item.

Difference 9: Downsides

There’s a lot to love about both brands, but there are some downsides, too. The top complaint about both brands is the price, but that’s expected with premium cookware. Here are a few other downsides to consider:

Hestan Downsides:

Newer brand — Hestan launched in 2013, so it lacks a long track record. And considering how big of an investment it is, you want proof that it will last. Time will tell how well the performance and aesthetics of the cookware hold up.

Large hanging loop — Hestan’s handles are comfortable and safe, with a groove for your thumb to prevent rotation when tilting the pan. However, the oversized hanging loop makes it impossible to grip at the end of the handle. This design forces you to hold the handle closer to the pan. It’s a minor issue, but one that I noticed right away.

Copper requires extra maintenance — If you’re considering buying CopperBond cookware, you should know upfront that it’s a high-maintenance option. But this is not specific to Hestan — it’s true of all copper cookware. To maintain its appearance, you must polish it regularly with special cleaners.

Cookware staining — Hestan cookware has a polished exterior (like a mirror), but it stains easily, and it’s prone to heat tint. You can lower the risk of stains and heat tint by skipping the dishwasher and handwashing with mild detergent and warm water. Also, refrain from using cooking sprays, as they can add a film to the cookware, adding to the discoloration. You can remove heat tint by washing the pan with diluted white vinegar.

Demeyere Downsides:

Limited variety — If you’re looking for multiple cookware designs, colors, or materials, Demeyere is not the best choice. It offers a few different constructions in stainless steel or aluminum.

Heavy — Some of the cookware is quite heavy due to the construction. The 7-ply options are just as heavy as cast iron. For example, the Atlantis 12.5-inch fry pan is over 7 pounds (and that’s before you add food).

Heats slowly — Because of its thick walls and cladding, Demeyere cookware heats up much slower than Hestan.

Poor-fitting lids — The lids allow moisture to escape because they don’t fit tightly to the cookware.

Bottom Line: Should You Buy Hestan or Demeyere?

Hestan and Demeyere are two of the highest-quality and best-performing cookware brands.

But which brand should you buy?

Before I share my recommendation, let’s quickly recap the key differences:

• All of Hestan’s collections are fully-clad. Demeyere offers more options: fully-clad, multi-ply bases, or aluminum construction.
• If you want copper cookware, only Hestan offers this option.
• If you want aluminum non-stick, only Demeyere can meet your needs.
• Hestan offers a traditional cookware design, while Demeyere offers traditional and modern options.
• Only Hestan offers brushed stainless cookware. Demeyere stainless has a two-tone finish with a mix of brushed and polished stainless steel. 
• Demeyere has several collections with rivet-free welded handles. Hestan rivets are flush to the cooking surface, but food and grime can still build up around them.
• Hestan features higher oven-safe temperatures than Demeyere.
• Demeyere has been around for over 100 years, while Hestan is still a new brand, founded in 2013.
• Hestan cookware is made in Italy. Most of Demeyere’s cookware is made in Belgium.
• Demeyere cookware is heavier and thicker.
• Demeyere cookware heats slower but more evenly than Hestan. It also retains heat better than Hestan.

Bottom line — Hestan cookware is beautiful and sturdy. It features sealed rims and offers options like titanium-reinforced steel and high-heat tolerance. Demeyere cookware is thicker and heavier and features innovative technologies like TriplInduc (7-layer base) and Silvinox to maintain its bright, silvery appearance. Plus, it has a long and proven track record.

If you’re on the fence, go with Demeyere. The thick walls make it heavy and slow to heat up, but it distributes and retains heat better than any cookware I’ve tested (including Hestan). Plus, the Silvinox surface treatment keeps the cookware looking brand new, even after years of use.

If you’re ready to buy or want to read more reviews, check out both brands at the links below:

• Hestan on Amazon and HestanCulinary.com
• Demeyere on Amazon and Zwilling.com