I tried Hestan’s $250 ProBond Luxe skillet – here’s why I'll struggle to go back to a cheaper pan

Not everything that glitters is gold. I've tested plenty of expensive, luxury kitchen appliances and cookware sets, charmed by their good looks and severely disappointed by their lack of performance.

That's not the case with the Hestan ProBond Luxe 12.5 inch Polished Clad Stainless Steel Skillet. At a steep $250, it delivers luxury in every sense – from the mirror-like steel exterior to the carefully considered design details that ensure excellent searing performance and comfortable handling. It’s worth its weight in gold.

It is certainly not one of the cheapest, best non-toxic cookware brands out there, so I put the brand's new release to the test for a week in my kitchen, comparing it with cheaper stainless steel pans from brands like All-Clad and Made In. Here's everything you need to know before investing.

Specifications

• Material: Tri-ply 18/10 stainless steel with a pure aluminum core
• Available sizes: 8.5 inches, 11 inches, or 12.5 inches
• Compatibility: Suitable for all hob types, including induction; oven and grill safe up to 600°F / 315°C
• Cleaning: Dishwasher safe, hand-wash recommended
• Non-toxic: Yes
• Origin: Handmade in Italy
• Warranty: Lifetime Hestan warranty
• Available as a set: Yes (includes saucepans, stock pots, sautiers, etc.)
• Price: Starts at $150 at Hestan USA

Design & first impressions

When I lifted the ProBond Luxe skillet out of the elegant white box it arrived in, it felt more like art than cookware. The mirror-polished stainless steel catches the light beautifully, instantly elevating the kitchen and getting me excited to cook.

But it’s not just shiny surfaces and good looks; the engineering is equally impressive. The tri-ply stainless steel construction ensures durability and prevents warping, while the domed handles, designed with input from Chef Thomas Keller, feel ergonomic and balanced in the hand.

The rivets sit flush with the skillet's interior, which is different from most other pans I've tested, which tend to gather food residue around the bolts. The rim of the pan is smooth and rounded; it's no wonder the collection won a Red Dot Design award.

The Hestan ProBond Luxe skillets are made in Italy, which adds to the premium feel. I tested the largest 12.5-inch size (which was quite enormous on my induction stove), but it's also available in a smaller 8.5-inch and 11-inch, better suited to more everyday cooking tasks. Honestly, I wish I had gotten a more practical size, but this is what the brand sent me for testing – and beggars can't be choosers.

Cooking performance

The first test of every pan for me is sautéed onions. The responsiveness of the ProCore™ aluminum was noticeable – the Hestan ProBond Luxe skillet came up to temperature fast, and every adjustment on the hob was reflected quickly. There was no burning or sticking, and my onions were nicely caramelized.

Next, I seared two steak fillets with butter, garlic cloves, and fresh rosemary. Again, the skillet heated fast. I added oil and swirled it into a shimmering layer, then arranged the two large fillets with plenty of space between them. The meat cooked evenly, forming a golden, crusty sear while staying perfectly medium-rare inside. The butter browned beautifully, and the rounded edges made basting easy, though I found the pan a little heavy to tilt and control comfortably with my weak wrists. I served the steak to my family, who all agreed it was the best I'd ever cooked – praise indeed!

Finally, I tried a stove-to-oven recipe drilled into me at cookery school: chicken suprême. I rendered the chicken in the skillet first; the spacious cooking surface and even heat created a deeply golden, crispy skin in no time. Then I transferred the entire pan to the oven. It was heavy and alarmingly large, but thankfully, it did fit into my oven (just). After about 12 minutes, I removed the chicken and let it rest. I quickly deglazed the pan on the stove with a splash of stock. The fond lifted effortlessly, and I was able to reduce a rich, glossy sauce that bubbled evenly – a sign of even cooking. Overall, the Hestan ProBond Luxe skillet passed with flying colors.

Cleaning & maintainance

Despite cooking crispy chicken and steak, clean-up was simple after my tests. There weren’t any stubborn bits hiding in crevices around the rivets. A quick wash with warm, soapy water and a silicone dish scrubber (I like ones like these from Walmart) left it spotless.

The Hestan ProBond Luxe skillet is also dishwasher-safe; there is a sealed rim design on every piece in the ProBond Luxe collection, which limits the risk of delamination or corrosion over time. However, the 12-inch skillet was way too big for my dishwasher. I’d always recommend hand-washing anyway to keep that mirror-finish steel looking smart.

How does it compare?

I have tested a few other stainless steel skillets that make good points of comparison. First, the Made In Stainless Steel pan – which is reliable quality at a more affordable price point (around $139). But side by side (see above), the ProBond Luxe skillet looks and feels like a more luxury piece – it’s heavier, shinier, and designed with more attention to detail. For example, the handle is infinitely more comfortable and I found the flush rivets easier to clean.

A closer competitor, with a similar tri-ply construction, is the All-Clad Stainless Steel Skillet, which retails for around $150 on Amazon, including a steel lid – again, offering better value for money.

Founded in 1971, All-Clad cookware has a classic aesthetic, but without the design flourish of Hestan. By contrast, Hestan is a relative newcomer (founded in 2015), and it feels as though the designers set out to prove themselves. Every detail comes across as an upgrade in both performance and appearance. The company claims its ProCore™ aluminum core conducts heat 35% faster than standard clad cookware, and in my experience, it did heat noticeably quicker than any other pan I’ve tested.

All-Clad’s greatest strengths, however, lie in its cheaper price tag and longevity credentials. It has been around for decades, and its durability is beyond dispute. I have every confidence that Hestan’s ProBond Luxe can rise to that same heirloom status, but only time will tell. Both brands, reassuringly, back their pans with a lifetime limited warranty.

What do customer reviews say?

Since Hestan ProBond Luxe is a brand-new collection, there aren’t many customer reviews available yet. I'll come back to update this review, as I always like to assess how pans go down with home cooks in real-life kitchens. I will also continue to test the Hestan ProBond Luxe skillet at home for around 3-6 months, and update this review with any unexpected pros or cons that arise.

Should you buy it?

If you value both performance and aesthetics, a Hestan ProBond Luxe skillet makes cooking feel elevated. To my mind, it surpasses classic stainless steel brands, like All-Clad, in performance, while adding luxury details that make it not only beautiful, but highly enjoyable to use.

That said, it comes at a premium price point. If you’re after purely functional stainless steel, more affordable options exist. But if you want cookware that’s as beautiful as it is capable, or you're a pro-cook who doesn't mind the investment, I do think Hestan ProBond Luxe is worth the splurge. You'll just have to reckon it with your bank balance first.

How I test skillets

A great frying pan has to tick all the boxes: versatility, manageable weight, brilliant cooking performance, and, crucially, ease of cleaning.

Different materials bring different strengths and challenges. Cast iron retains heat beautifully and creates a stunning sear, but it’s heavy and requires seasoning to stay non-stick. Stainless steel is durable and non-reactive, but cheaper models can stick and discolor over time. Enamel-coated pans offer easy cleaning and vibrant finishes, yet they can chip, and non-stick pans are convenient but vary widely in quality, with some losing their coating after just a few months.

I use every pan I test for over a month to see how it fares over time. I’ve owned many that impressed me at first, only to stick, stain, or ruin ingredients after prolonged use – there's nothing worse, especially when you’ve forked out hard-earned cash.

Price matters. Mid-range brands like Made In or Our Place fall between $100–$200, but high-end options such as Hestan or Le Creuset can easily top $250, promising luxury finishes and superior performance, but only a thorough test reveals whether the premium is justified.

When I’m testing, I look for a pan that can handle everything: from delicately frying an egg to searing a steak with a perfect crust. It should feel balanced in your hand — not so heavy it’s tiring to lift, but substantial enough to hold and distribute heat evenly. I like to challenge pans with notoriously sticky or delicate recipes: tofu, halloumi, paneer, steak, and fried eggs. I assess how they cook, how the pan handles the residue, and how easy it is to clean afterward – because no one wants to scrub endlessly after dinner.

Having trained at a professional cookery school and worked as a food writer and recipe editor for leading recipe brands, from Mindful Chef to Deliciously Ella, I do have exacting standards.