There's been a lot of buzz about titanium cookware in recent years. But what exactly IS titanium cookware? And why is it so confusing and hard to figure out sometimes?
It turns out that "titanium" can mean several things, especially when it comes to nonstick cookware. If you don't understand all the meanings and how the word is used by the cookware maker, you might end up with the wrong cookware.
We researched the different kinds of titanium cookware, including nonstick. If you have questions about titanium cookware, you should find the answers here.
What Is Titanium?
Titanium is a moderately rare metal prized for three characteristics: lightness, non-reactivity, and strength. It's as strong as steel but half the weight, and is often used as an alloy with other metals such as aluminum and iron to increase durability while decreasing weight.
You can find titanium and titanium alloys in many products, including aircraft, camping equipment, bicycles, drill bits, golf clubs, and more. Titanium is rare and costly, so most products containing significant amounts of titanium are expensive.
Probably because of its association with the aircraft industry and other high-tech applications, titanium has become synonymous with high quality, modern, cutting edge, and advanced. But to understand if this is true or just marketing jargon--especially for cookware--you have to dig a little deeper.
You can read more about titanium on Wikipedia.
Titanium in Cookware
Titanium has become a marketing buzzword in the cookware industry. You might think that with titanium's lightness, non-reactivity, and strength, it would be a huge plus in any cookware. But this isn't necessarily true.
Here's why.
First of all, titanium is expensive, so any significant amount of it is going to raise the cost of a product. For nonstick in particular, this isn't a good idea, because nonstick coatings have such a short life span (an average of 1-5 years). For clad stainless, which is already expensive, a person should have a specific reason for buying it (such as a nickel allergy).
Second, titanium has terrible heating properties. It heats slowly and unevenly, and it hangs onto heat poorly. By itself, titanium would make terrible cookware (unless your primary goal is lightness, as it is for camping cookware).
Third, and contrary to the marketing jargon, titanium has no nonstick properties of any kind. In fact, titanium behaves much like stainless steel: food sticks to it and can be hard to clean if you don't use the right cooking techniques.
With these drawbacks, you might wonder why titanium in cookware has the reputation it has. It's partly because of what we said earlier: that "titanium" tends to be associated with high-tech, modern, and advanced products. (That is, it's a marketing term, like "new and improved" or "cutting edge.")
But titanium is most often seen in nonstick cookware, where it's added for durability. We'll get into more detail about this below in the section Nonstick Titanium Cookware.
Types of Titanium Cookware
"Titanium cookware" can mean several things (click on the links to see examples on Amazon):
- Camping cookware--prized for its lightness, but not good for daily cookware because of titanium's poor heating properties.
- Clad stainless cookware with a titanium-reinforced stainless steel cooking surface (316Ti rather than the more common 304 grade): contains a very small amount of titanium.
- Clad stainless cookware with a patented titanium nanobond coating.
- Nonstick cookware with a titanium reinforced cooking surface--and here, and here, and here--includes PTFE and ceramic titanium
- Marketing jargon meaning "durable" or referring to the color of the cookware.
We'll take a look at each of these in detail to see what the term "titanium" really means in each category.
Titanium Camping Cookware (100% Titanium)
Prices vary by size of set--this set of 3 pieces (plus lids) is about $50
Camping and backpacking cookware is the only 100% titanium cookware on the market. This is because titanium is light, so it's good for hauling in a backpack.
Titanium camping cookware is not intended for kitchen use and would not make good daily cookware because of its poor heating properties. It is also sticky like stainless steel, so by itself has no nonstick properties.
Stainless Cookware with Titanium Cooking Surface
Viking 7-Ply Titanium cookware (about $1500 for 10 piece set)
Viking PerformanceTi cookware (about $1500 for 12 piece set)
We know of only two lines of clad stainless steel cookware with a titanium cooking surface, and they're both made by Viking: Viking 7-Ply Titanium Cookware and their new PerformanceTi 4-ply cookware.
The 7-Ply Titanium cookware has an external layer of magnetic stainless for induction compatibility, 5 internal layers of aluminum heating core, and a cooking surface of 100% titanium.
The PerformanceTi cookware has a magnetic stainless exterior, an aluminum heating core, and a titanium interior with a laser-etched titanium nonstick cooking surface that's free of chemicals and toxins. We're not sure what else is in the laser-applied titanium nonstick cooking surface, but if it's nonstick, then it's probably not 100% titanium.
A titanium cooking surface has pros and cons. On the pro side, it's stable and non-reactive and won't leach nickel or chromium, as stainless steel does in tiny amounts. Viking says titanium has a natural bacteria inhibitor as well, but we haven't been able to verify that this is the case.
On the con side, titanium is a terrible heat conductor--thus the aluminum heating core--it sticks as bad or worse than stainless steel, and it's expensive.
If you have a nickel allergy or are concerned about nickel and chromium leaching from standard stainless steel cookware, this may be a good choice for you (but the amounts of leaching from stainless steel are small and not considered unsafe).
See our Viking Cookware Review for more information about this cookware.
316Ti "Titanium" Clad Stainless Steel Cookware
About $800 for 10 piece set
In clad stainless steel cookware, titanium-reinforced steel--called 316Ti--is considered by some people to be higher quality than standard 304 grade steel.
Though there may be more, we know of just two cookware brands that use 316Ti stainless steel: Heritage Steel (see our Heritage Steel review) and Saladmaster (see our Saladmaster review). Saladmaster fans in particular love to say that Saladmaster is "titanium" cookware, but it is actually made with 316Ti steel. 316Ti is a stainless steel alloy that contains a small amount of titanium.
The percentage of titanium in 316Ti? About 0.7%.
Saladmaster enthusiasts in particular like to think their cookware doesn't leach any nickel or chromium (because it's "titanium"), but this is not the case. 316Ti leaches about the same amounts of nickel and chromium as 304 steel. (And we repeat here: the amounts leached are extremely small and not considered a health or safety issue: our bodies need trace amounts of both nickel and chromium, so these are not unsafe substances.)
316Ti is a great alloy for cookware, and we recommend Heritage Steel as a high quality, USA-made brand of cookware. But it is nowhere near pure titanium (neither is Saladmaster), and it is equally reactive as 304, with a small increase in durability.
Titanium-Nanobond Coated Stainless Steel Cookware (Not Nonstick)
About $1700 for 10 piece set
Hestan NanoBond stainless cookware has a patented titanium nanobond coating which adds durability and provides a stable, non-reactive cooking surface.
The titanium adds something, but even so, it's a thin layer mixed with other materials, so the amount of actual titanium is unknown. The titanium is part of what we think is a type of physical vapor deposition (PVD), a process by which extremely thin layers of materials are applied to an object in a vacuum to increase hardness, among other things.
PVD is seen mostly in industrial applications used to strengthen parts. Hestan NanoBond is the only cookware we know of that has such a coating.
Hestan has several patents on their titanium nanobond coating, but without being chemists or scientists, it's difficult to say how much value it adds to the cookware. We do know that it's safe and stable, and a good choice if you're looking for something that won't leach any chemicals into your food.
We should also say that it is a completely different material than ceramic nonstick coatings (discussed in more detail below). Hestan NanoBond is not a nonstick coating, it is not a sol-gel, and it has none of the issues associated with nonstick coatings (e.g., titanium dioxide nanoparticles).
See our Hestan Cookware Review for more information, including details about the nanobond coating.
Nonstick Titanium Cookware (PTFE and Ceramic)
Before we dive any deeper into nonstick cookware, you should know that there are two kinds--and only two kinds--of nonstick cookware: PTFE and ceramic nonstick. PTFE has been around since the 1950s, and ceramic nonstick was invented in 2007. We include this so you know that any nonstick cookware that's called "granite," "diamond," "titanium," or something else is either PTFE or ceramic nonstick. There is no such thing as granite nonstick cookware, diamond nonstick cookware, or titanium nonstick cookware.
Titanium and other materials are added to both types of nonstick cookware for durability. Durability is the holy grail of nonstick cookware. This is why you see so many brands of nonstick cookware with words like granite, stone, rock, diamond, and titanium in the name (true for both PTFE and ceramic nonstick brands): promises of durability sells nonstick cookware.
Here's how adding titanium (and other reinforcements) to a nonstick coating works: Think of the metal surface of the skillet as a pond, think of the nonstick coating as the water, and think of the titanium as very tiny rocks protruding above the pond surface. Because the nonstick coating lies below the titanium, it's protected. Utensils scraping the pan are scraping the titanium, not the nonstick coating. Or at least, they are scraping the nonstick coating less. Yet the particles are tiny enough and unobtrusive enough to allow the nonstick coating to still perform.
Here's a depiction of a titanium nonstick coating:
Does titanium improve the durability of nonstick cookware? If it does, it's by a small margin. Though makers don't disclose this information, we can deduce that the amounts of titanium added to nonstick coatings are small, because too much titanium would prohibitively raise the price, and it would also ruin the nonstick properties. (Remember, titanium is not a nonstick material.)
If you aren't familiar with the two types of nonstick cookware, we recommend reading our articles What Is PFOA? A Guide to Nonstick Cookware Chemicals and Is Nonstick Cookware Safe? as well as several product reviews you can find on our Cookware page.
PTFE Titanium Nonstick Cookware
T-fal ProGrade Titanium skillet (about $35)
Saflon Titanium Cookware (about $230 for 10 piece set)
Titanium Cookware (about $400 for a 12-inch skillet)
Many brands of PTFE nonstick cookware are reinforced with titanium. Makers add a small amount of titanium to the coating to make it more durable; they may also do this so they can call the cookware "titanium"--or granite, diamond, rock, etc.--rather than what it really is, "PTFE."
As we said above, whether these substances actually improve the durability and longevity of the nonstick coating is questionable, as pretty much all nonstick cookware has a life span of 1-5 years regardless of what it's reinforced with.
This is true even for the high-end, expensive Titanium Cookware linked at the beginning of this section.
Ceramic Titanium Nonstick Cookware
Michelangelo (about $45 for 12-in. skillet with lid, about $56 for 5 piece set shown above)
Gotham Steel (about $20 for a 10-in skillet)
Goodful (12 piece set about $130)
EuroCast by Berghoff (9 piece set about $800)
Zavor Noir (7 piece set about $230)
Ceramic nonstick cookware was invented in 2007. It is a new type of "ceramic" with a completely different composition than traditional ceramics and enamels like those found in bakeware and on enameled cast iron cookware (which are not nonstick).
Ceramic nonstick cookware also has a completely different composition than PTFE nonstick cookware (i.e., Teflon): PTFE is made from hydrocarbons and is actually a type of plastic, while ceramic nonstick coatings are inorganic, made from silicon or clay.
But similar to PTFE, ceramic nonstick has a limited lifespan, and is known for losing its nonstick properties quickly; often even more quickly than PTFE. Thus, makers of ceramic nonstick began to add materials to increase durability, just as makers of PTFE cookware did.
One of the most popular of these is titanium.
Perhaps it's the confusing marketing, but ceramic-titanium nonstick cookware is some of the most misunderstood cookware on the market. People don't realize that ceramic-titanium nonstick is simply a ceramic nonstick coating with titanium added to it.
This gets confusing because there are so many different brands of ceramic nonstick coatings on the market, and a lot of marketing language about what the titanium actually does. But if you remember that all nonstick coatings are either PTFE or ceramic nonstick, you won't get as confused when reading about different nonstick brands.
As with PTFE coatings, it's uncertain how much durability titanium actually adds to the coating, because they all seem to have roughly the same life span of 1-5 years (reinforced or not). Once again, the amount of titanium added to the nonstick coating is probably small, because big amounts of titanium would raise the price.
Titanium as Marketing Jargon
Finally, cookware can be called "titanium" without actually containing any titanium. This Trisha Yearwood cookware set (possibly discontinued) is named titanium after its color, a matte gray.
For all we know, dozens of other brands of "titanium" nonstick cookware might also be named for a color or style, and not because they contain any actual titanium.
How to Buy Titanium Cookware
The titanium-nanobond coating makes Hestan NanoBond some of the safest, most stable cookware on the market.
Because titanium is a small addition to most types of cookware (except camping and backpacking cookware), you should instead look at how to buy the type of cookware you're interested in.
- If you want clad stainless steel with titanium, read about how to buy clad stainless steel cookware, then look at the Viking 7-Ply with a titanium cooking surface, the Hestan NanoBond with a titanium nanobond coating, or the Heritage Steel with a 316Ti cooking surface.
- If you want a real titanium, Viking makes two lines of clad stainless with a titanium cooking surface: 7-Ply Titanium cookware and their new PerformanceTi 4-ply cookware.
- If you want titanium non-stick cookware, read about how to buy non-stick cookware (both PTFE and ceramic), then decide if a titanium (or "titanium") nonstick pan is the right choice.
There are only a few brands of stainless steel with titanium cookware. Heritage Steel has a 316Ti cooking surface, with less than 1% titanium. Hestan NanoBond, discussed above.
If you want camping or backpacking gear, we recommend finding another review site, as this is not our area of expertise.
Titanium Cookware FAQs
Here we answer some common questions about titanium cookware (nonstick and otherwise).
Is All Titanium Cookware Nonstick?
No, not at all. In fact, titanium itself is not a nonstick material. Titanium behaves much like stainless steel when cooking (that is, food sticks to it). Some nonstick coatings have small amounts of titanium added to them for durability, not for better nonstick properties.
Is Titanium Nonstick Cookware Safer to Use than Other Nonstick Cookware?
No. Adding titanium to nonstick coatings does not affect the safety of nonstick cookware. Titanium itself is stable and inert, so it's safe to cook with. But remember that it is a small part of any nonstick coating, so it won't alter a coating's safety level.
Any nonstick surface reinforced with titanium may last longer and take more abuse, but it's still going to have all the same properties of the nonstick coating, either PTFE (Teflon) or ceramic.
If you're concerned about safety, educate yourself on the two types of nonstick coatings, because whether they contain titanium or not, it's the coating composition that's going to determine the safety of the cookware.
Is Titanium Ceramic Cookware Safe?
Titanium ceramic pans are as safe as the ceramic nonstick coating, since the majority of the coating is the ceramic nonstick and the titanium is only a small addition to it.
Which is to say, probably--but there are a few issues with ceramic nonstick coatings. Titanium itself is a very stable, non-reactive material, so adding titanium to a ceramic coating does not affect its safety. However, there are some issues with ceramic nonstick coatings you should be aware of before you buy--such as titanium dioxide nanoparticles--and also, know that there isn't a lot of research available yet on ceramic nonstick coatings in general--so the safest answer here is that we don't know.
You can read more in our article Is Nonstick Cookware Safe?
Titanium Nonstick Vs. Teflon: Which Is Better?
There is no such thing as a titanium nonstick pan: it is either a PTFE or a ceramic nonstick coating with a tiny amount of titanium particles added to it to increase durability. "Teflon" is a brand name for PTFE, and it can have titanium in it, or other reinforcements such as granite or diamond dust.
Teflon (PTFE) reinforced with titanium is considered more durable, but in our testing, all Teflon non-stick pans had about the same longevity whether they had reinforcement materials or not.
What Is Titanium Coated Cookware?
There really is no such thing as "titanium coated cookware." Titanium is a metal, so if cookware has a titanium surface, it's clad, not coated.
There's some confusion about this because nonstick cookware is often referred to as "titanium" or even "titanium coated." However, these coatings are actually one of the two types of nonstick, either PTFE or ceramic nonstick, that have been reinforced with small amounts of titanium.
Thus, it's more accurate to call a nonstick coating "PTFE with titanium particles" or "ceramic nonstick with titanium particles."
Is Titanium Cookware Better than Clad Stainless Steel Cookware?
If we're talking pure titanium versus stainless steel, maybe, depending what you're looking for. Stainless steel is a safe, stable surface to cook with, but it does leach some small amounts of nickel and chromium--so if you have a nickel or chromium sensitivity, you may want titanium cookware (but it tends to be expensive).
As for nonstick pans, remember that we're dealing with either PTFE or ceramic nonstick, and there isn't enough titanium in them to have a large effect one way or the other--so whether you choose nonstick or reinforced nonstick doesn't make a lot of difference (and neither type will perform like stainless steel).
Is Titanium Cookware Induction Compatible?
Titanium itself is not induction compatible, so it has to contain a layer of magnetic steel in order to be induction compatible.
Is Titanium a Safe Cookware Material?
Yes, titanium is a safe material to use in cookware. It is a very stable, non-reactive metal. However, it is expensive, and is typically only added in small amounts to cookware, usually to nonstick cookware to improve durability (though, as we mentioned, it probably doesn't improve durability very much).
Other than camping gear, we know of only one brand of cookware with a 100% titanium surface: Viking 7-Ply. Titanium is less reactive than stainless steel, but stainless steel is also a very stable material, so we recommend going with a titanium cooking surface only if you have a nickel or chromium allergy.
Is Titanium Cookware Safe for Birds?
Titanium itself is safe for birds as it doesn't emit any fumes while cooking. However, if the titanium is contained in a nonstick coating, be sure that the coating is ceramic and not PTFE. PTFE ("Teflon") coatings can release toxic fumes above about 500F that can kill birds--and this is true even if the PTFE coating contains titanium.
What Are the Disadvantages of Titanium Cookware?
Titanium is a good material for cookware in many ways. It's light, strong, and non-reactive. However, it does have some disadvantages, which we discussed above in the Titanium in Cookware section.
Here, we will add that with titanium nonstick cookware, perhaps the biggest disadvantage is that the titanium may not add a lot to the durability of the nonstick coating, and almost certainly isn't worth paying a premium for.
Final Thoughts on Titanium Cookware
Titanium camping cookware.
We hope we've cleared up some confusion about titanium cookware. Camping and backpacking cookware is pure titanium for its lightness and durability. Titanium is added to some stainless steel alloys in small amounts to increase corrosion resistance and durability. And titanium is added to nonstick coatings in small amounts to increase durability. In fact, the amounts of titanium in most cookware is so small that it doesn't increase the cost of the cookware.
Viking makes two lines of cookware with a titanium cooking surface, which is more stable than stainless steel so it doesn't leach nickel, but is otherwise similar to steel: that is, it has poor heating properties and food sticks to it. It is very expensive.
Hestan NanoBond has a thin layer of titanium dioxide on the cooking surface, which is very strong, semi-nonstick, and very expensive.
Thanks for reading!
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Thank you for taking the time out to write in details what you guys know about the titanium non-stick pots. And thank you for including additional comparison facts and info like "only buy nonstick skillets and sautes, and NOT non-stick whole pot sets. Use Allclads instead for whole pot sets." I'm a detailed oriented person, so the more info I get, the better I understand. My husband bought As Seen On TV Copper Chef 10" skillet. He uses it mostly to heat up left-overs, but of course me, I have to research it. The box says it's "coated with CeramiTech non-stick coating, PFOA & PTFE Free, dishwasher safe, riveted handles, stainless-steel induction plate, works in oven and all stove tops." The small print says CeramiTech is the latest ceramic coating technology. The pan is heat resistant up to 850F, and like your guidelines above say, do not emerse hot cookware in water as it can cause wraping. I started comparing all those features following your guidesline in your smart blog article, lol, and I said to myself "PFOA & PTFE Free? That's a lie because I learned from your article 'Remember that there are only two categories of nonstick cookware: PTFE and ceramic'." But what about the new CeramiTech ceramic coating? Have you heard of it and have you guys been able to test it?
I didn't know what stainless rivets were. I thought they were the silver screws that hold the handle to the pot, but your article kept mentioning "stainless rivets on nonstick cooking surface", and "surface" is the "bottom" to me while the handles are on the sides, so I was confused in that topic.
In regards to size, amazon has a 14 inch one. I was thinking to get this size (along with 8" and 10" or the 9.5" from that other website your blog mentioned) to make an extra pancake quicker in the skillet for my family, which pancakes may be done twice a week for the kids. But in a 14 inch skillet, will the heat even out so I can cook all 3 pancakes evenly? And if I'm doing pancakes twice a week, and want to do an extra pancake to finish faster and save time, will it be worth buying, since you stated the ceramic coating may not last as long as titanium non-stick? I will try my best to follow your caring guidelines. As far as eggs, I currently do mines in a stainless steel skillet. I find when the olive oil is heated enough in the stainless skillet, my scramble eggs don't stick. I learned in your article that the titanium non-sticks are better for eggs, but I do want to try the Zwilling Spirits since it's ceramic coating, and not PTFE. So unless I learn how to make good eggs in the ceramic coating, I'll continue doing my eggs in stainless steel skillet. Thank you for helping me getting started in knowing my pots, and making me a better cook!
Hi Diana, thanks for your great comment! Copper Chef is a ceramic coating (the 850F is a dead giveaway that it contains no PTFE). They are inexpensive pans that should last you a year or two, and are probably safe, although there are some issues with ceramic that still need more research. You can read more about them in this article.
About rivets: Yes, they’re the screws that hold a handle to the pan. In a skillet, the sides are curved and are often used as part of the cooking surface, but I can see how that might be confusing for you because you’re right, they’re not on the bottom of the pan, they’re on the sides. The point is that those rivets can collect gunk that make them hard to clean, so it’s nice when a nonstick pan also coats the rivets in a nonstick coating (but it’s not a deal breaker, either).
If you’re already using stainless steel to make eggs, I think nonstick would be a step backwards for you. Stainless steel is by far the better choice: it’s durable and will last forever. So why use nonstick if you don’t have to? If you want to make a big batch of pancakes, my suggestion would be to go with a big, double-wide griddle that you need two burners to heat, or even an electric one. Most griddles are nonstick, usually PTFE, but you can find them in cast iron or clad stainless, too, I think. For you, I think a cast iron griddle would be perfect. Once it’s well-seasoned, it will be almost as slippery as nonstick, but will last for the rest of your life. Here’s an example of what I’m thinking of: https://amzn.to/3frd5Rx
All the electric griddles I found have a nonstick coating, so I recommend the cast iron.
You’re right thata a 14 inch pan may not heat evenly. It depends very much on your stove and the pan itself, but for most burners, a 14″ pan is going to be hard to heat evenly. This doesn’t mean you can’t do it, but you may have to make some adjustments to your cooking, esp. for something like pancakes (for example, keep the batter away from the edges of the pan). If you do go with a 14″ pan, be sure to let it preheat long enough for the heat to distribute as evenly as possible.
I hope I answered your questions. If not, please let me know and I will give it another try. 🙂 Thanks again for your comment!
ps-if you like our site, please consider sharing articles on your social media. We are a small site and need all the help we can get to grow our audience. Thanks!
I'm getting into cooking more because I want my toddlers to eat healthy but they can be fuzzy eaters at times so I have to get creative. So THANK YOU for some of the things in your response that are new to me, and for the encouragement. For ex. I didn't know that going to non-stick from stainless to do eggs would be considered "going backwards". That's awesome! And I GET IT why you said that! My stove actually comes with a non-stick griddle in the middle, and never did I thought I can probably replace it with a different kind! So I'm going to measure it to see if it fits the cast iron griddle example you sent me. Cast iron is also on my list of research because I don't know anything about it so you helped me figure some things out now by recommending it to me. I never used the griddle on my stove because I kept hearing that non-stick pans aren't good etc… and I wasn't going to use it until I did research on it. Because of your detailed explanation in this blog post, I ended up buying a 12 inch Zwilling Henckels Spirit non-stick ceramic coating pan from Amazon. My husband's Copper Chef is 10inch, so I eye-balled it, and said I can probably do 3 small round pancakes in a 12 inch. I ran with my gut feeling that perhaps a 14 inch wouldn't heat evenly right away. Guess what? My gut was right! I was able to do 3 small pancakes at once for my toddlers. I read all the small print that came with the Zwilling to make sure I cared for it accordingly. And I told my mom and husband that I am now a non-stick pan expert, and no one can use the Zwilling without my supervision! So it sits in my oven secluded from the others in the draw lol. THANK YOU for helping me get started in my journey of planning and organizing my toddler's healthy meals. (I ended up making oatmeal coconut pancakes without milk for them twice this week on the Zwilling!) May God continue to bless you guys with knowledge and the will power to continue with your blog!
Hi Diana, "Going backward" by using nonstick over stainless is just our opinion; if you'd prefer nonstick, then you should go for it. Our complaints about it are that it doesn't last very long, and that there may be some health risks associated with it–so if you're already using stainless for eggs, you may not want to switch to nonstick. But do what's right for you and your family!
I hope you love your Zwilling Spirit pan. I would love to hear how it holds up vs. the Copper Chef. The Spirit should outlast the Copper Chef by quite a bit, even though they're both ceramic. If you remember to, please drop us a line in 6 months or so and let us know how both pans are doing.
And bravo to you for guarding your pan! More people should do that–their nonstick would last a lot longer.
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts. If there's anything else we can help with, please let us know. 🙂
Hi all, thanks so much for your thorough thinking and research – because I tend to cook "hot" to get searing and caramelization at times, I also want to bypass PTFE laden skillets.
I've been looking at Hestan's Titanium skillets that are "heat tolerant" up to 1050 F so I'm assuming these are ceramic/titanium? Do you all know more about Hestan's stuff, including their nanobond and "Titum" lines/materials..? I'm not having much luck finding more in-depth info on their materials so makes me suspicious, other than the high heat they can withstand likely meaning they're ceramic.
https://hestanculinary.com/collections/skillets/products/nanobond-clad-skillet-fry-pan?variant=39270962954283
Any pointers/thoughts appreciated!!
Hi Todd, this is an easy one! We reviewed Hestan cookware last year, here’s the link to our review: https://therationalkitchen.com/hestan-cookware-review/
The short answer is that the Hestan NanoBond Titanium is really nice cookware. It is NOT nonstick and the titanium coating is not the same as you find on ceramic nonstick. This is good though because it’s going to last a lot longer than a ceramic nonstick pan. The pans are at best stick resistant, and only slightly less sticky than stainless steel. But the coating is extremely durable and can withstand high heat without losing any important properties.
There are some more details about what titanium nanobond coating actually is in our review.
The TITUM nonstick is just a PTFE pan with a tri-ply base. Not good for high heat use.
I am interested in purchasing a cast iron skillett, do you feel that a titanium ceramic coated product would be a reasonable choice, mainly that is is lighter than traditional cast iron products- looking to sear steaks, Thanks
Hi Cec, thanks for the question. Well, titanium ceramic is a nonstick coated aluminum pan–so yes, it’s lighter than cast iron, but it’s not a good choice for searing steaks, for two reasons. First, although ceramic nonstick is more durable than PTFE (teflon), it is just as terrible at high heat. You must cook on low to medium heat with both types of nonstick if you want to retain the nonstick coating. In fact, high heat will destroy ceramic nonstick faster than just about anything else (yes, even ceramic with titanium in it).
Second, and probably more importantly, for searing steaks, you want a fairy heavy pan because heavier pans have better heat retention, resulting in better sears. Cast iron is the very best material for this, but carbon steel is also very good and is a little lighter. There are some heavy clad stainless skillets that also work, such as the Demeyere Proline. But cast iron and carbon steel are hard to beat for searing, as well as price.
Here’s a link to our review of carbon steel, if you’re interested: https://therationalkitchen.com/best-carbon-steel-pans/
And here’s a link to our Demeyere review, if you’re interested (but this is pretty spendy cookware): https://therationalkitchen.com/demeyere-cookware/
Hope that helps. Please let us know if you have any more questions.