Compare Stainless Steel Pans
Heritage Steel Eater Series 12-inch Frying Pan scores higher on safety - here's why.
The most important dimensions, side by side.
Demeyere Industry 5 uses 18/10 stainless steel with clear disclosure — buyers can verify the nickel content before purchase. A responsible standard for a pan at this price point.
Heritage Steel explicitly labels their pan as '304 stainless steel (also known as 18/10)' — the clearest grade disclosure of any pan in this comparison. You know exactly what you're cooking with from day one.
Demeyere's five-layer construction runs rim to rim — the same recommended standard as All-Clad D5 and Heritage Steel. The 'Industry 5' name says it directly.
Heritage Steel's 5-ply fully-clad construction is the recommended benchmark — five bonded layers running the full height of the pan, not just the base. Heats evenly from edge to edge.
Five layers from rim to rim means the Demeyere heats side walls as evenly as the base — critical when you're reducing sauces or searing food that needs contact with the sides.
Five layers extending throughout the entire body — Heritage Steel is explicit that their cladding doesn't stop at the base. One of the strongest construction disclosures in the category.
Oven safe to 500°F — the de facto standard for quality stainless cookware. Handles most home cooking from roasting to standard broiling. For high-broil finishing above 500°F, All-Clad D5 or Heritage Steel are better choices.
800°F is the highest oven-safe rating available in stainless cookware — equal to Made In and far above most competitors. The all-stainless handle makes this possible. You'll never hit a residential oven ceiling with this pan.
At 2.7 lbs for the 9.5-inch, Demeyere is the lightest 5-ply option in this comparison. Light enough for effortless daily use while still feeling premium. Note: this weight is for the 9.5-inch; the 11-inch will be heavier.
2.9 lbs for the 12-inch is exactly in America's Test Kitchen's sweet spot (2.8–3.0 lbs) — substantial enough to feel premium, light enough for effortless daily use and one-handed cooking. Best weight-to-construction ratio in the category.
Currently $150 (marked down from $250) — an exceptional price for 5-ply fully-clad stainless. At regular price ($200–250) it competes with All-Clad D5; at sale price it's the best value per construction in this comparison.
At $150 with lid, Heritage Steel offers 5-ply construction, 800°F oven rating, optimal weight, and explicit grade disclosure — the strongest value proposition in this comparison when weighed against specs.
Everything you need to make the call - who each one is for, and who should skip it.
Go for it if you...
You want the lightest 5-ply stainless option in the category for effortless daily cooking
You're buying during a sale and want 5-ply quality at a $150 price point
Your oven use stays below 500°F and you prioritize stovetop performance
You cook on induction and want Demeyere's 7-layer base technology for rapid heating
You want the highest-scored stainless steel pan in this category with the best oven rating
You frequently use the stovetop-to-oven workflow and benefit from 800°F headroom
You want USA-made cookware with the most transparent steel grade disclosure in the category
Weight efficiency matters — 2.9 lbs for a 12-inch 5-ply pan is the best ratio here
You want a pan with lid included at the $150 price point
The main thing to know
The 500°F oven limit is the market standard but behind peers — if high-broil finishing is central to your cooking, the All-Clad D5 (600°F) or Heritage Steel (800°F) give more headroom.
Heritage Steel uses nickel-containing stainless steel — the same as most premium cookware. If you have a diagnosed metal sensitivity and have been told to avoid nickel, this pan isn't for you. New pans release more nickel until they're broken in over the first several cooking sessions.
Skip this if you...
You regularly use the oven above 500°F — All-Clad D5 or Heritage Steel are better fits
You need to confirm exact weight for the 11-inch size before buying
You have a diagnosed metal sensitivity that requires nickel-free cookware — look for pans made from nickel-free grade stainless
You prefer a brand with wider retail availability — Heritage Steel is primarily direct-to-consumer
Neither of these quite what you're looking for?
I've reviewed all Stainless Steel Pans options at every price pointEvery Stainless Steel Pans in our database is scored using R3's deterministic scoring system - the same inputs always produce the same score. For this comparison, we evaluated Demeyere and Heritage Steel across 3 independent criteria: Safety (54%), Efficacy (44%), Usability (2%). No sponsored rankings. No paid placements.
Straight answers - no sponsored content, no filler.
I'd start with Heritage Steel Heritage Steel Eater Series 12-inch Frying Pan - it scored 8.9/10 overall in our scoring system. Safety is our top-weighted scoring pillar, followed by efficacy, and usability. Check which pillar matters most to your family and compare those specific scores.
R3 uses a deterministic scoring system - the same inputs always produce the same score. We evaluate each Stainless Steel Pans across Safety, Efficacy, Usability using independently verified data. No sponsored rankings. No paid placements. Every score is fully reproducible.
Not necessarily. The overall score reflects our weighted rubric, but your priorities may differ. If you care most about safety, compare the safety scores directly. If budget drives your decision, the prices tell a clearer story. The "right" pick is the one that matches what matters most to your family.
Not the right match? Explore these alternatives in the same category.
