Casserole with lid, NanoBond - Hestan

A casserole that can go from hob to oven without a second thought is something else than one that requires a change of equipment halfway through a recipe. The NanoBond casserole from Hestan withstands 565 degrees Celsius, which in practice means it handles every oven in a household or professional kitchen, all grill installations and direct contact with a gas flame. This is not a remarkable number in itself but a consequence of how titanium responds to heat: it melts at 1668 degrees and is not noticeably affected by the temperatures a kitchen produces. Hestan's NanoBond process bonds thousands of titanium-based nano-layers directly to the surface of 18/10 steel at a molecular level via a vacuum chamber procedure at extremely high temperature in an oxygen-free environment. Titanium and chromium-based alloys are permanently fused with the steel structure, without lying on top of it like a conventional coating that can peel or wear away. The surface is four times harder than the underlying 18/10 steel and virtually non-reactive: titanium does not react with acids, fats or proteins.

This is directly relevant for casserole cooking. You often work with wine, beer, tomatoes and long cooking times, and under these conditions a reactive surface can over time impart off-flavours and deteriorate. The titanium surface means you can simmer acidic stocks for hours without the surface changing or contributing metallic flavour. The titanium surface is free from PFAS and synthetic coating agents. Metal ladles and spatulas do not damage the surface.

The construction has three layers: the titanium nano-layer inside, a ProCore core of pure aluminium and the titanium nano-layer on the outside. Hestan states that the ProCore core provides 35 percent better heat conductivity compared to other cookware with three-layer construction. Even heat distribution across the entire base without cold spots is directly relevant for browning meat in the casserole base: an unevenly heated casserole gives uneven browning and localised burning that can add bitterness to the finished dish. The titanium surface withstands metal utensils and is dishwasher safe with sealed edges. Comes with a tight-fitting lid. Works on all heat sources including induction. Made by Hestan. Available in two sizes: 2.8 litres and 7.6 litres.