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It’s worth the investment. Veneer Plywood
If there is one piece of cooking equipment I never thought I’d upgrade, it was my sheet pans. I had my old set for at least 10 years, and although they had the issues that have maligned home cooks for decades, I never thought of changing them. They were warped, scratched, dented, black, but I told myself these were battle scars, not imperfections. I was wrong.
That’s all because recently, Hestan, the brand behind some of my favorite cookware, sent me its sheet pan, which is markedly different from any other sheet pan I’ve ever used. And while it’s on the pricier side, especially when compared to other brands, trust me, it’s the future of sheet pans that’s worth the splurge.
While most sheet pans are made with aluminum, this one from Hestan is made with tri-ply stainless steel. There are three layers of metal, with aluminum sandwiched in between, offering the same construction as a quality stainless steel skillet. While this makes the sheet pan notably heavier than any other I’ve used, the cooking benefits are phenomenal.
For starters, the weight insures it won’t warp over time, which, if you have sheet pans you’ve had for over a year, chances are they are bent and bruised. It also means that with proper care, you can keep the pan looking sparkling, instead of crusty and gross. For $130, it is the last sheet pan you’ll ever use. Think of it as an upfront investment — I’m certain it will save me money in the long run.
And as for cooking, the layers of metal help distribute heat more evenly than if you were just cooking on aluminum, which is prone to hot spots. This means that vegetables on different ends of the pan cook at the same rate, giving them a crispy, brown texture regardless of whether or not I move the pan around in my oven.
I’ve tried baking a sheet tray full of vegetables, broiling salmon, and even baking chicken. The skin on my chicken and salmon is so crispy that I no longer need to hard sear it in a pan afterwards. And thanks to its curved handles and elegant design, it’s actually beautiful enough to bring to the table (unlike my old disgusting trays).
All in all, this sheet pan is beautiful. It doesn’t scratch, dent, or warp, and it cooks everything to perfection. It’s time you invested in the future of sheet pans. And you can thank me later.
Plywood Kitchen At the time of publishing, the price was $130.