Calphalon Unison Nonstick 12-Inch Round Grill Panbest

I'm an outdoor grill cook -- big time. I got the Calphalon Grill Pan as a birthday present, and I must admit I wasn't too enthused. Why would you want to pretend to grill indoors, right?

Well, a nice steak and a rainy day gave me the opportunity to try my pan. I cooked the steak over medium heat on an electric range, and the results were fantastic. I ate the tenderest steak I've ever cooked on a stovetop, rivaling the tenderness I get from the grill. Sure, you can't mimic the flavor of cooking on an outdoor grill, but the look (grill marks) and tenderness were identical. I got a slightly sauteed taste because I had a trace of butter and oil in the pan -- enough to make a thin layer coating the bottom. The taste was definitely different from an outdoor grill, but regardless the meat tasted excellent. I seasoned it just like I would for the grill before cooking.

Being a natural skeptic, but enthused by the results with the steak, I decided to try the pan... Read more

I purchased this Calphalon Unison Nonstick 12 Inch Round Grill Pan along with the Calphalon Unison Nonstick 12 Inch Round Griddle Pan and love it! The "nonstick sear" surface used on this grill pan does just what it says, giving just enough grip to hold meat in place while still releasing easily when flipping the meat or removing it from the pan.

I will confess that I have not used this pan anywhere near as much as the griddle, but that is simply because we do not grill a lot of meats on the stove. I have done several steaks, however, and they came out juicy and delicious. I'm usually a picky eater and never eat the fat on a steak, but this pan cooked a ribeye so well that... Read more

This pan heats unevenly to the point where it simultaneously burns and undercooks food. We have not had this problem with our older Calphalon or All-Clad pans. The uneven heat distribution is undoubtedly related to the thickness of the aluminum. The bottom of the pan is 3.9mm thick. Our older Calphalon pans are 5.5mm thick--40% thicker! Indeed the pans feel lightweight and cheap, similar to non-stick pans you buy at the local supermarket. I suggest you avoid this pan and either buy a cheaper item of similar quality or hunt for better quality.

This pan also has not done a great job at striping meat.