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The Berghoff seems well constructed. I have not tested it on a high technology stove, but it looks like it was built to work with one. In use it comes pretty close to Teflon in performance at Teflon's recommended operating temperatures, although just a little bit less non-stick than Teflon. So far it washes as easily as Teflon. The Berghoff can be used at temperatures that exceed Teflon's limits, although high heat may not be the best way to cook. There is no dedicated lid, although a Nordic Ware Restaurant 10 inch Brushed Stainless-Steel Lid fits pretty well. The bottom plate picks up some residue at high temp on my stove, but the exterior's durability seems confidence inspiring so far. Long term durability and functionality of the interior remains untested.
Pasted below is a mini-diary of some comparisons:
Stove is an ordinary, four-burner, electric coil stove.
2/1/12
Berghoff and Orgreenic treated with high-temp safflower oil, 25 minutes medium to medium-high heat.
2/2/12
Eggs, low-medium to medium heat. Light application of olive oil.
Cooking: All required a spatula to flip.
Farberware & Orgreenic tied.
Berghoff slightly more sticky with thin bits on egg clinging to pan.
Cleanup: Interiors of all easily cleaned up with soapy water and soft sponge, more easily than the nylon Good Cook spatula.
Exteriors: The ceramic pans show some persistent residue from the previous seasoning. The metal exterior bottom of the Berghoff looks a little better than the gray exterior bottom of the Orgreenic, which is showing a lot of little chips.
The metal bottom of the Farberware pan looks cleaner, probably because as a Teflon pan settings higher than medium are always avoided.
2/4/12
Eggs, cheddar cheese, sliced garlic, cayenne pepper. Between medium and medium-high heat. Light application of olive oil.
Pans rotated between burners to try to equalize cooking temperature.
Both required a spatula, but non-stick performance was about equally good for the Berghoff and Orgreenic. The Orgreenic seems to cook a little faster. The Farberware pan did not participate, because it is assumed it would probably be non-stick enough up to medium heat, but it should not be used above that setting.
Cleanup: Interiors of both easily cleaned up with soapy water and soft sponge. The gray exterior bottom of the Orgreenic is showing more wear.
2/5/12
I gave both pans another treatment with safflower oil, this time at high heat. My burners smoke, but the oil does not.
Light application of olive oil. Medium high setting. Farberware Teflon pan is excused from participating. Thin steak, no lids, add onions near end, add Salsa Brava. Orgreenic seems to cook a little faster again. Berghoff shows more stuck, cooked, meat juice residue.
Cleanup: Although the Berghoff looks a little uglier going into the sink, interiors of both equally easily cleaned up with soapy water and soft sponge.
Olive oil, potato slices (about ¼'thick), medium-high heat. Orgreenic seems to brown them faster than the Berghoff. Very non-stick with both pans.
2/9/12
Light application of olive oil. Medium high setting. Farberware Teflon pan is excused from participating. Thin pork loin, no lids. After meat removed, followed immediately by sliced potato. The Orgreenic seems to cook a little faster again, but it is producing more blackened residue, and it looks a little uglier than the Berghoff going into the sink. The Berghoff washes easily with soapy water and soft sponge. The Orgreenic mostly cleans well, but some traces of blackened residue are resistant. The rougher side of the sponge seems to clean it off okay.
I reseasoned both pans at medium high with canola oil. Unlike the other oils, this one does smoke, more so with the Orgreenic pan, and canola has a rather foul, fishy odor at that temperature. It also seems to cook up a little patch of previously unseen brownish residue on the Orgreenic pan. After cooling, an application of the rough side of the sponge and hot water seems to remove it.
2/10/12
Sitram Profiserie 9½-Inch Stainless Steel Lid has arrived from Amazon.
Gave both ceramic pans another treatment with safflower oil to help flush out any remaining canola oil.
Light application of olive oil. Medium setting. Frying pan lids. Sunnyside up eggs, one each, all three pans.
Both the Berghoff and the Orgreenic need a little bit of assistance from the spatula, but then slide easily. The Berghoff has a little bit more residue. The egg is able to slide on the Teflon Farberware pan without the spatula.
Cleanup: Equally easy from this experiment. The Orgreenic is showing a tiny bit of persistent dark residue on the interior edge near the handle, probably from the previous experiment.
Exteriors, bottom: The Farberware shows hardly any wear or residue. Both ceramic pans show some persistent residue, possibly caused by higher temperature experiments. The Orgreenic's plain bottom with the same finish as the sides is showing a lot of little scrapes.
Measurements:
Farberware Nonstick Aluminum Egg Poacher (with poacher and lid removed) has outside diameter of the lid lip of about 7 7/8 inches, nearly vertical sides 391g
Telebrands (5827-6) 10" Orgreenic Frying Pan has outside diameter of about 10 inches, curved and sloped sides. 665g
BergHOFF Earthchef 10.25" Montane Frying Pan has outside diameter of about 10 7/8 inches, curved and sloped sides. 973g
Lids: The Farberware has a dedicated glass lid.
The RSVP Stainless Steel Universal Lid-7 to 12 Inch sits flat enough on either ceramic pan, but on each the angled handle forces it to be off-center.
The Nordic Ware Restaurant 10 inch Brushed Stainless-Steel Lid fits well on the Berghoff, but the inner portion is too wide to sit well on the Orgreenic.
Sitram Profiserie 9.5-Inch Stainless Steel Lid fits the Orgreenic pan. Not perfectly, a little bit wobbly, but best so far for this pan. If they made a 9 inch lid, it would probably be just right.
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I was quite happily making fried eggs with almost no oil just minutes after getting this pan. Nothing stuck, and the pan was quite easy to clean with just a wet sponge once it cooled down. Just as easy as any PTFE-based pan I've used in the past. The pan itself is well-designed, and it works perfectly on my induction cooktop. (The first non-PTFE non-stick pan I've found that DOES do this successfully!)I've noticed that most of these non-PTFE pans get very good reviews at first, but often start breaking down within a few months. I'll be sure to edit my review after a while either way, to note whether the pan is failing or not, and adjust the rating if needed...
Apr 30, 2012 edit: I've had the pan for about 6 months now. The non-stick coating is holding up quite well, in my opinion, though it does seem to have degraded slightly since it was new. I've noticed that small bits of food will occasionally stick...but these just wipe off with a sponge.
My only complaint (as noted in the comments) is that the bottom does bulge a bit towards the center, so liquids pool around the edges somewhat...making it easier to burn things in the center if you're not attentive. I'm otherwise extremely happy with this pan, though!
Best Deals for BergHOFF Earthchef Montane Frying Pan, 14.25-Inch
If you are looking for non stick this pan may be for you. The ceramic coating is great, nothing sticks and clean up is easy. However there are a few things I wish were better. The bottom of the pan has a black almost sprayed on finsh. I use this pan on a gas stove and moving the pan along the cast iron grates causes the black finish to become chipped. Also the pan seems to be raised in the center. If you place liquids in the pan the liquid slows off to the sides.Honest reviews on BergHOFF Earthchef Montane Frying Pan, 14.25-Inch
I have to say I am surprised at the good reviews this frying pan has received. I purchased 2 of these pans a 12'' and a 8" from one of those shopping websites that require you to be a member.When I first tried them, I have to say that I really liked them. The finish was great, non stick, smooth and very easy to clean. Then after about 2 weeks of use, the center of the pan rose up higher than the sides. This created an uneven surface that caused the food to "run" to the edges of the pan. What remained in the center burned while the food in the ditch around the edge remained uncooked. Since I mainly use the pan for cooking eggs this pan is just about useless. Then after about 2 months of use, the pan began to lose it's non stick quality. With every use more and more food stuck to it. Now after 6 months it is totally useless. Everything sticks, burns and runs to the sides. I took very good care of these pans. I never used higher than medium heat and I took care to make sure that I never used anything that would scratch the surface. The only thing positive I can say about the pan is that the surface doesn't seem to flake off like the old "teflon" non stick pans do when they get old. But what does that matter when they lose their non stick quality after such a short time??? The bottom line is these pans are awful!!!
I am so disappointed. I had to throw the 12" pan out. Needless to say I will never buy another one. Next time think I will try All Clad non stick.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for BergHOFF Earthchef Montane Frying Pan, 14.25-Inch
I really like the cooking performance of this skillet, however, the pan is not flat on the bottom. It is raised up in the middle, so for instance, when you pour in a little oil, it all flows to the edge and there is no oil left in the middle. I don't have an induction cooktop, but seems like that would not work if you had one. Clean up is a breeze. I love the handle, it is very comfortable. If not for the uneven bottom I would buy the smaller size as well. I'm going to try out a different model BergHOFF to see if I can find one with a flat bottom.
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