Colectare: Tigăi Hive Hybrid™

A hybrid pan tries to settle the oldest argument in cookware. Non-stick releases an egg perfectly but hates high heat and metal utensils; stainless steel sears and deglazes beautifully but sticks. The Hive Hybrid™ puts a raised stainless honeycomb over a non-stick base, so the steel ridges take the abrasion and the heat while the recessed non-stick does the releasing.

In practice that means you can use a metal spatula without shredding the coating, get a proper brown crust on a steak, and still slide an omelette out cleanly.

Sizes

Each pan is sold on its own or with a matching tempered glass lid, which is worth having if you braise, steam or finish anything covered.

• 20cm — £59.99, or £69.99 with a lid. Eggs, one portion, reheating.
• 24cm — £69.99, or £79.99 with a lid. The everyday pan for one or two people.
• 26cm — £74.99, or £84.99 with a lid. Enough room to brown rather than steam.
• 28cm — £79.99, or £89.99 with a lid. Family portions, or a whole pack of chicken thighs in one layer.
• 4-piece set (20, 24, 26 and 28cm) — £227.97, or the 8-piece set with matching lids at £259.94.

If you are buying one, 24cm or 26cm covers the most ground. The 28cm is the one to add next, because the most common cooking mistake is crowding a pan that is too small and steaming the food instead of browning it.

Getting the most out of them

Heat them on medium rather than full — hybrid pans conduct well and a screaming-hot empty pan is hard on any coating. Hand-wash rather than putting them through the dishwasher. And let the pan come up to temperature before the food goes in; that is most of the difference between searing and stewing.

More on the trade-offs in are hybrid frying pans worth it and the best hybrid frying pans in the UK.