Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Probably the biggest problem I had when trying to figure out what size pan I needed was trying to make sense of the measurements the manufacturers give. 10"? 12"? 14"? What does that mean? Did they measure across the actual SURFACE of the pan or across the top from edge to edge? I was really confused. So I'm going to tell you about THIS pan, and what I found. The actual cooking surface of this pan (the bottom of it) measures 12" across. It measures 14" from edge to edge, across the top. The top of the pan is wider than the base, so that's where the 14" measurement comes from. I double or triple every recipe I make (2 boxes of hamburger helper, 2 boxes of rice-a-roni) and this pan EASILY accommodates these amounts. For a pan of this size, I found it very manageable. Some pans feel like lead weights and are a pain to use because they're so heavy. This one isn't and I really like that. Even better than that is the clean up. This pan is an absolute DREAM! Baked on, crusted on messes come right off with a wet cloth. Some things I can wipe off with a paper towel! I've used this pan hundreds of times and I can't imagine EVER having to soak this thing EVER! I seriously cannot stress enough how easy it is to clean. Now for the downside: THIS PAN IS HUGE!! It's a love/hate relationship. I love it BECAUSE it's big, but storing this beast has proven to be somewhat problematic. It is literally too big for any cupboard I have. When I was initially researching pans I was trying to find a pan without the super long handle. This pan does have the long handle and that's why it won't fit anywhere. I do think it helps while cooking though, but sometimes I really wish it wasn't there. I just keep it on the stove because that's the only place it fits. I've been using this pan for almost a year and it looks as good today as the day I bought it. The trick is to always wipe off grease from the outside of the pan before you use it again so it doesn't stain.The outside is vulnerable to staining if you don't do this. Also, it says it's dishwasher safe but once you put your pots and pans in the dishwasher we all know they never look the same. If you want to keep this pan looking nice, do not put it in the dishwasher! My only regret is that this pan didn't come with a lid. Since I was already confused about size, I wasn't sure what size lid would fit it. I ordered a 14" lid, and it fit perfectly. Hope this review helps those of you that had the same question I had. Overall, the cooking capacity and ease of cleaning outweigh any problems I may have with storing this pan. It's really a wonderful pan! I absolutely depend on the reviews of others before I spend my hard earned money. Hope this review helps!