****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Okay, my Pillivuyt was stolen along with my Lamson cutlery and Calphalon cookware. Loss totalled about $3000. I can't afford to replace that stuff again now and some pieces are retired, so...I love porcelain. I do NOT love Teflon or the like.This HIC is a Chinese "replication" of Pillivuyt pieces. It's very similar in style, though there are important differences to consider. Porcelain itself is not ground as finely. This means that the bottoms of these lovely Gratins are not as smooth. You should consider gently sanding them smooth with emery paper so they don't scuff things as easily. Realize that porcelain DOES scuff things, regardless!Another difference is that somehow, Pillivuyt manages to create remarkably flat surfaces. By that, I mean that they are not ripply or wavy. These HIC pieces are visually less flat, though that may be hard to detect by moving your finger across a surface. It's a minor detail, but maybe it's not. In a few years, I'll know.That said, that's the bad news, and it's not very bad!The good news is that they cook pretty much the same as my old Pillivuyt did. My most common use for this size Gratin is to microwave single eggs in them for my signature breakfast sandwich. I used the very tiniest amount of oil wiped on the surface, and I do mean tiny, and it's enough to get the egg to release, sunny up or scrambled, easily with a fork. You can scramble the egg with a real table fork IN the Gratin and nuke it and it will fluff up. Seasoned lightly it comes out great. Or, you can bake a bunch in the oven or a couple in the toaster-oven and VERY fluffy. The fork gets them out with ease, and washup is just hot water and a paper towel, same as with any quality pan. A couple of times, I overcooked (um, burnt?) cheese on them. Soaked in hot water only, a NYLON scrubber (Dobe is my recommendation) and clean as can be. They're easy. Can't really tell much difference from the Pillivuyt.Good porcelain really IS basically the original nonstick.And here's the kicker: These cost 1/3 the price that Pillivuyt does. Sure, that extra 2/3 buys the final tiny bit of refinement and I'm not sure what the effect of having the finest bone grind in the world is with P, or whether their glaze is substantially different over the years yet.Most people drop these before they would possible "wear them out." Here, you get SIX gratins for the price of less than TWO of theirs. It's not a big deal to lose them to accidents.These HIC Gratins are a deal. I'm definitely going to look at others of their pieces as I need them. The price is right and so far, so is the performance.
