The steel pans that @moate is talking about are heavier commercial pans-- thicker than what you're probably used to. My steel crepe pans are nearly 3 mm thick.

The steel pans that @moate is talking about are heavier commercial pans-- thicker than what you're probably used to. My steel crepe pans are nearly 3 mm thick. You're right about cheap stainless pans. They're the very worst. Stainless has even lower thermal conductivity than cast iron or carbon steel.