I have the #8 pan. Cooking surface is 10 1/inches. I have 2 slices of bacon cut in half here. Three slices would have been all it could take without the pieces bunching up together. I have cooked in it 6 times, just eggs snd bacon. I wish I have gotten the #12 for 13 3/8 cooking surface but that would have been another $100 for $265 total plus tax. I clean it while still warm with hot water and chain mail, put back on burner to dry low heat. Then coat with grape seed oil. It turns dark right after my first use with frying two eggs. I guess thats normal. Make sure to get the size you need.