HexClad Hybrid Cookware Review [2023 Detailed Update]
Looking for an accurate HexClad hybrid cookware review?
You've come to the right place.
We're going to review the HexClad brand, the honeycomb shaped surface, and the outstanding non-stick surface.
After reading, you'll be able to conclude whether this cookware is right for you.
Let's take a closer look, shall we?
Who Is Behind HexClad?
HexClad was founded by CEO Daniel Winer and Cole Mecray, in 2016. What started off as a direct to consumer company, now has its own website and sells their products on Amazon.
The HexClad headquarters is in Los Angeles, California, but the cookware is made in China and Korea. They continue to grow in popularity because of their appealing design.
The founders wanted to create the best non-stick pans to offer that made cleaning up easy, durable and with the best heat control.
Let's talk next about the design.
HexClad Design And Why It's A "Hybrid"
HexClad has a ‘hybrid’ design, as they like to call it. Their design involves both a clad stainless steel and non-stick technology for its cookware.
The pans themselves are made of tri-ply clad standard stainless steel with an aluminum interior. This helps the pans heat up quicker and faster when cooking.
When you hold the HexClad hybrid cookware in your hand, you'll immediately notice a few details:
- The Lattice surface
- The rims
- The handles
- The Lids
Let us explain further.
Let's Talk Lattice
Yet they aren't done there, they also added a non stick coating with a laser etched steel lattice over the top of the non stick coating. This lattice gives the cookware their distinctive design and look.
The lattice is also made up of hundreds of tiny hexagons which also give HexClad their name. The lattice is quite an important element for the cookware. As the lattice helps protect the non-stick coating from any damage while in use or in storage.
The lattice design was originally invented by All-Clad, who held onto the patent until it expired. Most manufacturers today of cookware have a similar form of this design, which proves how popular it is and how well it works.
The lattice helps create what experts call valleys and peaks inside the pan. These dips may make you worried that your food won't cook properly but actually these valleys and peaks help cook the food more evenly.
This lattice is said to promote a good sauteing and searing on food. Yet from customer reviews that part of the design has been a bit hit and miss.
What Makes The Rims Special?
Also on all their pans, their design includes a flare rim, which helps with draining liquid and pouring sauces easily. This reduces the risk of making a mess in your kitchen. The handles on HexClad cookware are just as important.
They are made from stainless steel. They feature an angled design that will stay cool even when in use with high heats. This means you don’t have to worry about your handles getting hot while cooking and you won't have to worry about burning your hands.
The Handle Loop That's Might Versatile
At the end of the handle there is a hanging hoop, so if you are a cook who likes to hang your cookware then HexClad has thought about you. However if you put these pans in the oven, then the handles will get hot so you must use an oven glove to remove the pan.
Tempered Lids That Improve Your Cooking
All the lids that are included with these pans, have been made with tempered glass. By using tempered glass this reduces the risk of the lid breaking. There is also a steam vent on all the lids which helps with temperature control when cooking your food.
HexClad Any Good Pros And Cons
Performance
On their website, HexClad says there are at least six reasons to love their cookware. These reasons range from their unique non-stick hybrid technology, excellent temperature control and long lasting durability.
They claim that their pans heat very quickly and evenly, while also maintaining this heat. They also say that their pans are very easy to clean and use as well.
Over time your cookware may receive some slight discoloration but that doesnt affect the performance of the pans. These pans are really good at distributing the heat so you will find that you won’t need to cook your food on such a high temperature, as you normally would.
It may be worth remembering that, otherwise you may find that you will burn your food a lot quicker if you don’t watch the temperature. The aluminum core to these pans work best on a low to medium temperature or a medium to high temperature.
This isn't a pan that needs high heat, otherwise your food is more likely to stick. Also if high heat is used this could affect the non-stick surface, which would in time make your pan even less non-stick and more like any stainless steel pan.
It is also advised to season your HexClad cookware before use. However, you don’t need to season your pans before every use. To season your pans, all you have to do is put your pan on a medium to low heat with 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil. Spread this oil around the interior of your pan.
Leave this pan on the heat for 1 to 2 minutes and then you are ready to cook. During the first few weeks, your cookware will perform better and better, as it begins to re-season itself from the fats in the food you are cooking with.
Durability
The lattice does make the pans more durable. The lattice allows you to use metal utensils without fear that they are going to damage your pan. However the hexagon lattice which is applied on top of the non-stick element, actually makes your pans less non-stick.
Therefore, you may have to use oil or butter in the pan to avoid your food getting stuck. The non-stick element of the pan helps your food stick less compared to stainless steel pans but there is still a chance your food can stick.
The non-stick element helps make the pans easier to wash, but the design is counteractive in ways. If you don’t use any oil or butter or not enough, then the hexagon design gives your food more places to get lodged into. Thus making cleaning the pan more difficult because you will be trying to dislodge food from small areas.
How Long Do Hybrid Pans Last?
HexClad Hybrid Cookware have many advantages, such as the superior heating and their unique design which does help make their pans non-stick and easier to clean. Yet as a newish brand, these pans are quite pricey compared to other competitors.
Compared to other premium cookware brands, these are up on the higher end of the market. You are paying for the performance and how long these pans will last you.
The lattice element of the design will extend these pans' service life but they will still begin to wear down over time. These pans are an investment but compared to other non-stick pans they are a lot more expensive. These pans won’t last forever and they will need to be replaced at some point.
As mentioned above, these pans have a special design with a stainless steel lattice over the top of the non-stick surface to protect it. Yet because of this, you may find that food sticks to your pan.
Therefore you must season your pan every so often and not cook on a very high heat. These pans may be very easy to clean and yet when cooking they require quite a bit of attention to make sure your food won’t stick.
So this brings up the question of how can these pans be called non-stick if they aren’t actually and you need to add oil or butter to make sure your food won’t get stuck in the hexagon design.
Even with the great designs, these pans are quite heavy. For a 12 inch frying pan, this weighs in at four pounds. Compared to other similar pans that only weigh 3 pounds. As a result, these pans may be difficult to carry around your kitchen due to their weight.
Is HexClad Dishwasher Safe?
The HexClad Hybrid Cookware is safe for dishwashers, which sets it apart from its competitors. These HexClad Hybrid pans can be used on gas and electric stoves. While also being able to be used inside the oven.
They can be used in an oven up to 500°F. The lids that some of these pans come with are also oven safe up to temperatures of 300°F. Which makes these pans a very versatile product to own.
By allowing these pans to go into the dishwasher, it makes cleaning up easier and quicker to do. However, be careful how often you put these pans in the dishwasher, because sometimes hand washing them is better.
That is because over time the high temperatures in the dishwasher combined with the steam and detergents may affect the pans' service life.
Is HexClad Safe?
All HexClad pans are PFOA free but some do contain PTFE. PTFE is in over 95% of all non-stick cookware, so it is safe. PTFE is actually used in other ways like dental implants and heart stents, all that are inserted into the body. HexClad uses PTFE because it helps make their pans last much longer compared to non-stick pans that don’t use any PTFE.
No PFOA chemicals are used with these pans either but we haven't been told what they are using instead. As we don’t know what they have used instead, we can’t say confidently if the non-stick coating is safe for humans or the environment.
All in all, HexClad Hybrid Cookware is quite safe, as long as you use the pans properly. What this means is that you don’t use high heat. Like any cookware that uses PTFE, you should use your cookware on a low to medium heat, this is because at a high temperature this can cause the PTFE to break out and release toxic fumes.
These fumes can cause ‘polymer fever’, which can give you flu-like symptoms, but these fumes are extremely dangerous to birds. If you own a pet bird, you shouldn’t own any PTFE cookware, because if any fumes are released these could kill your bird.
These pans are safe to use, when extremely high heats aren't needed. A high heat would be above 500°F. If you are required to cook something at this temperature you may want to think about using a different brand that doesn't contain PTFE.
Now that we got safety out of the way, let's look at the different HexClad cookware sets and pieces.
HexClad 7-Piece Set
The full HexClad 7-Piece Cookware includes:
- 12 inch pan with lid
- 10 inch pan with lid
- 8 inch pan with lid
- 12 inch wok
The 7 piece set is the essential everyday pans that are great for beginners. The sets available are ideal for those who are serious about cooking. These pans can withstand use in a professional setting in restaurants. If you want to commit to your love of cooking then the 13 piece set, called the ‘Chef’s Package’.
HexClad 12 Inch Wok
The 12 inch wok is perfect for high volume cooking, such as cooking a whole meal in just one pan. This could be pasta dishes and stir frys, just as two examples. This pan is perfect for meal prep or when you have a large crowd coming over and you want to make enough food for everyone.
Thanks to the woks shape you can easily toss ingredients together, without having to worry about the ingredients such as noodles flying out of the pan. This wok doesn't have to be just used for frying. Thanks to its depth, you can use this wok for deep frying as well.
HexClad 8 Inch Pan
The 8 inch HexClad Hybrid pan is the perfect size for preparing individual serving, vegetables and sauces. This pan is also the perfect size for cooking your eggs in. This 8 inch pan is a versatile pan to have. This pan may become your go to pan to use. It might be small but when looking for smaller or individual servings this pan will come in handy.
HexClad 12 Inch Pan
The 12 inch HexClad Hybrid pan is great for family cooking. This provides you with plenty of room to cook multiple things at once in one pan. Whether it is salmon and vegetables, or two steaks. This pan will make meal times easier, as one meal can pretty much be cooked in one pan, it is that spacious.
These pans offer everything that you are looking for and you will find something that you will need. There are larger pans that help you cook larger meals with less effort. Meal times with these pans are made easier as you can cook most of your meals in just one pan.
Final Thoughts On HexClad Hybrid Cookware
These pans have been recommended by Michelin star chefs who even use them in their own kitchens, such as Gordan Ramsaey. These pans are great quality and have a unique design that sets them apart from everyone else.
HexClad offers a wide range of pans to choose from, including 3 different sets as well. These pans are very effective at cooking your food on a much lower heat, as they are able to conduct and retain heat more effectively.
They are semi-nonstick, which means they have a non-stick layer but due to the stainless steel lattice that is on the top of the non-stick layer, you must add oil so your food won’t stick.
These pans offer good performance and are durable, so they will last you a long time. Some HexClad customers have noticed a burned colour appearing on the surface after a few uses. While others have noted that the non-stick element begins to dwindle away after a couple of months.
Also, these pans are also a lot heavier compared to other pans. If you are on a budget, these pans will be way out of your price range because they are quite expensive. HexClad Hybrid Cookware does offer a good deal to help you further your cooking skills, but the price may be the thing that puts you off from buying them.
According to some customers, HexClad is better for money when you buy one of their sets instead of buying their pans individually. If you want a brand new set of non-stick pans then HexClad may be the brand for you.
Although if you just want to try out just one of these pans then we’d recommend the 12 inch pan or wok, as you’d be able to get a real feel for this brand and this pan gives you plenty of room to cook for yourself and for your family.
