I Tried the Gordon Ramsay-Approved HexClad Pan—Here’s Why It’s a Cooking Superstar
Updated: Feb. 01, 2024
HexClad cookware supposedly rolls the best elements of cast iron, stainless steel and nonstick into one pan. We put it to the test for more than four months to find out.
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My cast-iron skillet, which I use to cook pretty much everything, has been my ride-or-die for a long while. The well-seasoned skillet is nonstick, oven-safe and—with the proper amount of preheating—reaches surface-of-the-sun temperatures. For reactive foods that can’t be cooked in cast iron (like tomatoes and other acidic foods), I use a sturdy stainless-steel pan. And finally, for ultra-sticky foods like eggs, I keep a nonstick frying pan on hand.
When I heard that HexClad created a pan that combines the best elements of cast iron, stainless steel and nonstick into a single miraculous pan, I knew I had to check it out. Bonus: It’s available on Amazon. Here’s my honest review of the HexClad Hybrid Pan.
What is HexClad cookware?
According to Gordon Ramsay, HexClad skillets are “the Rolls Royce of pans,” which is one heck of an endorsement. Lest you worry those words are nothing but a paid celebrity endorsement, know that other Michelin-starred chefs have buzzed about the HexClad pan, too. And HexClad’s wok, knife set, pots and pans all have 100-plus five-star Amazon reviews.
HexClad cookware is designed to feature all the positives of cast-iron, stainless-steel and nonstick pans with none of the negatives. Like cast iron, it’s sturdy, resilient and retains a tremendous amount of heat. Like stainless steel, it distributes heat evenly across the pan’s surface and is not reactive. And, like nonstick pans, it’s, well, nonstick.
Learn more about the different types of cookware and the difference between HexClad and All-Clad.
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We Tried It
HexClad Hybrid Pan
HexClad promises the best parts of stainless steel, cast iron and nonstick pans all in one. Available from multiple retailers, it's worth the splurge.
HexClad Skillet Features
HexClad’s patented design relies on a laser-etching process to create a hexagonal pattern on the bottom of a stainless-steel pan. It features a high-grade nonstick coating that’s infused with diamond dust (!!!) for extra strength. The steel hexagons allow the heat to diffuse across the pan evenly, while the PFOA-free nonstick coating prevents foods from sticking.
Because of its magnetic steel base, the HexClad Hybrid Pan rapidly conducts heat and is suitable for induction cooktops. Also, it is oven-safe up to 500°F. HexClad is sturdy enough to last a lifetime, and as such, the company backs up its cookware with a lifetime warranty.
How We Tested It
Sauteing
I tested the 12-inch HexClad Hybrid Pan. Straight out of the box, the HexClad pan’s similarities to cast iron were immediately evident. This is one beast of a skillet! It’s so heavy, it might just last forever, like how a good cast-iron pan passes down from generation to generation. Unlike cast iron, however, the HexClad’s ergonomic handle makes it easy to lift and hold without much strain on the wrist.
Most of the dishes I make for dinner start by sauteing a little garlic or onion (or both!) in olive oil until golden before adding additional ingredients. So, the first thing I cooked in my HexClad Hybrid pan was just that, along with a big mess of greens.
The HexClad pan heated up in about a minute—far less time than it normally takes my cast-iron skillet to reach sauteing temp. Both the garlic and onion cooked evenly to a beautiful golden brown without sticking to the pan. Once I added the greens alongside a big pinch of salt, I confidently tossed everything together using tongs without worrying about scraping or nicking the pan, as I would have with a traditional nonstick pan. The greens cooked down in a flash, with all the liquid quickly evaporating as I swirled the pan.
Browning
HexClad cookware could easily handle simple everyday cooking tasks, so I tested it with something that’s easy to foul up if you have the wrong pan. Slowly cooking chicken thighs, skin down, in a skillet should yield shatteringly crisp skin with tender dark meat beneath—but every skillet has its pitfalls.
I’ve found that cast iron does the best job overall with this task, but because skillets tend to heat up unevenly, some thighs brown (or burn) more than others. Stainless steel can produce uniform browning, but the chicken can stubbornly stick to the bottom of the pan. Nonstick pans don’t have this problem, but they are not suitable for the super-hot temperatures necessary for browning meat. Could the HexClad pan offer a solution?
I preheated my pan over medium-low heat for one minute, generously seasoned four chicken thighs with kosher salt, arranged them, skin down, in the HexClad pan, then left them completely undisturbed for 15 minutes. When I flipped them over with metal tongs, they were perfect: evenly brown with no signs of hot spots, impossibly crisp and utterly delicious. Nothing stuck, nothing burned. Not only was that good for the chicken but it also made cleanup easy! The HexClad cookware washed clean quickly with soap and water—no scrubbing needed.
Four-Month Update
One of the comments I’d heard about HexClad pans is that the raised hexagonal pattern wears down over time. Although I have noticed some of that, as well as discoloration in certain areas, this has minimally affected the nonstick surface or cooking capabilities.
I’ve continued to throw challenges at this pan, not even intentionally because it has become my go-to. I use it to cook eggs—a notoriously fickle food that my other favorite, the cast iron, can’t handle—daily. There are also some softball uses at which it’s very successful, like toasting bread for panini. And I still love it for browning and sauteing, too. I have a Caraway Dutch oven that I just adore, but it can’t brown meat the way I’d like, so I always turn to my HexClad for that task. Yes, even if that means creating one extra dirty dish.
Although I do foresee the pan’s nonstickyness, if you will, waning eventually, I don’t anticipate easing up on my usage any time soon. It’ll always be a sturdy, sizable, oven-safe, heat-conductive pan that can handle just about anything. I’m hooked.
Pros
- Truly nonstick
- Non-toxic cooking surface
- Heats evenly
- Oven- and dishwasher-safe
- Replaces three popular pans
- Safe for use with metal utensils
- Induction-compatible
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Pricey
- Some users may find it a bit heavy
FAQ
Is HexClad cookware dishwasher-safe?
The HexClad pan is dishwasher-safe but is so easy to clean by hand that you might not want to bother! The scratch-resistant surface is safe for use with abrasive cleaners, scouring pads and steel wool. Although odds are, all you’ll need to clean up most messes is a soapy sponge and running water.
Is HexClad cookware heavy?
HexClad cookware is somewhat heavy, but its ergonomic handles make it much easier to lift and maneuver than cast-iron cookware. The 12-inch Hybrid pan is just over three pounds.
Product Comparison
We’ve talked at length about how HexClad measures up to other cookware materials, but what about other brands? Just like Caraway cookware, the Our Place Always Pan and Green Pan, HexClad has been making waves on social media. All four brands are suitable for healthy cooking—and they look good doing it.
The HexClad Hybrid Pan stands out from the pack thanks to its multi-functionality. There’s no need to worry about cooking on too high of a heat, scratching the pan with a metal utensil or accidentally running it through the dishwasher. HexClad cookware tackles even the toughest cooking tasks.
Final Verdict
HexClad cookware might be pricey, but it’s worth the money and will pay for itself 10 times over. Not only does the HexClad Hybrid Pan do the work of three other pans but it’s also built to last. It might very well be the last pan you ever buy. Now, I have my eyes on the HexClad Dutch oven and HexClad wok!
Where to Buy HexClad Cookware
Pick up the 12-inch HexClad Hybrid Pan on Amazon, the brand’s website or Walmart. It retails for around $200, but you can often find it on sale. Once it arrives, all that’s left to do is pick your favorite recipe and start cooking like Gordon Ramsay!
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We Tried It
HexClad Hybrid Pan
With its stainless steel base, nonstick surface, weight and infusion of diamond dust, the worthwhile HexClad pan is a kitchen gem—figuratively and literally!
Additional research contributed by Annamarie Higley, Product Testing Manager
Originally Published: December 21, 2022
