HexClad vs. All-Clad: Which Is the Right Cookware for You?
Updated: Jan. 29, 2024
The discussion regarding HexClad vs. All-Clad is one hot kitchen topic. Lucky for conflicted buyers, there's no wrong choice between the two stellar cookware companies.
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When it comes to quality cookware, there are two names you’ll hear over and over again: HexClad and All-Clad. These high-quality brands come with a steeper price tag, but forgoing cheap pans and picking your side of the HexClad vs. All-Clad debate is absolutely worth it.
New cookware should be treated as seriously as any big-ticket item, like stoves, small appliances and countertops. After all, you’re in the kitchen to cook, so why skimp on your most important piece of equipment? You undoubtedly want to eat delicious food every day, and it’s hard to cook anything to perfection with shoddy pots and pans.
Excellent cookware can, and should, last for the rest of your life, so “splurging” ends up saving money in the long run. Bonus points if the kitchen gadgets do everything to help you cut back on overflowing cabinets or drawers. If you’re struggling to determine whether HexClad or All-Clad is right for you, here’s a little primer to help you out.
What’s the Difference Between HexClad and All-Clad?
Manufacturing some of the best cookware money can buy since 1971, All-Clad is a favorite among professional chefs and serious home cooks. Made from stainless steel with a bonded aluminum core, All-Clad pans are known for their ability to heat up evenly, providing superior temperature control while cooking. All-Clad cookware boasts a signature polished look and ergonomic handles for easy maneuvering.
Launched in 2017, HexClad cookware is the new kid on the block. It has made a massive impression on the culinary world in just a few short years. Gordon Ramsay himself has called HexClad “the Rolls-Royce of pans.” This cookware is made with a combination of stainless steel and nonstick coatings and has a unique hexagonal pattern that helps food release easily.
Two things these brands have in common: quality and price. Even when they’re on sale, both All-Clad and HexClad cookware cost a pretty penny, but it’s important to remember that you’re getting what you pay for. The kitchen gear from both brands is built to last a lifetime, so don’t expect to replace the purchase any time soon—if ever.
All About HexClad
HexClad cookware combines the best parts of cast-iron, stainless-steel and nonstick pans. Like cast iron, it’s sturdy and durable and retains a tremendous amount of heat. Like stainless steel, it’s non-reactive and distributes heat evenly across the surface of the pan. And, like nonstick pans, it’s, well, nonstick.
These pans begin with the base of a stainless-steel pan, which is then coated with a high-grade, nontoxic, nonstick material that’s infused with diamond dust for extra strength. Fancy, right? A laser-etching process is then employed to create a hexagonal pattern on the bottom of each pan, allowing heat to diffuse evenly.
Because of their magnetic steel base, these pans rapidly conduct heat, and they’re also suitable for induction cooktops. It’s safe to use these pans in the oven or under the broiler, too. And when you’re done cooking, HexClad cookware is dishwasher-safe, making cleanup a breeze.
HexClad offers a range of cookware products, including frying and saute pans, woks, griddles, knives, stockpots, Dutch ovens and saucepans. Additionally, the brand has expanded beyond the stove and now offers cutlery, cutting boards and cooking accessories. (Check out what happened when we tested the HexClad frying pan!)
HexClad’s high-quality kitchen gear is designed to last a lifetime. All pots, pans, cutlery and salt and pepper grinders are backed by a lifetime warranty against manufacturer’s defect, provided they’re purchased directly from the HexClad website or through an authorized retailer, like Amazon. Cookware prices range from $110 to $200. And items can go for cheaper if you keep your eye out for HexClad sales. If you’re not satisfied with your purchase, HexClad has a 30-day return policy.
Some of Our Favorite HexClad Gifts
All About All-Clad
All-Clad started in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1971, and still manufactures its pots and pans in the USA. All-Clad offers a wide array of kitchen products, such as electric griddles, waffle makers, immersion blenders, knives, bakeware and beyond, but it’s best known for its iconic stainless-steel pans.
The chef-favorite cookware features a triple-ply design with a steel interior, aluminum core and induction stainless-steel exterior, which heats evenly and quickly. All-Clad’s stainless-steel pans are dishwasher-safe and can be used on all sorts of cooktops, including induction burners.
The most popular line of All-Clad pans is the D3 Stainless Steel Collection, which is excellent for everyday at-home cooking. For those looking for a higher level of temperature control, the D5 Stainless Steel Collection features two additional layers of conductive metals.
All-Clad also offers a professional-level Copper Core Collection that possesses five layers of steel and an inner layer of highly conductive copper. The brand also offers nonstick cookware, too, made with a nontoxic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating.
All-Clad cookware costs more than many other brands, but its pieces are well worth the investment. These pans are built to last—a fact that’s backed up with a lifetime warranty.
Some of Our Favorite All-Clad Gifts
The Bottom Line
If you’re struggling to decide between HexClad vs. All-Clad, the good news is you can’t go wrong with either decision. Both companies make some of the best cookware on the market, and you can reasonably expect whatever pieces you buy to last for decades.
The best place to purchase HexClad cookware is through the brand’s website so you can take advantage of the warranty and return policies. You can also buy HexClad pans on Amazon or Walmart.
The entire All-Clad cookware line can be found on its website, as well as on Amazon. Retailers like Nordstrom and Wayfair carry many of the brand’s bestselling pieces too. Get ready for a lifetime of quality cooking!
Originally Published: May 09, 2023
