Yes, you can absolutely ruin a HexClad pan, even though it is designed to be highly durable. While its hybrid design (raised stainless steel with non-stick valleys) makes it resistant to metal utensils, the non-stick coating can still be damaged, permanently stained, or rendered ineffective.
Metal spatulas, whisks, spoons, and other metal utensils are fine, but sharp utensils could leave a scratch. If this happens it is only cosmetic, and it will not affect the performance or safety of the cookware. Which cooktops is HexClad compatible with?
Cosmetic blemishes and other changes in appearance may occur over time. This is normal wear and tear which should not affect performance and is not covered by our lifetime warranty.
The HexClad lawsuit—a class-action false advertising case—centers on allegations that the company falsely marketed its hybrid cookware as "non-toxic" and entirely free of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances).
Yes, Gordon Ramsay is the official brand partner and an investor for HexClad. He states that it is the only cookware brand he uses at home.
The primary HexClad controversy centers on a $2.5 million class-action lawsuit settled in 2025 regarding deceptive marketing. Plaintiffs alleged the company falsely advertised its hybrid cookware as entirely free of toxic chemicals and PFAS, while the pans actually contained PTFE.
The healthiest pans to cook with are made of materials that do not leach toxic chemicals (like PFAS/Teflon) into your food. Top options include cast iron and carbon steel (virtually indestructible, naturally non-stick when seasoned), stainless steel (durable, heats evenly), and PFAS-free ceramic.
Yes, HexClad and other nonstick pans are pretty easy to clean in the sink, but what's even better is that you can put them in the dishwasher. Be aware that using a dishwasher may cause pots and pans to dull or blacken over time.
HexClad pans are not inherently dangerous or toxic if used correctly at medium or low temperatures. However, they are a hybrid of stainless steel and a non-stick coating, which has sparked some controversy and safety concerns among consumer advocacy groups and health-conscious cooks.
HexClad pans are designed to last a lifetime and generally perform well for 5 to 10+ years with proper maintenance. However, because they are a hybrid of stainless steel and non-stick coating, their lifespan depends heavily on how you treat them.
Non-stick pans may be an ideal choice in home kitchens, but in professional commercial kitchens, their safety, heat resistance, service life and cooking effect limitations make them unpopular with chefs.
Symptoms of Teflon flu or polymer fume fever include chills, fever, fatigue, headache, body aches, and occasional chest tightness and airway irritation. People with underlying lung diseases such as asthma are more likely to develop respiratory symptoms.
Are HexClad pans nontoxic? Since the pans use a ceramic-like coating to give them their nonstick abilities instead of PFAS, they are technically considered non-toxic.
To restore your HexClad pans, start by performing a deep clean using warm soapy water or Bar Keepers Friend and a scour pad to remove burnt-on grease. Once completely clean and dried, re-season the cooking surface by heating the pan with a teaspoon of neutral oil on medium heat for two minutes.
With HexClad's patented TerraBond™ surface, abrasive sponges should not be used on the interior cooking surface. Scratching the cooking surface—even on durable Hybrid cookware—can reduce performance over time. For everyday cleaning, HexClad recommends: Hand-washing with warm, soapy water.
Overheating hexclad will destroy them. Nonstick coating like hexclad and others is never safe to heat without liquid coverage, and even then… They already come in ruined.
Gordon doesn't just slap his name on things; he uses this stuff daily. In his home. In his restaurants. On his shows.
The HexClad pans are pretty simple to clean. Most times its simply soap and water with a nice sponge. Sometimes a little and I mean just a LITTLE elbow grease with a Green 3M scrub pad, Dawn, and Barkeepers Friend finishes the job.
To protect your health, avoid older or damaged non-stick pans (Teflon), as well as unlined copper and raw aluminum. These can leach toxic "forever chemicals" (PFAS), heavy metals, or react with acidic foods.
HexClad and Le Creuset serve entirely different purposes in the kitchen. HexClad is a hybrid non-stick pan that heats up fast and is highly versatile for everyday tasks like eggs, fish, and stir-fries. Le Creuset features enameled cast iron, built to retain heat for slow-cooking stews, braises, and baking bread.
The absolute best non-stick pan for eggs depends on your budget and whether you prefer traditional Teflon or eco-friendly ceramic. Leading kitchen gear testers highly recommend the OXO Good Grips Non-Stick Open Fry Pan for traditional non-stick, and the GreenPan Mini Healthy Ceramic Egg Pan for perfect individual servings.
As we've said, Hexclad specifications used to show that its cookware was made with PTFE. This is a synthetic chemical coating as used in Teflon. Sure, Hexclad didn't use PFOA to apply the PTFE (no U.S. cookware brand can, legally), but most of our readers will agree that PTFE itself is not desirable in the kitchen.
Our products are designed in Los Angeles and South Korea. Like the vast majority of cookware and other products today, our products are manufactured in China. At this time, it's the only location where factories are skilled enough to manufacture our technologically advanced cookware.
I did my research before I bought my set they changed their coating sometime late 2024 just got my set last week so it's ceramic terrabond coating if you bought your pan and pots in 2021 then it's PTFE coating.