All-Clad cookware is sprayed with a non-stick coating made mostly of polytetrafluoroethylene, better known as Teflon, ensuring that anything you cook comes right off the bottom of the pan, even tricky items like eggs and sauces.
All-Clad Stainless Bonded Cookware Set
All-Clad's D3 Everyday set came out on top in our testing of stainless steel cookware, which makes these all-metal pots and pans an obvious choice for our favorite non-toxic cookware, too.
If you've decided to swear off PTFE-coated nonstick cookware, there are some good alternatives, including a number of ceramic, cast-iron, carbon steel, and stainless steel pans that perform well in our tests. Below are some of the top performers from all these categories.
It's Teflon, just like every other nonstick pan.
Check the Manufacturer's Label:
The easiest way to determine if your cookware features a Teflon coating is to look for specific keywords: “Teflon” or “PTFE.” Reputable manufacturers proudly label their products as such.
All-Clad pans do not contain Teflon. The brand's nonstick cookware uses a high-performing, PFOA-free nonstick coating to keep foods from clinging to the surface, including delicate or sticky foods.
While Calphalon cookware features polytetrafluoroethylene-based nonstick finishes, we are not associated with, nor do we use, Teflon® branded products.
April 18, 2023
A settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit against All-Clad Metalcrafters, LLC and Groupe SEB USA, Inc.
Overall, HexClad provides even cooking, durability and an excellent nonstick surface. All-Clad, on the other hand, is ideal for quick maneuvering in the kitchen or for slow-cooking soufflés, casseroles or meats over high heat.
All-Clad is a trusted brand loved by chefs. After multiple rounds of lab testing and long-term tests, we crowned this set the best overall stainless steel cookware set.
“The most nontoxic cookware that you can buy is stainless steel, cast iron or carbon steel; things that don't have a coating on them,” says Alexis Pisciotta, culinary purchasing and events manager and cookware consultant for Food Network.
This product contains Stainless Steel (Chromium (Total), Chromium Compounds, Nickel and Nickel Compounds, Iron, Manganese and manganese compounds, Phosphorus, Copper), Aluminum, and PFAS Chemicals.
Does HexClad have Teflon in it? Teflon is a proprietary brand of PTFE made by Chemours that is not used by HexClad. Instead, the brand now uses ceramic to coat the nonstick valleys of its cookware.
Do not use oven cleaners, steel wool, steel scouring pads, harsh detergents or detergents containing bleach or peroxide, which can damage the pan. Nylon scrubbing pads can be used on stainless steel surfaces only. Never place a hot pan under cold water, as it could cause warping.
“Glass, like Pyrex cookware, is a safe option,” Perko said. “Cast iron is a safe option if NOT frying or using high-temperature cooking. If you have or can use or purchase stainless steel pots and pans, they are healthier choices for long-term/lifetime use.”
Both the D3 and D5 lines are excellent choices; it comes down to budget and preference. D3 heats up quicker, is easier to handle, and is cheaper. D5 offers consistent heating and better heat retention — and because of this, it is a little pricier.
HexClad Cookware advertises its nonstick pans as free from harmful chemicals. But, according to recent reports, HexClad may be using a chemical compound called PTFE as a non-stick coating on its pans. PTFE is a type of PFA, or “forever” chemical, that can build up in the human body and does not break down over time.
The short answer, No!
“HexClad's intriguing look, design, and hybrid technology caught my eye about a year ago,” says Gordon Ramsay. “I use the pans at home, and the combination of stainless steel and non-stick functionality is amazing. It's highly versatile and cooks exceptionally well.
All-Clad agreed to a $4 million settlement to resolve a false advertising class action lawsuit claiming that running its cookware through a dishwasher can leave the products with sharp edges, despite being advertised as “dishwasher safe.”
If cooking on stainless steel, food may be sticking if you have not preheated the pan prior to cooking, added cold food directly to a hot pan, not used enough oil, or attempted to turn the food before it was ready. If cooking on nonstick, your pan may have build-up from cooking over time.
All-Clad non-stick pans are expensive, but you truly get what you pay for. The exact number of years your pans will last can vary based on how often you use them, but most customers find their pans last for at least five to ten, even 15 years. Additionally, All-Clad pans come with a limited lifetime warranty.
In general, you want to replace nonstick pans after five years.
In contrast, All-Clad's solid stainless steel pans without PTFE can last for many years, if not decades. There's no need to worry about scratching off surface coatings or releasing toxic fumes with high heat. In short, durability varies depending on the All-Clad collection.
PERRYSBURG, Ohio — Calphalon, a company that produces cookware and appliances, confirmed Wednesday it will close its Perrysburg production facility at the end of 2023, a move that will cost 130 people their jobs.