HexClad cookware is built with a unique hybrid "honeycomb" design that blends the searing power of stainless steel with the easy cleanup of non-stick. While durable and versatile, it comes at a premium price and requires a learning curve, functioning more like a hybrid pan than a traditional non-stick skillet.
The HexClad cookware controversy primarily centers on deceptive advertising regarding the "non-toxic" nature of its hybrid non-stick pans and a subsequent class-action lawsuit over their use of PTFE (often associated with "forever chemicals").
Yes, Gordon Ramsay is a paid partner and official investor in HexClad. While he is extensively involved in promoting the brand—using the cookware on his shows, in his cookbooks, and endorsing it for home use—commercial kitchens require heavier-duty, traditional materials.
“The HexClad offers the best durability I've ever seen in a nonstick pan, I'll allow it that,” he says. “But where it falls short is in its claim that it's just as nonstick as any other nonstick pan. In my experience, it is not.” Food does stick a little in Hexclad pans.
If your eggs are sticking to your HexClad pan, it is almost always due to heat control and a lack of cooking fat. Because of their hybrid design, HexClad pans require a small amount of oil or butter and proper preheating to prevent sticking.
Stop Scraping the Pan — Here's How Professional Chefs Keep Eggs From Sticking | Learn more at the link in the comments! Slow and low heat. Butter + oil = no burn Or butter only- beurre noisette is best, for flavor. Tip- Small amount of water (if dipping) and cover- to steam.
Use low to medium heat.
This especially applies to HexClad pans. Their Hybrid surface distributes heat fast, so cranking it up to high heat isn't necessary and can actually make food stick.
Avoid traditional non-stick pans with worn coatings or synthetic "forever chemicals" (PFAS), as well as unlined copper and reactive aluminum. Scratched or overheated pans release toxic fumes or leach heavy metals into your food.
Yes, HexClad pans can scratch. While their signature raised steel laser-etched design makes them highly scratch-resistant, they are not scratch-proof.
Gordon Ramsay was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer. He underwent successful surgery to have the cancerous cells removed from his jawline and used the opportunity to share photos of his stitches and a public service announcement encouraging fans to wear sunscreen.
Yes, Costco sells HexClad cookware. However, it is not a standard, everyday inventory item. You can buy it through two specific methods:
Professional chefs generally use commercial-grade, unpretentious cookware that can withstand high heat and heavy abuse. Instead of expensive non-stick sets, restaurant kitchens rely on sturdy metals like carbon steel, heavy-duty aluminum, and stainless-clad steel.
HexClad cookware is PFOA-free, but it depends on the specific line you own. Traditional lines use a PTFE-based coating, while newer releases utilize a PFAS-free ceramic surface.
The healthiest pans to cook in are cast iron, carbon steel, and stainless steel. These materials are naturally free of synthetic chemicals (like PFAS or Teflon), last a lifetime, and won't leach toxins into your food.
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.
The healthiest cookware materials are cast iron, 100% ceramic, and stainless steel. They do not leach harmful synthetic chemicals like PFAS, PFOA, or PTFE (Teflon). For non-stick convenience without the toxins, ceramic-coated cookware is the best modern alternative.
In contrast to PTFE-coated cookware, ceramic-coated cookware is touted as being nontoxic because it does not contain PTFE or PFOA. However, there are other materials sometimes used in the production of ceramic-coated cookware that may make these pans less safe than they are advertised.
Common HexClad complaints focus on food sticking, misleading warranty restrictions, and coating degradation. Additionally, the brand faced a $2.5 million false advertising settlement regarding claims that their pans were entirely free of toxic non-stick chemicals like PTFE.
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.
Whether HexClad is worth the money depends entirely on your cooking habits and budget. If you want a durable "do-it-all" pan that offers the searing power of stainless steel with the convenience of non-stick, it is a great investment. However, if you are looking for a completely slick non-stick surface to cook delicate eggs or omelets without any fat, you will likely be disappointed.
Yes, you can use metal utensils on HexClad. Their patented hybrid design features raised stainless steel peaks that take the friction and pressure of your cooking tools, protecting the recessed non-stick valleys.
Throw away your non-stick pan immediately if the coating is chipped, flaking, or deeply scratched. You should also replace it if the pan is visibly warped, shows rust, or if food consistently sticks even after gentle heating and oiling.