Sticking often occurs when you use too much heat. Our technology allows our cookware to heat up much faster than typical cookware. We often find that new customers tend to cook on too high of heat, but low heat is key!
I think the keys are the amount of butter/oil, and not stirring too much. The eggs need to cook on top of the oil. If you stir too soon/often you disturb the oil layer and get egg touching the pan with little to no oil to keep it from sticking.
If you're still experiencing sticking after owning the pans for an extended time, we recommend giving the pan a deep clean with a more abrasive sponge and then re-season the pan.
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.
Because HexClad uses stainless steel in addition to a ceramic nonstick coating, you can get some sticking unless you oil the pan or heat it up before adding food.
“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.
Both butter and oil serve the same practical purpose: they prevent the scramble from sticking to the pan. Butter also adds flavor, and in a dish as simple as scrambled eggs, that extra push can make a difference—especially if you make it brown butter.
So in order to cook food on stainless steel without it sticking, you need to make sure the surface is as smooth as possible – which you can do with the right medley of heat and oil. This creates a sort of barrier between the steel and your ingredients, allowing them to easily come off the surface.
Use a nonstick muffin tin.
These egg bites love to stick to the pan, so make sure your muffin tin is nonstick. If you don't have a nonstick pan, a good alternative is a silicone mold. It'll allow you to easily to pop out the egg bites!
Don't: Assume that high heat is best.
HexClad pans do best over low to medium heat. High heat can cause oil to burn and cause build up on your pans. This can make the pans harder to clean.
HexClad's pans are coated in nonstick hexagonal “valleys” with stainless steel “ridges” in between.
We recommend starting on medium-low heat with a little bit of oil. Our pans do require a little bit of oil since they are hybrid pans (incorporating a nonstick cooking surface with raised stainless steel). As with most fine cookware, HexClad cookware should be seasoned before the first use or after a deep cleaning.
Proper preheating is crucial for cooking eggs in stainless steel without sticking. Start by heating your pan on medium to high heat (around 6 or 7 on most stovetops). To determine if the pan has reached the ideal temperature, perform the water test: sprinkle a few droplets of cold water into the pan.
According to Staley, failing to preheat the pan makes foods more likely to stick, as does cooking over high heat, which degrades the fat in the skillet and reduces the barrier between the food and the stainless steel.
Pour water into the pan, enough to cover the egg (or mostly cover). Wait for water to come to a boil. Gently lower eggs in the pan and if you have a lid, cover the pan. You can lower the temp to medium instead of high, and let the eggs cook for 5-8 minutes, depending on how runny you want the yolks to be.
However, sometime in 2024, Hexclad ditched the PTFE and began offering the same pans just with a “high-grade proprietary ceramic nonstick called TerraBond™ which is PTFE-free and free from forever chemicals.”
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Place the pan over medium heat and add at least 1 tablespoon of oil or butter for every 2 eggs you plan to cook. When the butter gently foams, crack the eggs into the skillet. Cook until the whites are just set and the yolk is glossy but not opaque, about 3 minutes.