Hexclad Cookware: A Review of the Hybrid Cookware Brand

Read our statement about Teflon and PTFE cookware

Our usual advice about nonstick cookware is to buy cheap and often because the coatings don't last no matter how much you spend. But does this advice apply to Hexclad "hybrid" cookware--the latest in nonstick technology? 

In this Hexclad review, we take a detailed look at this cookware: what it is, how it's innovative, what makes it great (and not so great), cooking performance, and more. Find out how Hexclad stacks up against other cookware and if it's worth the extra cost.

Hexclad Cookware Summary:

Not quite nonstick and lacking the durability of stainless, it's not a great choice for either.

Best features: Excellent build quality, unique look.

Worst features: Priced like clad stainless, but not as durable; contains PTFE, but not fully nonstick; hard to clean because of the nooks and crannies.

What to get instead: Clad stainless steel, nonstick (without a lattice), cast iron, or carbon steel. See our Cookware page for reviews.

The Hexclad Lineup at a Glance

The pieces and sets listed here are our recommendations (don't buy a kitchen sink set).

Be sure to check both Amazon and Hexclad.com to get the best price, because the prices can vary.

Hexclad has several new buying options since we first wrote this article, including knife sets, cutting boards, a roasting pan, and more. Be sure to check the links at the bottom of the table to see all the available set options, or just click here:

See all Hexclad sets at Hexclad

NOTE: Table may not be visible in mobile view.

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About Hexclad

Hexclad was founded in 2016 by CEO Daniel Winer. It began as a direct-to-consumer company, and now sells on Amazon as well as on the Hexclad site.  

Winer's hybrid design--part nonstick, part clad stainless--with its striking hexagonal lattice on both the interior and exterior of the pans--is an innovation in the cookware industry. There are a few similar products on the market now, but Hexclad is the original. 

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Where Is Hexclad Cookware Made?

Hexclad headquarters are in Los Angeles, California. The cookware is made in Korea and China. 

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So, What Exactly Is Hexclad?

Hexclad has what they call a "hybrid" design that uses both clad stainless steel and nonstick technology. The pans are standard tri-ply clad stainless steel with an aluminum interior for fast, even heating (see more on our performance testing below). They then add a nonstick coating and a laser-etched stainless steel lattice over the nonstick. The lattice is made up of hundreds of tiny hexagons, which give Hexclad its name.

The Hexclad website describes this lattice as a system of "peaks and valleys," with the stainless steel being the peaks and the nonstick coating being the valleys. The slightly protruding stainless steel protects the nonstick coating from damage while still providing the benefits of a nonstick pan.

Hexclad also puts the nonstick coating/stainless lattice on the exterior of their pans. This is probably purely for appearance--the pans are quite beautiful--but it makes the pans easy to clean and scratch resistant both inside and out. 

It's a new design, but it's not an entirely new idea. Other nonstick makers use reinforcements like granite, titanium, and diamond dust in their coatings to make them more durable, and for the same reasons: the reinforcement material protrudes above the nonstick coating to protect it.

However, Hexclad is the first (as far as we know) to actually place a protective layer of latticed stainless steel over a nonstick coating. (NOTE: One commenter below says that this idea was done before by a German cookware brand. We haven't done any research to confirm this.)

It's innovative, and it looks phenomenal. But does it really work?

Let's find out.

Hexclad Vs Tri-Ply Vs Standard Nonstick Comparison Table

To get a general idea of Hexclad's performance, this chart compares Hexclad to tri-ply clad stainless and PTFE (Teflon) nonstick skillets. 

Data given here should be similar for most clad stainless and nonstick brands of comparable quality, but we used the data for All-Clad D3 tri-ply and All-Clad HA1 nonstick; Hexclad prices are similar to All-Clad D3 prices, so we thought this would be a good comparison.

We did not include tri-ply nonstick--which might seem like a fairer comparison price-wise--because we don't recommend buying it; cast aluminum pans are less expensive and heat just as well, so we think they're the practical choice due to how short-lived nonstick coatings can be. 

NOTE: Table may not be visible in mobile view.

*Aluminum pans must have stainless disc to work with induction, so induction compatibility varies by brand.

**Price at time of publication. Prices are approximate and may change.

The stainless lattice makes these pans more durable than other nonstick products, but it also makes them less nonstick; you have to use cooking oil or butter to avoid sticking (more on this below when we talk about nonstick performance). 

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Do Hexclad Pans Contain PTFE (aka Teflon)?

Yes. 

Hexclad calls their nonstick coating "ceramic," but says that it does contain PTFE (you can read more about that on the Hexclad website.). It's probably some type of hybrid nonstick coating like that used by ScanPan, but we're not sure. Companies can be rather close-mouthed about their nonstick coatings, considering it proprietary information.

Hexclad, like all cookware sold in the US today, is free of PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), which is a forever chemical used to make PTFE (Teflon) cookware. People can confuse PTFE and PFOA, but they are different chemicals. All nonstick cookware that isn't ceramic nonstick contains PTFE, but PFOA is outlawed, so all manufacturers now have to use a different chemical. 

The bad news is that manufacturers are using chemicals similar to PFOA, which is necessary to get the PTFE layer to adhere to the pan base. Hexclad doesn't say what they're using, only that they're "PFOA free," but it's almost certainly another nasty forever chemical; as far as we know, these are the only chemicals that work for the nonstick cookware manufacturing process.

(For more info on these chemicals, see our article What is PFOA? A Guide to Nonstick Cookware Chemicals--there's a lot to know before you buy nonstick cookware.)

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Is Hexclad Cookware Safe? 

Like all cookware that contains PTFE, the best answer is probably.

As long as you use the pans correctly--no high heat, no aerosol cooking spray--the bigger concern is the chemicals used to apply the PTFE to the pan (i.e., PFAS, as discussed above).

The truth is that no matter what Hexclad is using to apply their nonstick coatings, these chemicals are almost completely used up in the manufacturing process. In fact, you are more likely to be exposed to PFAS or similar chemicals from your drinking water than from your nonstick cookware.

However: because Hexclad pans do contain PTFE, there are a few factors to consider. As with any PTFE cookware, you should always use low-to-medium heat because high heat can cause the PTFE to break down and release toxic fumes. These fumes can cause "polymer fever" in humans, creating flu-like symptoms, and the fumes are lethal to birds. (If you own a pet bird, you should NOT own any PTFE cookware.)

But Hexclad pans require a little more consideration: because of Hexclad's unique hybrid design, we wonder what happens when the PTFE in Hexclad begins to break down, as it inevitably will over time (true no matter how careful you are with it because that is the nature of PTFE coatings).

Does the stainless overlay make it harder to detect deteriorated PTFE?

And if so, does this make Hexclad cookware potentially more unsafe than regular PTFE cookware?

We don't have the answers to these questions, but we will say that in our testing, we noticed that after several uses, the pan surfaces looked a bit like worn-out Teflon; you can see an image of this below by following that link and decide what you think.

In any case, Hexclad cookware is almost certainly safe when used properly. But we are a little concerned about the appearance of possibly degrading PTFE after our testing. Some of it is obviously dulled stainless steel, from scrubbing, but we aren't sure it can all be attributed to that. 

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Do You Have to Season Hexclad Pans?

Yes, according to Hexclad.

Wash the pan with soapy water before you do anything. Then, to season the pan, you simply wipe the interior with a teaspoon of any cooking oil and heat the pan for 1-2 minutes over medium-low heat. Done.

We've noticed that an increasing number of nonstick cookware makers recommend this type of "seasoning" before use. It's supposed to help make the pan more nonstick and to make the nonstick surface last longer. Many makers, including Hexclad, also tell you that if you notice sticking to re-season the pan.

There are many different instructions for nonstick pan seasoning. Most of them are like Hexclad's, but some of them say you should heat the pan at 300F for an hour or two. According to Cook's Illustrated, you heat a clean, empty skillet over low to medium heat for 30 seconds, remove from heat, rub with 1 tablespoon of cooking oil, then wipe it clean.

We are skeptical that this "seasoning" does anything at all to the pans. Traditional seasoning, as applied to cast iron and carbon steel, requires heating a pan at high temperature--400F or above--for at least an hour, and repeating a few times to build up a coating. These high temps and long curing times cause cooking oil to polymerize--it actually changes into a different substance and becomes a sort of slippery plastic, not unlike PTFE (aka Teflon®). 

Such polymerization is not possible at the low temps used on nonstick cookware, so this "seasoning" process is something very different than that used on cast iron and carbon steel. And even if you heated the oil to polymerization temps (i.e., 400F and above), the nonstick coatings are going to behave very differently than cast iron and carbon steel, both of which interact with the cooking oil to create polymerization. 

Furthermore, seasoning shouldn't be necessary for the obvious reason that nonstick coatings should be slippery without such a treatment. 

It seems to us that all you're really doing is coating the pan with oil. This coating may help prevent food from sticking, which is why you use cooking oil in the first place (and to add flavor, of course).

The coating may also help protect the nonstick surface from damage, though we're less sure on this point. 

In any case, we followed the instructions before we used the Hexclad pans, and we recommend that you do, too--even though we have our doubts about the science behind seasoning nonstick pans.

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Is Hexclad Induction Compatible?

Yes: all Hexclad cookware is induction compatible.

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Hexclad Claims: True or False?

Here are our testing results on all the claims about Hexclad cookware.

The Nonstick Coating Is Ceramic

True but incomplete: in the fine print, Hexclad admits that their nonstick coating contains PTFE (aka Teflon). They aren't forthcoming with this information, but we suspect that Hexclad nonstick coating is a basic PTFE coating that's reinforced with ceramic particles (probably similar to ScanPan).

In other words, it's probably a pretty typical reinforced PTFE coating, found on many products today. The difference is the stainless lattice overlay, which we believe does more to protect the nonstick coating than any other innovation thus far in the nonstick cookware world.

Hexclad has a Nonstick Cooking Surface

False. Hexclad says these are hybrid pans, which means that they are not truly nonstick: you must use oil or butter, or food will stick (this from their website). 

The nonstick coating makes the pans easier to wash, and it helps food to stick less than it does to stainless. But in some ways it's actually worse than clad stainless: all those "peaks and valleys" provide a lot of places for food to get lodged in--so use oil or butter, or risk having a sticky mess to clean up.

Also, for best nonstick results, you have to use low heat. If you crank the heat up, this will also cause food to stick (ask us how we know). 

Superior Searing

False. Yes, for a pan you only use on low to medium heat, you can get a decent sear--but not a great one. 

In order to get a delicious sear--the kind you want on those juicy ribeyes--you have to use high heat. And to use high heat safely, you need to use a different pan (we recommend cast iron).

Hexclad will put adequate browning on your food, but if you want a deep, caramelized sear, Hexclad is not the tool to use.

Oven Safe to 500F

True. PTFE begins to degrade around 390F, but does not emit toxic fumes until it reaches about 590F. Thus, most PTFE cookware is technically oven safe to 500F. Even so, you should think twice before you put your nonstick (or Hexclad) pan in an oven this hot; high heat takes a terrible toll on PTFE.

Truly Metal Utensil Safe

True! The stainless steel lattice really does protect the underlying nonstick coating from damage. Although you can run a metal spatula or pizza cutter (for example) over the pan surface and not harm the pan, we don't recommend poking it with a knife tip or a fork, as these may reach below the lattice and damage the nonstick coating. (Hexclad doesn't say this, we do; it's our common sense conclusion after using the cookware.)

Truly Dishwasher Safe

True. But we recommend washing by hand, anyway. Dishwasher detergent has harsh abrasives that are terrible for nonstick coatings, and the stainless lattice can't protect it from this.

You should wash all of your nonstick cookware by hand, always. 

Can Use Abrasive Sponges On It

True. But as with the dishwasher, we're not sure you want to use any abrasives on your nonstick. The stainless lattice may help protect the nonstick surface from scratching, but we don't think that it protects it completely--you may be able to reach the PTFE with an abrasive sponge.

The Hexclad lattice can discolor from use, and abrasives are the easiest way to bring back the original shine. But even so, we do not recommend it.

Backed By a Lifetime Warranty

Technically true. But incomplete: like many cookware warranties, it is limited to manufacturer defects. You can read the warranty on the Hexclad website.

Their 30 day money back guarantee is good, but you must pay your own return shipping, and it does not apply to Hexclad cookware purchased through third party sellers, and it probably won't cover a worn nonstick coating.

This isn't unusual, and we're not picking on Hexclad here: If nonstick cookware makers exchanged every pan with a worn out coating, they would go out of business.

So while the Hexclad warranty isn't stellar, it's better than average for nonstick cookware. 

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What Users Are Saying about Hexclad

Like many nonstick cookware brands (even high-end expensive ones), reviews of Hexclad are mixed. Also mixed are opinions about the Hexclad hybrid technology. Some people think it's the greatest thing since Teflon itself, while others are skeptical or unimpressed with performance.

Here's what we've found on Hexclad around the Internet:

Amazon: On Amazon, 4- and 5-star reviews for the different Hexclad products average about 85%, which is good (we like to see 80% and above). However, the 1- and 2-star reviews average about 14%, which is higher than we like to see (we like to see bad reviews under 10%). 

This isn't too bad, but some of the negative reviews were interesting. Several users complained that the cookware is not nonstick (which we already knew). Some complained about bad (or nonexistent) customer service (which we found surprising). Someone said the pan flaked, though Hexclad replaced the pan when they sent in photos (which is great). Another reviewer said the lids felt cheap (which we agree with). Some people complained about discoloration (which we also experienced in our testing).

Overall, most of the reviews were positive--but even the positive reviewers seemed to not have high expectations of these pans being truly nonstick.

If people expected true nonstick, they tended to leave negative reviews; if they didn't mind using oil or butter and low heat, they tended to leave positive reviews. 

Costco: Reviews on Costco were similar to Amazon's: mostly positive (an average of 4.2 out of 5), but with some scathing negative reviews about sticking, flaking, being defective out of the box, and bad customer service. 

Consumer Reports: Consumer Reports really liked these pans, giving them an overall positive rating. They dinged the cookware on handle sturdiness but otherwise gave it mostly good reviews. (Which is odd, because we liked the handle and found it perfectly sturdy.)

Fakespot: Fakespot ratings on Amazon varied quite a bit, too: most Hexclad products were rated "A" or "B," but a few of them were "C" and there were even two "D" ratings.

Note that this doesn't mean the product is inferior but rather that some of the reviews may be deceptive. For the most part, Hexclad products, and the company itself, gets good ratings from Fakespot--but it's something we're going to keep an eye on, and update if things change for the worse.

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What to Look at When Buying Cookware (Or: How We Rated Hexclad)

These are the important characteristics when buying nonstick cookware, and the features we looked at when rating Hexclad:

• Heating performance
• Durability
• Nonstick performance
• Design
• Ease of cleaning
• Price
• Warranty.

We rate Hexclad in each category and give an overall rating at the end.

We tested the Hexclad skillet, and recommend buying only the skillet or griddle; possibly the "wok" if you're not going to use it as a wok--that is, with high heat--but rather as a deep skillet or chef's pan.

Though technically Hexclad is a hybrid cookware, the nonstick coating is its biggest limitation. You can't use high heat (like you can with clad stainless). This makes it a nonstick pan, even though it's not truly nonstick because you have to use oil or butter for food to not stick. 

If you think of Hexclad as a more durable nonstick skillet, and not as a clad stainless pan that food doesn't stick to, you're less likely to be disappointed with the pan's overall performance. 

Heating Performance

We tested the 12 inch skillet, as that is the size we typically reach for. We used it for a couple of weeks to get a good feel for how the pan performed, cleaned up, and held up. 

The 12 inch skillet weighs 4 pounds without the lid. That may sound heavy, but this heft is largely responsible for the pan's excellent heating performance; too light, and a pan--especially a clad stainless pan--doesn't have enough mass to heat evenly or hang onto heat well. 

Before use, we seasoned the pan per Hexclad's instructions: just a few minutes of low heat with a small amount of oil. This is supposed to prevent sticking, though as we discussed earlier, we don't understand the science behind it and aren't sure if it makes much of a difference. 

First we boiled water in the Hexclad skillet side-by-side with All-Clad D3 to see how fast the Hexclad pans were in comparison: Hexclad fared well, coming to a boil about 15 seconds faster than All-Clad D3. (This was a surprising result, so we re-tested and got the same outcome--the Hexclad pan actually heats slightly faster than the All-Clad D3.) 

To test heat retention, we poured out the water and left the pans on the burners to dry. This wasn't a scientific test, but both pans stayed hot for about the same amount of time--or in other words, the Hexclad and the All-Clad D3 skillets have similar heat retention properties.

When we cooked, we also used cooking oil or butter, just as Hexclad told us to: no bare pans. 

To test the Hexclad skillet's performance, we made pancakes and cheese omelets, we seared burgers and chicken breasts, and we sautéed mixed vegetables (broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower). 

We used low to medium heat for all the tasks, as we found cautions all over the Internet against using high heat: the nonstick properties become pretty much nonexistent above medium (and, in our experience, aren't that great at medium heat--more on that in a minute). 

This heat limitation is normal for nonstick cookware because high heat destroys the nonstick coating--and Hexclad, containing PTFE, is not exempt from this limitation (yes, even though it's oven safe to 500F--a stovetop burner on high can go well above 500F in a surprisingly short amount of time). 

All-Clad also states that you don't need to use high heat with their clad stainless cookware, but for different reasons: the pans are so efficient and rapid-heating that you don't need high heat to get fast, even heating.

We found this to be true for Hexclad, too.

(The difference is that if you want to use high heat with clad stainless, you won't hurt it. But if you want to use high heat with a nonstick or Hexclad pan, you will destroy it; maybe not immediately, but heat damage is cumulative to nonstick, so over time, high heat will kill your nonstick pan; even medium heat can take its toll, depending on how hot your burners get.)

In any case, even at low and medium heat settings the Hexclad skillet heated quickly and evenly--it was very close to what you'd expect from an All-Clad D3 skillet, or a high-end, cast aluminum nonstick pan (like All-Clad or ScanPan). In fact, it was a little better than D3: just as even, and faster. Everything we cooked came out evenly browned and nicely done. Even pancakes came out surprisingly evenly golden brown.

We do like to get more of a sear on meat than we can get at low heats, and here we'd like to caution buyers to not be taken in by some of the Hexclad videos you'll find on the Internet: there's no way to get a sear like that on a steak or a burger without using high heat--a task best suited to cast iron, carbon steel, or very heavy clad stainless like the Demeyere Proline skillet. In fact, in some of the videos, if you look closely, you can see the high flame under the pan. 

But other than that, we can't really fault the Hexclad heating performance. Overall, it's as good as All-Clad D3--but if you like a good sear, we recommend using a different pan, or risk harming your Hexclad, not to mention ending up with a sticky mess. 

Durability

The durability issue is a bit hard to nail down. Because yes, Hexclad cookware is definitely more durable than your average nonstick. The stainless steel lattice that overlays the PTFE coating does a good job of protecting it from scratches--so you actually can use metal utensils with Hexclad without scratching. At least, you can use metal utensils that aren't capable of digging below the stainless surface, so anything with a wide blade is going to be okay.

So Hexclad provides above-average durability when compared to other nonstick pans. But when you compare it to a clad stainless cooking surface, its durability is considerably worse.

With clad stainless, you don't need to use high heat most of the time--but you can do so without harming it. And with clad stainless, you may not want to use steel utensils if you're concerned about scratching, but you can, and it won't do any damage other than possibly cosmetic.

Neither of these facts are true for Hexclad. You can use some metal utensils, sure--but you have to always be careful not to poke below the lattice. 

Hexclad does an electric mixer demo where they run the beaters all over the surface of the pan. Impressive, but again, the stainless lattice protects the underlying nonstick coating. This is good, and it's great that you really can use metal utensils. But this is not the only only limitation of nonstick: high heat is also a killer of these pans.

High heat, is a huge no-no for any PTFE pan, which Hexclad is. You may not notice the PTFE coating wearing out because of the lattice overlay, but it definitely will wear out, because that's what PTFE does. 

(And how safe is a PTFE coating when you can't tell how worn out it is? Is it releasing fumes at high heat? Is it releasing toxic chemicals? We don't have the answers to these questions, but we'd sure like to know.)

For these reasons, we gave the Hexclad an average durability rating: better than nonstick, but nowhere near a real clad stainless pan. So, if you want a pan you can use like clad stainless, then you should deduct a star or two for durability. However, if you want a nonstick pan but with greater durability--and you're willing to treat the pan like a nonstick pan--then you can add at least one star. 

For durable nonstick, Hexclad is probably the best there is--except for the fact that it's not a truly nonstick pan.

Nonstick Performance

Here's maybe the biggest drawback of all for Hexclad: the pans aren't truly nonstick. 

For food to not stick, you have to use cooking oil or butter. (Hexclad tells us this: "our pans do require a bit of oil since they are hybrid pans.") Without this lubrication, the sticking is bad. In fact--because yes, we tried to make a fried egg without any oil in the pan--we think it's worse than regular clad stainless, because clad stainless will, for the most part, release food even without cooking oil when the food has developed the proper crust (even an egg, though it will probably be overcooked by the time it does so).

But the Hexclad pans were awful at releasing food without oil or butter in the pan, no matter how well-browned the food was. 

We attribute this to the uneven surface of the pan: though those "peaks and valleys" are marketed as a huge innovation in cookware design, they actually provide all kinds of surface area for food to stick. And because the surface is uneven, it doesn't clean up all that easily, either.

So, you have to use cooking oil or butter with a Hexclad pan, and this fact makes it not a nonstick pan in the truest sense of that word.

We know that's a little bit harsh because most nonstick pans only stay that way for a brief time when they're new, and after that you have to use cooking oil for food to not stick. But at the prices of these Hexclad pans, we expected something a little more impressive, a little more innovative, and a little more nonstick.

So again: if you're looking for a great nonstick pan you can use without adding oil or butter, Hexclad is not it. And if you're looking for a durable clad stainless pan that will last for decades and take a ton of abuse, Hexclad is not it, either (because, PTFE).

If you're looking for something in-between, something that's usually easier to clean than clad stainless, and you don't mind using cooking oil, and can live with many of the care and use restrictions of nonstick (low heat!), then Hexclad is a good choice.

Overall Hexclad Rating: 3.1

Our overall rating for Hexclad cookware is 3.14. It gets above average points for even heating, for being more durable than other nonstick cookware (though it's less durable than clad stainless), for its great design, and for ease of cleaning (though just barely). It gets average or below ratings for nonstick performance, price, and warranty.

What this tells you is that Hexclad is high quality cookware with good design that performs well--but that it also has many of the drawbacks of nonstick cookware, like questionable durability and limited versatility, that makes us question if it's worth the clad-stainless prices you'll pay for it.

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Hexclad Buying Options

Hexclad started out as a direct-to-consumer brand, but it is now available on Amazon and perhaps a few other retailers. Do a price check before buying: the Hexclad site may have considerably lower prices than Amazon on some pieces, while Amazon may have lower prices than Hexclad on some pieces. 

Our recommendations below are based on the above criteria (heating performance, durability, design, ease of cleaning, price, warranty). We tested only the Hexclad skillet, but our results should apply to all Hexclad cookware. We included all buying options, but (again) we recommend Hexclad be considered a nonstick pan. That is, all you really need is a skillet. 

Nonstick coatings aren't as necessary in sauce pans or stock pots, much less woks, which require high heat (although the Hexclad wok would make an excellent Chef's pan, if you don't mind using low heat settings with it). 

Hexclad Skillets

Hexclad skillets come in 8-, 10-, 12-, and 14-inch sizes. Lids are sold separately unless otherwise stated. 

The Hexclad skillet has nice design and heats quickly and evenly. If you want a nonstick-type skillet and don't mind not being able to use high heat with it (you can't sear steaks in it), it's a nice and great-looking piece. Nonstick is cheaper, and clad stainless will last longer, but even so, there are probably a lot of people who can find a spot for a Hexclad skillet in their kitchen.

See Hexclad 8 inch skillet on Amazon

See Hexclad 10 inch skillet on Amazon

See Hexclad 12 inch skillet at Hexclad

See Hexclad 14 inch skillet with lid on Amazon

See Hexclad skillets at Hexclad

See all Hexclad buying options (including lids):

Hexclad Griddle

We like the Hexclad griddle. With a little butter or cooking oil, it will turn out evenly-browned pancakes, bacon, and eggs. We prefer a square griddle, but the 12-inch diameter provides a good amount of room. The slight lip discourages spills, and--maybe best of all-- you can use a metal turner to flip your pancakes. At around $140, it's a little steep, but being able to flip your pancakes with a metal turner might make this griddle worth every penny to you.

See Hexclad 12 inch griddle on Amazon

See Hexclad 12 inch griddle at Hexclad

Hexclad Woks

They're certainly pretty--but if you want a wok for traditional Asian-style stir frying, we do not recommend Hexclad. Wok cooking is done at high heat, per this wok cooking guide, and high heat is not recommended for Hexclad cookware. In fact, high heat is a disaster, causing terrible sticking as well as damaging the PTFE coating (and possibly making it release harmful fumes).

BUT--if you think of these "woks" as Chef's pans or Essential pans--which they could certainly pass for--then they become much more versatile. If you view these pans as oversized skillets, then you might just find that they are one of the most versatile pans in your kitchen. 

In fact, both the 10- and 12-inch "woks" are too small to be good for stir frying. But as essential pans, they work.

You can get the 12 inch with or without a lid; the 14 inch comes with a lid. Interestingly, the 14 inch lid is domed and partially stainless, while the 12 inch lid is not domed and all glass.

Note that if you buy the pan for use as a chef's pan, you definitely need to get the lid. The 12 inch lid is about $50; the 14 inch lid is about $70.

See Hexclad 10 inch wok on Amazon

See Hexclad 12 inch wok on Amazon

See Hexclad 14 inch wok with lid on Amazon

SEE ALL HEXCLAD wok BUYING OPTIONS:

Hexclad Sets

Hexclad sells a 7 piece set of skillets with a wok, a new 6 piece set of Hexclad sauce pans with stock pot, and, if you really want to fully commit to this new hybrid technology, a behemoth 13 piece "Chef's Package" that includes all of these; the only pieces missing are the 14-inch skillet and wok.

UPDATE: Hexclad has added a number of new sets to their collections. Click on the buttons below to see the full collection at Amazon or at Hexclad.

Their newer collections include a sauce pan set, a roasting pan with cutting board and Damascus chef knife, knives, food prep bowls, and more. Check out the Hexclad site to see all the buying options.

Don't forget to count the lids, which are considered separate pieces.

See 7 Piece Skillet and Griddle Set on Amazon

See 6 piece skillet set on Amazon

See 6 Piece Pot Set on Amazon

See 6 Piece Pot Set at Hexclad

See 15 Piece "Chef's Package plus" on Amazon 

SEE HEXCLAD sets:

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Summary: Hexclad Cookware Pros and Cons

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Recommendation on Hexclad Cookware

We like Hexclad cookware for its quality and gorgeous design, but overall, we can't recommend it. It's too expensive for cookware with a nonstick coating that is going to wear out faster than its durable clad stainless body. It's also awfully expensive for cookware made in Asia--however, the technology really is innovative, so it's probably more expensive to make than regular nonstick. 

If you fall in love with Hexclad and have the budget for it, you may not regret buying it. But we think there are better options out there, whether you're looking for long-term durability or easy-to-clean nonstick.

What should you buy instead? It's hard to beat clad stainless for all-around versatility and durability; particularly true if you're looking for an entire set (which you should not get in nonstick or even hybrid nonstick). 

All-Clad D3 is excellent cookware that will last forever and has a lifetime warranty that the company will honor in the rare case that it doesn't. If you have a big budget, you can go even higher end than All-Clad, and you should definitely check out our clad stainless reviews.

If you're more interested in nonstick, you have several options for good quality at a substantially lower price than you'll pay for Hexclad. We like Anolon Nouvelle Copper for PTFE; if you want to go a little upscale, then ScanPan is a good choice (read our ScanPan review here and our Anolon review here).

If you want to avoid PTFE, then GreenPan is a good choice (but keep in mind that ceramic nonstick won't last as long as PTFE).

Our favorite "nonstick" option is cast iron or carbon steel: for under $50 or so, you can get a pan that will last forever.

Check out our Cookware page for a complete list of our cookware reviews. 

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Hexclad Cookware FAQs

Here some commonly asked questions about Hexclad cookware.

How Is Hexclad different from other cookware?

Hexclad is a hybrid cookware in that it is a nonstick cooking surface that's overlaid with a stainless steel lattice. The lattice protects the nonstick surface from abuse and is said to make the cookware last longer. 

Does Hexclad Contain PTFE (Teflon)?

Yes, the Hexclad nonstick coating is PTFE-based. This means that it is prone to all the pitfalls of PTFE nonstick cookware: no high heat, no abrasive scrubby pads, no aerosol cooking spray, etc. The steel lattice helps protect the nonstick surface from scratches, so you can use metal utensils, but nothing sharp that could pierce through the nonstick surface.

Is Hexclad Cookware Safe to Use?

Yes, as long as you follow all the safety precautions for PTFE nonstick cookware. For example, heat above 490F will cause it to release toxic fumes, so be careful with heat.

Can You Use High Heat with Hexclad Pans?

No, not really. PTFE begins to degrade around 390F and releases toxic fumes above 490F. So avoid high heat with this cookware.

Are Hexclad Pans Easy to Clean?

Hexclad pans are fairly easy to clean. The steel lattice causes them to be not as easy to clean as nonstick surfaces, and food particles can get stuck in the nooks and crannies and be hard to get out (especially eggs). 

Are Hexclad Pans Dishwasher Safe?

Hexclad says they are, but all good quality cookware, and especially cookware that contains PTFE, should be hand washed if you want to keep it looking good and get the longest life out of it.

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Final Thoughts on Hexclad Pans

Like a lot of hybrid products, Hexclad cookware is cool, but it's kind of a solution looking for a problem: nonstick cookware has its place, and is great for eggs and delicate foods. When used this way and taken care of properly, a nonstick pan can last for several years. 

Clad stainless cookware is some of the most versatile cookware in your kitchen, infinitely usable and durable, with no worries about high heat or metal utensils. 

Hexclad is part nonstick, part clad stainless, so it has properties of both. Unfortunately, it also has some of the limitations of nonstick cookware (you MUST use low heat!) without having the benefits of clad stainless (you MUST use low heat!). And even though the nonstick coating is protected by the really cool-looking lattice, heat will take its toll eventually, as it does on all nonstick coatings. And when it does, you may wish you'd gone with a clad stainless pan instead. 

Thanks for reading!

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