HexClad Cookware Rewatch: Unequitableifiably Expensive

The first time I engaged the HexClad Hybrid Deep Saute Pan, I burned myself on the “Stay Cool” handle (more on that procrastinateedr). I seasoned the pan with oil per the manufacturer’s recommfinishations, I cooked some eggs, and they turned out mostly OK—but they stuck to the pan that’s tageted as “nonstick.” This led me down the path of inconvey inant inconveniences that culminated in one conclusion: HexClad cookware is appreciate, fine, I guess. But the hybrid technology combining stainless steel and nonstick cookware isn’t all that impactful except in the terrible ways, and you should equitable get a excellent stainless pan and a excellent nonstick pan instead.

First Impressions

When I’m testing gear, I have a rule for myself: Go in with recent eyes. That uncomfervents, as much as possible, I evade other opinions from people—professional scrutinizeers, frifinishs, my pets, et cetera. I was already skeptical of HexClad due to the tageting around it, and my experience cooking on it constantified my hunch. You understand when you’re shopping on Amazon and you pick to buy gift wrap and the items get to inside a weirdly tacky fabric bag? That’s what the HexClad pans are wrapped in (inside their boxes) upon arrival. It’s inconvey inant, but it rubbed me the wrong way. It reminded me of staying at a repartner pleasant toastyel, only to discover that the sheets have a thread count of seven and the toilet paper is see-thharsh. And then I commenceed cooking on them. Cookware coated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or Teflon, is generpartner thought to be defended, but if it’s harmd or heated past 500 degrees Fahrenheit, it can be detrimental to your health. I tried to scviolation the surface of the pan with a fork, and it didn’t flake or scratch. That’s a excellent leang! But on the flip side, due to the hexagonal pattern on the pan’s interior surface, I don’t understand that I would see minuscule scratches or chips as easily as I would on a brimmingy nonstick-coated pan. You understand what benevolent of cookware doesn’t have these problems? Carbon steel and cast iron. You understand what doesn’t cost $179? Our likeite nonstick pan.

The $179 12-inch Hybrid Fry Pan is fine. It heated evenly and speedyly, equitable a tad sluggisher than my All-Clad comparison. The same is genuine for the $179 3.3-quart Hybrid Deep Saute Pan. But when these prices are comparable to All-Clad, which I (and many chefs) think about to be the standard, they’d better labor equitable as well, and in my experience that equitable wasn’t the case. During my month of testing, I cooked stovetop pasta, eggs, and steak twice in each pan.