HexClad pans

1 How I Tested These Pans

As a food blogger who develops and photographs recipes, I spend hours in the kitchen. Quality pans directly affect my cooking results and the recipes I share with you. When I invested in new cookware for my kitchen refit, I wanted to document whether premium pans are worth the premium price.

My testing approach:

• Daily use since December 2024 (14+ months at time of writing)
• Tested across multiple cooking techniques: frying, sautéing, slow-cooking, searing
• Compared against my previous Le Creuset frying pans and standard non-stick
• All photos are my own pans in my own kitchen, not stock images

2 Are HexClad pans worth the money and hype?

This is the first time I have written a product review on the website, but as I know many of our readers are keen cooks, I wanted to give my feedback on the HexClad pans I purchased. I have been cooking with the pans for three months now, so here are my early impressions.

3 Purchase

I took the plunge with HexClad when I saw an offer for a three-pan set with over 30% off the list price. This was August 2024. We had a kitchen refit planned for September and fancied new pans for the kitchen and our new induction hob. I thought the kitchen would be completed in early November, but it turned out it was mid-December before I could get my hands on the new pans.

The set comprised of

20cm Hybrid pan and lid

30cm Hybrid pan

Hybrid Deep Saute pan 32cm

Total price £320.00 inc delivery

Once you place the order, expect more information and emails on how to take care of your prized possessions and register your pans for the lifetime guarantee.

4 Unboxing

As unboxing is a thing these days, I will describe the packaging. It has to be said that the pans are well-packed. Each pan’s outer packaging is a standard brown card box; once inside, you are faced with a smart HexClad box; when you have worked out how to open that box there is your pan, well nearly as each pan is wrapped in a drawstring bag, open the bag a there is a gleaming HexClad pan.

5 Cooking

Before you can start to cook with the pans, you need to season each pan first; basically, this involves washing in warm, soapy water and dry. Then place on a medium-low each and thinly coat the interior of the pan with cooking oil; heat for 2-3 minutes and your pan is ready to use.

So, for the fun part, cook with HexClad pans. I tackle the Hybrid pans first. These are slightly deeper frying pans but also work well with sauces, and I’ve used the 30cm pan as a Wok. The pans heat up quickly and give a nice sear to meat and vegetables. My wife recently cooked pancakes in the 20cm pan, and she loved the even cooking and the non-stick properties of the pan.

I love cooking eggs in the 20cm hybrid, I actually now cook fried eggs with the lid on as it saved flipping the egg and cooking the top side perfectly and quickly. I’m guessing I use one of these pans most days. I would say they cook food slightly quicker than my previous pans but this might also might be as much to do with the new hob as well as the pans.

Onto the big pan, this one I’ve not used as much as it is big and I’m usually only cooking for two, however when I have used it works well, I think I’ve used it for a couple of slow-cooked dishes like beef bourguignon, and I did make a curry in the pan for a family gathering, it called a deep saute pan and can be used for a variety of dishes, but for me it will be for occasional use due to its size.

All the pans have a substantial, high-quality feel without being overly heavy. A while back, I purchased two Le Creuset frying pans, but they were too heavy and took too long to heat up, making them impractical for everyday use. 

6 Cleaning

One off the biggest plus point is the non-stick capabilities of the pans, which make cleaning so easy. Although they are dishwasher-proof, I find it easier to rinse of with warm, soapy water. So far, nothing has stuck to any of the pans whilst cooking, and cleaning is super easy; the glass lids are the hardest to clean and require a little more effort to remove smears.

7 Final thoughts …

Ok, I’m guessing the main barrier to buying HexClad is the price. It’s likely that their marketing expenses and high-profile endorsements contribute to the product’s cost. However, despite the price, these pans are exceptional after 14 months of daily use. The lifetime guarantee is also a significant selling point.

If the cost puts you off, check their website or sign up to their mailing list, as they have lots of regular offers that offer big savings. I paid £320 for my three-pan set with over 30% off – patience pays.

I did order a lid for my 30cm hybrid pan and it’s made the pan far more versatile. I’d recommend getting lids for any hybrid pans if your set doesn’t include them.

8 What I Don’t Love (The Honest Bits)

No product is perfect, and I think it’s important to share some slight downsides:

The price is hard to justify – At £320 for three pans (on sale), these are expensive. You can get excellent cookware for half this price. I waited for a significant discount and I would I be without them, no.

The 32cm Deep Sauté Pan is too big for most people – I rarely use this pan because it’s simply too large for cooking for two. If I could choose again, I’d skip this and buy the 25cm hybrid instead. It’s become my “entertaining only” pan. However, see my 10-month update and I recently used for slow -cooking beef brisket for 7 hours and starting to use it more.

Initial blemish concern – One of my pans arrived with a visible mark. HexClad customer service took several days to respond (not ideal when you’ve spent this much money). They assured me it was cosmetic and wouldn’t affect performance, which proved true, but the experience was slightly frustrating.

You’ll need to buy accessories – Budget for a lid (if your set doesn’t include one) and silicone utensils. Metal utensils are technically safe but create an unpleasant scraping sound on the hexagonal surface.

The marketing is relentless – Once you buy, expect a barrage of emails. The celebrity endorsements feel excessive for what is, ultimately, just a pan. Gordon Ramsay doesn’t need to sell me cookware.

They’re not magic – You still need to use oil and proper technique. Some reviewers seem disappointed that “non-stick” doesn’t mean “nothing ever sticks under any circumstances.” I have to say, so far from my experience, very little sticks.

9 The Verdict

Would I buy them again? Yes, but I’d be smarter about it:

• Wait for a sale (they happen regularly)
• Possibly skip the huge sauté pan unless you cook for crowds
• Buy the 25cm hybrid as your workhorse
• Budget for lids

10 10-month Update

I’m 10 months into owning my HexClad pans, so I thought I would share a little update.

Firstly, I should say I’m loving the pans, and looking at them, they are showing very little signs of wear.

I did buy a lid for the 30cm hybrid pan, something I would recommend for the hybrid pans, as a lid makes them far more versatile in terms of the dishes you can cook with them. I already have a lid for the 20cm pan.

I now use these pans for slower-cooked dishes rather than just frying, which has really expanded their usefulness in my kitchen.

If you are only looking to buy one hybrid pan, go for the 25cm version – I think this size would be ideal for most people.

One regret is I do not use the 6.6-litre Hybrid Deep Sauté Pan very often, as it’s too big for dishes for two people. If you have a larger family, I think you would use it more. I do use it when entertaining and cooking slow-cooked dishes, but that’s about it.

At the moment, I’ve nothing more to add, but I will post further updates along my HexClad journey.

HexClad Website

Looking for more kitchenware reviews? Check out our review of kitchenware retailer ProCook and stay tuned for more honest assessments of Britain’s best kitchen retailers.