Is HexClad Cookware a Scam?

Is HexClad cookware really as durable and nonstick as the marketing claims? Does it really last a lifetime? Will you love it and should you buy it? This video tries to sort the truth from the marketing.

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CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
0:45 Who is Chris Young and why listen to him?
2:09 Unboxing HexClad cookware
3:27 How does Teflon work?
5:20 How does HexClad cookware work?
7:22 Is HexClad good or is it just good marketing?
7:47 Testing non-stick with water
8:33 Sunny side up egg test
10:07 Jacques Pépin omelet test
12:47 Where HexClad performs and where it doesn’t
13:11 Why does Teflon always start to stick?
14:50 About that lifetime warranty
16:04 Who should buy these pans?

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[todo]

As someone who cooks often and hates throwing away old cookware I've learned that I trust oil a lot more than I trust pans.

[TT-qsjz]

I had a Hexclad pan and after a couple of years, the surface started to show scratches and food started to stick. I contacted Hexclad and they asked me to send in some photos of the pan with scratches. They actually honored the lifetime warranty and sent me a new pan. I have been using this new pan for another two years now and so far so good.

[Frtrain]

Plastics Engineer here. Unbiased, credit given where due, and extremely accurate material science information tailored to the masses. Incredibly well said Chris, feels like I'm back in school again...

[Halicet]

I'm one of those who always tries to take exceptional care of their teflon cookware. I never take it above 500deg, and never use metal utensils in it, or scrub it with abrasives. It has always been frustrating to watch the coating break down and start to peel after about 2 years though, and I wondered if I was doing something wrong. Thanks for explaining the different expansion rates of teflon and metal, and the inevitable failure that results from it. That explains so much.

[mikef]

On this season of Hells Kitchen they swapped all the nonstick pans for Hexclad and on a recent episode there was a big problem with the scallops sticking. Ramsey was very careful not to trash his brand deal while also not being able to come up with a solution lol.

[alistairblaire]

I think the core of the problem is that people don’t want to admit that nonstick pans are basically disposable products with a limited lifespan. So the thought process is that if you spend a load of cash then maybe it will last longer. Really I think we just need to be less afraid of using oil because a sufficient amount isn’t that terrible for you.

[HowDareYouSpeakToMe]

I'm a HexClad owner, the comment you made at the end "reasonably non-stick, easy to clean and durable enough for misuse" applies to me perfectly. I burn seasonings, cook while drunk, etc. and HexClad has been awesome for me in that regard

[camdenmcandrews]

I confess: Having purchased and discarded many Teflon pans over the years, I am still using heavy-gauge stainless steel with an aluminum core that I purchased long, long ago the year they were made--specifically, Aristocraft made by West Bend in 1968. These pans perform as well today and look as good as they did 56 years ago. My only complaint is that they didn't include a good omelet pan in the set; the skillets are too deep.

Dry cooking relies on direct contact between the food an the metal. I like to cook with clarified butter. It can take the heat and in addition to preventing food from sticking, it distributes the heat to the food and tastes great.

Teflon is a marvelous coating for re-entry vehicles carrying nuclear weapons; and that it where it belongs.

[mholden]

Amazingly, Youtube *stuck* the ad for Hexclad pans before this video started!

[RichardCano]

I was very close to shelling out for Hexclad, but was convinced at the last minute to get a carbon steel pan for 40 bucks. So glad I did. I seasoned it and treat it like a cast iron and it works great. It can take high heat, metal utensils, and it gets really hot very fast. It sears great too. While it's not pure nonstick, when properly oiled and seasoned, nothing sticks.

[jessicamcmannus]

This is the best review I've seen on Hexclad. I made the decision to choose stainless steel cookware. It took a little practice, but Im happy I did it. I was almost convinced by Hexclad marketing tactics, but I got sick and tired of cookware coatings wearing out. Your video was the icing on the cake for my decision. No coated cookware will last forever.

[jblyon]

I bought a set of these pans shortly before Gordon started pushing them. I knew they were not traditional non-stick, but more decent quality stainless with some non-stick properties. With what I use them for they perform very well. They heat very evenly, cook evenly, and have been very durable. I can cook things that would stick terribly on regular stainless without too much trouble. All that said, their marketing is absolutely misleading, and if you buy these pans expecting traditional non-stick you WILL be disappointed!

[donkee]

That fork scraping the teflon pan gives me an anxiety attack.

[fortunateson]

I thought these pans were just a magic texture on steel and didn't know they were Teflon. I'll stick with my cast iron and stainless steel. Thank you for the info! If anyone out there is having trouble cooking eggs on stainless steel heat your pan without oil and throw some water on it, if the water skitters around and doesnt stick and evaporate immediately then you're ready for oil and eggs.

[harveycohen]

Your analysis is right-on. I have a ceramic (cheapie) where NOTHING sticks… but those have short life-spans. My Hexclad set are admittedly not slide-off-the-pan stick-free buuuut, perhaps I cook at a too high a temperature. That said, I absolutely LOVE the set! Truly durable. Extremely easy clean anything that DOES stick and yes, look brand new after four or five years of use. I just bought another piece and would do so again. Thanks for your informative and non-biased report. Truly appreciated.

[mosesjurassic]

This is really one of the best reviews I've ever seen. It's straight to the point and very balanced. No personal agenda is in the way of a fair evaluation of the product. And he treats the manufacturer with more respect than it probably deserves. Excellent!

[grovefalls]

About a year ago my wife woke up and decided it was time to replace our set of non-stick pans. We did an inventory. The only pans not damaged were the cast iron, which were staying regardless. Before conducting my research, we discussed the "requirements" and she identified Durability, Non-Stick, Ability to go into the dishwasher occasionally and Ease of Cleaning. I raised the fact that everyone but me continuously used metal utensils in the pans, causing damage time and again over 20 years. After researching, and watching videos, HexlClad seemed to be the best fit for the family. Agree fully that they are not perfect non-stick pans, but more than good enough for most tasks, and with some added butter or oil good enough for the eggs we cook normally. One year in, they have been a great compromise although I might have chosen something different personally. They are performing very well, and everyone likes them. Chris, Glad to see your making more videos and looking forward to receiving the thermometers!

[marcochimio]

I did not expect to be so impressed with the review and explanation. I'm an ok home cook, but also a bioorganic chemist, so this was pure joy for me to watch.

[hannahpreece]

Thank you for the great explanation of the technology.

We’ve been using only HexClad and stainless steel and cast iron pans for 4 years. When we used Hexclad on induction they looked pristine inside and out after a wipe with a damp cloth. Now that we have to cook on gas the pan is harder to keep pristine looking. But the cooking surface of the pan is the same as it was 4 years ago. We are by nature not careful people. The only care we take is not to stack the pans on top of each other. As he said in the review they are ideal for us, non stick enough and super durable. Honestly one of the best things is that we haven’t bought any new pans in those 4 years except additional (bigger) hexclad ones. There are no unwanted pans lurking at the back of the cupboard that are too good to throw away but not great. They definitely have lasted a lot longer than any other non stick pan I have bought. Family of seven here so lots of use.

Why not use cast iron or steel all the time. They are heavy, really heavy. HexClad has the plus of being light enough for anyone to use.

[iguacu]

I swear that the key to nonstick durability is to never heat it without anything in the pan, at least some oil. It's when I used to let pans heat up on the burner dry before adding anything that nonstick would wear out quickly.