“I really like the modern, upscale design,” Swartz says. “I’d been using the same set of pots and pans for a really long time, so I was worried I wouldn’t like changing things up. But the HexClad set certainly feels like an upgrade from what I had before. It’s easy to use and seems highly durable. Obviously, the price is on the higher side, but it seems worth it considering how versatile the pieces are.”
They each have their own purposes in Swartz’s kitchen. “The eight-inch pan is good for eggs,” he claims. “It truly is nonstick, so [much that] I can flip an omelet in the air. The smaller pan is good for making crepes. The medium- and large-size pans feel a little redundant. As a family of two, we may never or rarely use the largest one, though I do think the set will be great for hosting dinner parties, like Thanksgiving, as there are sizes for all my needs.”
For him, the pans are as painless to use as they are to clean. “When I started making ground beef, the pan was quick to heat up,” he says. “Fortunately, the heat felt evenly distributed. In fact, the pot handles and lids never got warm. The set is extremely easy to clean. Again, the fact that things don’t stick to the pans makes the cleanup process a lot better (which will make my partner happy, since I do the cooking and he does the cleaning).”
The Bottom Line
“There was no real con here beyond the price tag, and perhaps the fact that I won’t need to use the large ones very often,” Swartz reiterates. In my experience with a HexClad skillet, I’d add that there are some downsides depending on what it is you’re looking for. For instance, it’s durable *like* cast iron—although certainly not as heavy—but it isn’t recommended for use over high heat or an open flame. It’s nonstick and easy to clean, but you’ll still likely need to add a touch of oil to keep a sunny side-up egg from sticking.
So, it can’t do everything your trusty cast iron can, but it can do most of it for a fraction of the maintenance and weight. It’s no doubt a solid alternative to a cheaper nonstick set that you’ll need to replace in a year or two.
