HexClad Problems: What Tests Show and What the Warranty Covers
Sticking, coating wear and a marketing lawsuit are the questions around HexClad pans; here is what lab tests found, what the company says about care, and what its lifetime warranty does and does not cover.
Research-based: public sources and consumer feedback, not hands-on testing. How we review
In this article
Quick Verdict
Mixed resultsBottom line: HexClad pans cook evenly and release food well once seasoned, but published durability results have differed, and the lifetime warranty covers defects, not a coating that wears.
- Best for
- Cooks who will season the pan, keep the heat moderate and want to use metal utensils
- Main concern
- You expect effortless non-stick, or are counting on the warranty to cover wear
Research-based: public sources and consumer feedback, not hands-on testing. How we review
HexClad sells “hybrid” pans: stainless steel with a raised hexagonal pattern and a non-stick coating in the valleys between. The pitch is that you get the searing of steel and the easy release of non-stick, with a lifetime warranty behind it. Four questions are worth answering before you pay its prices: does food stick, how long does the coating last, what is the coating made of, and what does that warranty really cover? This article goes through each, using Consumer Reports’ lab tests, the company’s own care guidance and warranty terms, and a federal court record.
A note on the evidence
We have not surveyed HexClad owners and we do not quote customer reviews. Where this article describes a problem, the source is a published lab test or the company’s own FAQ, which answers the questions owners most often put to it.
Key takeaways
- Consumer Reports has published two different durability results for the HexClad Hybrid pan: mediocre in an older test, excellent on its current page
- HexClad's FAQ now describes the coating as a ceramic non-stick that is PTFE-free and PFAS-free
- A 2023 federal lawsuit alleged that pans sold as non-toxic and PFAS-free were coated with PTFE; that case was closed in January 2024
- The company's own guidance is to season the pan, cook on low to medium heat and expect sticking to improve over the first weeks
- The lifetime warranty covers manufacturing defects, not wear, overheating, cosmetic marks or misuse
What a hybrid pan is
The raised steel ridges sit above the coating, and the coating between them does the releasing. That design is why the care instructions look like a mixture of the two types: HexClad tells owners to season the pan with oil before first use, as you would carbon steel, and also says metal utensils are fine, which is not the usual advice for a non-stick pan.
Reported Problems
Each item is tied to a published test or to HexClad's own support pages. They concern the Hybrid frying pan unless stated.
Food sticks, especially at first
HexClad’s FAQ says performance improves over the first few weeks as the pan re-seasons from the fats in the food you cook, and that the pans perform best on low to medium heat. If sticking continues, it recommends a deep clean and re-seasoning, and it points to burnt-on residue from high heat as a cause. In other words, a HexClad pan is not expected to behave like a slick non-stick pan straight out of the box.
Source: HexClad: FAQ
How long the coating lasts: two test results
Consumer Reports’ durability test scrubs a pan with steel wool for up to 2,000 strokes. In an article on the least durable pans it tested, it said the HexClad Hybrid disappointed with a mediocre durability score, and that the coating was worn down to the steel, although the pan still released eggs afterward. Its current product page for the HexClad Hybrid rates durability as excellent. We could not establish from the published pages why the two differ; a change of coating between the tests is one possible explanation, and it is our guess, not Consumer Reports’ statement.
Source: Consumer Reports: Least Durable Nonstick Frying Pans
Staining and a dull finish
The FAQ acknowledges temporary staining around the rim and on the base, where bare steel is exposed, and says repeated dishwasher cycles can leave the pans looking dull or dark. It describes the pans as dishwasher safe but recommends washing by hand with a soft sponge.
Source: HexClad: FAQ
Scratches
HexClad says metal spatulas and whisks are fine, but that sharp utensils can leave scratches, which it calls cosmetic. Note that the warranty separately excludes damage from “misuse of sharp utensils”.
Source: HexClad: FAQ
What the Tests Found in Its Favor
- Excellent cooking evenness across the pan in Consumer Reports' test
- Very good release of eggs cooked one after another, after the pan was seasoned with oil
- Handles that stayed cool enough to hold on the stove and rated good for sturdiness
What the coating is made of, and the lawsuit about it
This is the area that has changed most, so the dates matter.
Now. HexClad’s FAQ describes the coating as its own ceramic non-stick, which it calls PTFE-free and PFAS-free. Consumer Reports’ current product page also notes that the coating is made without PTFE.
Earlier. In June 2023 a proposed class action, Didwania v. HexClad Cookware, Inc., was filed in federal court in the Central District of California (No. 2:23-cv-05110). According to Truth in Advertising’s summary of the complaint, it alleged that HexClad marketed its cookware as non-toxic and free of PFAS when the pans were coated with PTFE, which is a member of the PFAS family. Those were allegations. The court docket shows the case was closed on January 4, 2024, and Truth in Advertising records it as voluntarily dismissed. No court ruled on whether the claims were true.
The reported settlement. A settlement of a related case in California state court has been widely reported, and there is a settlement website. We were not able to open that website or the state court file, so we are not repeating the reported terms here. Published reports put the deadline for claims in November 2025, which has passed. HexClad is reported to have denied wrongdoing.
What this means for a buyer is simple. A HexClad pan bought today is described by the company as PTFE-free. A pan bought a few years ago may have a different coating from the one the current FAQ describes. If that matters to you, ask HexClad which coating your pan has, quoting when and where you bought it. Our article on air fryer problems explains the wider PFAS question and why “PFOA-free” was never the same as “PFAS-free”.
What the lifetime warranty covers
HexClad’s warranty page says its cookware carries a lifetime warranty against manufacturer’s defects. The exclusions are where most disappointment will come from:
| Covered | Not covered |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer’s defects | Damage from excessive heat |
| Abuse, neglect or improper storage | |
| Misuse of sharp utensils | |
| Improper cleaning or improper seasoning | |
| Cosmetic blemishes and changes in appearance over time, which it treats as normal wear | |
| Commercial or restaurant use |
Other terms to know:
- The warranty belongs to the original buyer, or the original recipient of a gift, and cannot be transferred.
- Proof of purchase is required, and the pan must have been bought new from HexClad or an authorized seller. A marketplace listing from an unauthorized reseller may leave you without cover.
- The remedy is a replacement, and you may have to pay to ship the old pan back.
Read against the problems above, the gap is clear. Sticking, staining, a dulled finish and a worn coating are the complaints, and wear, cleaning, seasoning and heat are the exclusions. A lifetime warranty against defects is not a promise that the non-stick surface will last a lifetime.
For how full and limited warranties differ, and how to make a claim, see what an appliance warranty covers. If you are weighing it against a ceramic pan, see HexClad vs Caraway.
Who a HexClad Pan May Suit
- Cooks who want one pan for searing and for eggs, and will season it and keep the heat moderate
- People who prefer to use metal utensils
- Buyers who want a coating the maker describes as PTFE-free
Who May Want to Consider Alternatives
- Anyone expecting effortless non-stick with no seasoning or technique
- Buyers relying on the lifetime warranty to cover a worn coating
- People who put pans through the dishwasher daily and want them to stay looking new
What to check before you buy
- Buy from HexClad or an authorized seller, and keep the receipt. The warranty depends on both.
- Read the return policy, separately from the warranty. A return is how you deal with a pan you simply do not like. Our guide to returns, refunds and chargebacks explains the difference.
- Look at current independent test results for the exact pan, given that published durability scores have differed.
- Read the recent critical reviews for mentions of sticking that did not improve. Our guide to reading negative reviews shows how to weigh them.
How we researched this
We read Consumer Reports’ published test results and commentary for the HexClad Hybrid, HexClad’s own FAQ and warranty page, the federal court docket for the 2023 lawsuit and Truth in Advertising’s summary of it. We did not test any pan, and we did not survey owners, which is why this article does not say how common any problem is. If HexClad wishes to respond, we will publish its response.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does food stick to my HexClad pan?
HexClad’s own guidance is that the pan needs seasoning with oil before first use, works best on low to medium heat, and improves over the first few weeks. Burnt-on residue from high heat also causes sticking; the company recommends a deep clean and re-seasoning.
Does HexClad contain PFAS or PTFE?
HexClad’s FAQ currently describes its coating as a ceramic non-stick that is PTFE-free and PFAS-free. A 2023 lawsuit alleged that pans sold at that time were coated with PTFE. If you own an older pan, ask the company which coating it has.
Does the HexClad lifetime warranty cover a worn non-stick coating?
The warranty covers manufacturer’s defects. It excludes damage from excessive heat, improper cleaning or seasoning and misuse, and it treats cosmetic changes over time as normal wear. Whether a worn coating counts as a defect is for HexClad to decide on a claim.
Can I use metal utensils on HexClad?
HexClad says metal spatulas, whisks and spoons are fine. It adds that sharp utensils can scratch the surface, and its warranty excludes damage from misuse of sharp utensils.
Was there a HexClad lawsuit?
Yes. A proposed class action about the company’s non-toxic and PFAS-free marketing was filed in federal court in June 2023 and closed in January 2024. A settlement of a related state-court case has been reported; we could not verify its terms from the official sources.
Sources & Evidence
Where the facts in this article come from. Summaries are in our own words; follow the links to check them yourself.
- Consumer Reports: HexClad Hybrid cookware review
- Consumer Reports: Least Durable Nonstick Frying Pans and What to Buy Instead
- HexClad: FAQ (read October 2026)
- HexClad: Lifetime Warranty Information (read October 2026)
- Court docket: Didwania v. HexClad Cookware, Inc., No. 2:23-cv-05110 (C.D. Cal.), via CourtListener
- Truth in Advertising: HexClad Cookware class action summary
- HexClad settlement website (could not be opened when we checked)
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