HexClad vs Caraway: Test Results, Care Rules and Warranties Compared
Caraway's ceramic pan did at least as well as HexClad's hybrid in Consumer Reports' tests but needs gentler care and has a one-year warranty; this comparison sets out which cook each one suits.
Research-based: public sources and consumer feedback, not hands-on testing. How we review
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In this article
Quick Verdict
Bottom line: Caraway is the better non-stick pan in Consumer Reports' tests if you hand-wash and use gentle heat. HexClad suits cooks who sear and use metal utensils. Neither coating is promised to last for ever.
- Best for
- Caraway for delicate foods; HexClad for rougher all-round use
- Main concern
- Caraway's one-year warranty and care rules; HexClad's need for seasoning and its two conflicting durability results
Research-based: public sources and consumer feedback, not hands-on testing. How we review
Quick answer
These are two different kinds of pan. Caraway is a ceramic-coated non-stick pan: in Consumer Reports’ tests it released food and resisted wear at least as well as HexClad, but it must be hand-washed, kept to low or medium-low heat and kept away from metal utensils, and its warranty is one year. HexClad is a steel-and-coating hybrid that tolerates metal utensils and carries a lifetime warranty against defects, but needs seasoning and is not as slick. Neither coating is promised to last for ever.
HexClad and Caraway are often compared as if they were rivals for the same job. They are not quite. This comparison sets out what Consumer Reports’ lab tests found for each, what each company’s own care instructions and warranty say, and which kind of cook each one suits. We did not test either pan, and Consumer Reports did not test them head to head; the results come from its separate reviews of each.
HexClad and Caraway Compared
| Product | Best for | Main strength | Main weakness | Overall assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caraway ceramic non-stick | Easy release with little or no oil, for cooks who will hand-wash and use gentle heat | Excellent food release and cooking evenness in testing; durability rated very good | Hand wash only, low to medium-low heat, no rough metal utensils, one-year warranty | The better non-stick pan, if you treat it gently |
| HexClad Hybrid | Cooks who want to sear, use metal utensils and keep one pan for most jobs | Excellent cooking evenness; raised steel ridges sit above the coating, and the maker says metal utensils are fine; lifetime warranty against defects | Needs seasoning, food can stick at first, and Consumer Reports has published two different durability results | A tougher all-rounder that is less slick |
What the tests found
| Consumer Reports test | Caraway | HexClad Hybrid |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking evenness | Excellent | Excellent |
| Food release (eggs cooked one after another) | Excellent | Very good, after seasoning with oil |
| Coating durability (up to 2,000 strokes with steel wool) | Very good | Two results: mediocre in one article, where the coating wore through to the steel, and excellent on the current product page |
| Handle staying cool on the stove | Excellent | Stayed cool enough to hold |
| Handle sturdiness | Excellent | Good |
Two cautions. The durability test is an abrasion test in a lab; it is not years in a kitchen, and neither company promises a number of years. And the conflicting HexClad results are both Consumer Reports’ own. We cannot tell you which reflects the pan on sale today, which is why our article on HexClad problems reports both.
How you have to treat each pan
| Caraway | HexClad | |
|---|---|---|
| Heat | Low to medium-low | Low to medium; the company says high heat causes burnt-on residue and sticking |
| Utensils | Wood, silicone, plastic or nylon. Caraway says metal utensils with rough edges may damage the coating. | Metal spatulas and whisks are fine; sharp utensils can scratch |
| Washing | By hand, once cool. Caraway says the dishwasher will damage the ceramic coating. | Described as dishwasher safe, but hand washing is recommended, and repeated dishwasher cycles can dull the finish |
| Before first use | No seasoning is mentioned in the care instructions we read | Season with oil; the company says performance improves over the first few weeks |
This is the practical difference. Caraway asks for more care and gives an easier surface in return. HexClad forgives rougher handling and asks you to accept a surface that is closer to seasoned steel than to a classic non-stick pan.
The warranties
- Caraway: a one-year limited warranty on its ceramic-coated cookware. It covers major damage that impairs the cookware’s function and excludes discoloration, wear and tear, misuse and failure to follow the care instructions. Caraway says it applies in the United States, to purchases from Caraway or an authorized retailer. Its stainless steel and enameled cast iron lines have a lifetime warranty instead.
- HexClad: a lifetime warranty against manufacturer’s defects, for the original buyer. It excludes damage from excessive heat, improper cleaning or seasoning and misuse, and treats cosmetic changes as normal wear.
Neither warranty covers a coating that has simply worn. Caraway says in its own FAQ that all non-stick coatings slowly wear with frequent use. Our guide to what a warranty covers explains why a long warranty and a wide one are different things.
What the coatings are made of
Caraway describes its coating as ceramic and its cookware as made without PTFE and other PFAS. Consumer Reports labels pans as PTFE-free on the strength of manufacturers’ claims, and its food-safety expert has said that when it tested ceramic-coated non-stick pans it did not find PTFE.
HexClad’s FAQ now describes its coating as a ceramic non-stick that is PTFE-free and PFAS-free. That has changed over time: a 2023 lawsuit alleged that HexClad pans sold as PFAS-free were coated with PTFE. Those were allegations, the case was closed in January 2024, and no court ruled on them. If the coating matters to you and you own an older HexClad pan, ask the company which coating it has. The background is in our HexClad article and, for the wider PFAS question, in air fryer problems.
Who Caraway May Suit
- Cooks who mostly make eggs, fish and other foods that stick
- People happy to hand-wash and cook on gentle heat
- Buyers who want a coating described as PTFE-free and tested well for release
Who HexClad May Suit
- Cooks who sear and want to use metal utensils
- Households where pans go in the dishwasher from time to time
- Buyers who value a long warranty and accept its exclusions
Which Should You Buy?
Caraway for non-stick cooking, HexClad for rougher all-round use
If what you want is a pan that eggs slide out of, the test results favor Caraway, provided you follow its care rules; the price of that is a one-year warranty and a coating the maker itself says will wear. If you want one pan you can sear in and scrape with a metal spatula, HexClad is built for that, and you should expect to season it and to use some fat. If neither set of trade-offs appeals, an inexpensive non-stick pan replaced when it wears, alongside a plain stainless or cast iron pan, does both jobs.
The Two Pans
If you have decided between them, these links search Amazon for each. Check that the seller is the brand or an authorized retailer, because both warranties depend on it.
For non-stick cooking
Caraway ceramic frying pan
Best for: Eggs, fish and delicate foods on gentle heat
Read Caraway’s care instructions before first use; the warranty excludes damage from not following them.
Why consider it: Consumer Reports rated its food release and cooking evenness excellent and its coating durability very good
Potential drawback: Hand wash only, low to medium-low heat, and a one-year warranty
For searing and metal utensils
HexClad Hybrid frying pan
Best for: One pan for most jobs, with rougher handling
Buy from HexClad or an authorized seller and keep the receipt; the warranty depends on both.
Why consider it: Excellent cooking evenness in Consumer Reports' test, a surface that tolerates metal utensils, and a lifetime warranty against defects
Potential drawback: Needs seasoning, is less slick than a ceramic pan, and has two conflicting durability results
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How we researched this
This comparison is based on Consumer Reports’ published reviews and test commentary for the Caraway ceramic-coated and HexClad Hybrid frying pans, read as search excerpts, and on each company’s own FAQ, care instructions and warranty terms. Consumer Reports tested the two pans separately, not side by side. We did not test either, we did not survey owners, and the last sentence of the verdict, about buying a cheaper pan, is our own suggestion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caraway better than HexClad?
For non-stick cooking, Consumer Reports’ results favor Caraway on food release and handle ratings. HexClad tolerates metal utensils and rougher use. They suit different cooks.
Which lasts longer, HexClad or Caraway?
There is no long-term data. In Consumer Reports’ abrasion test Caraway’s durability was rated very good, and HexClad has two published results, one mediocre and one excellent. Neither company promises a lifespan for the coating.
Can you use metal utensils on Caraway?
Caraway advises wood, silicone, plastic or nylon, and says metal utensils with rough edges may damage the coating. HexClad says metal spatulas and whisks are fine.
Are Caraway pans dishwasher safe?
No. Caraway says not to put its ceramic-coated pans in the dishwasher because it will damage the coating.
How long is the Caraway warranty?
One year, limited, on its ceramic-coated cookware. It excludes wear and tear and discoloration. HexClad’s is a lifetime warranty against defects, with exclusions for heat, cleaning and misuse.
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: Caraway Ceramic-Coated Non-Stick cookware review
- Consumer Reports: HexClad Hybrid cookware review
- Consumer Reports: Least Durable Nonstick Frying Pans and What to Buy Instead
- Consumer Reports: Best Frying Pans If You Want to Avoid PFAS Chemicals
- Consumer Reports: Best Nonstick Frying Pans, lab-tested and reviewed
- Caraway: FAQs, including warranty (read October 2026)
- Caraway: Care and Cleaning
- HexClad: FAQ (read October 2026)
- HexClad: Lifetime Warranty Information (read October 2026)
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