$699 Cookware That Lost Its Nonstick Performance — Even the Replacement Did the Same
I purchased the HexClad pots and pans set a few months ago for around $699. The main reason I was willing to spend this much money was the advertised nonstick performance and the expectation that I was buying quality cookware that would last for years. Unfortunately, my experience has been very disappointing. I seasoned the cookware as recommended and followed the instructions for cooking and cleaning. Despite that, food started sticking to the pans. When I contacted HexClad and sent pictures of the smallest pan showing the problem, I was told that this was considered misuse and was not covered under warranty because the clad/surface was still intact. After going back and forth with customer service, HexClad eventually made a one-time exception and replaced that pan. Normally, I was also expected to pay return shipping, which would have cost me around $40, although they waived it in this case. When I received the replacement, I wanted to make absolutely sure there could be no question about how it was being used. I kept this pan for my own use, seasoned it carefully, cooked with it according to the recommendations, and cleaned it properly every time. Unfortunately, the replacement pan has now started losing its nonstick performance too. That is what convinced me the problem wasn't simply how we were using the original pan. The same issue happened again with a brand-new replacement that I personally took extra care to season, use, and clean according to the instructions. For cookware at this price, this is extremely disappointing. If I expected to replace pans whenever their nonstick performance deteriorated, I could buy inexpensive $10–$20 nonstick pans and replace them many times before spending what this HexClad set cost. I'm not interested in spending more time going back and forth trying to get a refund. I'm writing this review because I wish I had known about this issue before spending $699. I strongly recommend that anyone considering HexClad research long-term reviews about sticking and nonstick performance, rather than relying only on the overall star rating or reviews written shortly after purchase. Also, while reading reviews myself, I noticed some reviews containing significant complaints that were nevertheless displayed with five-star ratings. I can't explain why that is, but I recommend reading the actual comments instead of looking only at the average rating. This is simply my experience with the cookware. For me, the nonstick performance did not come close to justifying the premium price, and experiencing the same problem with the replacement pan was the final confirmation. I would not purchase this set again, and I cannot recommend it to others looking for durable, long-lasting nonstick cookware.