Two exact examples
| Difference | HexClad Hybrid 12-piece set, TerraBond | All-Clad D3 Stainless 10-piece set |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Hybrid | Stainless clad |
| Cooking surface | TerraBond ceramic nonstick with stainless pattern | stainless steel |
| Included shapes | Skillet; Skillet; Skillet; Saucepan; Saucepan; Stockpot | Skillet; Skillet; Saucepan; Saucepan; Sauté pan; Stockpot |
| Supplied lids | 6 | 4 |
| Pan oven limit | 900 °F | 600 °F |
| Dishwasher | Dishwasher safe | Hand wash only |
| Induction | Works on induction | Works on induction |
What the cooking surface is
HexClad's hybrid pans have a hexagon pattern of raised stainless steel over a ceramic nonstick coating it calls TerraBond, on a three-layer body. Food releases more easily than from bare steel, and the raised steel takes the wear from spatulas. All-Clad D3 is bare stainless steel inside: food sticks until the pan is hot and the food has browned, and there's no coating to wear out.
Care, utensils and the oven
HexClad allows metal utensils and the dishwasher, rates its pans to 900°F in the oven and its glass lids to 400°F, and asks you to season a new pan with a little oil. All-Clad D3 is hand wash only and goes in the oven and under the broiler up to 600°F; All-Clad gives no separate figure for its lids. Both work on induction.
What the sets hold
HexClad's 12-piece set is six pans and six lids: 8-, 10- and 12-inch frying pans, 2- and 3-quart saucepans and an 8-quart stockpot, with no straight-sided sauté pan. All-Clad's D3 10-piece is six pans and four lids, with 8- and 10-inch frying pans, 2- and 3-quart saucepans, a 3-quart sauté pan and an 8-quart stockpot.
Which one to buy
Choose HexClad if you want eggs and fish to release easily and a pan you can scrub, put in the dishwasher and use with metal tools. Choose All-Clad D3 if you sear and make pan sauces and want a pan with no coating at all, made in the US. HexClad covers manufacturing defects for life; All-Clad gives a limited lifetime warranty.
How these comparisons are made
Questions about this choice
Is HexClad nonstick?
Partly. The ceramic nonstick sits between raised steel hexagons, so it releases food more easily than bare steel but less freely than a fully coated pan. HexClad suggests seasoning it with a teaspoon of oil before first use.
Which goes hotter in the oven?
HexClad rates its pans to 900°F, with glass lids to 400°F. All-Clad rates D3 to 600°F, broiler included.