Two ways to put nonstick on steel
Both sets are tri-ply stainless steel with a ceramic nonstick inside, and both makers say they work on every stove, induction included, and may go in the dishwasher. ZWILLING’s Clad CFX is a smooth ceramic coating, which ZWILLING says is made without PFAS, PFOA, PTFE, lead or cadmium. HexClad’s TerraBond pans have raised stainless hexagons over a ceramic nonstick that HexClad also says is PFAS-free, and HexClad says metal utensils are fine on them; ZWILLING doesn’t say either way for Clad CFX.
What each set holds
ZWILLING’s 10 pieces are 8- and 10-inch fry pans, 1- and 2-quart saucepans, a 3-quart sauté pan and a 6-quart Dutch oven, with four lids; the frying pans come without lids. HexClad’s 12 pieces are 8-, 10- and 12-inch frying pans, 2- and 3-quart saucepans and an 8-quart stockpot, each with its own glass lid, and no straight-sided sauté pan. HexClad has the big frying pan and the bigger pots; ZWILLING has the sauté pan and a Dutch oven for braising.
Oven, care and the numbers each maker gives
HexClad rates its pans to 900°F in the oven and its glass lids to 400°F. ZWILLING rates Clad CFX to 400°F and gives no figure for the lids. So for a covered dish, both sets stop at 400°F. HexClad asks you to season a new pan with a little oil; ZWILLING doesn’t.
HexClad gives each pan’s flat base and weight: the 10-inch frying pan has a 9.45-inch flat base and weighs 2.45 lb, so you can check it against your burner or induction zone. ZWILLING gives only the whole set’s 21.38 lb. HexClad’s warranty is lifetime against manufacturing defects; ZWILLING’s page names none. ZWILLING makes Clad CFX in Vietnam; HexClad’s page doesn’t say where its set is made.
Which one to buy
Choose HexClad for a 12-inch frying pan, a lid for every pan, metal utensils and pans that go in the oven to 900°F. Choose ZWILLING Clad CFX for a sauté pan and a Dutch oven. Both makers say their coatings are made without PFAS, so that doesn’t decide it.
How these comparisons are made
Questions about this choice
Do ZWILLING Clad CFX and HexClad work on induction?
Yes, both makers say so. HexClad also gives each pan’s flat base, 9.45 inches on the 10-inch frying pan, so you can check it against your zone.
Which goes in the oven hotter, Clad CFX or HexClad?
HexClad’s pans go to 900°F and its glass lids to 400°F. ZWILLING’s Clad CFX goes to 400°F, with no figure for the lids.
Can I use metal utensils on Clad CFX or HexClad?
HexClad says metal utensils are fine on its pans. ZWILLING’s Clad CFX page doesn’t say, so a wooden or silicone spoon is the safe choice.