All-Clad HA1 vs. B1: What’s the Difference?

If you’re in the market for new non-stick cookware and are considering All-Clad, you might be wondering, what’s the difference between their HA1 and B1 non-stick collections?

In short, the main differences between All-Clad’s HA1 and B1 non-stick collections are the shape and angle of their handles and the steepness of their sides.

The handles on HA1 cookware are straight and angled higher towards the ceiling while the handles on B1 cookware are slightly curved downward and positioned more parallel to the rim of the pot.

The sides of HA1 cookware are steep, which helps contain food and prevent splattering while the sides of B1 cookware are less vertical with flared rims, which make it easy to slide food from a pan to a plate.

Now that you know the main differences, let’s get into more detail.

In the following sections, I provide an in-depth comparison of All-Clad HA1 vs. B1 cookware and explain their advantages over other non-stick cookware on the market. In the end, you’ll have all the facts to decide if All-Clad is right for you and if so, which non-stick collection to buy.

---

Use the links below to navigate this comparison:

• All-Clad HA1 vs. B1: Comparison Chart
• Why Choose All-Clad Non-Stick Cookware?
• Design
• Durability
• Performance and Ease-of-Use
• Product Offerings
• Price
• All-Clad HA1 and B1 vs. Essentials
• Bottom Line: Which All-Clad Non-Stick Collection Should You Buy?

---

All-Clad HA1 vs. B1: Comparison Chart

	All-Clad HA1	All-Clad B1
Handles	Straight and angled high	Curved downward, parallel to cookware rim
Shape	Steep vertical sides	Flared rim
Number of Cookware Sets	5	3
Non-Stick Coating	PTFE	PTFE
Core Material	Hard Anodized Aluminum	Hard Anodized Aluminum
Handle Material	Stainless steel	Stainless steel
Lids	Glass	Glass
Oven Safe Temperature	Up to 500 degrees	Up to 500 degrees
Cleaning	Hand wash recommended	Hand wash recommended
Induction Compatible?	Yes	Yes
Warranty	Limited Lifetime	Limited Lifetime
Price	Amazon	Amazon

Why Choose All-Clad Non-Stick Cookware?

All-Clad is best known for its high-quality, multi-layered stainless steel collections, but for those looking for cookware with an easy-to-clean, non-stick surface, their HA1 and  B1 collections are fantastic options.

When it comes to non-stick cookware, there are so many brands on the market. If you cruise the aisles of any WalMart, Target, or Macy’s, you’ll see dozens of options; and many of them are cheaper than All-Clad.

So why would anyone choose to buy All-Clad non-stick cookware? It all comes down to design, durability, performance, product offerings, and price.

Design

All-Clad’s HA1 and B1 collections both have long stainless steel handles bolted securely to the base of the cookware with stainless steel rivets.

They both come with glass lids that fit securely, allowing you to check the progress of your food while keeping moisture locked in.

Everything about the HA1 and B1 collections is the same, except for the shape and angle of their handles and the steepness of their sides.

If you take a look at the side by side pictures below, you can see that the HA1 handles are straight and positioned at a sharper angle. The B1 handles curve towards the floor and are more parallel to the rim of the cookware.

There’s a debate over which handle angle is optimal, but, in the end, it all comes down to comfort and personal preference. Luckily for us, All-Clad provides both options to satisfy everyone.

Besides the design of their handles, the other difference between All-Clad HA1 and B1 cookware is the steepness of their sides.

As you can see below, the sides of HA1 cookware are very steep and lean slightly inward on some pieces.

Steep sides are ideal for sauteeing and cooking dishes that involve liquids because it reduces splatter and keeps everything contained in the pot or pan. The one downside is that it makes sliding food from the cookware onto a plate more difficult. With the HA1 collection, you’ll need a utensil to transfer foods in most cases.

On the other hand, the sides of All-Clad’s B1 cookware are less verticle and flare outwards at the rim. All-Clad B1 cookware won’t contain splatter as well as HA1 cookware, but its flared rims make sliding food and pouring liquids onto plates much easier.

Durability

Unlike some brands that slap non-stick coating on the surface of their cookware and warn you that you’ll need to replace it in a couple of years, both of All-Clad’s HA1 and B1 non-stick collections are built to last.

Both collections are made of heavy gauge hard-anodized aluminum, the strongest and most durable non-stick material. The pan walls are thick. Most non-stick pans are around 3 mm thick, but All-Clad’s are 4 mm.

As I mentioned in a recent post comparing All-Clad and Calphalon, aluminum becomes hard-anodized through an electrolytic process in which raw aluminum is treated to thicken its natural exterior layer. Hard anodizing creates a naturally non-stick surface that is super durable, resistant to corrosion, easy to cook with, and easy to clean.

Besides the high-quality aluminum, All-Clad’s non-stick collections have a stainless steel bonded base to prevent warping and scratches. Most other brands do not have a steel base on their non-stick cookware. Without it, cookware is more likely to warp and become damaged.  

Also, the HA1 and B1 collections both have three layers of PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic Acid)-free nonstick coating. Each layer increases the cookware’s scratch resistance and helps prevent chipping from contact with sharp utensils.

All-Clad guarantees both non-stick collections with a limited lifetime warranty that protects you against defects in material, construction, and craftsmanship. It’s important to note; their warranty does not cover deterioration of non-stick coating, discoloration, warping, and other issues that result from exposure to high heat while the cookware is empty.

Bottom line—All-Clad has the same high standard of materials and craftsmanship with their non-stick collections as they do with their world-famous stainless collections. Although no non-stick cookware will last forever, All-Clad is designed to withstand significantly more abuse than others.

Performance and Ease-of-Use

When it comes to non-stick cookware, it’s difficult to beat the performance and ease-of-use of All-Clad.

Although you can’t sear a steak on their non-stick pans (or any non-stick pans for that matter) like you can with their stainless cookware, All-Clad’s HA1 and B1 collections will make everyday cooking simple and easy.

Hard anodized aluminum is an excellent conductor of heat, which means the cookware heats up fast and cooks food evenly.

Due to its unique bonded base, both collections are compatible with all types of cooktops, including induction, gas, electric, ceramic, and halogen.

Both All-Clad HA1 and B1 collections are oven-safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit but, as I covered in-depth in this article, you should only use them under a broiler for a minute or two. 

Many brands offer non-stick cookware with rubber or plastic handles that are not oven-safe. Even qualify brands, like Calphalon, make cookware that is only oven-safe up to 400 and 450 degrees. With All-Clad, you never have to worry; just pop it in the oven as long as the temperature is 500 degrees or lower.

In addition to handling high heat, All-Clad non-stick cookware can also withstand cold temperatures of the refrigerator and freezer.

Simply put, you have virtually zero restrictions when you’re cooking with All-Clad non-stick. It heats up fast and evenly, and the surface is ultra-smooth and never sticks. You’ll get an excellent release every time and barely need any oil or butter to grease the pan. It’s perfect for eggs, fish, stir fry, and any other delicate foods.

Product Offerings

Within their HA1 and B1 collections, All-Clad offers a variety of individual pieces and cookware sets. One difference to note; the HA1 collection comes in 5 different cookware sets, and the B1 collection only comes in 3 sets.

The chart below outlines the options you have with each collection.

	HA1	B1
10-piece set	Yes	Yes
11" square grille pan	No	Yes
12" chef's pan	Yes	Yes
12" fry pan w/lid	Yes	Yes
13-piece set	Yes	Yes
17-piece set	Yes	No
2 pack fry pan	Yes	Yes
2.5-qt sauce pan w/lid	Yes	No
3.5-qt sauce pan w/lid	Yes	No
3-qt sauce pan	No	Yes
4-qt saute pan	Yes	Yes
4-qt soup pot w/lid	Yes	No
5-piece set	Yes	No
6-qt stockpot	No	Yes
8-qt stockpot	Yes	Yes
Grande griddle	Yes	Yes
Grande grill	Yes	Yes
Panini press	Yes	Yes
Roaster	No	Yes
Square griddle	Yes	Yes
Square grill	Yes	No

Price

All-Clad HA1 and B1 non-stick collections are significantly less expensive than All-Clad’s stainless steel collections, but they are more expensive compared to lesser-known non-stick brands, such as (links to Amazon) Farberware, Tefal, and Greenlife.

Although All-Clad’s prices are higher than value brands, they’re similar to other high-quality cookware makers.

We recently compared the prices of All-Clad and Calphalon’s non-stick cookware and found that, depending on where you shop, you can actually find All-Clad for less. In comparing prices between several sellers, we also found that you can usually find the best deals on All-Clad on Amazon and All-Clad.com.

Despite their somewhat premium pricing, there is no cost difference between the HA1 and B1 collections.

To check the current prices, check out All-Clad HA1 cookware on Amazon and All-Clad.com. The B1 collection isn’t available on either of those sites, but you can find it on BedBathandBeyond.com.

All-Clad HA1 and B1 vs. Essentials

All-Clad recently released another non-stick collection: All-Clad Essentials. 

Since this collection is less expensive, readers often ask: what’s the difference between All-Clad HA1, B1, and Essentials?

All-Clad Essentials cookware features the same heavy-gauge hard-anodized aluminum base and stainless steel handles as the HA1 and B1 collections. It also has the same triple-layer PFOA-free non-stick coating. 

The key difference between All-Clad Essentials, HA1, and B1 is that the pots and pans in the Essentials collection do not feature the stainless steel induction plate on the bottom. Therefore, the All-Clad Essentials cookware is less durable and not induction-compatible. 

Another difference is that the Essentials collection, as its name suggests, only includes essential pots and pans. In other words, only a handful of pots, pans, and sets are available. The HA1 and B1 collections are much more extensive. 

Essentials pans also have a slightly redesigned handle. The groove on top is more curved and not as deep as HA1 handles.

Lastly, as I mentioned, the All-Clad Essentials collection is cheaper than All-Clad HA1 and B1 because it has a simpler design without the steel plate on the bottom.

You can check out the Essentials collection on Amazon and All-Clad.com. Or learn more by reading this in-depth comparison of All-Clad Essentials vs. HA1.

Bottom Line: Which All-Clad Non-Stick Collection Should You Buy?

In summary, All-Clad non-stick cookware is exceptionally durable and makes everyday cooking easy.

It’s made from the most durable non-stick material, hard-anodized aluminum, and features a stainless steel bonded base to prevent warping and add even more durability. It’s compatible with any cooktop and can withstand higher oven temperatures than most non-stick brands (some are not oven-safe at all).

You can certainly find cheaper non-stick cookware, but if you’re looking for a set that will last a long time, All-Clad is a great choice.

The differences between the HA1 and B1 collections are minimal:

• The handles on HA1 cookware are straight and angled while B1 handles are curved and parallel to the rim.
• The sides of HA1 cookware are steep, while the sides on B1 cookware are shallower with flared rims.
• You have five cookware sets to choose from with the HA1 collection and only three with B1.
• Finally, HA1 is available on Amazon and All-Clad.com, and B1 is only available at BedBathandBeyond.com.

Since the differences are so minimal, you really can’t go wrong with either. I like the HA1 collection because I cook a lot of stir-fries and enjoy braising meats. The steep sides of HA1 cookware do a better job preventing spills, especially with those types of meals.

If the HA1 and B1 collections are too expensive for your budget, check out All-Clad Essentials (view on Amazon and All-Clad.com). Just remember, it’s not compatible with induction cooktops.  

If you’re not sure which collection is right for you, think about the types of meals you cook and decide whether splatter containment or ease-of-transfer-to-plate is more important. It’s as simple as that! If you’re still not sure, try both!

If you found this article helpful, you should also check out these recent articles:

• VIDEO: All-Clad Non-Stick Cookware Unboxing
• All-Clad HA1 Cookware Review: Is It Worth Buying?
• All-Clad D3 vs. HA1 Cookware: What’s the Difference?
• All-Clad NS Pro vs. HA1: Key Differences & Test Results
• All-Clad HA1 vs. Essentials: 5 Key Differences Explained
• GreenPan vs. All-Clad: Which Non-Stick Cookware Is Better?
• All-Clad vs. Tramontina: Which Cookware Is Better?
• All-Clad vs. Calphalon: Non-Stick and Stainless Cookware Compared
• All-Clad D3 vs. D5: Which Stainless Steel Cookware Is Better?
• Is All-Clad Cookware Worth the High Price? An In-Depth Review
• Best Cookware for Gas Stoves: Top Brands Reviewed
• 5 Cheaper Alternatives to All-Clad Cookware
• Is Made In Cookware Any Good? An In-Depth and Unbiased Review
• All-Clad D5 vs. Copper Core: How Do They Compare?
• All-Clad vs. Cuisinart: Is All-Clad Is Worth the High Price?
• Demeyere vs. All-Clad: How Does Their Cookware Compare?