Hestan vs. All-Clad: Which Cookware Is Better?

Are you in the market for cookware and trying to decide between Hestan and All-Clad?

Both companies offer high-performing, durable cookware.

But which is better? What is the difference between Hestan and All-Clad?

In this comparison of Hestan vs. All-Clad, you’ll learn how their cookware differs in construction, design, performance, price, and more.

Plus, I reveal the results of my tests showing which cookware has superior heat conduction and retention.

By the end, you’ll know which cookware is best for your kitchen.

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Use the links below to navigate this comparison:

• Hestan vs. All-Clad: Comparison Chart
• Cookware Collections
• Design
• Heat Conduction
• Heat Retention
• Induction-Compatibility
• Oven-Safe Temperatures
• Where It Is Made
• Company History
• Price
• Downsides
• Bottom Line: Should You Buy Hestan or All-Clad Cookware?

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Hestan vs. All-Clad: Comparison Chart

If you are in a hurry, below is a quick side-by-side comparison of Hestan and All-Clad.

	All-Clad	Hestan
Cookware Collections	D3, D5, Copper Core, HA1, Essentials, FusionTec, G5	ProBond, NanoBond, CopperBond, TITUM
Construction	Fully clad stainless steel or hard-anodized aluminum with PTFE non-stick coating	Fully clad stainless steel, stainless steel bonded with titanium nano-layers, copper, or non-stick
Design	Black hard-anodized, polished, or brushed stainless steel, stainless handles.	Brushed stainless steel (ProBond), polished stainless steel with a blue tint (NanoBond), or copper (CopperBond)
Induction-Compatibility	All collections are induction-compatible except Essentials	All collections are induction-compatible
Oven-Safe Temperature	Non-stick: 500°F Stainless steel: 600°F	NanoBond: 1050°F. CopperBond & ProBond: 600°F. TITUM: 500°F.
Company History	Founded in 1971	Founded in 2015
Where It’s Made	Stainless steel: USA Hard-anodized: China Ceramic: Germany	Italy
Downsides	Handles are uncomfortable, food sticks to the stainless steel cooking surface	Cookware stains, food sticks, copper cookware requires extra maintenance
Price	$$$$ (Amazon, All-Clad.com)	$$$$ (Amazon)

Cookware Collections

All-Clad is known best for its fully clad stainless steel. The company invented bonded cookware in the 1970s, and its stainless cookware features either 3-ply (three-layer) or a 5-ply (five-layer) construction. The cookware has either an aluminum, copper, or graphite core for optimal heat conduction. 

All-Clad offers seven cookware collections, including D3, D5, Copper Core, FusionTec, HA1 Hard Anodized, and Essentials.

Here’s a quick overview of each collection:

All-Clad D3 (Amazon, All-Clad.com): The D3 collection is All-Clad’s classic and most extensive cookware collection with over 50 products (individual pieces and sets). This cookware is made with two durable and non-reactive layers of stainless steel and an aluminum core layer to cook food evenly and consistently. The riveted stainless steel handles provide complete control when cooking. Select D3 pans, such as this 12-inch skillet, feature a non-stick coating for easy cleanup.

All-Clad D5 (Amazon, All-Clad.com): All-Clad’s D5 collection features 5-layer construction for the best heat distribution. This is All-Clad’s most forgiving (and even heating) cookware due to the thin steel core layer that diffuses heat transfer. It’s available in two finishes; a traditional polished finish and a sleek brushed finish.

All-Clad Copper Core (Amazon, All-Clad.com): The Copper Core collection pairs the responsiveness of copper with the durability of stainless steel. And, because this collection features a stainless steel exterior, it’s induction compatible, whereas most copper cookware is not.

All-Clad FusionTec (Amazon, All-Clad.com): The FusionTec cookware collection combines the resilience of a thick steel core with the ease of ceramic. The ceramic coating makes this cookware stick-resistant and comes in several colors, including rose, platinum, and onyx.

All-Clad HA1 (Amazon, All-Clad.com): The HA1 collection features a triple-layer non-stick coating and durable hard-anodized aluminum base. This cookware is easy to use and clean. Plus, it has a steel induction plate bonded to the bottom, making it warp-resistant and compatible with all cooktops.

All-Clad Essentials (Amazon, All-Clad.com): All-Clad Essentials is a convenient, no-frills non-stick cookware. It features the same heavy-gauge hard-anodized aluminum base and triple-layer non-stick coating as the HA1 collection but lacks the steel induction plate. Essentials is All-Clad’s most economical collection, ideal if you’re looking for high-quality non-stick cookware at a reasonable price.

All-Clad G5 (Williams-Sonoma.com): As the company’s latest innovation, the G5 graphite core features a stainless steel exterior with two layers of aluminum and a graphite core. Graphite is lighter and more conductive than copper, which makes these pans the pinnacle of performance.

Hestan offers just four cookware collections: NanoBond, CopperBond, ProBond, and TITUM. All Hestan cookware is constructed with fully-clad stainless steel, but the materials vary by collection.

Hestan ProBond (view on Amazon): The ProBond collection is Hestan’s most traditional fully-clad stainless steel line. It boasts a pure aluminum core for even heat distribution and a brushed finish with a polished band toward the top of the exterior. The 3-ply construction is the same as All-Clad’s D3 collection, so you can expect it to perform similarly.

Hestan NanoBond (view on Amazon): NanoBond cookware is similar to ProBond, but it has an exterior layer of infused titanium. The infusion process creates thousands of nano-layers of titanium, making the steel up to four times harder, improving scratch resistance and overall durability. It also gives the steel a blue/gray tint. These pans heat up faster and can handle much higher temperatures than standard stainless steel pans.

Hestan CopperBond (view on Amazon):  CopperBond is Hestan’s copper/stainless hybrid cookware. It offers the excellent heat conductivity you expect from copper cookware but with a thick, durable steel base. The result is beautiful, highly responsive, induction-compatible cookware, similar to the All-Clad Copper Core collection.

Hestan TITUM (view on Amazon): The TITUM collection has a tri-ply steel body with an aluminum core. The inside is coated with their TITUM non-stick system. This cookware is essentially Hestan ProBond but with a non-stick coating. The TITUM system pairs three layers of non-stick coating with layers of diamond particles, which reinforce the coating and help it stick to the steel. This limited collection offers just three skillets (8.5-, 11-, and 12.5-inch).

Design

All-Clad cookware features a simple but elegant design.

Its stainless steel cookware is available in brushed or polished finishes. The polished finish is shiny like a mirror, while the brushed finish is matte, giving the cookware a more modern look. The brushed finish is also better at hiding scratches and smudges.

The Copper Core collection offers the added flair of a copper ring around the lower part of the exterior. It’s a nod to the heat conductive copper layer sandwiched between the steel exterior and interior.

The HA1 and Essentials collections are black with thick walls. The HA1 collection features a thick plate on the bottom for heat conduction and to resist warping.

The FusionTec collection comes with a black interior and three exterior color options: rose quartz, platinum, and onyx.

All-Clad cookware features stainless steel, cup-shaped handles connected with rivets.

Some customers find this uncomfortable or unfamiliar, but it serves a functional purpose. It prevents the pan from rotating when you are pouring, which can be a problem with round handles.

All-Clad’s stainless steel cookware (D3, D5, Copper Core, and FusionTec) has matching stainless steel lids. Its non-stick collections (HA1 and Essentials) feature tempered glass lids.

Hestan’s ProBond collection features the traditional polished stainless steel cookware aesthetic.

The rims are sealed, instead of the layers exposed like with All-Clad.

Unsealed rims are prone to rusting, and if it gets bad enough, the layers can delaminate and eventually separate. This has never happened with my All-Clad pans, and I’ve never read complaints about it, but it’s something to keep in mind.

Hestan pans have flat, riveted handles with a slight indentation on top to control tilting.

The rivets are flush with the cooking surface, so bits of food and grease can’t get trapped.

With All-Clad, stains and brown spots tend to build up around the rivets.

Hestan NanoBond cookware is darker in color due to the titanium coating. It features a blue/gray tint for a one-of-a-kind look.

Like the ProBond collection, Hestan NanoBond cookware features sealed rims with flush rivets. The blue patina coloring is the primary difference.

The CopperBond collection has a stainless steel interior and bottom with a thick copper ring around the middle of the exterior.

With this collection, you get the elegant and rustic look of copper combined with the functionality of stainless steel (the steel bottom makes it induction-compatible).

CopperBond has won multiple product design awards, including the 2021 Red Dot Award for Product Design.

Lastly, Hestan’s TITUM pan has 3-ply stainless steel on the outside and a black non-stick coating on the inside. It’s a simplistic design focusing on practicality.

Heat Conduction

Heat conduction is an important characteristic of all cookware, and All-Clad and Hestan both claim that their cookware heats up fast and evenly.

To test their claims and see which brand heats up faster and more evenly, I conducted a simple test.

I poured two cups of cold water into an All-Clad D3 frying pan and Hestan NanoBond frying pan.

Then, I placed both pans on the same-sized burner and turned the heat to high at the same time.

My goal was to see which pan boiled the water quicker and how evenly each heated. I measured heat distribution by observing how evenly the bubbles in the water were spread across the cooking surface.

The Hestan pan started bubbling first at 1 minute and 52 seconds and came to a boil at 2 minutes and 47 seconds.

The All-Clad pan wasn’t far behind. The water started bubbling at 1 minute and 55 seconds, and it came to a full boil at 3 minutes and 2 seconds.

Although the Hestan pan heated up slightly faster, the All-Clad pan displayed a more even heat distribution.

The bubbles in the All-Clad pan were dispersed completely evenly.

In contrast, the bubbles in the Hestan pan concentrated in the middle and around the edges, with colder spots surrounding the center.

Heat Retention

Another key attribute of high-performing cookware is heat retention. You want cookware that not only heats up fast and evenly but also holds onto that heat well.

Heat retention is especially important for searing and browning. Cookware that holds heat well will maintain a high temperature, even when a cold piece of meat is put in it. That allows for a crust to form and lock in the juices.

Cookware with poor heat retention drops in temperature as you add ingredients, which leads to uneven cooking.

To see how All-Clad and Hestan compare in terms of heat retention, I conducted another simple experiment.

After the water in both pans came to a boil, I removed them at the same time and placed them on the counter. At the five-minute and ten-minute mark, I recorded the water temperature in each pan.

After five minutes, the water in the All-Clad pan measured 118°F.

And the water in the Hestan pan measured 114°F.

After ten minutes, the water in the All-Clad pan measured 105°F.

And the water in the Hestan pan measured 98°F.

Based on my test, All-Clad retains heat between 3 and 7% better — not a significant difference, but worth noting.

Induction-Compatibility

All of Hestan’s cookware is induction-compatible. Even their CopperBond collection works with an induction cooktop, which is very rare for copper cookware.

All-Clad’s stainless steel and most of its non-stick cookware is compatible with all cooktops. The Essentials collection is not induction-compatible due to its aluminum bottom.

Oven-Safe Temperatures

All-Clad stainless steel cookware is oven-safe up to 600°F. Its non-stick cookware is oven-safe, but only up to 500°F.

A drawback to All-Clad’s cookware is that the lids aren’t oven-safe — even the stainless steel ones.

For more information about All-Clad’s oven-safe temperatures, see this guide to cooking with All-Clad in the oven.

Hestan has a wider range of maximum oven-safe temperatures. Its TITUM cookware is oven-safe up to 500°F. The CopperBond and ProBond collections are both oven-safe up to 600°F. Finally, the NanoBond cookware is oven-safe up to a whopping 1050°F.

I’ve reviewed dozens of stainless steel cookware brands, and 1050°F is the highest oven-safe temperature I’ve encountered. 

Where It Is Made

All-Clad makes its cookware in a few locations.

The stainless steel cookware (D3, D5, and Copper Core collections) is made in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, just outside Pittsburgh. The hard-anodized non-stick cookware (HA1 and Essentials) is made in China. And lastly, All-Clad’s FusionTec collection is made in Germany.

All of Hestan’s cookware is handcrafted in Italy.

Company History

All-Clad was founded in 1971 by John Ulam in Pennsylvania, the home of steel production in the United States. Ulam was a renowned metallurgist with over 75 metal patents. He used that expertise to invent fully-clad stainless steel cookware.

Decades later, All-Clad is still the industry leader in premium fully-clad stainless steel cookware. Even though most other brands use a similar production process, All-Clad is renowned in the industry.

All-Clad’s commitment to high-quality materials and meticulous manufacturing standards is what drives its success. Since the company produces most of its cookware at its facilities in the United States, there is strict oversight over its production and overall product quality.

In fact, pots and pans with even the most minor imperfections are sold at steep discounts as part of the companies Factory Seconds annual sale.

Hestan was founded in 2015 in Napa Valley, California. The company’s founder, Stanley Chen, is the CEO of Meyer Corporation, a company that owns several other cookware brands, including Ruffoni, Anolon, and Circulon.

Chen has been in the culinary industry for decades, and he was one of the pioneers of hard-anodized cookware in the 1970s.

Besides cookware, Hestan is known for its high-end kitchen appliances, including ranges, refrigerators, and grills.

Price

Both Hestan and All-Clad are considered high-end cookware brands, so the prices are high-end as well.

Keep in mind; the price varies by collection and where it’s purchased.

For example, All-Clad Essentials, the brand’s cheapest collection, is less than half the cost of Copper Core, the brand’s most expensive collection.  

Similarly, the Hestan TITUM collection is much more affordable than the brand’s most premium collection, CopperBond.

Overall, Hestan is more expensive than All-Clad due to its patented titanium technology. In fact, it’s one of the most expensive cookware brands I’ve reviewed (and I’ve reviewed dozens).

To get a better idea of how All-Clad and Hestan’s prices compare, check out the chart below.

Downsides

Many reviews complain about All-Clad’s handles, saying they’re uncomfortable and too lightweight for the heavy pans.

Particular complaints regard the cup-shaped design. While I appreciate the added control these handles provide, Hestan handles are much more comfortable while providing similar function and safety.

All-Clad customers also complain about food sticking, which is a common complaint with stainless steel. You can address this by using proper techniques. For more information, check out my article about how to stop food from sticking to stainless steel pans.

The last downside to All-Clad cookware is the price. Its cookware is made in the United States with high-quality materials and is one of the most in-demand brands on the market. All of that comes with a high price.

Hestan is a newer company, so there aren’t as many reviews, and the company has yet to establish a rock-solid reputation in the cooking industry like All-Clad. So, it’s quite an investment for cookware that hasn’t been around long enough to prove that it lives up to its bold durability claims.

Just like All-Clad, customers complain about food sticking to Hestan pans. Again, you can avoid this by using proper culinary techniques.

Some Hestan customers complain about the cookware staining, which is ironically common for stainless steel pans.

To keep your cookware from staining, don’t overheat it, and handwash your pans without harsh brushes or chemicals. For stubborn stains, make a paste of water and Bar Keeper’s Friend and gently scrub the area.

In my testing, I noticed that Hestan NanoBond’s glossy exterior quickly develops heat tint, a splotchy rainbow-colored stain.

Although you can remove heat tint stains with a good scrub, don’t expect the mirror-like finish to stay spotless.

Hestan CopperBond pans have a thick copper ring around the outside, which requires extra maintenance. They’re not dishwasher-safe, and the copper requires polishing. It’s also important to dry this cookware completely immediately after cleaning. Residual moisture can lead to tarnishing.

Lastly, like All-Clad, Hestan cookware is very expensive. It’s handcrafted in Italy and made with premium materials, and that comes at a high cost. And, unlike All-Clad, Hestan doesn’t have an entry-level cookware collection.

Overall, the upsides of All-Clad and Hestan cookware far outweigh the downsides. The most common complaint across both brands is around the price. But when you’re shopping for high-end cookware, you have to expect a high-end price. 

Bottom Line: Should You Buy Hestan or All-Clad Cookware?

So, now you know how Hestan and All-Clad cookware stacks up.

But the question is: which brand should you buy?

Before I give you my recommendation, let’s recap the key differences:

Design: All-Clad cookware features a black, polished, or brushed stainless steel exterior (varies by collection), with cupped stainless steel handles. Hestan exteriors are either copper, brushed, or polished stainless steel. Its cookware features flat handles, sealed rims, and flush rivets.

Performance: According to my tests, Hestan cookware heats up slightly faster, but All-Clad heats more evenly. All-Clad retains heat between 3 and 7% better than Hestan.

Induction-Compatibility: All of Hestan’s cookware collections are induction-compatible, while the All-Clad Essentials collection is not.

Oven-Safe Temperatures: All-Clad’s cookware has a maximum oven-safe temperature of 600°F. Hestan’s NanoBond cookware is oven-safe up to 1050°F.

Where It’s Made: All-Clad’s cookware is made in the USA, China, and Germany. Hestan’s cookware is made in Italy.

Company History: All-Clad was founded in 1971, while Hestan has only been around since 2015.

Price: Both brands are expensive, but Hestan cookware is an even greater investment.

Ultimately, both are excellent choices, and you’d be happy with either. However, I’d recommend All-Clad over Hestan.

Here’s why:

All-Clad has more collections, a proven track record of durability, and its cookware is made in the United States. When you spend hundreds of dollars on cookware, you want to know with certainty that it will last. With All-Clad, you get reassurance.

That said, Hestan cookware is exceptional. It features an elegant design, can tolerate high temperatures and features more comfortable handles.

The main downside is the price. Hestan is exorbitantly expensive and, for a brand that’s only been around since 2015, it doesn’t have the track record or reviews to justify the investment — certainly not enough to recommend it over All-Clad.

You can learn more about both brands, compare prices, and read other reviews at the links below.

•  All-Clad on Amazon or All-Clad.com
• Hestan on Amazon or HestanCulinary.com