HexClad vs. Ceramic vs. Teflon: Best Non-Stick Pan Material?

Which non-stick pan performs best and lasts the longest—HexClad, ceramic, or Teflon (PTFE)? I put all three through a series of stress tests to see which one truly holds up over time.

HexClad’s unique hybrid design features raised stainless steel hexagons over a non-stick surface. The company claims this protects the coating from scratches, making it more durable than traditional non-stick pans. But does it really work?

To find out, I compared HexClad to two other popular non-stick options: GreenPan GP5, which has a ceramic non-stick coating, and Tramontina, which uses PTFE (Teflon).

Here’s what I tested, what happened, and why the real winner wasn’t the one I expected.

Prefer to watch? Check out the video below to see all my tests in action:

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Use the links below to navigate the comparison:

• Understanding the Contenders
• Initial Food Release Test
• Wooden Spatula Test
• Metal Ladle Test
• Coated Beater Test
• Metal Whisk Test
• Metal Spatula Test
• Saucepan Drop Test
• Final Food Release Test
• Bottom Line: Is HexClad Better Than Ceramic and Teflon Non-Stick Pans?

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Understanding the Contenders

Before diving into the tests, here’s a quick breakdown of each type of non-stick pan.

HexClad: The 12-inch HexClad fry pan features a pattern of raised stainless steel hexagons that protrude above the non-stick surface. These elevated hexagons are designed to prevent direct contact between utensils and the non-stick coating underneath, theoretically reducing scratches. Initially, HexClad used polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in its non-stick coating, a widely used material found in most non-stick cookware. However, in 2024, HexClad transitioned to a proprietary ceramic non-stick coating called TerraBond, which is completely PTFE-free.

GreenPan GP5: This GreenPan GP5 fry pan ceramic non-stick coating that they claim is metal utensil safe. The GP5 specifically uses their 8th generation ceramic technology, which they market as their most advanced formula yet—promising better durability, enhanced performance, and healthier cooking compared to traditional non-stick surfaces. Ceramic non-stick coatings are typically made from silicon-based materials like silicon dioxide applied as a gel and then cured at high temperatures.

Tramontina: This Tramontina Professional 12-inch pan has a traditional PTFE non-stick coating, better known as Teflon. These coatings are made from synthetic fluoropolymers – essentially plastic compounds that create a slippery cooking surface.

The GreenPan and Tramontina pans don’t have the benefit of HexClad’s hybrid surface (raised steel pattern), so, in theory, they aren’t as durable.

Initial Food Release Test

I started with three brand-new pans: HexClad, GreenPan GP5, and Tramontina Professional. After giving them a quick rinse, I heated each pan until it reached 300°F, added half a teaspoon of oil, and spread it evenly with a paper towel. Then, I added an egg.

The eggs in the GreenPan and Tramontina pans slid around with zero sticking.

Since HexClad has a rougher surface with exposed steel, it needed a nudge with the spatula. But once I got it going, the egg slid around the pan.

The goal here was to establish a baseline for each pan’s performance before putting them through my durability tests.

Wooden Spatula Test

For the first durability test, I attached a 5-pound weight to a wooden spatula and rubbed it across each pan 150 times. I used the weight to make sure there was consistent pressure across all 3 pans. HexClad showed zero marks or damage.

Tramontina and GreenPan both showed faint streaks and rub marks that you could see with the right lighting, but no serious damage.

Metal Ladle Test

Next, I switched to a metal ladle, but this time, I only did 50 strokes. I knew right away that this was bad for GreenPan. The ladle caused several deep scratches in the ceramic non-stick coating.

Tramontina held up much better. There were some faint streak marks but no major damage. I was a little surprised since Tramontina is the only pan of the three that’s not advertised as metal utensil safe.

As soon as I started scraping HexClad, the ladle made noticeable marks. But it turns out, the marks were metal dust from the ladle scraping against the steel ridges on the pan, not actual scratches. So they wiped off easily.

Coated Beater Test

After that, I conducted another test using a stand mixer to make sure the impact was consistent. I propped up each pan so the beater made full contact with the cooking surface. Then, I set the mixer on low speed and let it run for exactly 2 minutes. I rotated the pans after one minute.

Similar to the last test, the beater left marks on HexClad, but these were mostly dust from the coating on the beater rubbing against the raised steel ridges on the pan. It wiped right off when I rubbed my finger over it.

Tramontina and GreenPan held up much better than I expected. Both had noticeable circular rub marks but no deep scratches.

Metal Whisk Test

For my next test, I swapped out the beater for a metal whisk and let it run for 30 seconds.

HexClad did not like that at all – it made an awful grinding sound and left really obvious white marks all over. Most of it wiped right off, but when I took a closer look, I could see some actual scratches underneath.

Tramontina got away with just some light rub marks and one tiny scratch. GreenPan surprised me again – just a few faint marks but nothing serious.

Metal Spatula Test

After that, I put two magnets weighing 4.5 ounces on a metal spatula and scraped each pan back and forth 50 times.

The spatula left white streaks on HexClad but they wiped right off with no permanent damage. Tramontina finally showed some weakness with noticeable streaks and some minor scratches. Also, tiny bits of the non-stick coating rubbed off onto the spatula, which is pretty gross.

GreenPan looked almost untouched after the test, with no visible damage at all.

Saucepan Drop Test

Next, I took a 2-pound steel saucepan and dropped it on the surface of each pan from about 1 inch high 20 times.

My goal was to simulate the damage that can occur when storing and stacking pans in your cabinets over several months. I know pan protectors exist, but most people won’t use them consistently. Fortunately, all three pans survived this test with no visible damage.

Final Food Release Test

After all that, I cooked another egg in each pan using the same heat and oil to see how much the abuse impacted the non-stick performance. With HexClad, there was some decline in non-stick properties. The eggs stuck a little bit more, especially after flipping. Although the parts that stuck easily came off.

GreenPan’s decline was more significant, especially given how perfectly non-stick it was initially. Even after loosening the egg with the spatula, it wouldn’t budge when I shook the pan. And it stuck after I flipped it. But again, I was able to easily wipe off the stuck-on egg.

Tramontina held up best. The eggs still slid around almost like the pan hadn’t been touched. I don’t know exactly why this pan held up the best, but I have a couple of theories.

Unlike HexClad and GreenPan, which have a ceramic non-stick coating, Tramontina uses PTFE. This material has some safety concerns, especially when it’s overheated, but it’s widely believed to be more durable and flexible than ceramic non-stick.

My other theory is that, during the whisk test, HexClad’s steel ridges caused the whisk to catch, snap down hard into the ceramic non-stick valleys between them. That caused the loud grinding sound and created a hammering effect rather than just scraping.

Bottom Line: Is HexClad Better Than Ceramic and Teflon Non-Stick Pans?

The reality is that HexClad’s hybrid surface does a good job of preventing scratches from larger utensils like spoons and spatulas, but there is some space between the steel ridges. So, if you scrape the surface with forks, knives, or, in this case, a whisk, the non-stick coating can get scratched.

• Durability vs. Performance Trade-Off – HexClad sacrifices some initial non-stick performance for better scratch resistance. While the raised steel pattern guards against everyday wear, the exposed coating between hexagons remains vulnerable to sharp utensils. This design compromise helps maintain acceptable performance longer than pure ceramic coatings under typical use.
• Unexpected Performance of Tramontina – Despite not being marketed as metal utensil safe, the Tramontina PTFE pan performed the best in food release after all the durability tests, which suggests that PTFE coatings may still be the best option for long-term non-stick performance.
• GreenPan’s Weaknesses – While GreenPan’s ceramic non-stick performed well initially, it was the most susceptible to deep scratches, reinforcing the common issue that ceramic coatings wear out faster than PTFE.
• Who Should Buy What? – If durability against general wear is your main concern, HexClad provides some protection but isn’t invincible. If pure non-stick performance is your priority, a quality PTFE pan like Tramontina may be the better option, with the caveat of PTFE’s potential safety concerns. Ceramic non-stick is best for those who want a PTFE-free option but should be treated carefully to maintain its non-stick properties.

The moral of the story is that you need to be careful with any non-stick coating, regardless of the marketing claims.

Learn more about each pan and compare their current prices at the links below:

• HexClad (HexClad.com)
• Tramontina (Amazon)
• GreenPan GP5 (Amazon)