Gordon Ramsay's favorite skillet has a permanent place in our kitchens, here's why

Whether you're an egg or pancake lover or you simply prefer to use less oil or butter in your cooking, a quality nonstick pan is a must. Even with a degree from the French Culinary Institute under my belt, I crave the ease of nonstick cookware and how food slides right out onto the plate. I love a good slick skillet for all different types of egg preparation, as well as for searing fish and flipping pancakes or French toast. What I have learned over the past 15 years from my culinary training, working in restaurants and writing about food and cooking, is that a good nonstick pan will make your life in the kitchen so much easier. It reduces the need for cooking fat, simplifies cleanup and can make cooking that much simpler overall.

My home kitchen is basically a nonstop testing ground for the best cookware and, yes, that includes nonstick pans. I worked my way through piles of nonstick skillets and the performance of the HexClad Hybrid Nonstick Frying Pan proved pretty impressive. It's earned endorsements not only from Michelin-starred chefs like Gordon Ramsay, Dominique Crenn and Nancy Silverton, but also from our managing editor, our editorial director and one of our commerce editors — so it's beloved by decorated chefs and home cooks alike. Here's why it could be the nonstick pan of your dreams.

Read more: The best nonstick pans of 2025, tested and reviewed

HexClad Nonstick Hybrid Nonstick Pan: What I loved

Last year, I tested six of the best traditional nonstick pans on the market (including pans from Tramontina, Oxo and Made In). While many of the pans performed well on tasks such as searing salmon, flipping pancakes and frying eggs, the HexClad pan truly excelled in crisping the fish to perfection. In our testing, it gave the salmon skin a gorgeous golden crust, creating pure ASMR bliss without needing a heavy pour of oil.

The pan has exceptional heat retention, so you'll find it performs well on lower temps than other options. When a recipe calls for medium-high, stick to medium heat with the HexClad.

Another plus is that the brand endorses the use of metal utensils with its hybrid nonstick pans. While I typically use silicone utensils, that can be a real benefit if metal is your spatula material of choice.

HexClad is tops in the easy-to-clean category. The brand declares its nonstick line to be dishwasher-safe. While that's certainly a selling point, I still prefer to handwash all of my cookware and knives with a regular sponge and warm, soapy water to maintain their longevity. This pan came clean in seconds with no major effort on my part. If you do go the dishwasher route, you may need to reseason your pan after a few cycles, which is a simple process.

HexClad Nonstick Hybrid Nonstick Pan: What I didn't like

Two things kept the HexClad from claiming top honors in our testing: the price and the weight. At $149 (or $169 with a glass lid) it's about $100 more expensive than many other pans I tested. But, the brand does offer discounts on its site around major holiday shopping events.

The handle is substantial in size and shape, which was somewhat cumbersome for my small hands combined with the weight of the pan (3 pounds!), which was heavier than most others I tried. I found it tougher to maneuver than many other nonstick pans (such as the ones from Tramontina and Oxo).

HexClad Nonstick Hybrid NonstickPan: The final verdict

This pan has thousands of fans, including several Yahoo editors who swear by its slick cooking surface and use it as their go-to piece of cookware. I can see why — it's durable, sears fish beautifully and turned out golden-brown pancakes. Plus, the ability to throw it in the dishwasher is a real bonus. The elevated price may be a deterrent, but if there's a good sale, this is a great choice to pull the trigger on.