I Tested HexClad's Hybrid Bakeware Set – It Makes Beautiful Bakes, but Has One Drawback

I reach for my HexClad Hybrid Cookware almost every night when I'm not testing something new, so you can imagine my excitement when the brand launched its first bakeware collection. I swear by its cookware for reliable, non-toxic everyday cooking, and was keen to see whether the same thoughtful design would translate to baking.

The HexClad Hybrid Bakeware Set combines a ceramic coating with raised stainless steel ridges, designed to distribute heat evenly while delivering beautifully golden results, crisp bases, and easy food release.

I put the full set through its paces in my own kitchen and found some pieces more impressive than others. So far as non-toxic cookware goes, it has plenty going for it, but there are a few caveats worth knowing before you buy. Here's how I got on.

Product Specifications: HexClad Hybrid Bakeware Set

Design and First Impressions

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The HexClad Hybrid Bakeware follows the same aesthetic as its iconic cookware, with a high-shine steel exterior and a black interior with stainless steel lattice. Some say this isn't very chic, especially compared with other bakeware brands that offer a slew of colorways, but I personally like the professional look.

As with their cookware, the Bakeware Set feels incredibly durable. The pieces are weighty, but are not so heavy that they are cumbersome to move around. Each piece also has flared handles, which make maneuverability simple even when wearing oven mitts.

They arrived packaged similarly to the cookware, too, with the sleek back boxes and individual bags to prevent scratches. These bags are not recyclable, but I have found plenty of other uses for them around my home, and they could also be used as stackers to prevent damage when storing bakeware.

It is worth noting that the bakeware also needs seasoning. While not as high-maintenance as something like cast iron, HexClad does advise baking a thin coating of high smoke point oil onto the bakeware before using it for the first time. This is something I experimented with, and I will go into more detail in the breakdown of each piece below.

Cooking Performance

Round Cake Pans

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The cake tins gave me the most trouble out of the set. I ended up testing them twice, once before seasoning and once after, to see whether or not the extra step really made that much of a difference (spoiler alert: For me, it did not).

As with testing any bakeware, I tried the tins out with my go-to Victoria sponge recipe, dividing the mix evenly between the two tins before baking. On both tests, the cakes turned a beautiful golden color, which was even from top to bottom. It cooked to time perfectly without over- or underbaking, requiring no adjustments from my usual recipe. It was, in a word, perfect until it came to getting them out of the tins.

I greased the tins heavily with butter before adding the mixture, as I always do, but did not add cake liners. On the first test, I had not seasoned the tins as advised, and the cake stuck, ripping in half when I tried to pry it from the tin. On the second test, I had seasoned the tins a few days prior, as advised, and still the cake stuck. In the end, I needed a knife to try to release the edges, and had to force a spatula beneath to pry it the rest of the way. The perfectly golden sponge was perfectly light and fluffy, but now incredibly delicate and crumbling at the edges.

All in all, while the results were cooked to perfection, the presentation and ease of use left a little to be desired.

Square Cake Pan

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The square tin was much easier to work with. I used it to make a peanut butter brownie recipe, a notoriously sticky bake packed with butter and chocolate that needs time both in the oven and in the fridge to set properly.

As with the cake tins, I buttered the base before adding the mixture and baking. The square tin was slightly smaller than my usual pan, resulting in a deeper brownie, so I had to extend the baking time. However, the results were worth the wait. Once cooled to room temperature, I transferred the brownies to the fridge for a few hours to set before slicing.

The sticky chocolate made them a little tricky to release straight from the fridge, but allowing them to come closer to room temperature helped. With a little help from a spatula, the brownie came out in one clean piece and was easy to slice. The result was deliciously fudgy, with perfectly crisp corners. More than one person told me they were the best brownies they'd ever tasted.

Rectangular Cake Pan

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The Rectangular Cake Pan is one of the most versatile in the set, lending itself to both sweet bakes and savoury roasts. This was also a breeze to use, especially when making my famous extra-large cinnamon rolls.

I seasoned the tray, let it cool completely, and greased it well with butter before adding eight cut rolls and covering to let them proof. As with the cake pans, the metal conducted heat effectively, requiring no extra bake time for the butter-rich dough to cook through, especially when tented with foil (a normal step) to prevent the tops from getting too brown.

They did get a little darker than they usually do, especially compared to the bake I did in the Caraway Non-Toxic Bakeware Set, which is lighter in color, but the resulting texture was perfect. It is very possible for the color of your bakeware to affect your final bake, with darker colors absorbing more heat for faster cooking. I wonder if this played a part here.

Once coated in icing, the rolls were easy to cut and serve, peeling out of the tray seamlessly with a spatula and leaving next to no trace behind.

Medium Baking Sheet

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What better recipe to test a baking sheet than cookies? I used my regular chocolate chip cookie dough for this, which always promises big, chewy cookies perfect for dipping in warm drinks.

I would go so far as to say this tray produced some of my best cookies so far. The slightly raised etched stainless steel ridges allowed hot air to circulate under the dough more than usual, resulting in golden, crispy bases. They released easily from the tray, too, even when still slightly warm and soft. I have absolutely no complaints and will be using nothing else for my biscuits and cookies from now on.

Cleaning, Storage and Maintenance

The six-piece set doesn't come with its own storage organizers, so I'd recommend investing in an adjustable bakeware organizer from Amazon to keep everything neat. While the pieces can be stacked, I'd use pan protectors or even the fabric bags they arrive in to prevent scratches and surface damage over time.

The pans need seasoning before the first use, but then should be fine from there according to the included instructions. The manual also notes that you should avoid spray-on and aerosol oils to preserve the ceramic coating (and we recommend avoiding them no matter what you're cooking with).

Cleaning the Hybrid Bakeware Set was refreshingly straightforward. The pieces are dishwasher-safe, but I hand-washed mine after each use and found that even stubborn cake residue came away easily with a soft sponge. I did notice a few watermarks on the polished stainless steel when air-drying, but these disappeared with a quick buff using a cotton towel.

What Do Shoppers Say About The HexClad Hybrid Bakeware Set?

Overall, the customer experience with this set has been overwhelmingly positive, with nothing less than five-star reviews on the HexClad site.

Customers praise the heat distribution and sturdy construction, as well as how easy they are to clean up. Shoppers also appreciate that the set comes with almost everything you would need for general home baking, although I would love it if a loaf pan or muffin pan were included, too.

One shopper noted, 'Truly the best bakeware I have ever had, and I have been cooking and baking for over 50 years. Whatever I cook, the food slides off. No spray needed (in fact, the directions say not to spray). I was nervous at first about not spraying, but of course the company is right. I won't use any other products. The best!'

I will certainly continue to play around with the cake pans to see if I can ever make them non-stick.

My Verdict: Should You Buy The HexClad Hybrid Bakeware Set?

Overall, I’d recommend the HexClad Hybrid Bakeware Set to home bakers looking to replace older bakeware and health-conscious cooks hoping to minimize PFAS exposure in the kitchen. It delivers on its promises, but you’ll need to be generous with pre-greasing and exercise a little patience when releasing cakes from the tins.

The six-piece set covers most baking basics, but it doesn't include a muffin tin or loaf pan, so you'll need to budget for those separately. The pieces also aren't available individually, making this more of an investment. I'd save it for when your existing bakeware needs replacing or you're ready to upgrade from a lower-quality collection.

Price is another important consideration. At $399 for six pieces (at the time of writing), it's undeniably expensive. For comparison, the Caraway Bakeware Set, which I also reviewed, typically hovers around $360 for 11 pieces, including storage. That's considerably more bakeware for less money, with performance that isn't too different for the everyday home baker.

If budget allows, I'd personally choose HexClad for the core baking essentials, then add the Caraway Muffin Pan, which is available separately. It's a more expensive way to build a complete collection, but a combination I'd be happy to use for years.

How We Test Bakeware at Homes & Gardens

The best bakeware ticks all the boxes: Delicious results, even heating, and a pretty presentation.

You can read more details about how we test bakeware here at Homes & Gardens, including how long we vet each piece for and specifically which recipes we trial.

I test all bakeware in my own home under real-world conditions – I choose items with non-toxic, non-stick coatings, such as ceramic, to limit PFAS exposure in my cooking. Then, I test pieces using recipes that I have used for years, so I know what results to expect to see, where pieces succeed, and where they could be better.

Finally, the pieces need to be easy to clean so I am not stuck scrubbing for ages when my feet already ache and dishes have piled up.

What Else to Shop

If you're feeling inspired to get baking, you can shop from a curated selection of top-rated bakeware and accessories below.

All prices were correct at the time of publishing.

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