Carbon Steel Pan vs. HexClad Hybrid Pan

HexClad is a premium hybrid pan with a laser-etched stainless steel surface over an aluminum core, with PTFE filling the recessed hexagonal valleys. Despite the premium positioning, every HexClad pan contains PTFE — the same fluoropolymer used in Teflon. HexClad markets its coating as safer than standard Teflon (the stainless ridges allow higher heat use), but the underlying chemistry is still a fluoropolymer that releases fumes above 500°F and degrades over time.

Carbon steel has no synthetic coating whatsoever. Its non-stick surface comes from polymerized oil seasoning — natural, food-safe, and free from any fluoropolymer. Carbon steel can be heated to any temperature without coating concerns and improves in performance with every cook.

For anyone trying to eliminate PTFE from their kitchen, carbon steel is the clear choice. It is rated 'best' because there is no coating of any kind. HexClad is rated 'caution' because its PTFE valleys, however recessed, introduce the same coating chemistry concerns as traditional Teflon pans — just in a more expensive package. Professional cooks reach for carbon steel, not hybrid PTFE pans, and the safety logic follows the same reasoning.