I Switched My Cast Iron Pan for This Gordon Ramsay-Approved Skillet, and I’m Never Going Back (It’s on Sale!)

As much as I love the utility and heavy-duty nature of a cast iron skillet, it does require a little more maintenance than a nonstick pan. So even though I appreciate my cast iron skillet, I don’t prefer reaching for it (especially since I’m always questioning if I’ve seasoned it properly). Instead, I’m more likely to go for my nonstick skillets on a day-to-day basis. While I have my favorites, there is one pan I’ve been wanting to add to my collection: the HexClad Hybrid Fry Pan.

Available in five different sizes, the Hybrid Fry Pan I’ve been considering is the 12” because I don’t have any skillets that large in my collection yet. This pan is appealing for the fact that it is durable like a cast iron skillet, but it’s so much easier to care for than a cast iron skillet (and lighter!). Plus, Gordon Ramsay just so happens to be a fan of HexClad’s cookware (and if it’s good enough for him, then it’s definitely good enough for me!). Plus, because HexClad’s Holiday Sale is on now, you can snag this pan for under $150 at the moment. 

With its noted honeycomb design on the pan and its hybrid nature, the HexClad 12” Hybrid Fry Pan is the kind of pan that can help you consolidate your cookware. And that’s because its “hybrid” nature basically refers to the fact that this pan is like having the features you love in your nonstick and stainless steel pans, all wrapped into one. It has the ease I love in a nonstick pan with the long-lasting nature and searing power of a stainless steel pan, and its distinctive design has a lot to do with how it can do both.

Like a cast iron skillet, though, this pan does require a little bit of seasoning, but it’s easy. You’ll just swirl around a little bit of oil while the pan is heating for a few minutes before you jump into using it the first time, and that’s all it takes to season this pan (much easier than my cast iron skillet!). Plus, unlike cast iron, you can pop this pan right into your dishwasher to clean it, if you need. Beyond that, you can also use this pan in your oven as well as on any kind of stovetop — even induction. 

Plus, Gordon Ramsay isn’t the only one who loves HexClad. Our Social Media Manager, Andrea, gave this pan a whirl and found it to be super versatile. “I can say this pan lives up to the hype,” she wrote in her review. “I’ve used it to sear meat, cook pasta, make a roux, cook eggs, and more. I never have to worry about anything sticking to the surface, and hand-washing it takes just 30 seconds because it really is nonstick. What I love the most is that I can get a good sear on proteins without worrying about damaging the nonstick coating, because this pan is built to take some serious heat.”

“The Hybrid Fry Pan has outperformed any other nonstick pan I have ever owned. Great product!” —Brian M.

“Beautiful and insanely easy to clean (even tough stuff like cooked-on cheese and eggs). I love that it can go in the dishwasher, but I often don’t bother because I can hand-wash it faster. ” —Louisa G. 

“These pots and pans DO EXACTLY WHAT THEY PROMISE!!! I understand they are a bit pricey, but as the old saying goes, you get what you pay for! For the first time in a long time I got what I paid for!!!” —Tracy S.

I can’t wait to get my hands on HexClad’s Hybrid Fry Pan, and potentially begin getting rid of some of my older cookware. With this pan, I’ll basically have two in one — and for 20% off, no less!

Buy: HexClad 12” Hybrid Fry Pan, $143 (normally, $179)