The main differences between the Our Place Always Pan 2.0 and the HexClad Hybrid Fry Pan are nonstick technology, oven temperature ceiling, durability, dishwasher and utensil compatibility, multi-functionality, and price. The Always Pan 2.0 is a ceramic-coated recycled aluminum pan that does ten cooking jobs, comes with a lid, steamer basket, and spatula, costs $135, and looks stunning in six colors. The HexClad is a tri-ply stainless and ceramic hybrid that sears like stainless steel, handles 900°F, goes in the dishwasher, accepts metal utensils, and comes with a lifetime warranty — but starts at $143 for an 8″ pan with a lid and climbs from there. Different pans entirely. Which one is right for you depends on how you actually cook.
Quick Verdict — Always Pan 2.0 vs HexClad: The Short Version
Feature
Always Pan 2.0 (10.5″)
HexClad (8″ w/lid)
Price
$135
$143
Nonstick type
Thermakind™ ceramic
TerraBond™ hybrid ceramic
Oven/broiler safe
450°F
900°F
Dishwasher safe
No
Yes
Metal utensils
No
Yes
Warranty
1-year limited
Lifetime
Accessories
Lid + steamer + spatula
Lid only
Colors
6 + limited editions
Black/stainless only
Get the Always Pan 2.0 if you want one pan to handle braising, steaming, frying, and baking, and you want it to look beautiful doing it. Lighter, cheaper, more versatile.
Get the HexClad if you sear proteins regularly, want lifetime durability, need dishwasher and metal utensil freedom, and you’re willing to spend more and learn the technique.
What Is the Our Place Always Pan 2.0?
Our Place launched in Los Angeles in 2019 with a very simple pitch: stop buying ten separate pans and just get one great one. The Always Pan 2.0 — launched in April 2023 — is the refined version of that pitch. Recycled aluminum body, Thermakind™ ceramic nonstick coating, six color options that actually make people want to leave the pan sitting out on the stove, and a patented design that genuinely replaces a fry pan, sauté pan, steamer, and colander. It works. Most of the time.
Stovetops: Gas, electric, induction, smooth surface — all of them
Colors: Steam, Char, Blue Salt, Forget-Me-Not Blue, Sage, Spice
Deep 2.8″ sides. Built-in pour spouts. The whole design is built around doing more in one pan without clutter. It’s not just a fry pan — it’s a whole small cooking system, which is why the included accessories matter.
Key Features
Everything that comes in the box: modular domed lid that locks in steam or vents on command, stainless steel steamer basket that doubles as a colander, nesting beechwood spatula with a spoon rest notch on the handle.
The Thermakind™ coating — PFAS-free, PFOA-free, no lead or cadmium. Both pans in this comparison have dropped PFAS from their formulas, which is worth noting. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), CDC data indicates PFAS compounds have been detected in the blood of approximately 97% of Americans. Switching to PFAS-free cookware is a real, practical step that both of these pans support.
Thermakind™ ceramic nonstick — no PFAS, PTFE, PFOA, lead, cadmium
Oven-safe to 450°F — stovetop to oven for frittatas, roasted vegetables, baking
Made from 100% recycled aluminum — legitimately eco-conscious
One hard limit: no dishwasher, no metal utensils. Silicone or wood only. Every day. Forever. If that’s a dealbreaker for you — and for some people it absolutely is — the HexClad is waiting.
Always Pan 2.0 Price
8.5″ — $109 | 10.5″ — $135 | 12.5″ — $159
Pros and Cons
Pros
10-in-1 with lid, steamer basket, and spatula all included — real added value
Six stunning color options — nothing in this comparison touches it aesthetically
Fully non-toxic Thermakind™ coating (no PFAS, PTFE, PFOA, lead, cadmium)
Oven-safe to 450°F
Lightweight recycled aluminum
Lower starting price than HexClad for a larger cooking surface
Induction compatible
Cons
Hand wash only — every day, no exceptions
No metal utensils ever
Ceramic coating degrades over time — realistic lifespan of 1–2 years under daily use
Some coating chipping reported by users
450°F oven ceiling vs HexClad’s 900°F
Weak searing performance vs stainless steel surfaces
Only a 1-year limited warranty — no lifetime coverage
You want beautiful, versatile cookware that handles most of your daily cooking — eggs, sautéed vegetables, braised proteins, pasta dishes, steaming — and you want it to look incredible doing it. You don’t sear steaks every night. You don’t use the broiler regularly. You’re happy to hand wash and you know to keep metal spatulas away. That’s the Always Pan 2.0 buyer.
What Is the HexClad Hybrid Fry Pan?
HexClad launched in 2017 with a genuinely unusual idea: what if one pan could deliver stainless steel searing and ceramic nonstick convenience in the same cooking surface? The answer was a laser-etched hexagonal stainless steel pattern — raised steel “peaks” over recessed ceramic nonstick “valleys.” Gordon Ramsay uses it. 9,000+ Amazon buyers have reviewed it. And in 2024, HexClad dropped its original PTFE formula and switched to TerraBond™ ceramic — a reformulation that finally addressed the safety concerns that had dogged the brand for years.
How the Hybrid Surface Actually Works
Picture a honeycomb. Raised stainless steel hexagonal ridges protrude above the cooking surface. Between them, TerraBond™ ceramic nonstick fills the valleys. The steel peaks do two things simultaneously: they sear food and they physically protect the ceramic coating from direct utensil contact.
That’s why HexClad is metal utensil safe. The steel absorbs the impact. The ceramic stays intact underneath.
Raised steel peaks → real searing, fond development, actual crust on proteins
Ceramic valleys → food release, easy cleaning, no sticking on low-heat foods
Combined: one surface that does both things reasonably well
Requires oil though. Not a zero-effort nonstick. You need to preheat properly and use fat — especially for eggs. HexClad’s own guidance: “medium with HexClad equals medium-high with others.” There’s a learning curve. Buyers who don’t adjust their technique end up frustrated.
The 2024 TerraBond™ reformulation matters — but it’s complicated. Older HexClad products sold between 2022 and early 2024 did contain PTFE and were part of a $2.5 million class-action settlement over misleading “non-toxic” claims. Current TerraBond™ pans are a different product. Independent third-party tests by Light Labs detected zero PFAS, PFOA, PTFE, PFOS, PFBS, and related substances — reporting “Non-Detect” across the board. That’s the right result. But some consumer skepticism around transparency is fair and documented.
TerraBond™ ceramic — PFAS-free, PFOA-free, no lead or cadmium (post-2024 pans only)
Tri-ply construction — fast, even heat; no hot spots; aluminum core heats 30% faster than pure stainless
Oven AND broiler safe to 900°F — professional-grade heat tolerance
Dishwasher safe
Metal utensil safe
Lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects
Induction compatible — magnetic stainless steel base
Included: tempered glass lid (oven-safe to 400°F) in the Pan + Lid version
Lifetime warranty — no other pan in this comparison offers this
900°F oven and broiler capable — far beyond Always Pan 2.0’s ceiling
Dishwasher safe — no maintenance restrictions whatsoever
Metal utensil safe — cook however you want
Superior searing — the steel peaks actually develop proper fond and crust
TerraBond™ ceramic independently tested at “Non-Detect” for PFAS
Tri-ply construction for genuinely even heat distribution
Proven long-term performance — editors report 2+ years of heavy use with minimal degradation
Cons
Expensive — 8″ w/lid is $143 vs Always Pan 2.0’s 10.5″ at $135 with full accessory bundle
Learning curve required — preheat, use fat, manage temperature correctly
Mixed nonstick reviews — eggs stick for buyers who don’t adjust technique
Heavier due to tri-ply stainless construction
One color only: black and stainless
PTFE lawsuit history creates legitimate transparency questions about the brand
No steamer basket, no extra accessories — just the pan (and lid in some versions)
Round handle profile can rotate when hands are wet or greasy
Who Should Buy the HexClad?
You cook seriously. You sear chicken thighs and salmon fillets and you want actual crust on the outside. You’ve replaced ceramic pans twice in three years and you’re done doing that. You want to throw your pan in the dishwasher without thinking about it. You’re willing to pay more once, learn the technique, and have a pan that still performs five years from now. That’s who this pan is built for.
Always Pan 2.0 vs HexClad — The Comparisons That Actually Matter
Coating: Thermakind™ Ceramic vs TerraBond™ Hybrid
Both are ceramic. Both are PFAS-free. The similarity stops there.
Always Pan 2.0: pure ceramic applied to a smooth aluminum surface. Exposed. No structural protection. Intuitive, beginner-friendly, beautiful nonstick right out of the box. But that ceramic surface takes every scratch, every scrape, every high-heat hit directly.
HexClad: ceramic in the valleys, protected by raised steel peaks above it. Utensils hit steel, not ceramic. Lab testing shows the hexagonal matrix creates a physical barrier that reduces coating wear by 80% compared to traditional nonstick pans during metal utensil use. That’s the engineering difference. It’s not marketing.
One caveat: Always Pan 2.0’s full coating formula is disclosed; HexClad’s TerraBond™ is described only as “proprietary.” Third-party lab tests confirm no detectable PFAS — but the exact composition isn’t public. Worth knowing.
Nonstick Performance — How Do They Really Cook?
Always Pan 2.0: immediate, effortless. Eggs slide off right out of the box with barely any oil. Low to medium heat. Beginner-friendly. This is the definition of easy nonstick.
HexClad: technique-dependent. Preheat the pan, add fat, let it heat, then add food. Done correctly, it releases cleanly. Done wrong — cold pan, no fat, high heat — food sticks and you’re annoyed. Prudent Reviews testing confirms HexClad matches or exceeds premium stainless steel competitors like All-Clad in heat conduction performance. The trade-off for that heat performance is learning to use the pan.
Who wins on nonstick? Depends. Immediate ease: Always Pan 2.0. Long-term durability: HexClad. Searing alongside nonstick in one surface: HexClad, no question.
Oven and Broiler: 450°F vs 900°F
Always Pan 2.0: great for finishing frittatas, baking dutch babies, roasting vegetables at moderate temperatures. Hard ceiling at 450°F. No broiler use.
HexClad: 900°F oven and broiler capable. The gap is 450 degrees. For context — restaurant broilers typically run 500–550°F. HexClad handles that. Always Pan 2.0 doesn’t come close.
Note: HexClad’s included tempered glass lid is oven-safe to only 400°F. If you want full 900°F oven use, get the stainless steel lid version instead.
Dishwasher and Utensil Freedom
Always Pan 2.0: hand wash only + silicone/wood utensils only. Every day, without exception. That’s two behavioral restrictions you accept permanently when you buy this pan.
HexClad: dishwasher safe, metal utensil safe. Zero restrictions. Throw it in the dishwasher after dinner. Use your metal fish spatula. Cook however you actually cook.
For daily household cooking, this difference compounds quickly. One pan requires discipline; the other doesn’t.
Durability — Which Pan Lasts Longer?
Honestly? This one isn’t close. The Always Pan 2.0’s Thermakind™ ceramic coating is better than the original Always Pan — but it’s still ceramic, still exposed, and still subject to the same degradation ceiling as every other ceramic pan in the category. Realistic lifespan under daily use: 1–2 years before performance noticeably declines.
HexClad with TerraBond™ ceramic, protected by stainless steel peaks, backed by a lifetime warranty, with multiple long-term editor reviews reporting 2+ years of heavy use with minimal degradation. Per Taste of Home’s multi-year testing of HexClad, editors used the pan daily for over two years and described the nonstick performance as the best they’d tested. That’s a fundamentally different durability story.
The math for serious cooks: replace a ceramic pan every 1–2 years at $135, or buy HexClad once for $169 and use it indefinitely.
Multi-Functionality and What Comes in the Box
Always Pan 2.0: braise, sear, steam, strain, sauté, fry, boil, bake, roast, serve. Lid. Steamer basket that doubles as a colander. Beechwood spatula. One pan that legitimately replaces four or five separate pieces of cookware.
HexClad: fry. Sear. Sauté. That’s it. Lid sold separately in some configurations. No steamer basket, no spatula beyond what’s listed.
If you want versatility in a single pan, Always Pan 2.0 wins this category decisively. HexClad is a purpose-built frying and searing pan. It doesn’t try to be anything else.
Price — The Full Picture
Pan
Size
Price
What’s included
Always Pan 2.0
10.5″
$135
Lid + steamer basket + spatula
HexClad
8″ w/lid
$143
Lid only
HexClad
10″
$169
Pan only
HexClad’s 8″ with lid costs $8 more than a 10.5″ Always Pan 2.0 with three accessories. HexClad’s 10″ (no accessories) is $34 more. Factor in lifetime warranty vs 1-year limited, and the long-term value math starts shifting in HexClad’s favor — especially for daily cooks who’d otherwise replace ceramic cookware every couple of years.
Aesthetics
Always Pan 2.0: six colors, lifestyle-brand energy, the kind of pan that earns its spot hanging on a pot rack in full view. Genuinely beautiful.
