Hexclad: Hybrid BBQ Grill Pan Review

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When HexClad contacted me about reviewing their Hybrid BBQ Grill Pan, I agreed, but with one understanding. I'd use it in real world cooking for as long as it took to decide whether it was something I'd actually recommend to my readers.

Fast forward about a year, and this grill pan has become one of the pieces of outdoor cookware I reach for most often. I've used it for shrimp, vegetables, potatoes, and other foods that would normally be difficult to cook directly on the grill grates, and it has performed exceptionally well every time.

If you're wondering whether the HexClad Hybrid BBQ Grill Pan is worth the money, my answer is yes. It's well built, heats evenly, allows smoke and heat to reach the food, cleans up easily, and has held up extremely well despite plenty of use.

In this review, I'll show you exactly what I like about the pan, what I wish were different, and why I think it's one of the better grill pans available today.

Jeff's Rating

★★★★★ 5/5

Would I Buy It Again? Yes.

Best For: Grilling vegetables, shrimp, potatoes, and other foods that would normally fall through the grates.

Before we dive into the details, let's look at the things that matter most to me in any grill pan.

• A non stick cooking surface that allows food to move around easily, even at higher temperatures.
• Tough enough to stand up to metal utensils and years of outdoor cooking.
• Dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.
• Plenty of openings in the bottom so smoke, heat, and a little direct flame can reach the food.
• Built to last rather than becoming another disposable piece of cookware after a year or two.

Now let's see how the HexClad Hybrid BBQ Grill Pan measures up.

Size and Shape

The Hexclad BBQ grill pan is 13-inches in diameter with angled sides. This is a great size in my opinion and should fit on almost any grill or smoker grate with ease. The angled sides are designed to make it easy to flip and arrange food in the pan while it cooks.

The bottom of the pan is mostly flat but ever so slightly higher in the center of the pan than on the sides.

Round is a great shape for a pan like this and is a great choice for making it easier to stir and arrange food. The angled sides are at about a 45° angle and make flipping food a cinch.

The Perforations

There is an array of six circular rows of holes or perforations in the bottom of the pan. Each hole is 5/16-inch or about 8mm in diameter, and there are a total of 142 holes.

➡ I counted all of those holes one by one. Oh, the things that I do for you guys 😀

The holes are a good size. Big enough to allow plenty of fire and smoke to come through without letting most vegetables or meat fall through to the grates.

The Handles

There are two stainless steel handles riveted to the top side of the pan.

The handles are ergonomic and heavy-duty. I am most impressed by the heavy-duty rivets that attach the handles to the sides of the pan. These look like the ones used in aviation to attach skins and other parts and accessories to the aircraft.

Hexclad Non-Stick Surface

The hexagonal steel ridges, that Hexclad is known for, cover the entire surface of the pan. Inside of each hexagon are 13 small dots. Between the hexagon peaks are the non-stick valleys of the pan itself, which is treated with a “high-grade non-toxic Japanese coating infused with diamond dust”.

I don't pretend to understand the technology entirely, but those raised areas along with the Japanese coating are tougher than a box of nails and play a huge part in making this pan non-stick while also allowing it to be used with metal utensils.

What I find interesting is that these hexagonal steel ridges (and I assume) the Japanese coating with diamond dust also cover the underside of the pan where it makes contact with the grate in your smoker or grill.

If you don't think that non-stick surface is tough, the website even says you can use steel wool on tough stains.

Temperature Handling

The company boasts that this pan's nonstick coating can handle temperatures up to 900°F (482°C).

I don't figure I'll ever want to cook hotter than that, so that should never be an issue for me.

Want to see the latest price and available sizes? Click below.

Construction of the Pan

The base is made from magnetic stainless steel, which is compatible with induction cooktops (not that you'd be using this grill pan on an induction cooktop at any time).

The core of the pan is aluminum, which we know is a great conductor of heat. It moves heat quickly throughout the pan to help the food cook faster and more evenly.

I have found this pan to do a really good job at heating evenly and moving the heat from the center to the outside very quickly. This combination of materials that they chose to use works well.

Final Thoughts

I have a lot of grilling accessories, and most of them spend more time on the shelf than they do on the grill. This pan has been different.

After using it regularly for about a year, I can honestly say it has earned a permanent place in my outdoor cooking setup. It heats evenly, allows smoke and heat to reach the food, cleans up easily, and has held up far better than I expected.

The combination of the stainless steel construction, aluminum core, and HexClad's hybrid cooking surface gives you the best of both worlds. It's tough enough for outdoor cooking while still providing the easy food release you'd expect from a quality non stick pan.

Whether I'm cooking shrimp, vegetables, potatoes, or anything else that might otherwise fall through the grates, this pan has become one of the first things I reach for.

That's about the highest compliment I can give any piece of barbecue equipment.

What I Don't Like

No product is perfect, and while I've been extremely happy with this grill pan, there are a couple of things worth mentioning.

First, the price is higher than many other grill pans you'll find. If you're simply looking for the cheapest way to keep vegetables from falling through the grates, there are less expensive options available.

Second, the round shape works well on just about any grill, but there are times when I'd prefer a square or rectangular version. That shape would make better use of the available cooking space on some grills and smokers.

Those are relatively minor complaints, however. Neither one has kept me from using the pan on a regular basis, and neither would prevent me from buying it again.

Is The Hexclad Hybrid BBQ Grill Pan Worth the Money?

I've always believed it's better to buy quality equipment once than to replace cheaper gear every few years. That's especially true for something that's going to see high heat, metal utensils, and regular use on the grill.

After using the HexClad Hybrid BBQ Grill Pan for about a year, I haven't found any reason to regret the purchase. The cooking surface has held up well, the pan still performs like it did when it was new, and cleanup continues to be quick and easy.

Is it more expensive than many grill pans? Absolutely. But it's also better built than most of the alternatives I've used over the years.

If you're someone who grills a few times every summer, it may be more pan than you need. But if you're outside cooking every week and want equipment that's built to last, I think the HexClad Hybrid BBQ Grill Pan is money well spent.

It's one of those purchases that costs a little more up front but should pay you back with years of dependable service.

Did HexClad Pay Me to Write This Review?

No.

HexClad sent me this grill pan with the understanding that I would use it and give my honest opinion. They didn't ask to approve this review before it was published, and they didn't ask me to recommend the product.

Everything I've shared here is based on my own experience after using the pan for about a year.

I did eventually join the HexClad affiliate program because I only recommend products that I personally use and believe in. That means if you decide to purchase through one of the links on this page, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

As always, I encourage you to do your own research, read other reviews, and decide whether it's the right product for your style of cooking.

For me, the answer has been easy. This grill pan has become one of my favorite pieces of outdoor cookware, and I'd buy another one without hesitation.

If you'd like to learn more or see the current price, you can check out the HexClad Hybrid BBQ Grill Pan.

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