How to Clean Nonstick Pans

Is there anything more annoying than having to wash the dishes after a delicious meal? Sadly, the pleasure of a home-cooked meal often exists in inverse proportion to the frustration of cleaning up. The good news is that HexClad pans are easier to wash than most—thanks to their Terrabond™ nonstick coating—but no pans will wash themselves for you. (A cook can dream…)

Why Is It Important to Clean a Nonstick Pan?

Obviously, you’re not in the habit of just frying up a few eggs and chucking the pan back in the cabinet. But is simply washing your pans between uses enough? 

It turns out that there’s a correct way to clean a Hybrid nonstick pan that will ensure it cooks your food the most effective way possible and maintains its nonstick surface. Neglecting to clean your Hybrid nonstick pan thoroughly affects how you cook: Residual food or caked-on gunk will reduce the quality of what you cook, and mealtime cleanup will be harder if buildup develops. (Not to mention the fact that failing to clean adequately can make your meals unappetizing!)

The Dos and Don'ts of Cleaning a Nonstick Pan

Follow these tips to make it easier to clean your nonstick pans without damaging them.

Do: Season your pan before the first time you use it to make cleanup easier. 

Seasoning your HexClad pan is only necessary the first time you cook with the pan or after a deep clean. This process helps avoid food crusting or sticking on the pan and makes it easier to clean. 

Follow these simple steps to get your new HexClad pan in great shape before you begin cooking:

• Wash your pan with warm water, a gentle sponge and dish soap. Dry well.
• Heat your pan over medium-low heat for about 30 seconds. 
• Pour 1 teaspoon of neutral oil with a high smoke point (such as vegetable or avocado oil) into the pan and swirl to coat.
• Increase the heat to medium and continue to heat the pan for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.
• Use a paper towel to wipe excess oil from the pan. If you’re planning to cook right away, proceed with the recipe. Otherwise, wipe well and store.

Don’t: Stick your Hybrid nonstick pan straight into the sink. 

Let the pan cool completely on the stovetop before cleaning. If the pan is still hot and hits cold water, it can cause thermal shock, which can ruin your pan over time.

Do: Use hot, soapy water and a regular sponge to wash your HexClad pans.

Once the pan has cooled after cooking, the best bet for the longevity of your pans and removing any residue on the surface is hot, soapy water and a regular sponge. Because of the nonstick coating on HexClad pans, they should be relatively easy to clean.

Do: Soak extremely dirty pans.

For tougher stains, soak your Hybrid nonstick pan for 10 to 15 minutes in warm soapy water. A scrub with a soft sponge should then do the trick.

Do: Put your nonstick HexClad pans in the dishwasher.

If there’s one appliance that has revolutionized the home kitchen, it might just be the dishwasher. Yes, HexClad and other nonstick pans are pretty easy to clean in the sink, but what’s even better is that you can put them in the dishwasher. Be aware that using a dishwasher may cause pots and pans to dull or blacken over time. Dishwasher detergents are increasingly phosphate-free, which may also cause etching or pockmarks in the metal. All this said, if convenience matters most to you, the dishwasher is a great helper in cleaning your Hybrid nonstick pans.

Don’t: Assume that high heat is best. 

HexClad pans do best over low to medium heat. High heat can cause oil to burn and cause buildup on your pans. This can make the pans harder to clean.