Misen vs Hexclad Cookware: Which is Better?

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It can be very frustrating deciding between Misen and Hexclad if you are not familiar with their strengths and weaknesses. In this comparison, I will cover in detail the differences and similarities between these two brands; their pros and cons; their unique features; and which one is superior in terms of durability, heat performance, design, collections, and price.

Quick Summary

Feature

Misen

Hexclad

Construction

3-Ply and 5-Ply

3-Ply hybrid

Material

Stainless steel / Carbon steel / Nonstick / Cast iron

Stainless steel / Aluminum

Oven-safe temperature

Up to 500 degrees

Up to 500 degrees

Induction compatibility

Yes (except for nonstick pans, they don't perform great on induction burners)

Yes

Metal utensil-safe

Only the stainless steel cookware

Yes

Dishwasher-safe

Only the stainless steel cookware

Yes

Handle type

Stainless steel with removable silicone

Stainless steel

Lid type

Silicone

Glass with a vent hole

Number of collections

3

1

Lifetime warranty

Yes (except for the nonstick cookware)

Yes (covers only defects)

Price

Introducing Misen

Misen was founded by Omar Rada in 2015. It is an American company that has several manufacturing partners within China where it produces most of its cookware.

Misen is recognized for its versatility, it produces a wide range of kitchen products such as dutch ovens, pots, pans, woks, kitchen tools, oven steels, santoku, and other types of kitchen knives.

Pros of Misen Cookware

  • Great heat tolerance. The carbon steel and nonstick collections are oven-safe and can endure temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, while the stainless steel cookware can reach 500 degrees.
  • Variety of cookware. Misen uses different types of material such as enameled cast iron, stainless steel, nonstick, and carbon steel in its cookware constructions to create reliable pots and pans that can ensure high performance while excelling in specific areas.
  • Safe nonstick surface. This brand combines its unique Plasma primer technology with a 3-layer Dupont platinum coating that’s PFOA-free to produce a safe nonstick surface that can offer superior release.
  • Inexpensive. This company focuses on offering high-quality cookware at reasonable prices directly to its customers. Thus, you can expect great cookware under $200.

Cons of Misen Cookware

  • Quality of the nonstick coating. I’m not quite pleased with the overall quality of the coating. the coating may start to chip after a short period of time (a couple of months) of daily use, even with proper care. Undeniably, nonstick pans are replaceable over time but I would like to have a pan that can perform well for at least 3 to 5 years.
  • Re-seasoning. Seasoning is very crucial for carbon steel pans since it helps create a patina that can provide a natural nonstick coating. However, this layer can easily be stripped if you use abrasive tools, a dishwasher, or simply a dish soap when cleaning which would force you to start over and re-season your cookware again.
  • No warranty. Sadly, Misen does not offer any type of warranty for its nonstick products. Most trusted brands offer at least a limited-time warranty that covers defects but in Misen’s case, there is none.

Introducing Hexclad

Hexclad is one of the most hyped brands that’s founded by Daniel Winer in 2016. It was the first company to produce hybrid cookware that combines stainless steel and nonstick together.

This American-based company has a collaboration with multiple manufacturing partners who are specialized in the laser etching process within Asia. While the products are developed and designed in the U.S, most of them are crafted in Korea and China.

Pros of Hexclad Cookware

  • Hybrid cookware. The unique hexagonal design combines the durability and resistance of stainless steel with the smooth quality of nonstick.
  • Great heat performance. Hexclad cookware secures superb heat control while providing a quick and even distribution to cook food perfectly.
  • Durable and highly resistant surface. The laser etching process creates a protective layer that can withstand the test of time while allowing the use of metal utensils during cooking. The stainless steel layer act as a shield to protect the cookware from flaking and peeling, thus you can expect a long-lasting nonstick performance for years to come.

Cons of Hexclad Cookware

  • A bit heavy. Hexclad pots and pans are a bit heavier compared to other nonstick cookware making them a bit uncomfortable for the average person but not to the extent that you can’t carry it with one hand.
  • Discoloration. Discoloration may start to happen on the sides after a few uses, which can be a bit of a struggle and tiresome to remove. However, discoloration does not affect the performance at all. It is only a matter of cookware appearance.
  • Separated glass lids. Hexclad doesn’t provide any lids for its cookware, so If you are planning to get individual pans then get ready to pay extra for the lids.
  • Small vent hole. The glass lids are designed with a vent hole that serves to release pressure. This can be handy in some situations but, it can get in the way of steaming some recipes.

Misen vs Hexclad: Differences and Similarities

Misen vs Hexclad

While Misen and Hexclad share some common similarities, there are notable differences in almost every aspect that set them apart. Without further ado, here are the top five distinctions you need to know before deciding on either brand.

Material and Construction

Misen crafts different types of products using various materials in its cookware constructions specifically carbon steel, stainless steel, nonstick, and cast iron. However, as I have mentioned in the Misen vs All-Clad comparison, this brand is recognized for its stainless steel and nonstick cookware.

The stainless steel cookware is produced through a 5-ply construction where thick layers of 18/10 stainless steel are combined with the aluminum core. As for the nonstick pans, Misen creates a flat nonstick base from a 4.2mm thick, commercial-grade aluminum that can offer great even heat distribution.

Hexclad on the other hand uses a 3-ply construction with a hexagonal design to create hybrid cookware that can deliver the quick heat performance of aluminum, the resistance and durability of high-grade stainless steel, and the smooth feature of nonstick.

This hybrid technology consists of an aluminum core that’s covered first with a layer of ceramic nonstick coating, then a laser-etched stainless steel layer that’s made up of hundreds of tiny hexagons which act as a shield to protect the nonstick surface while allowing the use of metal utensils and dishwashers.

Cooking Surface

Misen creates different types of surfaces depending on the cookware model. For the stainless steel category, it crafts larger brushed stainless steel surfaces than most brands.

For the nonstick category, it combines its unique technology “Plasma Primer” with a 3-layer Dupont platinum. The plasma primer is a pretreatment done before applying the nonstick coating to ensure great durability and abrasion resistance of the coating. While the 3-layer Dupont platinum offer and maintain a superior release.

As for the carbon steel cookware, Misen relies on the patina (layers of fat) generated gradually from seasonings to get the naturally nonstick coating. Keep in mind, it will take a couple of weeks of daily cooking with proper care before you get that nice and smooth surface.

Hexclad on the other side produces non-toxic cookware with great nonstick performance. The laser-etching process secures a durable nonstick surface that’s made entirely from ceramic coating free from any harsh chemicals.

The layer of tiny hexagons will protect the coating giving it the ability to withstand not only metal utensils but also dishwashers. Although, most of the time you wouldn’t really need to use the dishwasher due to how easy food comes out when handwashing.

Design

As I have described in the Misen review, this brand showcase a simplistic cookware design. Every piece is crafted with a wide surface and curved edges to make it easier for you to cook more food at once and toss them around.

The only downside in here is the weight. Unlike the carbon steel pans which are considered to be super light, the stainless steel collections are quite heavy due to the 5-ply construction which makes handling the cookware a bit uncomfortable for the average person, but not to an extent that you can't carry it with one hand.

Hexclad favors shallow sides with wide surfaces and grooved lip design. The wide surface gives you more room to cook, the shallow sides offer great evaporation which helps you get that nice brown look on your food, while the grooved lip facilitates drip-free pouring.

Both brands add a magnetic base to their design to secure great compatibility and versatility for their cookware to work on any heat source including induction cooktops without losing any of their qualities.

As for the lids, Misen creates its lids from a high-grade silicone that’s safe to use in the oven (limited to 400 degrees Fahrenheit) and dishwasher. However, Hexclad does a better job crafting high-quality glass lids with a vent hole which helps reduce the boil-overs and release the pressure. But, bear in mind that the vent hole can get in the way of perfectly steaming certain recipes.

Handle

This is one of the hard-to-please sections for many cooks. Unfortunately, both brands are quite simplistic when it comes to designing the handles, they don’t add any great stay-cool feature.

Hexclad craft long stainless steel handles secured with high-quality steel rivets to provide a comfortable, safe grip. The handles are designed with one open area to help disperse the heat.

Misen follows the same principle and crafts long stainless steel handles covered with removable silicone with one or two open areas depending on the collection. However, they can still get warm and warmer if the cookware remains on the stove for a long time.

Price

Hexclad is leaning more toward providing hybrid cookware at reasonable prices. It is slightly less expensive compared to Misen, thus you can get your hand on a great set or individual pieces without breaking the budget. For a better understanding of the cost, here are some examples of Hexclad and Misen cookware prices:

  1. Hexclad Stainless Steel 6-Piece Cookware Set: $330
  2. Hexclad Stainless Steel 7-Piece Cookware Set: $400
  3. Hexclad Stainless Steel 13-Piece Cookware Set: $700
  4. Misen 3-Piece Starter Cookware Set: $225
  5. Misen 5-Piece Essentials Cookware Set: $375
  6. Misen 7-Piece Complete Cookware Set: $475

Hexclad vs Misen: Cookware Comparison

Cookware Brand

Cookware Set

Cooking Surface

Core Type

Induction Compatibility

Current Price

Hexclad Hybrid Wok Pan

HexClad Hybrid Wok Pan review

Mixture of stainless steel and ceramic nonstick

Aluminum

Yes

Hexclad Hybrid Cookware Set

HexClad Hybrid Stainless Steel Cookware Set review

Mixture of stainless steel and ceramic nonstick

Aluminum

Yes

Hexclad Cookware Set

HexClad Hybrid Cookware Set review

Mixture of stainless steel and ceramic nonstick

Aluminum

Yes

Misen Stainless Steel Pan Set

Misen Stainless Steel Frying Pan review

Stainless steel

Aluminum

Yes

Misen nonstick Pan Set

Misen Nonstick Frying Pan Set review

Platinum nonstick coating modified with Plasma primer

Aluminum

No

The Final Verdict

The key difference between Hexclad and Misen is that Hexclad offers hybrid cookware that’s more durable and can deliver high nonstick performance, while Misen is more versatile and provides a variety of inexpensive pans that can be replaced over time.