I’ve tried plenty of kitchenware but Gordon Ramsay’s go-to brand impressed me most

Whether you’re an enthusiastic home baker or someone who only gets the mixing bowl out occasionally, having the right bakeware can make a surprising difference. There’s nothing more frustrating than a cake sticking to its tin or spending ages scrubbing away stubborn brownie residue. I’ve used plenty of HexClad products over the years, so I was particularly interested to see how the brand would translate its distinctive cookware technology into bakeware.

Its new six-piece Hybrid Bakeware set costs £299, making it a significant investment compared with conventional cake tins and baking trays. I tested the entire collection with cakes, brownies and cookies to see how it performed and whether it lived up to my expectations of the brand.

What’s included?

The HexClad Hybrid Bakeware set contains six pieces designed to cover a range of everyday baking tasks. It includes two 23cm round cake pans, a 20cm square pan, a rectangular 23x33cm cake pan, a large baking sheet and a stainless-steel cooling rack.

The selection gives you plenty of flexibility, whether you’re making a classic Victoria sponge, baking a batch of brownies or preparing cookies for a weekend treat. I also liked that the cake tins aren’t limited to cakes; they are versatile enough for other recipes, too.

HexClad’s bakeware features a hybrid surface that combines laser-etched stainless steel with a ceramic non-stick coating. The brand says this is designed to combine the durability of stainless steel with the convenience of a non-stick finish.

At £299 for the complete set, it’s firmly in the premium category. It’s therefore worth looking beyond the design and considering how well the pieces perform in everyday use.

First impressions

Having used plenty of HexClad cookware in the past, I was already familiar with the brand before trying its new bakeware. The collection feels substantial, with a sturdy construction that gives it a premium feel.

However, one thing I noticed straight away was the weight. These aren’t the lightest cake tins and trays I’ve used, and the difference is noticeable when handling them.

That won’t be a problem for everyone, particularly if you prefer solid, robust kitchen equipment. But if you regularly move hot trays in and out of the oven or find heavier cookware difficult to handle, it’s worth bearing in mind.

Beyond that, the selection feels practical. Rather than buying individual tins for different recipes, you have a collection that covers several common baking needs.

I followed all of HexClad’s recommendations for best care and usage practices. This included washing, drying, and pre-seasoning all the bakeware before the first use. Pre-seasoning involved thinly coating the surfaces with a high-heat cooking oil and baking the pans for three minutes in an oven set to 200°C. The brand cautioned against using cooking sprays and sharp metal knives or utensils to cut into a pan and advised using silicone, wood or nylon.

Baking cakes

I started by using the cake tins to bake cakes, and one of the biggest positives was how easily the finished cakes released from the pans.

Getting a cake out in one piece can be one of the most frustrating parts of baking, particularly when you’re trying to achieve a nice, neat finish. Having a tin that releases the cake without too much hassle makes the process much easier.

I also appreciated the versatility of the tins. Although they’re designed with baking in mind, they can also be used for other foods, helping you make the most of the investment.

For me, good bakeware should make baking feel simpler, and the easy release was a definite highlight.

I’ve never used a cake tin which has handles, which is an incredible design choice. It helps to simply rotate the tins as needed, without worrying about burning yourself.

I made a classic vanilla sponge cake with apricot jam, and the sponges cooked evenly, were soft to the touch and were cooked beautifully. In fact, they were some of the most delicious sponges I’ve ever baked. They were beautifully golden, soft and super fluffy.

Baking brownies

Next, I put the collection to the test with brownies and cookies, two baked goods that can leave plenty of residue behind.

Brownie mixtures can be particularly messy, with sticky edges and baked-on bits that often require a little extra effort to clean. Cookies can leave behind their own greasy or sugary residue, too.

I found the HexClad bakeware straightforward to clean after using it for both bakes. Non-stick performance is particularly useful when working with recipes that can cling to the surface.

One particularly nifty feature is the stainless-steel cooling rack, which fits directly inside the baking sheet. It’s a simple but practical design choice that makes storing them much easier.

The rack itself felt strong and sturdy, but it is slightly smaller than any of the other traditional-sized cooling racks I’ve tried.

Is it worth the price?

There’s no getting around the fact that £299 is a lot to spend on bakeware. You can buy individual cake tins and baking trays for considerably less, so this is unlikely to be an impulse purchase for many people.

However, if you bake frequently as I do and want a coordinated, durable collection, that convenience may appeal.

My experience with the set was positive in the areas that matter to me when I bake, including cakes releasing easily and the trays being so easy to wash. The pieces also felt substantial, although their weight could be a drawback for some people.