I've spent a lot of money on cookware, particularly in the last year and there's one purchase I've never regretted: my HexClad pots and pans.
We've invested nearly $1,000 in HexClad cookware and I've been pretty convinced that nothing else could compete.
So, when Ninja announced it was entering the hybrid cookware market with its brand new EverSear collection, I was intrigued. After all this is the brand behind some of the best kitchen innovations, including the Ninja Creami and Ninja Slushi. But taking on HexClad? That's a pretty bold move, especially when you're promising similar high-heat cooking performance, durable nonstick capabilities and a significantly lower price tag.
Ninja sent me its new EverSear collection, including a 6-piece set
of pots and a 6-piece set of pans, and I immediately started comparing it to the HexClad pans I've been using for the past year. I expected to like the cookware. What I didn't expect was to question my loyalty to HexClad after making breakfast.
Shop the brand new Ninja EverSear hybrid cookware collection
Ninja EverSear 10-Piece Stainless-Steel Nonstick Cookware Set
Upgrade your kitchen with this 10-piece Ninja cookware set, combining tri-ply stainless steel with durable ceramic nonstick performance for easier searing, sautéing and everyday cooking without the stick.
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Ninja EverSear 6-Piece Stainless-Steel Nonstick Saucepan Set
Upgrade everyday cooking with this six-piece Ninja saucepan set, combining tri-ply stainless steel with durable ceramic nonstick performance and space-saving stacking lids for easier cooking and storage.
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Ninja EverSear 6-Piece Stainless-Steel Nonstick Fry Pan Set
Sear, sauté and fry with this six-piece Ninja cookware set, featuring three popular pan sizes with durable ceramic nonstick cooking surfaces and space-saving stacking glass lids.
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Here's how Ninja EverSear compares to HexClad, what impressed me the most and whether this new cookware collection is worth the investment:
I'm no chef Gordon Ramsay, but I think Ninja EverSear outperforms HexClad
I can't tell you how much it hurts me to say that Ninja EverSear won me over with one meal.
I did a fried egg test. If you like an over-easy egg, it is not easily perfected. It's also the one thing I have not been able to perfect in my HexClad pans, despite never breaking a yolk in any other pan.
I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but the first egg sticks, the second attempt breaks on the flip or on the transfer and it's always the third attempt that finally works. There are three people in my house, so someone (me) always gets the good eggs.
First attempt, my over-easy eggs slid right out of my Ninja EverSear pan and my jaw hit the floor. Slid right out. I didn't even need a spatula.
If I have any concerns about Ninja's new cookware, it's that the outside is stainless steel. HexClad uses the same material inside and out, which creates an easy to clean surface. I can't say for sure, because I've only had EverSear for a few days, but I do have some concerns that the stainless steel bottoms will burn or blacken over time.
Shop Ninja EverSear cookware at Ninja
Ninja EverSear is more affordable than HexClad
This is where the comparison really gets interesting for me.
I live in a HexClad household. I had the brand on my wish list for two years before we bought them, because casually dropping around $400 for three pans was just not in our wheelhouse at the time. Eventually, my husband bought me a set as a gift and I bought the second set because I was so in love with the first. The total? About $700.
Right now, you can get a 14-piece HexClad set, including three pots, three pans, six lids and two silicone trivets for $691.18—and that's a sale price.
Ninja EverSear offers a 10-piece set, with a bonus spatula, for $429.99. If cost matters to you, this could be an easy selling point.
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HexClad wins on packaging, even the boxing is high quality
This might seem like a silly comparison, but from the second I opened my HexClad sets, it is so clear that is a premium quality cookware. Each box has a sleek, black look with minimalistic branding. Each pot, pan and lid is individually wrapped, including a sort of cloth bag to prevent damage in shipping.
There's nothing wrong with the Ninja EverSear packaging, it's just what you expect from cookware. A few layers of well-fitted cardboard keeps things from moving around and there's a small plastic wrap on each one.
It's clear to me that the care HexClad puts into their design extends to their packaging, it's one-of-a-kind straight from the box.
Shop HexClad cookware
Ninja EverSear makes cleanup almost too easy
I love my HexClad cookware, but food does stick. Not everything, not every time, but it happens more often than I'd like. And before anyone asks, yes, I follow the instructions. I season my pans, I use them as directed and I hand wash them. HexClad says its cookware is dishwasher-safe, but recommends hand washing to help extend its lifespan, so that's exactly what I do.
The good news? Even when something sticks, my HexClad pans are incredibly easy to clean. A little soap, water and a sponge usually take care of everything. It's one of the reasons I've never seriously considered replacing them.
But, Ninja EverSear might have just raised my expectations. For my first meal, I made steak and eggs, two foods that can leave behind a stubborn mess, but absolutely nothing stuck to the EverSear pans. When it came time to clean up, there was practically nothing to do. A quick wipe took care of most of it.
Again, I've only had my EverSear cookware for a few days, so I can't speak to how the nonstick coating will hold up after months or years of regular use. But, based on my first meal, I'm impressed.
Is Ninja EverSear worth it? My final thoughts
I'm not breaking up with HexClad. Let's make that very clear.
I still love my pots and pans, my HexClad steak knives are some of the sharpest knives I've ever owned and I regularly use my HexClad grill pan for vegetables and just about anything else I feel like throwing on the grill. I've invested a lot in this brand and I don't regret those purchases.
But, I also can't ignore what Ninja EverSear just accomplished in my kitchen. My first over-easy eggs slid right out of the pan, cleanup was ridiculously easy and the cookware costs considerably less than the HexClad sets I've purchased.
But, when it comes to my initial cooking experience? Ninja has absolutely earned a place in my kitchen. I'm not giving up my love for HexClad. Apparently, I'm just making room for a new one.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: I spent $700 on HexClad cookware, but Ninja won me over with one egg
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