ScratchDefense A1 Series Nonstick Frying Pan vs Rio Ceramic Nonstick Frypan: which is safer?
GreenPan Rio Ceramic Nonstick Frypan is the clear pick. Circulon ScratchDefense A1 Series Nonstick Frying Pan carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.
Circulon
ScratchDefense A1 Series Nonstick Frying Pan
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleTeflon-type coating fume risk (thermal decomposition)
ReportedCoating degradation and microflaking
Our pick
GreenPan
Rio Ceramic Nonstick Frypan
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
LikelyCeramic coating degradation and peeling
PossibleAluminum leaching from base metal
ReportedCoating adhesion loss and metal exposure
Where these two actually differ
- We flag PTFE fume risk (thermal decomposition) and Coating degradation and microflaking on the Circulon and not on the GreenPan.
- We flag Ceramic coating degradation and peeling, Aluminum leaching from base metal and Coating adhesion loss and metal exposure on the GreenPan and not on the Circulon.
- The Circulon is Nonstick coating (unspecified proprietary formula) where the GreenPan is ceramic nonstick coating, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- The gap is 75 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the GreenPan is the one to buy.
- We are less certain about the Circulon grade, at 35% confidence against 82%, because it discloses less.
Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →
More nonstick skillets: see the full ranking