Anniversary Pastry Set vs Original Bundt Pan: which is safer?

Le Creuset Anniversary Pastry Set is the clear pick. Nordic Ware Original Bundt Pan carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.

Our pick

Le Creuset Anniversary Pastry Set

Le Creuset

Anniversary Pastry Set

PFAS grade

Excellent 90/100

Overall grade

Excellent 78/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Enameled cast iron

Confidence

82%

PossibleEnamel coating degradation and iron exposure

PossibleThermal stress and cracking from high or uneven heat

PossibleBacterial retention if enamel is compromised

Nordic Ware Original Bundt Pan

Nordic Ware

Original Bundt Pan

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Good 53/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

cast aluminum with non-stick coating (type unspecified)

Confidence

55%

PossibleNon-stick coating degradation and particle release

PossibleAluminum leaching at high pH or acidic foods

PossibleFume risk from unclear non-stick chemistry

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Enamel coating degradation and iron exposure, Thermal stress and cracking from high or uneven heat and Bacterial retention if enamel is compromised on the Le Creuset and not on the Nordic Ware.
  • We flag Non-stick coating degradation and particle release, Aluminum leaching at high pH or acidic foods and Fume risk from unclear non-stick chemistry on the Nordic Ware and not on the Le Creuset.
  • The Le Creuset is Enameled cast iron where the Nordic Ware is cast aluminum with non-stick coating (type unspecified), which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • The gap is 25 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Le Creuset is the one to buy.
  • We are less certain about the Nordic Ware grade, at 55% 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 bundt pans: see the full ranking