Cast Iron Skillets, ranked by PFAS safety
15 products graded from Bad to Excellent, safest first. 12 grade Good or better and are worth buying.
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The best non-toxic cast iron skillets, ranked safest first
Bad · Better · Best cast iron skillets
The quickest read, what to skip and the top-graded picks worth buying instead.
Smithey
Restoration SMITHEY
Skip until Smithey discloses coating composition; nonstick coating source unknown.
Le Creuset
Le Creuset Signature Saucepan
Low risk, enameled cast iron design avoids PFAS-prone nonstick coatings.
Lodge
Lodge Cast Iron Classic Cast Iron Skillets
Low risk, bare cast iron has no synthetic nonstick coatings.
Worth buying Good or Excellent, safest first
Lodge
Cast Iron Classic Cast Iron Skillets
cast iron (bare or seasoned with oil)
Iron leaching into food
Limited concern
Rust formation and corrosion
Limited concern
Thermal shock and cracking
Limited concern
Low risk, bare cast iron has no synthetic nonstick coatings.
⚠Risky category by default
Lodge
Cast Iron Skillet Pan 6"
cast iron, seasoned with oil
Iron leaching
Limited concern
Rust and oxidation
Limited concern
Coating degradation (seasoning loss)
Limited concern
Low risk, bare cast iron with traditional seasoning, no Teflon-family coating coatings.
⚠Risky category by default
Le Creuset
Traditional Skillet
Enameled cast iron
Enamel coating degradation and particle release
Limited concern
Low risk, enameled cast iron doesn't require PFAS-based coatings.
⚠Risky category by default
Field Company
Field Co. Cast Iron Skillet No. 8
cast iron, bare/seasoned surface
Iron leaching into acidic foods
Limited concern
Rust and surface corrosion
Moderate concern
Low risk, bare cast iron is a conventional, non-coated cookware choice.
⚠Risky category by default
Smithey
Ironware Company Cast Iron Skillet No. 12
Cast iron, pre-seasoned with vegetable oil
Iron leaching
Limited concern
Thermal shock and fracture
Limited concern
Seasoning degradation over time
Limited concern
Low risk, cast iron is an inherently safe, non-coated cookware material.
⚠Risky category by default
Smithey
Cast Iron Chef Skillet No. 8
Cast iron, seasoned finish
Seasoning degradation and rust exposure
Limited concern
Low risk, traditional cast iron with no nonstick coating or chemical surface treatment.
⚠Risky category by default
Smithey
Ironware No. 11 American Anniversary Skillet
Cast iron, seasoned/bare metal
Coating degradation over time
Limited concern
Iron transfer to food
Limited concern
Low risk, traditional cast iron with no synthetic coatings or treatments.
⚠Risky category by default
Smithey
Ironware Co Cast Iron Skillet No 12
Cast iron, seasoned with oil
Iron leaching at low pH
Limited concern
Thermal degradation of seasoning
Limited concern
Rust and corrosion if neglected
Moderate concern
Low risk, traditional cast iron with no PFAS-prone coatings.
⚠Risky category by default
Smithey
No. 11 Deep Skillet with Glass Lid
Cast iron with glass lid
Glass lid thermal shock or breakage
Limited concern
Rust or corrosion if poorly maintained
Limited concern
Low risk, cast iron avoids PFAS-prone nonstick coatings entirely.
⚠Risky category by default
Le Creuset
Signature Saucepan
Enameled cast iron (outer enamel coating, cast iron core)
Lead
Limited concern
Enamel chipping and coating degradation
Moderate concern
Iron leaching from exposed cast iron
High concern
Thermal stress and delamination
Limited concern
Low risk, enameled cast iron design avoids PFAS-prone nonstick coatings.
⚠Risky category by default
Field Company
Cast Iron Skillet No. 4
cast iron, seasoned surface
Rust and iron transfer to food
Limited concern
Seasoning oil degradation or rancidity
Limited concern
Low risk, cast iron inherently PFAS-free and does not require Teflon-family coating coatings.
⚠Risky category by default
Smithey
No. 10 Cast Iron Skillet
Cast iron, seasoned with oil
Iron leaching into food
Limited concern
Seasoning degradation and rust
Limited concern
Low risk, traditional cast iron has no PFAS-prone coatings.
⚠Risky category by default
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
Le Creuset
Signature Enameled Cast Iron Skillet
cast iron with vitreous enamel coating
Enamel coating degradation and chipping
Limited concern
Iron leaching from exposed cast iron
Limited concern
Thermal shock cracking
Moderate concern
Low risk, enameled cast iron has no inherent reason to contain PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
Smithey
12" Cast Iron Skillet
Cast iron with seasoned oil coating
Iron leaching into acidic foods
Limited concern
Bacterial growth in seasoning layer or rust pits
Limited concern
Low risk, traditional cast iron requires no fluorochemical treatment.
⚠Risky category by default
Smithey
Restoration SMITHEY
Carbon steel with unspecified nonstick coating
Teflon-type coating (or unknown Teflon-family coating) fume risk
Limited concern
Coating degradation and microparticle release
Limited concern
Off-gassing of volatile organics during manufacturing or cure
Limited concern
Skip until Smithey discloses coating composition; nonstick coating source unknown.
⚠Nonstick, coating undisclosed
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