By PFAS Authority · Updated September 24, 2026
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Model-based grades, not lab tests. We flunk more than we pass. How grading works
PFAS in Non-Stick Baking Molds, Which Brands Grade Best and Worst
Based on available materials and data, plain silicone baking molds from Tescoma and Calphalon consistently earn our highest available grade for this category, "Good" at 65 out of 100, while two products stand out as the worst performers in our database, the Tescoma Tescoma Delicia SiliconPRIME Macaron Pan, 39 x 0.5 x 27cm, Orange and the Calphalon Calphalon Nonstick Bakeware 10-Piece Set, both scoring 15 out of 100. That gap matters because it shows this is not a simple "good brand versus bad brand" story. Tescoma and Calphalon each make products that grade well and products that grade poorly, which means shoppers need to check the specific mold, not just the logo on the box.
The pattern in our data points to one clear conclusion. Plain, uncoated silicone molds without a "PRIME" style non-stick coating or a traditional metal non-stick pan surface tend to score much better in our model than molds and pans that add a proprietary non-stick coating layer or use classic non-stick bakeware coatings. If you want a lower-concern option for cakes, muffins, savarins, or chocolate work, our data favors the single-material silicone molds over coated bakeware sets. For a broader look at how this category compares to other kitchen items, see our Bundt Pans roundup and the main PFAS product finder.
Summary comparison table
How we graded these molds
Every score above is a model-based estimate built from publicly available materials disclosures, product descriptions, and third-party category data, not a laboratory test of the specific mold in your kitchen. A "Good" grade at 65 out of 100 means the available materials and data point to lower concern relative to other products in this category. It does not mean a product is confirmed "PFAS-free" or "safe" in an absolute sense. A "Bad" grade at 15 out of 100 means the available materials and data raise more concern, typically because the product uses a coating chemistry or a construction style historically associated with PFAS or PFAS-adjacent processing aids.
The Good-grade silicone molds, materials and claims
The twelve products graded "Good" in our table share a common trait, based on available materials and data, they are built primarily from food-grade silicone rather than a coated metal or a specialty non-stick laminate. Silicone itself is not a PFAS compound, and molds that rely on silicone's natural release properties instead of a fluoropolymer coating tend to carry fewer of the processing inputs that push a grade down in our model.
Tescoma Della Casa and Delicia silicone lines
Tescoma markets several of these molds under its Della Casa and Delicia collections, including the Della Casa Silicone Mould for Soft Cookies, the Della Casa Silicone Baking Mould, the Delicia Silicone Chocolate Praline mold with 2 brushes, the Delicia silicone mold with metal frame, 20 x 20 cm, the Custard Mould Set, and the general-purpose Tescoma Mould.
- Materials. Brand-stated food-grade silicone construction, in some cases combined with a rigid metal support frame for shape stability. This is a brand-stated claim from product listings, not an independently lab-verified materials certificate in our records.
- Brand claims. Tescoma markets these as heat-resistant, flexible, dishwasher-safe silicone bakeware suited for cookies, custards, pralines, and cake layers.
- Pros. Based on available materials and data, plain silicone construction without an added chemical non-stick coating correlates with our better scores in this category. Flexible molds also tend to release baked goods with less reliance on any coating at all.
- Cons. A "Good" grade is not a guarantee of zero PFAS content or manufacturing residue; it reflects a model estimate from disclosed materials, and Tescoma has not published independent third-party lab verification that we could locate for these specific SKUs.
Calphalon silicone bakeware
Calphalon's silicone-only molds, including the Square Savarin Silicone Baking Mold, the Silicone Pillow Baking Mold, the Silicone Baking Mold in an alphabet shape, the Silicone Oval Savarin Baking Mold, the Savarin Silicone Baking Mold, and the Cobblestone Pan Silicone Baking & Freezing Mold, also land in the "Good" tier at 65 out of 100.
- Materials. Brand-stated flexible silicone body, no metal core, marketed for both baking and freezer use in several of these molds.
- Brand claims. Calphalon describes these as non-stick by virtue of the silicone surface itself, safe for oven, freezer, and dishwasher use per the brand's own care instructions.
- Pros. No coating layer to wear off over time, which based on available materials and data is one of the more consistent factors behind a higher grade in this category. Dual oven-to-freezer use is a genuine practical advantage over rigid metal pans.
- Cons. As with the Tescoma line, "Good" here reflects the absence of red-flag materials in available disclosures, not a confirmed clean bill of health from an independent lab. Silicone molds can also warp under repeated high heat, which is a durability concern separate from the PFAS question.
The Bad-grade products, materials and claims
Two products in our baking mold data pull grades down to 15 out of 100, and it's worth understanding why, since both come from brands that also appear in the "Good" tier above.
Tescoma Delicia SiliconPRIME Macaron Pan
The Tescoma Delicia SiliconPRIME Macaron Pan, 39 x 0.5 x 27cm, Orange uses a branded "SiliconPRIME" surface, which by name and description goes beyond plain silicone and introduces an additional proprietary non-stick treatment.
- Materials. Brand-stated silicone base paired with a proprietary "PRIME" non-stick surface treatment, according to product marketing.
- Brand claims. Marketed for precise, uniform macaron shells with easy release and no need for parchment paper or additional greasing.
- Pros. Reliable shape consistency for a notoriously finicky bake, according to brand marketing and typical user feedback.
- Cons. Based on available materials and data, the added proprietary non-stick layer is the kind of construction that correlates with our lower scores in this category, since it moves away from the single-material silicone profile seen in Tescoma's own better-graded molds. We found no independent third-party lab result confirming or ruling out PFAS in this specific coating.
Calphalon Nonstick Bakeware 10-Piece Set
The Calphalon Calphalon Nonstick Bakeware 10-Piece Set is a traditional metal bakeware set with a sprayed-on non-stick coating, a very different construction from Calphalon's silicone molds above.
- Materials. Brand-stated heavy-gauge steel pans with a non-stick interior coating, sold as a multi-piece set covering cookie sheets, cake pans, and muffin tins.
- Brand claims. Calphalon markets the coating as durable, long-lasting non-stick performance across repeated bakes and washes.
- Cons and why the grade is low. Based on available materials and data, traditional sprayed non-stick coatings on metal bakeware have historically been more likely to involve fluoropolymer or PFAS-adjacent chemistry than plain silicone, which is reflected in this set's 15 out of 100 score in our model. This is a model estimate from disclosed materials and category history, not a confirmed lab finding of PFAS in this exact set.
- Pros. Rigid metal pans generally offer better heat conduction and browning than flexible silicone, which is a legitimate performance trade-off for bakers who prioritize crust and edge texture over the coating question.
What to avoid
Based on the patterns in our data, a few practical red flags can help you screen baking molds before you buy, whether or not the specific product appears in our database yet.
- Proprietary "prime" or "pro" coating names on silicone molds. When a silicone product markets an additional named surface treatment layered on top of the silicone itself, our data suggests that addition, not the base silicone, is often where concern rises.
- Traditional sprayed non-stick coatings on metal bakeware. Classic non-stick cake pans, muffin tins, and cookie sheets carry a different risk profile in our model than single-material silicone molds, largely due to coating chemistry history in this category.
- Vague "non-stick" marketing with no materials disclosure. If a listing does not specify whether the non-stick property comes from the base material or an added coating, that ambiguity is itself worth treating as a caution flag.
- Scratched or degraded coatings on older bakeware. Even a product that started with a reasonable materials profile can raise more practical concern once a coating is visibly worn or flaking, since damaged coatings can shed into food.
If you're auditing other kitchen categories at the same time, our Cast Iron Skillets and Non-Stick Knife Sets guides apply the same materials-first approach, and the product finder lets you search grades directly by brand or item.
Our pick
Based on available materials and data, our top pick in this category is the Tescoma Tescoma Della Casa Silicone Mould for Soft Cookies, which shares the same 65 out of 100 "Good" grade as several other Tescoma and Calphalon silicone molds but represents the simplest, single-material construction in the lineup with no added metal frame or proprietary coating layer. This is a comparative pick within the products we have graded, reflecting lower concern relative to the rest of this category, not a certification that the product is free of PFAS or lab-confirmed as such. Any of the other Good-tier molds listed above, from the Calphalon Cobblestone Pan Silicone Baking & Freezing Mold to the Tescoma Custard Mould Set, sit in the same tier and are reasonable alternatives depending on the shape and size you need.
If you already own the Delicia SiliconPRIME Macaron Pan or the Calphalon Nonstick Bakeware 10-Piece Set, our data does not tell you to panic or discard cookware; it simply flags these as higher-concern relative to the better-graded silicone molds in this same guide, based on the materials and public disclosures available to us at the time of grading.
Frequently asked questions
Does a "Good" grade mean a baking mold is PFAS-free?
No. A "Good" grade of 65 out of 100 is a model-based estimate built from available materials and public disclosure, not a laboratory certification. It means the product's disclosed construction points to lower concern relative to other products we've graded in this category, not that PFAS has been definitively ruled out.
Why do some Tescoma and Calphalon molds grade well while others from the same brands grade poorly?
Our data shows the grade tracks the specific product's construction, not the brand as a whole. Plain silicone molds from both brands land in the "Good" tier, while a Tescoma pan with an added "SiliconPRIME" coating and a Calphalon set with a traditional sprayed non-stick metal coating both fall to "Bad." This is why we recommend checking the individual product listing rather than assuming brand-wide consistency.
Is there a proven health risk from using a lower-graded baking mold?
Our grading reflects materials and disclosure patterns associated with PFAS-related concern, and any broader health discussion around PFAS exposure describes an association observed in research, not a proven causal link for any single product or use case. For general background on how PFAS shows up across categories, see our Whole-House Filters guide and the main PFAS product finder.
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