Is Cast Iron Cookware Safe?

Cast iron adds iron to food. University of Illinois Extension says cast iron cookware leaches iron into food, with acidic foods high in moisture, such as tomatoes, absorbing the most, and University of Maine Cooperative Extension says the amount depends on the food, the cooking time and the condition of the pan.

Health Canada advises against cooking or storing acidic foods, such as stewed rhubarb or stewed tomatoes, in uncoated cast iron for long periods.

Enameled cast iron is coated with a glaze, which raises a different question. Health Canada says enamelware is made by applying glazes, a form of glass, to metals, and that ceramic, enamel or glass cookware can cause health concerns when the pigments used to make, glaze or decorate it contain lead or cadmium.

Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.

The sources behind this answer

  • StudyUniversity of Illinois Extension says cast iron cookware leaches iron into food, and that acidic foods with high moisture content, such as tomatoes, absorb the most iron. University of Illinois Extension ↗
  • StudyUniversity of Maine Cooperative Extension says cooking in cast iron can increase the iron in food, with the amount depending on the food, the cooking time and the condition of the pan. University of Maine Cooperative Extension ↗
  • Government sourceHealth Canada advises against cooking or storing acidic foods, such as stewed rhubarb or stewed tomatoes, in uncoated cast iron cookware for long periods. Health Canada ↗
  • Government sourceHealth Canada says enamelware is made by applying glazes to metals, and that ceramic, enamel or glass cookware can cause health concerns when the pigments used contain lead or cadmium. Health Canada ↗

Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.

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