NS Pro Nonstick Cookware Square Grill
Avoid until All-Clad discloses coating chemistry or provides PFAS-free verification.
All-Clad's NS Pro line uses nonstick coating without public disclosure of Teflon-type coating, PFOA, or other PFAS. The brand makes no PFAS-free claim and hasn't pursued third-party certification.
The safe swap
GreenPan
GreenPan Bobby Flay 11" Cast Iron Square Grill Pan
90/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Nonstick coating, type unspecified
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Non-stick, chemistry undisclosed
Advertised as non-stick but coating type is not explained.
Category baseline
PFAS exposure happens more often with clothing products.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
Teflon-type coating/nonstick coating degradation and VOC release
All-Clad has not disclosed whether NS Pro contains Teflon-type coating or Teflon-family coating alternatives. If Teflon-type coating-based, overheating above manufacturer limits (not publicly specified) can release perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) precursors and other VOCs; degraded coatings may flake into food.
Coating delamination and flaking over time
All nonstick coatings degrade with use and age. No specific recall data exists for NS Pro, but aggressive cleaning, thermal shock (sudden cooling), or high-heat exposure can accelerate failure; once coating flakes, microparticles enter food.
Inadequate temperature disclosure
All-Clad does not prominently specify the safe upper temperature limit for the NS Pro nonstick coating. This ambiguity increases user risk of accidental overheating, which may trigger fume release if the coating contains Teflon-type coating or similar Teflon-family coating.
What’s reassuring
Aluminum leaching
Hard-anodized aluminum is sealed and does not leach significantly under normal cooking conditions. No leaching has been reported for All-Clad hard-anodized cookware in public records, and this material remains widely considered safe for food preparation.
Heavy metals
No reports of lead, cadmium, or other heavy metals in All-Clad nonstick cookware or hard-anodized aluminum bases exist in public safety databases. Hard-anodized aluminum does not contain these metals as part of standard manufacturing.
Source: FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The NS Pro line uses an unspecified nonstick coating applied to a hard-anodized aluminum base. All-Clad does not publicly disclose whether this coating contains Teflon-type coating (Teflon) or Teflon-family coating-free alternatives like ceramic or silicone hybrids. Hard-anodized aluminum itself is sealed to prevent leaching, but the nonstick layer is the primary concern: if it degrades through normal use or overheating, it can flake into food and release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during high-heat cooking.
The brand's record and disclosure
All-Clad is a premium cookware manufacturer with a strong reputation for quality control and has faced no major recalls specific to Teflon-type coating fume events or coating failure in recent years. However, the company has not made public commitments to disclose coating chemistry or transition to PFAS-free alternatives, unlike competitors such as GreenPan or Caraway. This silence is particularly notable given increasing consumer demand for PFAS transparency in cookware and reflects a lack of proactive communication rather than confirmed safety failures.
How it compares in its category
Square grill pans in the nonstick category typically use either Teflon-type coating-based or Teflon-type coating-free ceramic or hybrid coatings. All-Clad's NS Pro sits in the premium tier where durability and coating longevity are generally strong, but it lacks the marketing transparency of newer PFAS-free brands. High-end cast iron, stainless steel, and explicitly PFAS-free ceramic griddles are widely available at comparable price points and eliminate nonstick coating hazards entirely.
If you buy it
Never use this pan above medium-high heat; nonstick coatings can begin degrading or releasing fumes above 400-500°F depending on chemistry. Hand-wash only and avoid scouring pads to preserve coating integrity. Inspect regularly for chipping, pitting, or visible wear; discard and replace immediately if coating damage is apparent. Store away from direct sunlight and heat to slow degradation. Request All-Clad's full coating specification before purchase if PFAS avoidance is a priority.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 42% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- All-Clad has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Grill Pans
GreenPan
Valencia Pro Ceramic Nonstick 11" Round Grill Pan
Ceramic nonstick coating (Teflon-type coating-free proprietary formulation)
Aluminum leaching from base material
Limited concern
Ceramic coating degradation and mechanical wear
High concern
Lower-concern choice; ceramic nonstick with credible PFAS-free positioning and third-party certification.
⚠Risky category by default
GreenPan
Chatham Ceramic Nonstick Grill Pan
Ceramic nonstick coating (proprietary, Teflon-type coating-free)
Ceramic coating degradation and aluminum exposure
High concern
Thermal decomposition of ceramic nonstick (off-gassing)
Limited concern
Aluminum core leaching
Limited concern
Microplastic or coating particle shedding into food
Limited concern
Lower-concern option; ceramic nonstick avoids traditional Teflon-type coating, though third-party testing would help.
⚠Risky category by default
GreenPan
Bobby Flay 11" Cast Iron Square Grill Pan
Cast iron with thermolon coating
Coating degradation and leaching
Limited concern
Thermal fume risk from coating
Limited concern
Ceramic coating chipping hazard
Moderate concern
Lower-concern cast iron option, but thermolon coating remains unverified by independent testing.
⚠Risky category by default
More grill pans grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.