· Pizza Stones & Baking Surfaces
Cooking Steel 16"x16", Is It Non-Toxic?
Low-Medium risk. Uncoated carbon steel has no typical PFAS pathway.
Cooking Steel's 16x16 model is bare carbon steel with no nonstick or water-resistant treatment applied. Carbon steel doesn't inherently need PFAS for function.
The better-graded swap
15-Inch Ceramic Pizza Stone for Perfect Crispy Crusts
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
carbon steel, uncoated
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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Is Cooking Steel 16"x16" non-toxic? What it is made of
This is solid carbon steel with no factory coating, enamel, or ceramic layer. Carbon steel is an iron-carbon alloy (typically 98.5% iron, 1-2% carbon) that naturally oxidizes to form a protective patina when seasoned with oil. Because there is no synthetic coating to degrade or leach, the primary safety concern is the steel substrate itself, which does not shed lead, cadmium, or other heavy metals under normal cooking conditions. The uncoated design means what touches food is the seasoned surface layer you build over time.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Rust and iron leaching
Uncoated carbon steel will rust if not seasoned and dried properly after each use. While iron itself is not toxic (and is an essential nutrient), excessive rust particles or retained moisture can compromise food quality and require more frequent maintenance than coated alternatives.
Heat-induced leaching from seasoning oils
Repeated heating of seasoning oil (especially lower-quality oils) may create minor oxidation products; using food-grade, high-smoke-point oils and refreshing the seasoning annually minimizes this. No brand guidance on oil selection is publicly available.
What’s reassuring
Bare uncoated material
Recorded as a bare, uncoated material with no surface coating or treatment.
Lead
No recalls or test data indicate lead or cadmium contamination in the brand's carbon-steel supply. Carbon steel from reputable suppliers typically meets food-contact standards, though the brand does not publish third-party metal-content testing.
Source, ATSDR ↗Teflon-type coating or synthetic coating fume risk
This product is uncoated and contains no Teflon-type coating, non-stick polymers, or ceramic glazes, eliminating the fume-release risk associated with overheated non-stick cookware.
Microplastics
No synthetic coating means no risk of flaking particles or microplastic shedding into food, a concern with some ceramic or polymer-coated baking surfaces over time.
Source, EPA ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
The brand is a US-based cookware company with no public recalls or safety warnings on record for this product line. The brand does not prominently disclose third-party testing or certification (NSF, FDA, etc.) on their website, and takes a neutral stance on PFAS. No controversy regarding heavy-metal contamination or material sourcing has been established in consumer or regulatory records. The company markets the product as food-safe and restaurant-grade, relying on the inherent safety of bare carbon steel rather than published test data.
How it compares in its category
Uncoated carbon-steel baking surfaces (like this) sit at the low end of coating-related risk compared to ceramic-coated stones, enameled cast iron, or Teflon-type coating-coated baking pans, which can degrade and shed particles or fumes over time. Cast-iron alternatives carry similar baseline safety but may retain seasoning residue more unpredictably. Stainless-steel pizza steels avoid seasoning altogether but conduct heat differently. Among pizza stones, this avoids the talc or mineral-dust inhalation risk of natural stone products.
If you buy it
Season the steel before first use with a thin coat of high-smoke-point oil (avocado or grapeseed) to prevent rust and improve non-stick properties. Preheat thoroughly (15-20 minutes at target temperature) and monitor for rust spots between uses; dry completely after washing and store in a dry place. Do not use oven temperatures above 700F for extended periods, as extreme heat can warp the steel and damage seasoning. Replace only if rusting becomes severe or surface is visibly pitted; proper maintenance extends life indefinitely.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 92% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Cooking Steel 16"x16"?
15-Inch Ceramic Pizza Stone for Perfect Crispy Crusts
- Ceramic (clay-based baking stone)
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Glaze degradation and surface leaching
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Deluxe Square Pizza Stone with Rack
- ceramic or unglazed stone; no nonstick coating
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Ceramic or stone cracking and fragmentation
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
More pizza stones & baking surfaces 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.