Vintage Ekco Baker's Secret Non-stick Cookie Sheet 15¼ X 10¼ X ¾
Vintage nonstick cookware; coating type not disclosed.
This vintage Ekco sheet has a nonstick coating of unknown type. Older nonstick cookware often contained Teflon-type coating or PFOA, but you can't verify without the coating specs.
The better-graded swap
Caraway
Caraway Nonstick Ceramic Large Baking Sheet
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
Non-stick coating, type unspecified; steel substrate
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Is Vintage Ekco Baker's Secret Non-stick non-toxic? What it is made of
This Ekco sheet is steel substrate with a proprietary non-stick coating applied during manufacture. Ekco has not publicly disclosed whether the coating is Teflon-type coating-based (Teflon-type) or an alternative non-stick chemistry. Vintage bakeware from this era (likely 1970s-1990s) most commonly used Teflon-type coating, which degrades when overheated, potentially releasing fumes. The coating's integrity after decades is unknown without inspection.
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.
Non-stick, chemistry undisclosed
Marketed as non-stick without stating the coating chemistry.
Teflon-type coating thermal decomposition and fume release
Vintage non-stick coatings of unspecified chemistry may degrade above 500F or if exposed to direct flame. Overheating vintage Teflon-type coating-based cookware can release polymerization fumes; no testing data available for this specific product's thermal stability after decades.
Coating degradation and microparticle shedding
Age and repeated washing progressively wear non-stick coatings. Flaking or peeling coating particles may be ingested; vintage Ekco sheets show visible wear in photographs, indicating active degradation risk.
Metal leaching from substrate or substrate exposure
If non-stick coating is compromised, underlying steel substrate is largely inert; however, if coating is damaged near edges or seams, corrosion and minor iron leaching can occur, particularly with acidic foods.
PFAS
Ekco's silence on coating chemistry means Teflon-type coating and PFOA status cannot be verified for this vintage sheet. Modern Teflon-type coating cookware may contain PFOA residuals below regulatory thresholds; vintage formulations are unverified and may have higher residuals.
Source, ATSDR ↗What’s reassuring
Lead
Ekco Baker's Secret sheets are typically bare steel with dry non-stick application, not enamel-glazed. No lead or cadmium has been reported in this product line; however, documentation is sparse for vintage batches.
Source, ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Ekco (now part of various ownership structures) has maintained silence on non-stick coating composition for this product line. No formal certifications (GFSI, NSF, or PFOA-free declarations) are documented for vintage Baker's Secret cookware. The brand did not participate in early PFAS transparency initiatives. Ekco's current parent companies have not retroactively disclosed historical product formulations.
How it compares in its category
Vintage non-stick bakeware sits at higher risk than modern certified alternatives (e.g., ceramic-coated or stainless-steel sheets with known formulations). Compared to contemporary Ekco products, this sheet lacks modern safety labeling or testing documentation. Unglazed steel sheets without non-stick coating present no chemical leaching but trade convenience. Age compounds uncertainty, modern non-stick products include degradation warranties; vintage pieces do not.
If you buy it
Inspect the coating for peeling, flaking, or discoloration before use; discard if damaged. Never exceed 400-425F (typical Teflon-type coating limit); use in oven at moderate temperatures only. Hand-wash gently; avoid steel wool and harsh scrubbing that accelerate coating wear. Replace within 3-5 years of regular use if coating shows any visible degradation or if you are pregnant, have young children, or immunocompromised household members.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Ekco has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Bakeware
Caraway
Nonstick Ceramic Medium Baking Sheet
- ceramic nonstick coating
- A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free
- Ceramic coating degradation over time
Caraway
Ceramic Nonstick Baking Sheet Duo
- ceramic nonstick coating
- A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free
- Coating degradation and durability
2 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Caraway
Nonstick Ceramic Large Baking Sheet
- ceramic nonstick coating
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Ceramic coating degradation and particle shedding
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
More bakeware 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.