Field Company · Cast Iron Skillets
Field Co. Cast Iron Skillet No. 8
Low risk, bare cast iron is a conventional, non-coated cookware choice.
Field Company's cast iron skillet features seasoned cast iron with no synthetic nonstick or Teflon-family coating, making PFAS exposure from the cookware highly unlikely. Standard cast iron carries lower concern than modern nonstick coatings.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
cast iron, bare/seasoned surface
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Category baseline
PFAS exposure happens more often with clothing products.
Iron leaching into acidic foods
Bare cast iron does release small amounts of dietary iron when cooking acidic foods (tomato sauce, vinegar, citrus) over extended periods. For most diets this is nutritionally neutral or beneficial; people with iron-overload disorders (hemochromatosis) should consult a physician. This is a known property of the material, not a manufacturing defect.
Rust and surface corrosion
Bare cast iron will rust if left wet or stored in humid conditions. Rust itself is iron oxide and is not acutely toxic in small amounts, but heavy rust can harbor bacteria and degrade the cooking surface. Prevention through prompt drying and light oiling is essential; this is maintenance, not a flaw.
What’s reassuring
Uncoated safe material
Bare cast iron, stainless steel, carbon steel, or glass with no PFAS coating.
Lead
Modern cast iron skillets, including Field Co., are cast from recycled or virgin iron stock without intentional lead or cadmium additions. No credible reports of heavy metal contamination in contemporary US-made bare cast iron exist. Vintage or imported cast iron may pose higher risk if sourced from unregulated foundries.
Source: ATSDR ↗Teflon-type coating or synthetic coatings
Field Co. No. 8 is bare cast iron with no applied nonstick coating. There is no Teflon-type coating, PFOA, or other volatile fluorinated compound in the product by design. This eliminates fume risk entirely.
Ceramic or enamel chip exposure
This product is not enameled, so there is no enamel to chip and expose iron or contaminants. Bare cast iron has no fragile surface layer.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Field Co. No. 8 is bare cast iron, iron ore melted and cast into shape, then typically seasoned with oil to create a non-stick surface. Cast iron contains no synthetic coatings, polymers, or chemical finishes that can degrade or leach into food. The seasoning layer is simply polymerized fat (from vegetable or animal oil), which bonds to the iron through heat and use rather than adhesive or resin. This construction eliminates the primary failure mode of modern nonstick cookware: coating breakdown releasing Teflon-type coating, PFOA, or other synthetic chemicals.
The brand's record and disclosure
Field Company is a small, US-based cast iron manufacturer with no significant public safety controversies or recalls on record. The brand does not publish detailed material certifications or third-party testing disclosures, which is typical for traditional cast iron makers focused on heritage production. No known litigation, regulatory action, or credible allegations of contamination have been reported. The brand's silence on PFAS reflects the material reality: bare cast iron manufacturing has no PFAS input or output.
How it compares in its category
Bare cast iron skillets are among the safest cookware options by material design. Unlike enameled cast iron (which can chip and expose iron or contain lead in older enamel), or modern nonstick aluminum/ceramic pans (which risk Teflon-type coating fume release or ceramic degradation), bare cast iron has no surface coating to fail. It outlasts virtually all alternatives by decades or centuries. The main trade-off is higher maintenance, regular seasoning and handwashing, but this is a durability feature, not a safety liability.
If you buy it
Hand wash immediately after use and dry completely to prevent rust. Avoid prolonged soaking or dishwashing. Maintain the seasoning layer by wiping with a thin coat of neutral oil after each wash. Do not use metal utensils aggressively; nylon or wood is safer for the surface. Cast iron can be safely used on any heat source up to stovetop flame or oven temperatures. It does not off-gas or leach under normal cooking use. Expect to inherit this pan to your children if properly maintained.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 92% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Field Company has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More cast iron skillets 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.