Glad · Bakeware
Dollar General Glad Square Cake Pan
Skip due to silent stance on nonstick coating PFAS risk.
Glad does not disclose coating chemistry or PFAS status for this pan. Unspecified nonstick coatings on budget cookware often contain PFAS; safer options include bare stainless steel or ceramic.
The safe swap
Staub
Staub 4-Piece Baking Dish Set
90/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned its A.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
steel cake pan with unspecified nonstick coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Non-stick, chemistry undisclosed
Marketed non-stick without stating the coating chemistry.
Category baseline
cookware is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This is a steel cake pan with an unspecified nonstick coating applied to the surface. Steel itself is inert and safe for baking, but the coating is the critical unknown: it could be traditional Teflon-type coating (Teflon-like) requiring PFAS, ceramic hybrid, or silicone-based. Glad does not disclose the coating chemistry publicly, making it impossible to rule out PFAS or other fluorinated compounds. The coating's durability and safety depend entirely on whether it remains intact during heating and use.
The brand's record and disclosure
Glad, owned by Clorox, manufactures primarily disposable food storage products and is not known as a cookware specialist. The company has not published transparency statements regarding PFAS in nonstick coatings or manufacturing standards for baking pans. No major recalls of Glad cookware for coating hazards are on record, but the lack of any public commitment to PFAS-free or fluorine-free formulations is conspicuous in an industry where competitors increasingly disclose coating materials.
How it compares in its category
Budget steel cake pans typically use either Teflon-type coating-based nonstick (the industry standard) or uncoated steel. Glad's model occupies the economy tier where coating materials are rarely specified. Competing budget brands like Pyrex and Wilton sometimes disclose ceramic or silicone coatings, while premium brands like All-Clad offer PFOA-free Teflon-type coating. The complete silence here places this product in a less transparent category than many direct competitors.
If you buy it
Use the pan only below 400°F to minimize any risk of coating decomposition and fume release. Avoid preheating empty above 300°F and never use under broilers. Hand wash only; dishwashers can accelerate coating wear. Inspect the coating regularly for flaking, discoloration, or bubbling. If damage appears, retire the pan immediately. Store dry to prevent water pooling that might weaken the coating adhesion over time.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Teflon-type coating fume risk (if Teflon-type coating-based coating)
If the nonstick coating is traditional Teflon-type coating, heating above 500°F can decompose it and release fumes that cause polymer fume fever in humans and are acutely toxic to pet birds. Unknown coating formulation means this risk cannot be ruled out.
Coating degradation and microflaking
Budget nonstick coatings on steel pans are prone to chipping and peeling with repeated use and washing. Flaked coating particles ingested in food are not acutely toxic but indicate loss of nonstick function and potential adhesion failure.
Lead or cadmium in coating
No recalls or reports of heavy metal contamination in Glad cookware coatings. Modern U.S. cookware is subject to FDA limits, but the lack of coating transparency means compliance cannot be verified for this specific product.
Steel substrate safety
Steel itself does not leach. If the nonstick coating fails and bare steel contacts acidic foods, no hazard is expected, though nonstick performance is lost.
Manufacturing process disclosure
No public information on whether the coating application or curing process uses PFAS-containing solvents or residual fluorine compounds beyond the coating itself.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 35% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Bakeware
Staub
4-Piece Baking Dish Set
enameled cast iron
Lower PFAS concern, enameled cast iron baking dishes without nonstick coating.
⚠Risky category by default
Staub
Sesame 3 pcs Rectangular Baking Dish Set
enameled cast iron (dark enamel coating)
Lower concern. Enameled cast iron rarely uses PFAS, but brand is silent.
⚠Risky category by default
Staub
2-Piece Ceramic Rectangular Baking Dish Set
Ceramic baking dish, uncoated
Lower PFAS concern; ceramic baking dish with no known coatings.
⚠Risky category by default
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.