Gotham Steel Stainless Steel 2 Piece Fry Pan Set
Skip until brand discloses nonstick coating composition.
Gotham Steel markets these pans with nonstick capability but does not publicly disclose the coating type or PFAS status. Standard nonstick cookware often contains Teflon-type coating or other Teflon-family coating linked to PFAS exposure.
The better-graded swap
Heritage Steel
Heritage Steel Eater 12" Fry Pan with Lid
100/100 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
stainless steel with unspecified nonstick coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Is Gotham Steel Stainless Steel 2 Piece Fry non-toxic? What it is made of
This set combines a stainless steel pan body (inherently corrosion-resistant, does not leach) with an unspecified nonstick coating applied to the cooking surface. Stainless steel itself poses no established leaching risk under normal use. The nonstick coating's chemical identity is the critical unknown, if it contains Teflon-type coating (Teflon) or similar Teflon-family coating, overheating can generate fumes; if it uses alternative chemistries, composition and stability at temperature remain undisclosed by Gotham Steel.
What’s concerning
Non-stick, chemistry undisclosed
Marketed as non-stick without stating the coating chemistry.
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.
Teflon-type coating fume risk (if coating contains Teflon-family coating)
Unspecified coating means Teflon-type coating presence cannot be ruled out. Overheating (above 500-600 F) can release polymer fumes; no incidents reported for this line, but brand silence prevents confirmation of safer alternatives.
Nonstick coating degradation over time
Budget nonstick cookware coatings commonly degrade with repeated dishwashing or metal utensil use, exposing underlying metal or creating flaking debris. Gotham Steel pans are not marketed with extended durability claims.
Aluminum substrate exposure (if coating fails)
If the pan body contains aluminum under a stainless exterior or coating, and that coating fails, aluminum can leach into acidic foods. Gotham Steel's full layer construction is not detailed; clarify whether base is pure stainless or clad.
What’s reassuring
Stainless steel leaching (low concern)
Stainless steel cookware does not leach nickel or chromium under normal cooking conditions with acidic or neutral foods. High-acid foods (tomato, lemon) may release trace metals, but levels are not of health concern in typical use.
Lead
Stainless steel cookware does not typically use ceramic or enamel coatings; this hazard is not relevant to this product line.
Source, ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Gotham Steel has not publicly disclosed the specific chemistry of its nonstick coating or provided certifications (e.g., PFOA-free statements, third-party testing). The brand markets these pans as a budget cookware line but does not engage transparently with questions about PFAS or coating composition. No major recalls for coating degradation or fume incidents are on public record for this specific line, though absence of disclosure does not indicate safety.
How it compares in its category
Budget stainless steel nonstick sets in this price tier typically use Teflon-type coating or proprietary Teflon-family coating coatings without disclosure. Higher-transparency competitors (e.g., Caraway, Our Place) publish coating formulations and PFAS commitments. Traditional stainless without nonstick (e.g., All-Clad, Demeyere) eliminates coating uncertainty but requires oil and different cooking technique. Gotham Steel sits at the opaque end of the budget spectrum.
If you buy it
Never exceed medium-high heat; nonstick coatings degrade and fume risk increases sharply above 500-600 F. Hand-wash only; dishwashers accelerate coating breakdown. Replace the pans immediately if the nonstick surface chips, peels, or shows bare metal. Avoid metal utensils and abrasive scrubbers. If you smell any chemical or plastic odor during preheating or cooking, ventilate immediately and do not use that pan further.
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
- Gotham Steel has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Cookware
Made In
Stainless Clad Fry Pan
- Stainless steel clad construction, no nonstick coating
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Clad separation or delamination over time
Made In
10' Stainless Clad Frying Pan
- stainless steel clad construction, no nonstick coating
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Nickel leaching from stainless steel
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Heritage Steel
Eater Fry Pan
- Clad stainless steel, no coating
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Metal ion release during cooking (iron, nickel, chromium)
More cookware 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.