GreenPan Bobby Flay 11" Cast Iron Square Grill Pan, Is It Non-Toxic?
Named ceramic non-stick coating, with a brand PFAS statement we have not verified.
GreenPan says its Thermolon coated food contact surface is free of PFAS, including Teflon-type coating and PFOA. We record that as an unverified brand claim.
Brand says: “GreenPan says its Thermolon coated food contact surface is free of PFAS, including PTFE and PFOA.”
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Cast iron with thermolon coating
Brand disclosure
Brand claims PFAS-free
Lab data
No public lab test
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Is GreenPan Bobby Flay 11" Square Grill Pan non-toxic? What it is made of
This pan is cast iron with a Thermolon ceramic non-stick coating applied by GreenPan. Cast iron itself is chemically stable and does not leach; however, the Thermolon layer is a proprietary sand-derived ceramic-polymer hybrid designed to replace Teflon-type coating-based coatings. The coating's long-term durability under repeated heating and metal-utensil use is the primary concern, as degradation would expose bare cast iron and compromise non-stick performance.
What’s concerning
Disclosed non-fluorinated coating
Coating is named and the brand states it is made without PFAS.
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
Ceramic-polymer coating degradation and peeling
Thermolon is a relatively new coating technology with limited long-term field data on durability compared to traditional Teflon-type coating or enamels. Metal-utensil use, thermal stress, and dishwasher exposure can accelerate wear; once coating integrity is compromised, bare cast iron is exposed.
Off-gassing or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from coating
Any polymer-ceramic hybrid coating may release low levels of VOCs during initial use or when heated; GreenPan does not publish off-gassing test data. Ventilation during first use and heating is a reasonable precaution, though no documented health incidents from this product exist.
What’s reassuring
Brand-stated PFAS-free
The brand states this product is PFAS-free. We have not verified the claim.
Teflon-type coating fume risk (heating hazard)
Thermolon is marketed as Teflon-type coating-free, and no recalls or reports of fume-related illness from this product have been documented. However, the composition of the polymer component in Thermolon has not been independently disclosed, so fume profiles at very high temperatures remain not fully characterized in public sources.
Lead
Cast iron cookware has historically been free of lead concerns; Thermolon is mineral-derived and not a traditional ceramic glaze. No recalls or test results documenting heavy-metal leaching from this product have been published, but complete material composition data is proprietary.
Source, ATSDR ↗Aluminum leaching
This pan is cast iron, not aluminum; aluminum leaching is not a concern for this product.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
GreenPan is owned by Groupe SEB and markets Thermolon as PFAS-free, but independent third-party verification of this claim is not publicly established. The brand has made general PFAS-free positioning statements but has not published detailed material safety data sheets or third-party test reports for Thermolon composition. No major recalls or health controversies have been documented for this product line as of available records.
How it compares in its category
Compared to traditional Teflon-type coating (Teflon) cookware, Thermolon-coated pans avoid Teflon-type coating fume risk at high temperatures. Versus bare cast iron or enamel-coated cast iron, GreenPan's coating claims easier cleanup without seasoning. However, enamel cast iron has a longer documented track record; Thermolon is newer and its durability in heavy commercial or high-heat use has fewer long-term consumer studies available.
If you buy it
Use on medium to medium-high heat; manufacturer guidance should be consulted for specific temperature limits to avoid accelerating coating wear. Avoid scouring with steel wool or abrasive pads, which will degrade the Thermolon layer. Hand-wash when possible; dishwasher use can shorten coating life. Once the coating shows visible wear, chipping, or loss of non-stick function, replacement or reseasoning the exposed cast iron is advisable to prevent rust and maintain performance.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- GreenPan has made a specific claim
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to GreenPan Bobby Flay 11" Cast Iron Square Grill Pan?
- stainless steel, non-nonstick
- Stainless steel nickel or chromium leaching under acidic conditions
More grill pans 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.