Kona Best Grill Tray
Avoid until manufacturer discloses nonstick coating details.
Kona Best's coating type remains unspecified and could be Teflon-type coating, ceramic, or another formula. The brand provides no PFAS information or certifications.
The safe swap
Weber
Weber Tool Mat
80/100 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
Unclear; likely nonstick-coated steel or aluminum tray
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Non-stick, chemistry undisclosed
Advertised as non-stick but coating type is not explained.
Category baseline
PFAS exposure happens more often with clothing products.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
Teflon-type coating/nonstick coating fume risk
Without coating specification disclosure, coating type is unknown. If Teflon-type coating-based and exposed to temperatures above 500°F, overheating can release Teflon-type coating fumes; grill use at high heat elevates this risk.
Aluminum leaching
If substrate is aluminum, contact with acidic marinades, tomato-based foods, or salt and damaged/degraded nonstick coating can mobilize aluminum. Grilling involves high sustained heat, which accelerates leaching.
Coating degradation and microparticle shedding
High-heat grill use causes thermal cycling and stress on nonstick coatings. Peeling or flaking nonstick material may shed particles into food; no public durability testing or warranty data from Kona is available.
What’s reassuring
Heavy metals
No recalls or test reports of cadmium, lead, or other heavy metals in Kona Best Grill Tray have been published. Standard aluminum/steel grill mats are not typically sources of contamination, but third-party testing is absent.
Source: FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Kona Best Grill Tray appears to be aluminum or steel with a nonstick coating, but the specific chemistry of that coating is not publicly disclosed on product packaging or the brand's website. Nonstick coatings on high-heat cookware typically contain Teflon-type coating (Teflon) or other Teflon-family coating, many of which historically relied on PFAS chemistry. Aluminum substrates, when exposed to acidic foods or damaged coatings, can leach aluminum into food, particularly at temperatures above 400°F which are common for grilling.
The brand's record and disclosure
Kona is a smaller, less-established cookware brand with no public PFAS commitment, third-party certification (e.g., GreenGuard, NSF), or detailed material safety disclosures on their website. The product listing does not specify whether the nonstick coating is Teflon-type coating-free, PFAS-free, or ceramic-based. Absence of transparency on a product marketed for high-heat use is a red flag in the nonstick cookware category, where PFAS substitutes or PFAS-containing formulations remain common.
How it compares in its category
Major grill mat brands (Outset, Weber, OXO, Artisan) increasingly disclose PFAS-free or ceramic coatings; some provide Teflon-type coating-free guarantees. Budget and lesser-known brands like Kona rarely volunteer this information, making comparison difficult. Cast iron, stainless steel, or ceramic-coated alternatives from established cookware makers offer lower hazard profiles with comparable functionality, though they require more maintenance.
If you buy it
Do not use above 400°F; verify the coating remains intact before each use, as degraded nonstick can release polymer particles. Hand wash gently (no aggressive scrubbing or dishwasher). Replace immediately if coating peels, flakes, or shows wear. Even if purchased, contact the manufacturer in writing asking for PFAS and Teflon-type coating content; lack of response or evasion further confirms opacity. Strongly consider switching to a brand with published PFAS-free certification.
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
- Kona has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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More grill & oven mats 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.