Nordic Ware ProCast 12 Cup Nonstick Cast Aluminum Bundt Cake Pan
High risk. Skip unless Nordic Ware discloses coating composition; nonstick cast aluminum carries PFAS risk.
Nordic Ware hasn't disclosed whether this nonstick coating contains Teflon-type coating or other Teflon-family coating. Cast aluminum nonstick cookware has historically used PFOA- or Teflon-type coating-based coatings.
The safe swap
Le Creuset
Le Creuset Anniversary Pastry Set
90/100 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
Cast aluminum with proprietary nonstick coating (unspecified Teflon-family coating or Teflon-type coating status)
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.
Nonstick coating degradation and flaking
Cast aluminum Bundt pans with nonstick coatings can chip or peel with repeated washing or thermal stress. Ingested coating fragments are generally inert but cosmetically unacceptable. Risk increases with dishwasher use or metal utensils.
Thermal decomposition of coating at high heat
If the undisclosed coating is Teflon-family coating-based, sustained exposure above 500F can release gaseous decomposition products. Bundt cake baking rarely exceeds 400F, but preheating empty or broiler use could trigger this hazard.
PFAS
Nordic Ware's silence on coating chemistry and lack of PFAS-free certification suggest conventional Teflon-family coating formulation. The specific PFAS risk is assessed at 15/100 due to undisclosed composition and absence of vendor transparency.
Source: ATSDR ↗What’s reassuring
Aluminum leaching
Intact nonstick coatings form a barrier between food and aluminum. No public reports of harmful aluminum leaching from Nordic Ware cast aluminum cookware with intact coatings. Risk occurs only if the coating is breached.
Lead
No public recalls or reports of heavy metal contamination in Nordic Ware cast aluminum Bundt pans. Modern cast aluminum cookware from established US brands does not typically use lead or cadmium in final coatings.
Source: ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This pan is cast aluminum with a proprietary nonstick coating that Nordic Ware does not publicly specify as Teflon-type coating-free or PFAS-free. Cast aluminum conducts heat well and is lighter than cast iron, but the nonstick surface is the critical variable. If the coating is a traditional Teflon-family coating (Teflon-type coating/Teflon), overheating above 500F can release fumes; if it is ceramic or silicone-based, the risk profile differs. Without transparency from the brand, the coating chemistry remains unknown.
The brand's record and disclosure
Nordic Ware has not published detailed material safety data sheets or PFAS-free certifications for its nonstick cookware line. The brand does not appear on established third-party PFAS disclosure initiatives such as GreenGuard or Made SAFE. No major recalls specific to this Bundt pan model have been documented, but the company's silence on coating composition is a red flag in an industry where PFAS transparency has become standard among safety-conscious competitors.
How it compares in its category
Bundt pans sold today include uncoated cast aluminum or steel (no nonstick risk but require seasoning), ceramic-coated options with disclosed non-PFAS claims, and traditional Teflon-type coating-coated versions. Nordic Ware's refusal to disclose puts it in a middle category of assumed-Teflon-type coating-or-equivalent cookware. Brands like Caraway and GreenPan explicitly market PFAS-free ceramic coatings; traditional Lodge cast iron Bundts avoid the coating question entirely.
If you buy it
Keep oven temperature below 500F; most Bundt cakes bake at 325-375F, well within safe limits for typical nonstick coatings. Inspect the pan monthly for chips, peeling, or discoloration. Replace if the coating shows wear or damage. Avoid preheating the empty pan at high heat or broiler use. Hand-wash with soft sponges; dishwasher use can accelerate coating degradation. If you plan to use above 400F or reheat frequently at high temperatures, choose uncoated cast aluminum or ceramic-coated alternatives instead.
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
- Nordic Ware has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Bundt Pans
Le Creuset
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⚠Risky category by default
Le Creuset
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⚠Risky category by default
Le Creuset
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Enamel coating degradation and metal exposure
Limited concern
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Limited concern
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⚠Risky category by default
More bundt 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.