Reynolds Kitchens Slow Cooker Liners
Skip until Reynolds confirms coating details and PFAS status.
These single-use plastic liners have a nonstick or release coating, but Reynolds won't disclose the chemistry or PFAS status. Nonstick coatings on liners raise PFAS concerns.
The safe swap
If You Care
Slow Cooking Liners
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
Plastic/polymer liner with unspecified nonstick or release coating
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.
Polymer thermal degradation and leaching
Polyethylene and polypropylene liners soften at sustained high heat (above 210°F). If the slow cooker temperature is set to high or if the liner comes into direct contact with the heating element, the plastic can degrade and release oligomers and degradation byproducts into food. Risk is low on low settings but not zero.
Nonstick coating leaching (Teflon-type coating/fluorinated alternatives)
The undisclosed coating is the primary concern. If it is Teflon-type coating-based, heating above 500°F causes toxic fume release (unlikely in slow cookers, which max around 280°F); at normal slow cooker temperatures, microscopic Teflon-type coating particles or fluorine-containing leachates may migrate into acidic or oily foods. Without disclosure, risk cannot be quantified.
Microplastics
Single-use disposal and reuse attempts may fragment liners over time, particularly at high temperatures or if the liner tears. Ingestion of microplastic particles has uncertain health effects but is increasingly documented in food-contact polymer applications. This is especially relevant if liners are accidentally reused or torn during cooking.
Source: EPA ↗Unlabeled additives in coating formulation
Food-contact polymer coatings often contain slip agents, antiblock additives, or colorants not listed in consumer-facing marketing. Reynolds does not break down the coating formulation on packaging. Such additives may leach at elevated temperatures, and without transparency, consumer risk assessment is impossible.
What’s reassuring
BPA & bisphenols
Reynolds has not disclosed whether the polyethylene or polypropylene base contains BPA or phthalate plasticizers. These compounds are rare in modern food-contact polyethylene, but absence of explicit confirmation leaves uncertainty. Leaching risk increases with heat and prolonged food contact.
Source: FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Reynolds slow cooker liners are thin plastic polymer bags, typically polyethylene or polypropylene, with an undisclosed nonstick or release coating applied to prevent food sticking and ease cleanup. The coating composition is the critical unknown: nonstick polymers in food-contact applications historically rely on Teflon-type coating or Teflon-type coating-like fluorinated compounds, though some newer products use silicone or ceramic alternatives. Without Reynolds publicly specifying the coating chemistry, the risk profile cannot be fully assessed. Heat exposure in slow cookers (typically 170-210°F on low, 280°F+ on high) can degrade polymer integrity and potentially increase leaching if the coating degrades.
The brand's record and disclosure
Reynolds has not publicly disclosed PFAS-free certification or coating material specifications for these liners despite growing industry scrutiny of fluorochemicals in food-contact products. The company maintains a general 'food-safe' posture but has not voluntarily adopted third-party PFAS testing or committed to fluorine-free alternatives for this product line. No major recalls or safety violations have been documented for Reynolds slow cooker liners specifically, but the silence on coating composition is itself a disclosure failure in the current regulatory environment.
How it compares in its category
Slow cooker liners in general are convenience products; alternatives include uncoated ceramic/stoneware inserts (zero leaching risk but require hand-washing), silicone liners (increasingly available, PFAS-free but less established durability data), and simply cooking without a liner (no chemical exposure). Reynolds is a major branded player in the disposable liner space, competing with store brands and silicone options. The lack of coating transparency puts Reynolds liners in a weaker disclosure position than competitors that explicitly market PFAS-free or Teflon-type coating-free status.
If you buy it
Keep slow cooker temperature on the low setting (170-210°F) to minimize polymer stress and coating degradation; avoid high settings or extended pre-heating. Do not reuse liners; they are single-use and degradation compounds in repeat heating cycles. Inspect the liner for tears, discoloration, or clouding before each use; discard if damage is visible. If you choose to use these pending better disclosure from Reynolds, consider switching to silicone reusable liners or uncoated ceramic inserts as an interim measure, and pressure Reynolds to publish coating material specs.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Reynolds has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Slow Cooker Liners
If You Care
Slow Cooking Liners
Unbleached parchment paper
Thermal degradation and smoke at high heat
Limited concern
Mold or bacterial growth if stored wet or damp
Limited concern
Adhesion failure and paper fragments in food
Limited concern
Lower-concern option; parchment with verified PFAS-free certification.
⚠Risky category by default
Reynolds
(2 pack) Reynolds Kitchens Slow Cooker Liners, Small (1-3 quart), 5 Count
polyethylene/plastic liner
Lower PFAS concern; basic plastic unlikely to contain PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
Glad
Slow Cooker Liners - 4 Pack
Plastic (polyethylene or similar polymer liner)
Lower concern; uncoated plastic, but Glad doesn't confirm PFAS status.
⚠Risky category by default
More slow cooker liners 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.