Smithey Cast Iron Chef Skillet No. 8, Is It Non-Toxic?
Low risk, traditional cast iron with no nonstick coating or chemical surface treatment.
Smithey's No. 8 is cast iron cookware seasoned with oil, not a Teflon-family coating nonstick coating. The seasoning layer is a food-grade oil polymer with no PFAS.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Cast iron, seasoned finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
You may also be interested in
Top-graded picks in the categories readers replace first, every one scored on the same rubric.
- polypropylene filter housing, carbon/sediment cartridge
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in spent cartridges
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Aquasure
Premier Series 75 GPD Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System
- RO membrane, carbon filters, stainless steel housing
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial and microbial growth in housing and filters
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Avocado
Vegan Mattress
- organic cotton, natural latex, coconut coir, recycled steel coils
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Is Smithey Cast Iron Chef Skillet No. 8 non-toxic? What it is made of
Smithey Cast Iron Chef Skillet No. 8 is made from cast iron with a seasoned (oil-polymerized) finish, not enameled or chemically coated. Cast iron itself is inert when properly maintained; the seasoning is simply oxidized oil layers that build over time with use. This construction means no synthetic polymers, ceramic glazes, or factory-applied nonstick coatings that could degrade and leach into food.
What’s concerning
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
Seasoning degradation and rust exposure
If seasoning is stripped through neglect or aggressive cleaning, bare cast iron can rust and theoretically introduce iron oxide into food. This is a use-and-maintenance issue, not a manufacturing defect; proper care prevents it entirely.
What’s reassuring
Bare uncoated material
Recorded as a bare, uncoated material with no surface coating or treatment.
Lead
Cast iron cookware from reputable makers like Smithey is produced from refined iron stock with no documented heavy metal contamination. No recalls or safety alerts specific to lead/cadmium in Smithey cast iron exist in public records.
Source, ATSDR ↗Aluminum leaching
Cast iron is iron-based, not aluminum. This hazard does not apply to this product.
Ceramic or enamel coating hazards
Smithey No. 8 is seasoned, not enameled. No ceramic glaze or synthetic coating is present, eliminating concerns about glaze cracking, lead, or cadmium exposure.
Teflon-type coating or nonstick fume risk
Traditional cast iron seasoning is oil-based polymerization, not synthetic Teflon-family coating. No Teflon-type coating or similar chemicals are present; overheating will not release toxic fumes.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Smithey is a modern heritage cookware maker focused on cast iron and does not publish detailed material safety documentation or third-party certifications. The brand has maintained a largely neutral profile on cookware safety claims, neither making nonstick promises nor issuing recalls for chemical hazards as of available public record. No established controversies or safety incidents linked to Smithey cast iron are documented.
How it compares in its category
Traditional seasoned cast iron like this skillet avoids the chemical risks of enameled cast iron (lead/cadmium in glazes), non-stick coated skillets (Teflon-type coating/PFOA), and aluminum cookware (aluminum leaching concerns). It has lower concern from a chemical perspective compared to some modern cookware alternatives, though it requires more active maintenance than others. Seasoning quality and durability depend on user care rather than factory coatings.
If you buy it
Maintain the seasoning by cooking fatty foods regularly and avoiding prolonged soaking or dishwasher use; hand wash and dry immediately. Cast iron can be used on all stovetop heat levels and in ovens up to 500F without documented degradation risk. The seasoning layer improves and becomes more nonstick over years of proper use. Replace only if the iron itself cracks or warps; the seasoning can always be restored.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 92% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Smithey has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More cast iron skillets 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.