Smithey No. 10 Cast Iron Skillet
Low risk, traditional cast iron has no PFAS-prone coatings.
Smithey's No. 10 is bare cast iron seasoned with oil, a risk category lower than nonstick cookware. The material has no known Teflon-family coating or water-repellent treatments.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Cast iron, seasoned with oil
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Category baseline
PFAS exposure happens more often with clothing products.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
Iron leaching into food
Cast iron naturally leaches trace iron during cooking, especially with acidic foods. This is generally nutritionally benign or beneficial for most consumers but should be considered by those with hemochromatosis or iron-overload disorders.
Seasoning degradation and rust
If seasoning is not maintained through regular oiling and use, bare cast iron can rust. Rust itself is not a direct toxin but indicates loss of the protective layer; worn or heavily oxidized cookware should be reseasoned or replaced.
What’s reassuring
Uncoated safe material
Bare cast iron, stainless steel, carbon steel, or glass with no PFAS coating.
Lead
Vintage cast iron can contain lead in certain enameled coatings or from legacy smelting practices. Smithey is a modern manufacturer using contemporary foundry standards; no lead or cadmium contamination has been documented in their products.
Source: ATSDR ↗Coating applied to handle or exterior
Smithey cast iron skillets have uncoated handles and exteriors. No synthetic finishes, varnishes, or paint are applied to this product that could off-gas or degrade.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Smithey No. 10 is solid cast iron with an applied oil-based seasoning layer, not an enamel or synthetic nonstick coating. Cast iron itself is inert under normal cooking conditions and does not degrade into the food. The seasoning is a polymerized oil layer that hardens through heat and repeated use, chemically distinct from applied enamel glazes or Teflon-type coating nonstick surfaces that carry known leaching risks.
The brand's record and disclosure
Smithey is a premium US cookware maker with a reputation for hand-finished cast iron and transparency about materials and sourcing. The company does not publicly disclose PFAS testing or certifications for its products, and maintains a largely silent stance on chemical safety beyond traditional cast iron practice. No recalls, contamination reports, or documented chemical safety incidents are on record for this product line.
How it compares in its category
Traditional cast iron skillets like this Smithey piece avoid the hazard profile of enameled cast iron (lead or cadmium in glazes), ceramic nonstick (coating degradation), and Teflon-type coating nonstick (fume risk above 500°F). Hand-seasoned cast iron is the simplest category design and carries the lowest chemical complexity in the cookware market, though it requires active maintenance.
If you buy it
Season and maintain regularly with food-grade oil to preserve the seasoning layer and prevent rust; avoid prolonged soaking or dishwasher use. Cast iron can leach small amounts of dietary iron, which is nutritionally beneficial for most people but should be monitored by those with iron-overload conditions. Do not heat empty above 500°F as seasoning can break down; typical stovetop and oven use poses no hazard. Replace only if the cooking surface becomes severely pitted or cracked.
What we don’t know
- 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.
Safer alternatives in Cast Iron Skillets
Lodge
Cast Iron Classic Cast Iron Skillets
cast iron (bare or seasoned with oil)
Iron leaching into food
Limited concern
Rust formation and corrosion
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Thermal shock and cracking
Limited concern
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⚠Risky category by default
Lodge
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cast iron, seasoned with oil
Iron leaching
Limited concern
Rust and oxidation
Limited concern
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⚠Risky category by default
Le Creuset
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Enamel coating degradation and particle release
Limited concern
Low risk, enameled cast iron doesn't require PFAS-based coatings.
⚠Risky category by default
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.