Smithey No. 11 Deep Skillet with Glass Lid
Low risk, cast iron avoids PFAS-prone nonstick coatings entirely.
Smithey's No. 11 is cast iron with a glass lid, materials with no known PFAS risk. Cast iron's seasoned surface is inherently nonstick without synthetic Teflon-family coating.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Cast iron with glass lid
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.
Glass lid thermal shock or breakage
Glass lids can crack or shatter if exposed to rapid temperature changes or impact. Risk is user-dependent (handling) rather than manufacturing; Smithey does not appear to have had widespread lid failure reports, but product specs should confirm glass type and maximum temperature rating.
Rust or corrosion if poorly maintained
Bare cast iron will rust if left wet or unsealed, but this is a maintenance issue rather than an inherent safety defect. Rust itself is ferric oxide (not toxic), but a heavily rusted surface will transfer discolored particles to food.
What’s reassuring
Uncoated safe material
Bare cast iron, stainless steel, carbon steel, or glass with no PFAS coating.
Lead
Cast iron sourced from responsible foundries poses no documented lead or cadmium risk. Smithey does not publish foundry certifications, but no recalls or testing failures are on record for this brand or model.
Source: ATSDR ↗Iron leaching into food
Cast iron can leach small amounts of iron into acidic foods, but this is nutritionally beneficial for most users and not a safety hazard. Risk is negligible for neutral or alkaline foods and over normal cooking durations.
Enamel damage (if present on lid rim or interior variant)
The No. 11 appears to be bare or seasoned cast iron with a plain glass lid, not enameled. If any enamel coating is present on rim or handle, standard cast iron enamel (food-grade ceramic-based) poses minimal risk unless heavily chipped, exposing raw iron below.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The Smithey No. 11 is solid cast iron with a glass lid (likely borosilicate or soda-lime glass). Cast iron is chemically inert when properly seasoned and poses no leaching risk from coatings, glazes, or reactive surfaces. The glass lid introduces minimal hazard since modern cookware glass is stable under normal stovetop temperatures; borosilicate glass withstands thermal shock better than standard glass, though the product specs should confirm which type is used.
The brand's record and disclosure
Smithey is a US-based cookware brand known for premium cast iron and transparent sourcing claims, though they do not publish detailed third-party testing or certifications (NSF, ASTM) for heavy metals or leaching. No recalls, contamination reports, or manufacturing controversies involving this model are on public record. The brand's silence on PFAS is consistent with their material choice (cast iron avoids the problem entirely) rather than a transparency gap.
How it compares in its category
Cast iron skillets are among the safest cookware materials because they have no synthetic coating layer to degrade or leach. Compared to nonstick aluminum (Teflon-type coating/PFOA risk), ceramic-coated steel (glaze lead risk), or enameled cast iron (enamel degradation risk), bare or seasoned cast iron eliminates coating-related hazards entirely. The glass lid is a common addition that poses no documented safety concern if intact.
If you buy it
Maintain the seasoning by wiping with minimal oil after each wash to prevent rust and maintain the nonstick layer. Avoid thermal shock (do not immerse hot skillet in cold water) as this can crack glass lids or cause warping over decades of use. The glass lid has a practical heat limit around 300-400°F depending on type; verify specs before broiling or extended high-heat use. Cast iron itself is essentially permanent if not neglected; the lid may need eventual replacement if chipped or clouded.
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.
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.