Staub Sesame 3 pcs Rectangular Baking Dish Set
Lower concern. Enameled cast iron rarely uses PFAS, but brand is silent.
Staub baking dishes use enameled cast iron, which typically avoids Teflon-family coating coatings used in nonstick cookware. Staub makes no PFAS disclosure, so verify directly with brand if concerned.
The better-graded swap
Caraway
Caraway Ceramic Nonstick Baking Sheet Duo
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
enameled cast iron (dark enamel coating)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Is Staub Sesame 3 pcs Rectangular Baking non-toxic? What it is made of
This set consists of cast iron cores with vitreous enamel coatings in dark (likely black or charcoal) glaze. Cast iron itself is inert and durable; the enamel layer prevents direct iron-to-food contact and eliminates rust risk. Dark enamels on cookware have not been linked to lead or cadmium leaching in modern manufacturing, though older vintage pieces sometimes contained these metals in decorative glazes. Staub is a premium French brand (now owned by Zwilling) with industrial enameling standards.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Enamel crazing and chipping
Thermal shock (rapid heating or cooling) can cause hairline cracks in the enamel, exposing iron underneath. This is a durability and cosmetic issue rather than a direct health hazard, but prolongs product lifespan with careful use.
Iron leaching from exposed substrate
If enamel is chipped or abraded by metal utensils, small amounts of iron may leach into acidic foods. Iron is an essential nutrient and poses no toxicity risk at typical leaching levels; this is mainly a concern for iron-sensitive individuals or those with iron overload disorders.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Lead
Modern enameled cookware, especially from established brands like Staub, does not use lead or cadmium pigments. No recalls or test results indicating contamination are on record for this product line.
Source, ATSDR ↗Teflon-type coating or non-stick coating degradation
This product uses vitreous enamel, not Teflon-type coating or silicone non-stick coatings. No fume risk or microplastic shedding applies.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Enameled cast iron does not employ formaldehyde-based resins or coatings. No off-gassing is expected during normal use or heating.
Source, ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Staub does not publicly disclose detailed enamel composition or third-party safety testing results on their website, which is typical for cookware brands. No major safety recalls, lead warnings, or enamel degradation complaints are on record for this product line. The brand is well-regarded for durability and has maintained consistent manufacturing in France for decades, suggesting stable quality control. Their silence on PFAS is neither unusual nor a red flag for enameled cast iron, which rarely employs perfluorinated coatings.
How it compares in its category
Enameled cast iron has lower concern for non-stick coating degradation (unlike Teflon-type coating) and no hazard of aluminum leaching on record (unlike bare aluminum). This product sits at the premium end; similar sets from Le Creuset, Tramontina, and Lodge offer comparable safety profiles at lower price points. The dark enamel finish is standard across this category and carries no documented hazard advantage or disadvantage over colored enamels.
If you buy it
Avoid sudden thermal shock; preheat gently and cool slowly to prevent enamel crazing. Do not use metal utensils that scratch the enamel surface, as small chips expose iron (harmless but cosmetically undesirable) and concentrate wear. Hand-wash rather than machine-wash to extend enamel life. Enameled cast iron can reach oven temperatures up to 500F (check your manual); the enamel does not degrade or off-gas at typical baking temperatures.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Staub has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Bakeware
Caraway
Nonstick Ceramic Medium Baking Sheet
- ceramic nonstick coating
- A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free
- Ceramic coating degradation over time
Caraway
Ceramic Nonstick Baking Sheet Duo
- ceramic nonstick coating
- A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free
- Coating degradation and durability
2 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Caraway
Nonstick Ceramic Large Baking Sheet
- ceramic nonstick coating
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Ceramic coating degradation and particle shedding
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
More bakeware 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.