USA Pan Cookie Sheet Pan
Nonstick coating unspecified; PFAS status unclear without disclosure.
This USA Pan cookie sheet is carbon steel with nonstick coating, but the brand keeps the coating formula secret and won't discuss PFAS. Ask them directly for details.
The safe swap
Caraway
Caraway Home Ceramic Baking Sheet Duo
90/100 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
Carbon steel with unspecified nonstick 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.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
Category baseline
cookware is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
Nonstick coating degradation and flaking
Imusa cookware, particularly in lower-price tiers, is documented anecdotally to show coating wear and peeling after repeated use and washing. Ingestion of flaked coating fragments poses unknown hazard; no direct toxicity data exists for fragments of unknown composition.
Teflon-type coating fume inhalation risk (if Teflon-type coating-based coating)
If the unspecified nonstick coating is Teflon-type coating, overheating above 500F can release fluorinated gases (Teflon-type coating-related polymer fume fever). Imusa does not provide temperature ratings or coating specifications, making this risk impossible to rule out.
Coating bonding failure and rust exposure
If the nonstick coating delaminates completely, underlying carbon steel will rust if not dried promptly. Rust itself is iron oxide (not acutely toxic), but indicates loss of the protective coating and end-of-life for the pan.
What’s reassuring
Heavy metals
No lead or cadmium contamination has been reported for USA Pan cookie sheets. Carbon steel itself does not leach; risk is limited to the nonstick coating, which is not disclosed.
Source: FDA ↗Aluminum migration (unlikely but relevant to base metal)
Product is carbon steel, not aluminum; this hazard does not apply.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
USA Pan (Imusa) cookie sheets are carbon steel bases with an unspecified nonstick coating. Carbon steel itself is inert and durable, but the nonstick layer is the critical unknown: without transparency on whether it contains Teflon-type coating (Teflon) or Teflon-type coating-free alternatives, you cannot assess fume risk or long-term safety. Imusa has not publicly disclosed coating composition for this product line.
The brand's record and disclosure
Imusa, a Houston-based cookware manufacturer owned by Meyer Corporation, does not maintain prominent public statements on PFAS or nonstick coating transparency. No major recalls specifically tied to this product's nonstick coating have been documented in FDA or CPSC records. The brand's silence on coating chemistry is notable in a market where competitors (GreenPan, Our Place, Caraway) now voluntarily disclose PFOA-free or ceramic alternatives.
How it compares in its category
Carbon steel bakeware is common and generally safer than aluminum or non-stick-dependent designs when uncoated. However, budget-tier nonstick coatings (typical at Imusa's price point) are more prone to degradation and peeling than premium alternatives. Competitors like Lodge (bare carbon steel), All-Clad (disclosed coatings), or ceramic-coated options offer clearer safety profiles. Imusa's main advantage is cost; the tradeoff is less transparency.
If you buy it
Hand wash only to preserve coating longevity; avoid high heat (acidic foods can accelerate coating breakdown at high temperatures). Inspect the pan before each use for peeling, flaking, or discoloration of the nonstick layer. Replace immediately if coating chips or flakes. Store carefully to prevent scratching. If you use it frequently, expect the nonstick layer to degrade within 2-5 years depending on care.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- USA Pan has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Bakeware
Caraway
Ceramic Baking Sheet
Coating degradation and metal substrate exposure
Limited concern
Aluminum substrate leaching (if aluminum core)
Limited concern
Thermal shock and coating fracturing
Limited concern
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
GreenPan
GreenLife Ceramic Nonstick Bakeware
Ceramic nonstick coating
Coating degradation and aluminum leaching
Limited concern
Microcracking and ceramic particle shedding
Limited concern
Lower risk, ceramic nonstick avoids Teflon-type coating and PFOA.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Staub
4-Piece Baking Dish Set
enameled cast iron
Enamel degradation and iron leaching
Limited concern
Thermal stress fracture of enamel
Moderate concern
Lower PFAS concern, enameled cast iron baking dishes without nonstick coating.
⚠Risky category by default
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.