The Best Non-Toxic Pans and Cookware (And How to Find Them!)
Abby Bartlett • April 24, 2025
Like many health-conscious people, you might ensure your food is healthy. But did you know that what you place your food on and cook it in can impact your food, too? If you are looking for the best non-toxic pans and cookware, you've come to the right place.
So, what makes a pan or cookware not non-toxic? You might have heard of Teflon before. Teflon is commonly used as the material that makes non-stick cookware, non-stick. Unfortunately, Teflon breaks down at high temperatures, releases toxic fumes into the air, and even breaks off in small (nearly microscopic) pieces into your food. An important way to ensure you get the best return on that investment is to vet what you put your food on. This includes dishware, cutting boards, non-toxic pans, and cookware. But what are the healthiest, safest non non-toxic cookware options?
We’ve done our best to break down materials to avoid, what to consider, and our top picks for healthy non-toxic cookware so that you can make the best decision for your needs. And, our recommendations won’t break the bank – buying affordable non-toxic cookware is an option!
Best Non-Toxic Cookware Materials
- Cast iron
- Stainless steel
- Glass
The best materials to look for in cookware are natural materials, without chemical coatings, that are non-reactive when heated and in contact with foods.
Cast Iron
This is the best option. When correctly cared for, cast iron pans will rival non-stick pans and will be durable enough to last generations. Cast iron is a pro at even heat distribution, which helps foods cook evenly and retain flavor. Another perk of cast iron pans is the ability to transition seamlessly between the stove and the oven.
Stainless Steel
If made well, stainless steel pots and pans are also fantastic for durability and even heat distribution. Unlike cast iron, you can clean it with soap and put it in the dishwasher, which is convenient.
Glass
Glass is not the best conductor of heat, but it is fantastic for baking and water-based cooking. It is incredibly heat resistant and can withstand high temperatures without absorbing odors or leaching into food.
A note on enamel or ceramic: pure ceramic, enameled cast iron, or stainless steel pans are generally safe. Enamel is a ceramic (a glass-based clay substance) coating rather than a chemical. It doesn’t transfer to food. Typically, enameled pots and pans conduct heat well, creating a “non-stick” like experience and enabling cast iron to be washed with soap. However, beware of enamel or ceramic labeled “non-stick,” as sometimes they are coated with chemicals, and avoid ceramic coatings on materials other than steel or cast iron.
Materials to Avoid in Cookware
There are several materials we highly recommend you stay far away from.
- Anything labeled “non-stick.” There is no such thing as non-toxic non-stick cookware. Period. (More on this below.)
- Aluminum: While lighter and cheaper than cast iron, aluminum is a neurotoxin that, under some conditions, can be harmful. When put in direct contact with food, aluminum pans leach this heavy metal into your dinner, and from there it accumulates in organs, attacks the nervous system, and competes for calcium absorption. Side note, I also avoid putting aluminum foil directly in contact with my food (I recommend wrapping it in unbleached parchment paper first).
- Nickel and chromium: Typically added to stainless steel for heat resistance and durability (as well as cost reduction), nickel and chromium can leach into foods at high temperatures, especially with acidic foods like tomatoes. While it’s difficult to find truly nickel-free stainless steel, pay attention to the grade of the steel and look for the lowest level of nickel possible (more on this below). While potentially harmful, nickel is less toxic than aluminum.
- Silicone: Silicone is generally considered “inert,” so a brand-new silicone muffin tin or baking mat may be safe, but the material breaks down very easily and, once ripped, frayed, or cut, can easily transfer to food. Additionally, inferior brands often contain fillers that contain toxic chemicals. (Another plug for unbleached parchment paper!)
- Lead: While this may seem like a no-brainer, some glass, enameled, and ceramic (and even clay or earthenware) cookware can contain lead, especially vintage sets. Your best bet is to contact the manufacturer to make sure the piece you’re looking to purchase is verified lead-free.
What Makes “Non-Stick” Pans Toxic?
PFAS, or Per and Polyfluorinated Substances, are an incredibly toxic group of chemicals used to create non-stick coatings. They make items that are non-stick, water-repellent, and stain-resistant, and are used in many products beyond non-stick pans, such as cosmetics, food packaging, furnishings and carpet, and clothing. PFAS exhibit incredible persistence in the environment, earning them the descriptor “forever chemicals.” They are extremely convenient. But lethal.
Negative Health Effects of PFAS
PFASs are found in the bloodstream of 99.7% of people in the US today, according to the CDC, and have also been detected in animals such as polar bears, dolphins, and seals due to environmental persistence in water and air. They resist chemical, biological, and photolytic degradation and accumulate in animal and human tissue.
PFAS have been linked to cancer, brain damage, hormone disruption, asthma, lowered fertility, miscarriage, high blood pressure in pregnant women, increased cholesterol, impaired response to vaccines, impaired immune system, heart disease, thyroid disease, and more.
PFAS are especially dangerous when on cookware, as they can spread through direct contact with food and contaminate the air when heated and the water when washed.
How to Identify PFAS
PFAS (perfluorinated/polyfluorinated alkyl substances) is a category of chemicals that include
- PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate)
- PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene)
- PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid)
…and others. Sometimes, products will be labeled as free of one of the subtypes of PFAS, but they’re not entirely PFAS-free. For example, PFOA was banned in 2019, so many products are now labeled “PFOA-free.” However, these products, almost without exception, will still contain other PFAS.
Due to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recommendations, some industries are looking for alternatives to highly fluorinated long-chain PFAS, also called C8 PFAS. But they’re replacing them with short-chain C6 PFAS, which are no less toxic despite the company's claims. A safe, non-toxic product will be free of various PFAS chemicals.
Here are some keywords to look for when vetting products (not just nonstick cookware) for PFAS coatings:
- Any ingredients containing “fluoro”, “perfluor”, “perfluoro”, or “Polyfluor”
- Non-Stick
- Water-Repellent
- Weather-Protective
- Stain-Resistant
Brand names that contain this chemical group:
- Teflon
- Scotchguard
- Stainmaster
- Stainsafe
- Silverstone
- Polartec
- Texapore
- Shamrock
- Gore-Tex
- Fluoron
- Supra
- Excalibar
- Greblon
- Zylon
Reading Labels: What to Look For When Shopping for Non-Toxic Cookware: Pots and Pans
General Tips
- Avoid “non-stick” pans.
- Be careful with anything labeled “green” or “recycled” – this doesn’t automatically mean safe.
- Look for companies that tell you what’s IN the product, not just what’s NOT in the product. For example, “PFOA free” doesn’t mean “PFAS free.”
Avoiding PFAS
- Avoid “non-stick” or “Teflon” pots, pans, and baking sheets
- Also, be careful when shopping for deep fryers, crock pots, electric skillets, griddles, coffee makers, bread makers, molds, tortilla or sandwich presses, waffle makers, woks, and cooking utensils. See the above section (“How to Identify PFAS”) for what to look for when shopping.
- When in doubt, contact the company to inquire how their product is made and ask for toxicity reports to verify that it is free of all forms of “forever chemicals.”
Stainless Steel
When shopping for stainless steel, the key is to look for the grade, which will indicate the amount of nickel in the steel. The lower the percentage of nickel, the better, especially for cooking with acidic foods.
18/10 steel is 10% nickel, 18/8 steel is 8% nickel, and 18/0 steel is 0% nickel.
Other terms you’ll see are “grade 304,” which is a general grade that’s chemically identical to 18/8 steel, and “grade 316,” which is equivalent to 18/10 steel. 430-grade stainless steel is nickel-free, equivalent to 18/0 steel.
Especially prioritize lower amounts of nickel if you cook with a lot of lower pH foods like tomato, which increase the amount of nickel that leaches into the food, or know you have a nickel allergy or heavy metal toxicity.
Cast Iron and Glass
Fairly easy to source, cast iron and glass should be 100% pure. Glass should be lead-free, which may require manufacturer verification.
Best Non-Toxic Cookware Options
Below, we will dive into all the best options for safe and non-toxic pans, Dutch ovens, baking sheets, cookware sets, utensils, and more.
Best Non-Toxic Pans, Skillets, and Cookware
Cast Iron Pans
Price: $10 to $50+ (depending on size)
An absolute staple in our house! We don’t go a day without using our 9-inch skillet at least once or twice.
Price: $110+
Le Creuset is iconic, known, and used by everyday people and professional chefs alike. Made from cast iron and finished with enamel that is made from glass, this cookware has a non-toxic surface.
Pro tips: When using a cast-iron pan, the handle can get hot. We couldn’t do without this skillet handle cover.
Stainless Steel Pans
HOMICHEF Nickel-Free Stainless Steel Cookware
Price: $30+ and up for a single piece, from $120+ for a set
HOMICHEF has a line of nickel-free stainless steel pots and pans that I personally love. Even without nickel, the steel is durable and a fantastic conductor of heat.
They have affordable options from this full set to singles like a saucepan, sauté pan, and stock pot. (Note that HOMICHEF sells non-stick cookware that does contain forever chemicals).
Heritage Steel Stainless Steel Cookware Set
Price: $300-$800+ sets
Professional quality stainless steel sets that are fully non-toxic, uncoated, or sprayed stainless steel. Probably the highest quality nontoxic stainless steel option on the market!
Price: $60+
Carbon Steel pans are made from iron with some carbon and are very popular with professional chefs. Lightweight, durable, and relatively inexpensive, carbon steel pans can withstand temperatures up to 1200°F.
Glass & Ceramic Pans and Cookware
Price: $90+, $300+ sets
These stunning pieces are 100% ceramic; they behave like non-toxic non-stick pans and, without any metal core, have no risk of leaching heavy metals. They are free of all PFAS. These versatile pieces transition effortlessly from oven to stovetop and retain their glossy finish for generations. Their skillet is a perfect starter piece, but they have many options from full sets to woks.
Price: Around $170+ for a set
Extremely temperature resistant, these glass pieces can transition seamlessly between stovetop and oven. Their current versions are inert; lead and cadmium free. They’re especially fantastic for acidic foods like tomato sauces because those leach nickel from stainless steel cookware. Do your research or contact the company when purchasing vintage Visions cookware, as some older models contain lead.
CorningWare Ceramic Baking Dishes
Price: Between $20 and $40 per piece, $80-$100+ per set
CorningWare ceramic dishes are fantastic, non-toxic cookware pieces for baking, casseroles, etc. CorningWare also offers lead-free glass dishes, pans, and storage containers. Again, look for recent models as vintage CorningWare and Pyrex have lead.
Best Non-Toxic Dutch Ovens
Price: $50+
Another durable, versatile, cost-effective classic. Lodge is a classic and time-tested brand we trust completely.
Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
Price: $80+
A beautiful, colorful option that doesn’t require seasoning and can be washed with soap, unlike uncoated cast iron. Lodge uses a non-toxic enamel that creates a smooth, “non-stick-like” experience, great for everything from soups to baking bread. Their Dutch ovens come in a fantastic array of colors, too!
Le Creuset Cast Iron Dutch Oven
Price: $230+ (depending on size)
This Dutch oven is made from 100% cast iron. Similar to Lodge, you can purchase a Le Creuset Dutch oven in just about any color in the rainbow.
“Better” Non-Toxic Non-Stick Cookware Options
Living a nontoxic lifestyle is never black and white; the options available to us exist on a spectrum. While I would personally not recommend using any pan with “non-stick” coatings, here are some popular cookware brands that are better options than conventional non-stick options.
Caraway offers a stainless steel pan, a ceramic non-stick pan, and baking sheets. However, their non-stick pans have an aluminum core, which is concerning. Once their non-stick coating wears down, the aluminum will leech into your food, which is not ideal. Their baking sheets are an okay option, but the non-toxic coating is free of PTFEs but not PFAs.
The Always Pan is made from 100% aluminum with a non-toxic, non-stick coating that is free of all PFAS. However, its aluminum core will eventually break down over time, regardless of careful use.
GreenPan is similar to Caraway and Our Place cookware. Their cookware is non-stick and made from harmful chemicals like PFAS, PFOA, lead, cadmium, and more. And their non-stick coating is made from Thermolon (which is a ceramic coating derived from silicon dioxide. They also make things like muffin pans in cute colors and baking sheets.
If you choose to use Caraway, Ourplace, or GreenPan non-stick cookware, avoid using abrasive cleaning tools, avoid high heat, and only use wooden utensils so that you don’t mess up the surface, which can cause the aluminum to leech. Also, we recommend using unbleached, untreated parchment paper on top of the baking sheet, or lining the muffin cups, and with that between the cookware and your food, you shouldn’t have to worry about any chemicals leeching.
Non-Toxic Cooking Utensils
The best materials to look for in cooking utensils are wood and stainless steel; the materials to avoid are plastic, rubber, and silicone, as they all break down with heat and over time and leach toxic chemicals or microplastics into food.
Stainless Steel Utensils
When looking for non-toxic utensils made from stainless steel, look for 304-grade steel (18/8 or 8% nickel). These are generally non-toxic, especially if you avoid using them with acidic foods.
- Nickel-Free Stainless Steel Utensils Set
- Premium Stainless Steel Utensils Set
- Stainless Steel Utensils Set
- Stainless Steel Spatula
- Long-Handled Stainless Steel Spatula
Wood Utensils
Look for hardwoods like teak, acacia, and maple that are uncoated or finished with a food-safe polish (check out our post on non-toxic wooden cutting boards for more info about that!). Always hand-wash.
Other Non-Toxic Accessories
Many people who make the switch with their core baking pans and utensils forget about other cookware items! Consider switching to the non-toxic alternatives for non-toxic muffin baking tins, cups, and baking sheets, such as Bastwe baking sheets or Wildone baking sheets.