ceramic is among the safest material for pans
From dishes, to glasses, bakeware and cookware, ceramic bakeware is our pick for the best cookware material for health thanks to its non-reactive nature and resistance to high temperatures and acidic foods. Plus it's so pretty!
“The most nontoxic cookware that you can buy is stainless steel, cast iron or carbon steel; things that don't have a coating on them,” says Alexis Pisciotta, culinary purchasing and events manager and cookware consultant for Food Network.
Based on this list, it is best to avoid Teflon and other nonstick pans, especially those made with either PTFE or PFOA, as well as aluminum pots and pans.
We advise replacing your nonstick pans whenever the coating starts to degrade or is scratched—or about every three to five years.
Teflon® is a registered trademark of DuPont and a brand name for polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) a nonstick finish. While Calphalon cookware features polytetrafluoroethylene-based nonstick finishes, we are not associated with, nor do we use, Teflon® branded products.
“Glass, like Pyrex cookware, is a safe option,” Perko said. “Cast iron is a safe option if NOT frying or using high-temperature cooking. If you have or can use or purchase stainless steel pots and pans, they are healthier choices for long-term/lifetime use.”
Choosing between ceramic and nonstick cookware can be hard. One key fact is that ceramic pans don't have PTFE, making them a safer choice health-wise.
A simple “Baking Soda Test” can be done to test the toxicity of your cookware. The test helps you check whether toxic elements that leach out of the cookware are altering the natural taste, flavours and nutrients of your cooked meals.
Our safest materials for baking pans are...
Ceramic & Porcelain: Among the safest baking sheets are ceramic and porcelain.
Then, we removed GreenPan entirely from our list of non-toxic cookware. There were two primary reasons: Competing brands began providing independent laboratory testing to prove their products are non-toxic. We became aware of lawsuits against GreenPan that cast doubt on the company's marketing claims.
Our products are safe, and compliant with with all applicable federal and state safety regulations. We are proud to be able to offer our customers a variety of cookware materials to choose from, including stainless steel and nonstick ceramic.
What Does Non-Toxic Cookware Mean? Non-toxic cookware is any cookware made without the use of nonstick coatings, like PFAS. This means any cookware that is made of stainless steel, cast iron, or carbon steel—essentially any cookware that doesn't have a coating—is the least toxic product available on the market.
Some cooks rely on ceramic cookware because of its non-stick properties, but for the seasoned home cook, ceramic lacks the durability and versatility of stainless steel cookware.
Raw cast iron is one of the safest cookware to use. If properly maintained, it will develop a nonstick surface that shouldn't rust. It will also prevent your pan reacting with acidic ingredients, though you should only cook acidic food in cast iron for short periods of time.
The Nonstick Ability Was (Mostly) Good
“The HexClad offers the best durability I've ever seen in a nonstick pan, I'll allow it that,” he says. “But where it falls short is in its claim that it's just as nonstick as any other nonstick pan. In my experience, it is not.”
Go for stainless steel. If it calls for low temperatures and delicate handling, opt for nonstick. High heat and searing — that's all stainless steel. While the Always Pan is oven-safe, not all nonstick pans are, so be mindful of that when baking is required.
Are scratched ceramic pans safe? As long as they're made without potential toxins, then yes. A scratched surface will just make your ceramic nonstick pan less, well, nonstick. To preserve the ceramic coating, hand wash your cookware with warm, soapy water and a soft sponge.
Our pans are made with recycled aluminum and our coating is free of PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium, so you can breathe easy.
Is HexClad cookware safe? HexClad describes its nonstick coating as a "Japanese coating infused with diamond dust." The company states that its pans are PFOA-free, though they do contain PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), commonly known by the brand name Teflon.
In general, you want to replace nonstick pans after five years.
GenX and PFBS are being used as replacement chemicals for PFOA and PFOS, the original Teflon chemicals that were forced off the market due to their decades-long persistence in the environment and their link to serious health harms in exposed people and wildlife.