Types of Toxic & Non-Toxic Cookware
Pots and pans come in a wide range of materials. Some cookware materials are okay, if you have the right variety, or if you don’t use them every day. Let’s go through these one by one, including the brands we recommend.
Nontoxic Cookware Materials
The following materials are always non-toxic. We will share our favorite brands made of these materials below, under The Best Stuff.
Carbon Steel
Carbon steel is sometimes used for frying pans and woks. It’s similar to cast iron, and can leach small amounts of iron into food, which is great if you have someone with slight anemia in your home!
Cast Iron
For most of human history, people suffered from iron deficiencies, so cooking with cast iron helped to prevent anemia. In modern cultures, the opposite is true. Most of us get plenty of iron, and there’s a point at which ingesting too much can be problematic. In our kitchen, we try to switch between cast iron pans and pans made of other materials throughout the week. If you want to be extra cautious, you could avoid cast iron for recipes with long cooking duration or acidic foods, as this will cause increased iron leaching.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel pans are generally Good Stuff. The only caveat here is that stainless steel is made with nickel (the more nickel in the mix, the more “stainless” it is). The problem is that our bodies can handle some nickel, but too much isn’t healthy. This means that high quality stainless steel cookware, which has higher percentages of nickel, is actually of more concern than lower quality stainless steel! We know that stainless steel pans do leach nickel (along with some chromium and iron), especially with longer cooking times and when cooking acidic foods such as tomatoes. To minimize the potential for nickel leaching, you’d ideally want a pan that’s 18/4 or 18/0 stainless steel (that first number is the percentage of chromium; the second is nickel). I wouldn’t be concerned about using stainless steel as long as you just switch up your cookware. If you sometimes using cast iron and enamel pots and pans, you won’t be exposing yourself to too much nickel from stainless steel. If you’re still worried, you could avoid stainless steel when cooking acidic foods for long time periods.
Tempered Glass
Glass is probably the most inert of any cooking surface, and you can even get pots and pans made of this ultimate Good Stuff!
Titanium
Titanium is a non-toxic and biocompatible metal, so it is used for medical instruments, dental implant devices, and joint replacements. Titanium is also lightweight and extremely strong. Titanium cookware uses an aluminum base for even heat transfer and distribution. The non-porous, non-stick titanium outer surface does not allow any aluminum to leach through. The only reason to be cautious about titanium cookware is that it seems that most manufacturers now coat their titanium cookware with non-stick finishes, rendering it “Bad Stuff.”
Materials That May Be Safe in Cookware
When shopping for non-toxic cookware, some of these materials come in safe forms. Other times, they are treated (or untreated, as the case may be) in a way that renders them less safe.
Clay
Without testing a clay pot for every possible contaminant, you have no way of knowing what might be leaching into your food. Without a glaze on the pot, there is no protective barrier between what’s in the clay and your meal. The risks of unglazed clay pots and pans outweigh the potential benefits of the good minerals that might leach into your food—calcium, iron, etc.
Coated Ceramic
Made from natural materials such as clay and minerals, ceramic cookware offers excellent heat retention and distribution. Its non-reactive surface makes it ideal for cooking acidic foods, and it is also appreciated for its nontoxic nonstick cookware properties, requiring less oil or fat during cooking. Furthermore, it is generally considered safer than nonstick alternatives since it doesn’t contain potentially harmful chemicals like PFOA or PTFE. Ceramic cookware can be considered a safe less-stick if not truly truly non-stick material. Some ceramic cookware is coated with materials that may contain harmful substances like lead, cadmium, and other heavy metals. To ensure safety, it is crucial to choose ceramic cookware that is labeled as free from toxic materials and is certified as being compliant with safety standards.
Enamel
In essence, enamel is a form of glass. Enameled cookware is most often cast iron with an enamel coating. This type of cookware is wonderful to cook with. Some people have worried about lead in the enamel cookware, since the enamel coating is often made of clay, which can leach lead. For this reason, we suggest choosing high quality enamel cookware from well-known brands.
Materials to Avoid in Cookware
The following materials are always unsafe when used for cookware. You’ll learn more about how to avoid them under the Bad Stuff and Sneaky Stuff, below. Look for cookware brands that they have tested under limits for California Prop 65 for more peace of mind.
- Aluminum
- Copper
- Nonstick/Teflon
- Plastic
247 comments
Danni
Hello,
Thank you for this amazing website. Your guides have brought my attention to so many things my family shouldn’t be using.
By chance do you have any other recommendations for your Porcelain Enamel or Ceramic cookware? The ones you mention are a bit high in price for my family right now.
Thank you in advance.
John Goss
Hi Polina,
Ceramic coated is a term that refers to a proprietary method of creating a non-stick surface on a pan…usually aluminum. “Proprietary†is code for, “we’re not telling you what’s in it.†For this reason we cannot know if it is toxic or not, but it probably is toxic. We boil it down to this: Any cookware called “non-stick†contains questionable or toxic materials. If it says “non-stick†it is probably toxic. If it is not toxic it is also not “non-stickâ€. Best, JohnPlease do not get confused between the terms “Ceramic coated” and Ceramic Cookware". That are NOT the same thing.
John Goss
Hi Darshana,
We boil it down to this: Any cookware called “non-stick†contains questionable or toxic materials. If it says “non-stick†it is probably toxic. If it is not toxic it is also not “non-stickâ€. Best, JohnJohn here…
Red Copper, like many cookware manufacturers uses a proprietary technology to produce their nonstick surfaces. “Proprietary†is code for, “we’re not telling you what’s in it.â€
For this reason we cannot know for certain if it is toxic or not, but it probably is!
John Goss
John here…
Woll’s technology is, in our opinion, definitely NOT “Good Stuff”. We boil it down to this: Any cookware called “non-stick†contains questionable or toxic materials. If it says “non-stick†it is probably toxic. If it is not toxic it is also not “non-stickâ€. Best, JohnWoll, like many cookware manufacturers uses a proprietary technology to produce their nonstick surfaces. “Proprietary†is code for, “we’re not telling you what’s in it.â€
John Goss
Hi Lisa,
We boil it down to this: Any cookware called “non-stick” contains questionable or toxic materials. If it says “non-stick” it is probably toxic. If it is not toxic it is also not “non-stick”. Best, JohnJohn here…
Swiss Diamond, like many cookware manufacturers uses a proprietary technology to produce their nonstick surfaces. “Proprietary” is code for, “we’re not telling you what’s in it.”
For this reason we cannot know if it is toxic or not.
John Goss
Hi Sou C,
There is no silicon in enameled cookware.Quartz is nontoxic and safe.
John Goss
Hi Melissa,
Go to our Safe Cookwear Guide here… https://gimmethegoodstuff.com/safe-product-guides/cookware/ Scroll down until you see “Ceramic” There is a link to Xtrema at the bottom of the review.Dr. Mercola not only has many interesting things to say, but above all he is a great marketer. Indeed his ceramic cookware is the real deal, but it is not his. He got a licensing deal with Xtrema and simply sells their products under his name.
Mercola cookware and Xtrema cookware are the same thing. He buys from Xtrema, rebrands the products and resells to us.
The main difference is that he sells packages of cookware, whereas, if you go directly to Xtrema via the link found in our Safe Cookware Guide, you have the option to pick and choose exactly the pieces you want. You also can take advantage of any specials or sales that Xtrema might be offering.
Shelley Wagner
I am allergic to Nicole, chromium and my worst metal allergy is titanium. I was injured in a crosswalk in April. My Ortho lied to me about the rods used to replace my Fibula and Tibia for 3/4 oder my lower leg. He doesn’t believe I am allergic to metal. My upper rods are being attacked by my own body. I will most likely loss my lower leg.
My point is that I haven’t walked in over 7 months and people especially 17% of woman are either sensitive or as I am totally allergic to so many Metals. I am an herbalist who was given more drugs then required while in the hospital for 27 days and have just learned this weekend that many which were not required were those which contain toxic ingredients like Fluoride as well as titanium dioxide. Beside my unacceptable rods this ortho also used close to 100 staples to close the incisions in my leg. He did not grasp my allergy to Metals. I was sent home with a developing infection that not only infected my leg, but also my brain. Please do not list titanium as not a toxic metal. Many of those who have joint, dental etc placed in their bodies only become sensitive after the surgery. Many are diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue, Lyme Disease, as well as, MS.Polina
Hi Maia,
Have you done any investigation or heard of Scanpan brand out of Denmark? They supposedly ceramic coated, however they claim to be PFOA-free that you mentioned is always a sneaky stuff…. Just curious if you know anything about it.
Thank you!
Polina
Darshana
Wonder what you think of these “red copper pans” that are advertised constantly on the only TV show I watch (an old Star Trek)
Here they are online: https://www.redcoppersquareasseenontv.com/index.jsp?uid=6D000FE51733B59037C4253DA65C1213 Here’s a store’s version: https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/copper-chef-trade-9-5-inch-square-nonstick-fry-pan/1046619167?skuId=46619167&mcid=PS_googlepla_nonbrand_cookware_&product_id=46619167&adpos=1o2&creative=43742634349&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CKOFkaW1sNACFQINaQodjjYLUg