2024 Safe Non-Toxic Cookware Guide
Written by:
Maia James
I’m lucky to live in a neighborhood with lots of great “healthful” restaurants. I put that word in quotes because while organic French fries cooked in trans-fat free oil are better than what you’ll get at McDonald’s, they aren’t exactly kale chips.
So we try to cook at home most nights. My husband is much more of a chef than I am, so he is the one who purchases most of our pots and pans (and woks and stockpots and mandolins and 87 different knives…he loves kitchen gadgets!).
As with many products in our home (from toilet paper to laundry detergent to shampoo), Daylon is primarily worried about the performance of his cookware, and I am mainly worried about the safety. The good news here is that you really can have both. We’ve managed to find high-performing AND non-toxic cookware that both Daylon and I are happy with. And yes, nontoxic nonstick cookware does exist!
I hope this guide helps you decide what cookware to eliminate, and what non-toxic cookware to buy when it’s time for new pots and pans. And as much as we should avoid toxins in what we breathe and touch, we REALLY should avoid eating them! For this reason, we consider upgrading to non-toxic cookware an important step for those of you looking to make your homes safer.
Are There Toxins in Cookware?
Unfortunately, pots and pans might be introducing toxins into your food as you cook. The big takeaway from our research is that most types of cookware do infuse small amounts of material into our food. Some of those things are bad for us, some are good in the right quantity, and some are neutral. This matters with cookware because not only are you ingesting whatever leaches into your food, but leaching is increased by heat exposure, which is of course a factor when it comes to cookware.
My Favorite Non-Toxic Cookware
You’ll find lots of details on a variety of non-toxic cookware options in this guide, as well as materials we’d rather see you avoid. If you’re short on time, here is a cheat sheet of the non-toxic cookware brands we love, including some nontoxic nonstick cookware brands.
1. Xtrema / 2. Lancaster Cast Iron / 3. 360 Cookware / 4. Visions / 5. Caraway / 6. Our Place/ 7. Le Creuset / 8. GreenPan
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.
Newer Non-Stick Materials
For more details on these materials, and the brands we like most (and which brands should be avoided), check out the Best, Good, Bad, and Sneaky brands that follow. You can’t necessarily believe brands that advertise themselves as nontoxic nonstick cookware.
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
More About Nonstick Cookware
The main concern with nonstick cookware is a class of chemicals called perfluorooctanoic acids (PFAS), which have historically been used in the manufacturing process of many nonstick coatings.
There are two big problems with PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals“:
- Health Risks. Studies have linked PFAS exposure to a variety of health problems, including cancer, liver damage, immune system dysfunction, and developmental issues in fetuses and infants.
- Environmental Risks. PFAS can persist in the environment for a long time and can accumulate in plants, animals, and the food chain. This can lead to contamination of drinking water supplies and other environmental problems. (We have a PFAS water filter in our store, by the way.) Worse, PFAS do not break down easily in the environment and are resistant to degradation. This means that even if their use is stopped, they can continue to be present in the environment and potentially cause harm.
If you choose to use traditional nonstick cookware with PFAS, it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Avoid using metal utensils or abrasive scrubbers that could scratch the surface of the coating. Overheating the cookware can also cause the coating to break down and release toxic fumes. Of course, our recommendation is that you switch to one of the less toxic types of cookware below.
Bonus: The Best Non-Toxic Teakettle
Lots of you have asked about the best non-toxic teakettle. Our picks are the kettles from Xtrema, Staub, or Caraway.
Stay sane,
About the Author
Maia, Founder & CEO
Maia grew up in a Vermont household without a TV or microwave. She has been researching and writing about non-toxic products since 2010, and has appeared in a variety of media outlets, including The New York Times, The Huffington Post, New York Magazine, and The Dr. Oz Show. Maia lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two sons, and you can follow along as she tries to live a less toxic, more planet-friendly life here.
Note: This article contains affiliate links or sponsored content, which means that if you make a purchase, we may earn a commission. We only recommend products that meet our strict standards for non-toxicity and that we use (or want to use!) ourselves. Thank you so much for supporting the brands that make Good Stuff!
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247 responses to “2024 Safe Non-Toxic Cookware Guide”
I know that Our Place has a new Titanium Always Pan Pro out now. This is supposed to be a new innovation in pans. Is it really non-slip & non-toxic? Do we have any info on these pans?
I have not tried the new pan (so I can’t speak to how it performs), but it should be as non-toxic as their others:).
I left a comment already but forgot to add, where can I find good quality baking pans that are *less expensive*? The good stuff (and even okay stuff) here prices a single loaf pan at over $50 and in some cases a few pieces of bakeware is $300 🙁 I’m struggling to find plain stainless steel that isn’t of dubious quality… thank you!
Hey Nicole! I totally get it. The sad reality is that we are forced to pay much more to ensure that the proper certifications and safeguards are in place. Similar to organic foods, sometimes what we are paying for is the certifications and transparency of the “Good Stuff”. But if we find anything that is more affordable AND Good Stuff we will update this guide and let you know.
Hello, any good choices for baking sheets? I need to order a springform cake pan, donut baking tray, a pie pan, and loaf pans. I don’t know where to find non-toxic ones! Thank you so much!
Drawing from the insights on Iupilon (https://iupilon.com/cast-iron-vs-iron-cookware/), it’s important to note that while both cast iron and iron cookware have their merits, they are not the same. Cast iron, with its 2% to 5% carbon content, offers excellent heat retention and a natural non-stick coating. Iron cookware, on the other hand, is elemental and raw, adding a rustic flavor to food and enriching it with iron content. This information complements the comprehensive guide on Gimme the Good Stuff and provides additional context for those seeking the best cookware options.
Great reviewing on choosing the Safe Non-Toxic Cookware. It’s always terrible work. Your post reminds me of the best cookware to keep in your collection.
Thanks.Hello. I wanted to follow up on the question about Caraway cookware. Is it good stuff? Thank you so much!
euna cookware is also a good purchase to be considered.
FYI, https://eunaknife.comI would like to know too
I’m curious about the caraway brand too!!
Yes, please! I would love to know more about Caraway. They recently released a line of bakeware and I’d like to know if it’s safe…. I haven’t found any good resources for safe bakeware.
I would like to add my request also for information about Caraway cookware and bakeware.
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