Is My Cookware PFAS-Free? (Safety Checker)
Check whether a cookware line contains PFAS. Search by brand and product line for the available coating evidence and its source.
Data last reviewed 2026-10-11, 59 product lines from 29 brands, each answer shown with its source.
PFAS is a chemical family that includes PTFE, the fluoropolymer used in many nonstick coatings. The EPA explains that some PFAS persist in the environment. A PFOA-free label alone does not tell you whether a pan contains PTFE.
Type a brand or model for an instant, sourced safety verdict.
Why "PFOA-free" is not the same as PFAS-free#
PFOA is one PFAS compound phased out by US cookware makers under the EPA's stewardship program by 2015. PTFE is a different PFAS still used in cookware coatings. A pan labeled PFOA-free can therefore still contain PTFE. Consumer Reports' coating tests also found that a PFOA-free label was not reliable for every pan it tested.
What earns a safe rating#
A bare stainless steel, cast iron, or carbon steel line has no applied PFAS coating. For a ceramic nonstick line, a disclosed silica sol-gel composition or independent lab results can support a safe PFAS rating. When the only evidence is an unverified PFAS-free label, the line stays at caution. See how we review for the full method.
A note before you act on this#
These ratings concern the evidence for PFAS in a coating, not a diagnosis of health risk from using a pan. Coating formulations can change. Check the maker's current documentation before making a health decision.
How we source this data#
Sources include manufacturers' own documentation, regulators, accredited labs, and verified owner reports. Competitor review sites are not used as evidence. If no maker figure has been verified yet, the result says so rather than guessing. Where a product source exists, open "What the source says" for its exact quote. For our approach, see how we review. To correct an entry, contact us.
Cite or link this tool#
The product data is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0. Please credit The Cookware Critic and link to this page.
You can also link directly to any search result with its "Copy link to this result" button.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PTFE the same as PFAS?
PTFE is a fluoropolymer in the PFAS family. A pan can be PFOA-free and still have a PTFE coating. This checker rates PTFE-coated lines caution for the PFAS-free question; that rating is not a finding that normal cooking with the pan is unsafe.
What is the difference between PFOA-free and PFAS-free?
PFOA is one compound in the PFAS family. US cookware makers phased it out by 2015, but a PFOA-free label does not exclude PTFE or other PFAS. A specific coating disclosure or independent test gives more information than the label alone.
Is stainless steel or cast iron PFAS-free?
Bare stainless steel, cast iron, and carbon steel have no applied fluoropolymer coating. Enameled cast iron has a glass enamel coating instead. The checker rates these materials safe for this PFAS-coating question by construction.
Is ceramic nonstick cookware safe from PFAS?
Check the specific coating. A disclosed silica sol-gel composition or independent lab results support a PFAS-free claim. When a maker publishes only a PFAS-free label, the checker rates the claim caution until there is supporting evidence.
How current is this data?
The database review date appears above the search. Where a product source exists, its quote and verification date appear with the result. Formulations can change, so confirm current specifications with the maker before making a health decision.