I Threw Out My Nonstick Pans. This Is What I Cook With Now.
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You switched your skincare. You swapped your cleaning products. And then you went home and cooked dinner in a pan coated with forever chemicals.
The kitchen is where your family’s food comes from. It might be the most important room to get right and it’s the one most of us audited last. Soooo let’s fix that. 😂
QUICK ANSWER
〰️ 79% of nonstick cooking pans contain PTFE a type of PFAS known as “forever chemicals” linked to hormone disruption, immune damage, and cancer
〰️ “PFOA-free” on a label does NOT mean PFAS-free. Consumer Reports tested PFOA-free pans and found PFOA in them anyway
〰️ PFAS have been detected in the blood of 97% of Americans and cookware is one of the exposure sources
〰️ Safe cookware materials: cast iron, stainless steel, verified PTFE-free ceramic, carbon steel, pure ceramic
〰️ Clean brands that are verified PFAS-free: Lodge, Caraway, GreenPan, Our Place, Made In, Xtrema
why YOUR COOKWARE MATTERS MORE THAN YOU THINK
Here’s something that stopped me cold when I first read it: a 2025 Consumer Reports survey of 2,158 people found that 65% of Americans are concerned about PFAS in their nonstick cookware. Over half. And yet most of us are still cooking on it every single day.
PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a family of more than 14,000 synthetic chemicals used in nonstick coatings, stain-resistant fabrics, and food packaging since the 1950s. They’re called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down. Not in the environment. Not in your body. The CDC found PFAS in the blood of 97% of Americans.
The most common type in nonstick cookware is PTFE. You know it as Teflon. The Ecology Center tested nonstick pans and found that 79% of them were coated with PTFE. When that coating gets scratched, overheated, or starts wearing down, it releases PFAS compounds into your food and the air in your kitchen. A 2023 University of Newcastle study found that a single scratch on a Teflon pan can release 2.3 million microplastic and nanoplastic particles in a single use. Into. Your. Food.
I feed a family of six, including four kids under four. When I learned this, into the trash the nonstick pan went. 😂 We threw out our air fryer out as well and got stainless steel pans from Home Goods.
And I’m not alone in that decision. Arlene Blum, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Green Science Policy Institute and one of the country’s leading PFAS researcher, has said that the only real solution to PFAS exposure from cookware is to stop using products that contain them. Not reduce. Stop. I thought that was worth saying out loud.
If you’ve already swapped your cleaning products and you’re working through your home room by room, you’re killing it! The cleaning products post has a good overview of why ingredient research matters across every product category.
Why “PFOA-FREE” IS NOT ENOUGH. IT’S A LABEL TRAP.
This is the one that gets people. And honestly? It got me too at first.
If you’ve been shopping for nonstick cookware, you’ve seen labels that say “PFOA-free.” Sounds good, right? PFOA is one of the most harmful PFAS. It was phased out of US manufacturing by 2015 after being linked to cancer and thyroid disease. So “PFOA-free” sounds like a win.
It isn’t. Here’s why.
PFOA is just one chemical in a family of more than 14,000. “PFOA-free” says absolutely nothing about the other 13,999. Most “PFOA-free” nonstick pans are still made with PTFE which is itself a type of PFAS. And Consumer Reports actually tested pans marketed as PFOA-free and found PFOA in one of them anyway.
So what label do you actually want to see? PTFE-free. That’s the meaningful one. Better yet look for brands that publish third-party test results so you don’t have to take their word for it.
🚫 “PFOA-Free”
What it sounds like: we removed the bad stuff
What it actually means: we removed one specific chemical from a family of 14,000. The pan may still be coated with PTFE and other PFAS. Consumer Reports found PFOA in a pan labeled PFOA-free.
✅ PTFE-Free
What it means: the nonstick coating itself is gone
This is the label worth looking for. Paired with third-party testing results, it’s the most reliable signal that a pan is genuinely free of the PFAS coating family. Not just one chemical, the whole category.
WHAT TO COOK WITH INSTEAD
Good news: you have real options. And some of them are genuinely better cookware than what you’ve been using. Here are the four materials worth knowing about.
🍳 Cast Iron
No coatings. No PFAS. Nothing breaking down or wearing away. Gets more nonstick the more you use it. Inexpensive. Lasts generations. Lodge has been making it in the same Tennessee foundry since 1896. If you only switch one thing, make it this.
🔗 Stainless Steel
✨ CHELSEA FAMILY GO-TO
No coating at all just metal. Nothing in it reacts with your food. Lasts forever with proper care. Not naturally nonstick, but you learn to cook with it and it becomes second nature. Great for searing and sauces. I love how with a good scrub they always look shiny and brand-new!
🥗 Ceramic (PTFE-Free)
✨ CHELSEA’S KID PICK
Ceramic toddler and kids’ plates with silicone bottoms are genius! A modern nonstick alternative without the PFAS coating. Look for brands that are clearly labeled PTFE-free AND publish third-party test results. Not all ceramic is equal. The verified brands are in the roundup below.
🫕 Carbon Steel
Like cast iron’s lighter, more responsive sibling. No coatings. Develops natural nonstick properties with seasoning. Used in professional kitchens. A great option if cast iron feels too heavy for daily cooking.
QUICK SHOP
6 PFAS-Free Cookware Picks for Every Budget
Every brand on this list is clearly labeled PTFE-free or has no synthetic coating at all. No “PFOA-free” label tricks. I also tagged each one by budget so you can start where you are right now.
1 — Lodge Cast Iron Skillet
💰LOW BUDGET ~$25-45 for a skillet
No Synthetic Coating
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Seasoned with 100% Vegetable Oil
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Made in USA
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PFAs-Free by Nature
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No Synthetic Coating 〰️ Seasoned with 100% Vegetable Oil 〰️ Made in USA 〰️ PFAs-Free by Nature 〰️
What we love: Made in the same Tennessee foundry since 1896. Zero synthetic coating. It’s just iron, seasoned with vegetable oil. Gets more nonstick every time you use it. A 10” skillet runs around $30. Buy it once, pass it down. This is the definition of buy-it-for-life and it’s the most affordable clean cookware option on the market.
2 — GreenPan Valencia Pro
💰💰MID BUDGET ~$50-100 per piece
PFAs-Free
〰️
PFTE-Free
〰️
PFOA-Free
〰️
Lead and Cadmium-Free
〰️
Thermolon Ceramic Coating
〰️
PFAs-Free 〰️ PFTE-Free 〰️ PFOA-Free 〰️ Lead and Cadmium-Free 〰️ Thermolon Ceramic Coating 〰️
What we love: The company that invented ceramic nonstick cookware. Won America’s Test Kitchen best ceramic nonstick award. The diamond-infused Thermolon coating is oven safe to 600°F and metal utensil safe which most ceramic pans are not. Third-party tested. Wide availability makes it easy to replace pieces as needed.
3 — Our Place Always Pan
💰💰MID BUDGET ~$95-150
PFAs-Free
〰️
PFTE-Free
〰️
Ceramic Coated
〰️
Replaces 8 Pieces of Cookware
〰️
PFAs-Free 〰️ PFTE-Free 〰️ Ceramic Coated 〰️ Replaces 8 Pieces of Cookware 〰️
What we love: The cult pan for a reason. Replaces your sauté pan, skillet, saucepan, steamer, strainer, slotted spatula, wooden spoon, and spoon rest in one. The Always Pan Pro takes it further with a titanium surface and zero coating of any kind. Genuinely beautiful design. If you want to go from a full drawer of questionable pans to one gorgeous clean one, this is it.
4 — Caraway
💰💰MID BUDGET ~$100-400 for sets
PFAs-Free
〰️
PTFE-Free
〰️
PFOA-Free
〰️
No Lead or Cadmium
〰️
Third-Party Tested (Light Labs)
〰️
PFAs-Free 〰️ PTFE-Free 〰️ PFOA-Free 〰️ No Lead or Cadmium 〰️ Third-Party Tested (Light Labs) 〰️
What we love: One of the few cookware brands that actually publishes its third-party safety test results. You don’t have to take their word for it, the data is there. Ceramic coating, beautiful colors, includes canvas storage that keeps the pans from scratching each other. Oven safe to 550°F. A strong full-set investment for a clean kitchen.
5 — Made In CeramiClad®
💰💰💰INVESTMENT ~$100-180 per piece
PFAs-Free
〰️
PTFE-Free
〰️
Third-Party Tested
〰️
5-Ply Construction (Stainless + Ceramic)
〰️
PFAs-Free 〰️ PTFE-Free 〰️ Third-Party Tested 〰️ 5-Ply Construction (Stainless + Ceramic) 〰️
What we love: 5-ply construction with an aluminum core, stainless steel cladding, ceramic coating on top. This is why it doesn’t warp or wear the way single-layer ceramic pans do. Test results are available to customers. More durable than most ceramic alternatives and worth every penny if you’re cooking every day and want something that lasts.
6 — Xtrema Pure Ceramic
💰💰💰INVESTMENT ~$60-200 per piece
100% Ceramic (Glaze to Core)
〰️
No Coatings
〰️
No Metals
〰️
No PFAs
〰️
Nothing Reacts with Your Food
〰️
100% Ceramic (Glaze to Core) 〰️ No Coatings 〰️ No Metals 〰️ No PFAs 〰️ Nothing Reacts with Your Food 〰️
What we love: The safest cookware you can buy. It’s ceramic all the way through. Not a ceramic coating over metal. Nothing gets into your food from it because there’s nothing synthetic in it. Nothing in it reacts with your food, even acidic things like tomatoes. The cleanest cooking surface you can put on a stove. A true long-term investment in the safest kitchen you can build.
HOW TO START? ONE SWAP AT A TIME
You do not need to throw out your entire kitchen today. Here’s how to prioritize.
✅ Replace first: Any nonstick pan that is scratched, chipped, or flaking. This is releasing particles directly into your food. Don’t wait on this one.
✅ Replace next: Your most-used everyday skillet → Lodge cast iron or GreenPan ceramic
✅ Replace when budget allows: Full pan set → Caraway or Made In for a complete clean kitchen
✅ Never buy again: Any pan labeled “nonstick” without also saying PTFE-free or with third-party certification
✅ For the oven: Stainless steel baking sheets or Lodge cast iron. Both are coating-free
✅ For the toddler’s food specifically: Cast iron or Xtrema have the safest surfaces for the most sensitive family members
Start with the scratched pan. One swap changes what goes into your family’s food starting tonight.
FAQs (6 Questions)
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The concern is real. 79% of tested nonstick pans contain PTFE, a type of PFAS linked to hormone disruption, immune system suppression, and certain cancers. When the coating is scratched or overheated, it releases PFAS compounds into your food. A single scratch can release millions of microplastic particles in one cooking session. Whether you call that dangerous is up to you, but it’s enough for me to make a different choice for my family.
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PFOA is one specific chemical in a family of 14,000+ PFAS chemicals. “PFOA-free” means that one chemical was removed, but the pan may still be coated with PTFE and other PFAS. Consumer Reports tested PFOA-free pans and found PFOA in one of them anyway. “PFAS-free” or “PTFE-free” is the meaningful label. Don't let “PFOA-free” fool you. It’s the marketing version of clean, not the actual version.
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Ceramic-coated pans that are clearly labeled PTFE-free and third-party tested, like Caraway or GreenPan, are genuinely safer than PTFE nonstick pans. Pure ceramic like Xtrema is the safest option available. The thing to watch out for: some pans use the word “ceramic” loosely for a very thin ceramic topcoat over PTFE. If a brand won’t tell you the full coating details or publish test results, that’s your answer.
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Cast iron is one of the safest cookware options available. No coatings, no PFAS, nothing synthetic. It does add trace amounts of iron to food, which for most people is not a concern and for some is actually a benefit.
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Immediately if it has any visible scratches, chips, or flaking. A chipped nonstick surface is putting PFAS particles directly into whatever you're cooking. If the coating is still intact and you’re not ready to replace it, keep the heat low (PTFE starts breaking down above 500°F, which is easier to hit than you’d think) and never use metal utensils. But honestly? Replace the scratched one today. It doesn’t have to be the expensive option. A $30 Lodge skillet works immediately.
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We use stainless steel in our house. No coating at all just metal, nothing in it that reacts with food. It lasts forever with proper care and honestly with a good scrub it always looks shiny and brand-new. It’s not naturally nonstick, but you learn to work with it and it becomes second nature fast. For toddler plates and bowls, ceramic with silicone bottoms is our kid pick. No PFAS coating, stays put on the table, and they’re genuinely great for little ones.
Have you already made a cookware swap? Drop your go-to in the comments. I love seeing what’s working in other people’s kitchens. 👇🏽
& remember to allow your authentic self to empower the women around you 😘
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