Confused about nonstick cookware brands?
You're not alone!
When we started our research to find the best nonstick pans, we were stunned by how hard it was to find accurate information. So we backed up until we found as much of the truth as we could about as many brands a possible.
Here, you'll find the most comprehensive list anywhere of which brands contain PTFE (Teflon®) and which brands do not. You'll also get the basics on nonstick cookware in general: types, safety, what to look for, and how to determine for yourself what's in the nonstick brand you're interested in.
Update (2022): Since we first published this article, we've learned a lot more about nonstick cookware. We continue to update this article for nonstick cookware buyers, though our recommendation is to not buy nonstick cookware and to go with cast iron or carbon steel instead. There's a reason nonstick cookware is so hard to shop for: makers know their product has safety issues.
Why Nonstick Cookware Is So Hard to Shop For
The world of nonstick cookware is full of Orwellian-level disinformation. It's incredibly easy to be misled by the marketing jargon because...well, because it can be misleading.
Why?
There are a couple of reasons.
One is that in the past few years, PTFE--better known as Teflon, Dupont's brand name for the original PTFE product--has gotten some bad press, so people are worried that it's not safe to cook with. So companies began to downplay, or just plain hide, the fact that their pans contain PTFE. (How they do that is explained in detail throughout this article.)
Another reason is competition from the new kid on the block, ceramic nonstick cookware. Ceramic nonstick cookware, which came on the scene in 2007, is the first real competitor to PTFE. (The vast majority of late-night infomercials that show the egg sliding around in the pan and the burnt cheese wiping right off are for ceramic cookware.) Ceramic nonstick pans have become hugely popular, largely because they're perceived as the healthier, safer nonstick cookware choice.
(Note that ceramic nonstick is not the same as enamel-coatings found on products like le Creuset Dutch ovens or 100% ceramic cookware like Xtrema. Neither of these are ceramic nonstick and have a very different composition.)
So PTFE cookware manufacturers are trying to hang onto their market share. And they're doing this in a number of ways, from talking about the superiority of their product (true, as far as nonstick properties go) to using all sorts of euphemisms for PTFE, to downplaying (or omitting) the fact that their products contain PTFE at all.
Though none are illegal, these marketing strategies can result in confusion for the consumer.
This article addresses much (we hope most) of the confusing marketing jargon, with the goal of helping people wade through the nonstick cookware market and gain enough clarity to buy the product they really want.
And (maybe most helpful), we have included a list of nonstick cookware brands for a reference.
Sometimes even we couldn't determine what a pan was made of, and this was after thorough research. So we can imagine how hard it might be for the average buyer to make sense of many nonstick cookware brands.
We hope this helps you choose the right nonstick cookware brand for you.
PTFE and Ceramic: The ONLY Options
Titanium, granite, stone, even diamond: there are all sorts of durable-sounding substances to be found in nonstick cookware. While these substances may help toughen nonstick's notoriously fragile and short-lived surface, this probably isn't the primary reason they're in there.
They're also in there so manufacturers can obfuscate the truth about their product, which is this: It's either PTFE or ceramic.
So when a nonstick pan is marketed as "titanium" or "earth stone" or "granite" or even "diamond," these are only additions to which nonstick coating it actually has. And you may have to dig a little deeper to find out what that is.
Here's a little more info about the two nonstick cookware options.
About PTFE Cookware
PTFE, an acronym for polytetrafluoroethylene, has been around for about 7 decades. It is a long-chain organic molecule derived from hydrocarbons: that is to say, it is a type of plastic. It was accidentally discovered in the 1930s by Dupont scientist Roy Plunkett. Dupont named it Teflon, and it dominated the nonstick cookware market until Dupont's patent expired. Now there are many, many versions of PTFE/Teflon on the market. PTFE is also used in many other industries and can be found in common household products like plumber's tape and dental floss. Because it is inert and very stable at temps below about 390F, it is also used in medical implant devices.
You can read more about PTFE on its Wikipedia page.
About Ceramic Cookware
Ceramic cookware has been around since 2007. Ceramic nonstick coating is made from inorganic sources: that is, sand. The inorganic material is made into a gel and sprayed onto the cookware, then baked ("cured") in a very hot oven. The result is a very hard, very slippery nonstick coating. It withstands much higher heat than PTFE, although high heat is not good for its nonstick properties.
As great as all that sounds, ceramic nonstick cookware can't really compete with PTFE. Even though it's considered "non-toxic" and "more durable" than PTFE, its nonstick properties tend to have an even shorter life than PTFE. (Just read the one star reviews of any of these products on Amazon to see what we mean.) And as we said, high heat destroys the nonstick properties--so just as with PTFE, you should use low to medium heat settings when cooking with ceramic nonstick cookware.
Are PTFE and Teflon the Same Thing? (Hint: Yes)
As we said, Teflon is Dupont's brand name for its PTFE product; the original PTFE. Since they were the first to market the product, it became known by its brand name, Teflon, rather than its generic name, PTFE.
But they are the same thing.
Here's a short article to substantiate this.
Today, there are dozens--probably even hundreds--of different brand names for PTFE. Many of them have "stone" or "granite" in the name. This is meant to speak to the durability of the product, but it can be confusing for people looking for a ceramic nonstick because ceramic is made from sand and clay; "stone and "granite" can make it sound like the cookware is a ceramic product.
We wanted to put together a list of PTFE brand names--one of the easiest ways to know what you're buying--but that information was hard to find. There are a lot of manufacturers who make a lot of different brands of PTFE, and the research required for a comprehensive list proved impossible.
Instead, we'll just advise that if a seller lists what sounds like a brand name, you can often find out what it is by doing an Internet search (though not always). In this way, we discovered that Eterna, Eclipse, QuanTanium, HALO, Xylan, Skandia, Dura-Slide, Granite Rock, Granitium, ILAG, Stratanium, and even some types of Greblon (which was originally just a ceramic coating) are all trade names for PTFE.
Teflon, you've come a long way, baby.
The Safety of Nonstick Cookware
Is PTFE Cookware Safe?
Is PTFE safe? The truth is that PTFE is safe when used correctly.
PTFE is completely inert at low temperatures. This means it will not react with the human body in any way. You could eat a bowl of it without any adverse effects (except maybe a stomach ache).
This is why many PTFE pans are marketed as "healthy" and "non-toxic" even though those adjectives are assumed by many people to mean the pan contains no PTFE. PTFE is literally a non-toxic substance.
There are a couple of issues with PTFE cookware, though.
The first is that PTFE's melting point is around 600F, and it can start to break down around 390F. Repeated use at temps over 400F will take a toll on it. (This looks like discoloration and dulling of the finish.) When PTFE breaks down, it gives off fumes that aren't safe to breathe.
If you have a pet bird, PTFE can be lethal: according to this article, at temps above 536F, PTFE cookware gives off fumes that are deadly to birds. While this toxicity does not seem to be deadly to humans, it should make you do a double take (it sure makes us do one).
Of course, this is also true for many other common substances: cooking oil at its smoke point, for example, is also not good for human (or animal) lungs. You should also avoid inhaling any burning food smoke, which can contain harmful free radicals (that may even be carcinogens).
Whether degraded PTFE is more dangerous than these other common kitchen fumes is debatable. But the fact remains that you do not want to heat a PTFE pan much past 400F. Even if you're not worried about fumes, high heat is the fastest way to destroy your nonstick pan.
That can be a tricky thing to never do. For example, never go above medium heat, never heat an empty pan, never leave a heating pan unattended, and never let someone who doesn't understand the dangers of PTFE use the pan ever.
See? Tricky.
PFOA: Is it No Longer an Issue?
The second issue with PTFE is a substance called PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid). PFOA is used to manufacture PTFE cookware (as well as many other products). It ensures that PTFE adheres to the underlying pan body (usually aluminum). PFOA is toxic and carcinogenic to humans. It is also an environmental hazard because it doesn't break down easily and can cause all sorts of ecological problems, which is why it's known as a "forever chemical." (You can read more about PFOA here and here.)
PFOA is almost completely used up in the cookware manufacturing process, leaving trace amounts of it in your PTFE cookware (if any). In fact, you'll probably get more PFOA in your drinking water than you will from your nonstick cookware. So even though it's a nasty chemical, it's never really been a safety hazard from your PTFE nonstick pan.
Even so, as of 2015, all cookware sold in the US is PFOA-free. This is now the law. And while this is a good thing, the label--"PFOA Free"--has caused some confusion for buyers. When a pan is labeled "PFOA Free," this usually means that the pan does contain PTFE; just that it's no longer made using PFOA.
Many people think it means the opposite: that if a pan doesn't contain PFOA, then it doesn't contain PTFE, either. (Nonstick cookware sellers may count on this.)
The upshot here is that "PFOA-free" is now a largely meaningless term, since all cookware sold in the US (and elsewhere in the world) is PFOA-free. But this definitely does not mean that you're buying a PTFE-free pan.
Also: manufacturers have to replace the PFOA with something, and from the research we've done, it's become clear that most makers are using other chemicals from the same family as PFOA (the family is called PFAS). They're called GenX chemicals, and by most indications, they have the same issues as PFOA--including that makers are free to dump them into the water supply because there are no restrictions against doing this.
Thus, the entire PTFE cookware industry is a major polluter of the planet--and it's likely to be even worse in China, where most nonstick cookware is now made, and where there are, as far as we know, few to no environmental laws, or laws to protect workers from dangerous chemicals.
You can read more about PFOA and other chemicals in our article What Is PFOA? A Guide to Nonstick Cookware Chemicals.
NOTE: You can read more about PFOA and PTFE at the American Cancer Society website.
Is Ceramic Cookware Safe?
Our original research for this article showed that ceramic nonstick cookware was safer than PTFE cookware. It's made from a natural, inorganic substance--essentially sand--that is durable and can withstand high temperatures without breaking down or releasing unsafe chemicals.
More research showed, though, that there are two potential issues with ceramic nonstick cookware. One is that some manufacturing processes can involve the use of lead, cadmium, or arsenic, all of which are toxic to humans. Most manufacturers state that their cookware is free of these toxins, but it may be possible that they are in there in extremely small amounts--probably too small to be of concern to humans using the cookware.
Since it's hard to say for sure, our recommendation is to avoid extremely cheap or off-brand ceramic nonstick cookware. Buying from a reputable maker--Greenpan, Healthy Legend, or higher-priced boutique brands like Our Place and Caraway--should ensure you get cookware free of toxins.
The second, and more serious, issue, is that of titanium dioxide nanoparticles. This is a substance used in the sol-gel coating process of ceramic nonstick cookware, so it's probable that all ceramic nonstick cookware contains these particles. These particles have been linked to illness and cancerous lesions in humans, so they are a valid concern. This article discusses the problem in more detail.
The article says it requires very high heat for the particles to be released--about 932F (500C), which is higher heat than any kitchen stove can produce, but that if scratched, your ceramic cookware may release these particles.
Since there isn't a lot of research to go by, we're not sure what to say about the safety of nonstick ceramic cookware. While it may be completely safe, erring on the side of caution--and not using it--is a viable option.
About Granitium Nonstick Coating
Granitium nonstick coating has become popular in recent years so we thought we'd address it specifically. It's marketed as a "granite" product, but the truth is that Granitium is a brand name of PTFE.
Granitium nonstick coating contains small pieces of extremely hard ceramic which creates a rough texture. The rough texture is caused by the ceramic particles protruding from the coating. By doing so, they protect the PTFE from the wear and tear of utensils, abrasive cleaners, and more.
Many people swear by the durability of Granitium and claim it's better than other brands of PTFE. But is it?
While it's true that the ceramic particles help to protect the PTFE from wear and tear, they can't protect it from heat, and heat is the number one killer of nonstick properties for both PTFE and ceramic coatings.
So, Granitium nonstick coatings, as well as other rough-textured nonstick coatings under different brand names, may last longer than PTFE that doesn't contain particles which protect the coating. However, the coating will eventually wear out because that's what heat does to nonstick cookware (even low heat, over time).
A few brands that we know contain Granitium include Zwilling/JA Henckels Capri and Ballarini Parma. Additionally, brands that contain coatings like Granitium include Granite Rock/Granite Stone, some lines of ScanPan, Carote ("Ilag" coating) and many more.
If you want the rough texture on your nonstick cookware, a clue that a pan has it is if the coating is somehow associated with granite or ceramic--be careful that you don't confuse this type of ceramic with an actual ceramic nonstick coating (which is PTFE-free).
So, Which Nonstick Cookware Is Better?
Overall, ceramic is perceived as the "healthier" nonstick cookware. But the nanoparticle issue makes this a less certain claim than we once thought. Perhaps the bigger issue is that ceramic's nonstick properties are so short-lived that many people still prefer PTFE cookware.
So it's not as clear cut as one type of nonstick being better than the other. In fact, neither is an ideal cookware material because neither lasts.
Our recommendation is to consider cast iron or carbon steel in place of nonstick--tjey may not be as nonstick, but they last for decades and don't contain any potentially dangerous chemicals.
Let's take a closer look at these materials.
Cast iron and carbon steel both come close to being nonstick when seasoned properly. Some enthusiasts even claim they're better. But cast iron and carbon steel are not direct competitors for nonstick cookware. They're considered a different market.
Also, neither cast iron nor carbon steel are associated with possible health risks, so the marketing is straightforward for them: you know what you're getting when you buy a Lodge pan, for example. There's no guessing about what it's made of.
Thus, the "nonstick cookware" label belongs to PTFE and ceramic nonstick exclusively.
Having said that, we believe that cast iron and carbon pans are excellent alternatives to nonstick-coated cookware. No, they're not 100% nonstick, but they really do come close, and their life spans are considerably longer than any PTFE or ceramic nonstick pan (by decades).
Well-seasoned cast iron and carbon steel pans are excellent alternatives to nonstick-coated cookware. No, they're not 100% nonstick, but they come close, and their life spans are decades longer than any PTFE or ceramic nonstick pan--with no unsafe chemicals to worry about.
How Do You Figure Out If a Nonstick Pan is PTFE or Ceramic?
If you're going to buy nonstick cookware, then this is the question you probably want to answer before you buy.
Here we start to get into the real issues, which are that a lot of people want to avoid PTFE, and a lot of manufacturers make it hard to do so. Descriptions can be confusing and not clearly state a nonstick pan's construction.
Marketing terms like titanium, stone, and even ceramic contribute to this problem. So do some of the PTFE cookware brand names, like GraniteRock and PTFE brand names such as Granitium (see section above for more on Granitium nonstick coating).
Also, many nonstick cookware manufacturers make both types of nonstick cookware, so you have to be careful and read the fine print. You probably expect this from the cookware giants like T-fal, Cuisinart, and Circulon. However, even some smaller brands make both types of cookware. Ozeri, for example, has established its reputation as good nonstick ceramic, but their Stone Earth line is PTFE--and they don't go out of their way to let you know.
It can be very confusing.
Somewhere on the Amazon page or the manufacturer's home page, you can usually find the truth--but not always. Manufacturers sometimes manage to have pages and pages of jargon without a single actual fact about what their pan actually is.
This is most often the case for PTFE pans, so that's your first clue.
There are other clues, as well. Here are some ways you can sometimes-but-not-always figure out what a pan is made from if it isn't clearly stated.
- "PFOA and PTFE free" means a pan is ceramic (because it contains no PTFE). However, you have to be careful. Some pans claim to be free of PTFE but go on to say they contain a PTFE coating (such as Quantum 2). This is probably unintentional, and not meant to be deceptive; the person writing the copy may not realize that the pan contains PTFE (and are just as confused as the consumer).
- "PFOA free" usually means a pan is PTFE.
- "PFOA-, APEO-, and BPA-free" usually means PTFE.
- In fact, being free of any list of acronyms and/or toxins doesn't mean it's a PTFE-free pan, unless one of the acronyms listed is PTFE.
- If a brand name for the nonstick coating is given (e.g., Teflon, Autograph, Eterna, Quantium, Greblon, etc.), you can search for it on the Internet to find out whether the coating contains PTFE. (All brands listed here are PTFE).
- "Diamond," "Titanium," "Earth Stone," and "Granite" mean next to nothing. These substances can be added to both PTFE and ceramic to strengthen the nonstick coating (although they're usually added to PTFE). They can also be part of a brand name that tells you nothing about a pan's actual content.
- "Healthy" and "Non-toxic" are marketing terms that mean very little. Now that PFOA is banned in cookware in the US, and because PTFE itself is considered non-toxic (unless heated above 390F), both types of nonstick coatings are technically non-toxic, and can be labeled as such.
- Even "ceramic" doesn't always mean a pan contains no PTFE. "Ceramic" can be used as an adjective, just like "stone" and "titanium", and doesn't always mean the pan actually contains those materials. A surprising number of PTFE pans have the word ceramic somewhere in the description (ScanPan is a good example of this). Again, you have to read the find print--and if you still can't determine what a pan is made of, you should assume that it's PTFE.
- Be especially careful about Greblon coatings. Greblon was one of the original ceramic nonstick coatings, but today there are several types of Greblon that are PTFE. This page on the Greblon website discusses both their PTFE and their ceramic coatings.
- If you've read and read and still can't figure out what the coating is, assume that it is PTFE.
- Finally, look at the photo. PTFE has a matte finish, while ceramic nonstick has a shiny finish. You can't always tell, but sometimes it's obvious.
Ceramic nonstick has a shiny finish, like this Lima frying pan from Green Pan:
PTFE has a matte finish, like this All-Clad HA1:
Also note that color doesn't mean anything. Both PTFE and ceramic cookware can come in any color, including very light colors.
Buzzwords (and Phrases) to Understand
Here are some confusing terms you might see. Understanding what they mean can help you determine what nonstick coating a pan has.
APEO-free: Means the cookware has no alkylphenols in it. These are surfactants used in minute amounts in manufacturing, and it doesn't mean a lot if we don't know what the APEOs have been replaced with.
Both PTFE and ceramic nonstick can be labeled as APEO-free. (Read more about APEO on Wikipedia's alkylphenol page.)
arsenic-free: see "lead-free" below.
Artech: Brand of PTFE coating.
cadmium-free: see "lead-free" below.
ceramic: can mean either PTFE-free ceramic nonstick or a PTFE coating reinforced with ceramic particles. So further research is needed to be certain what the term ceramic is referring to.
Classic: This usually means PTFE cookware, but not always.
Diamond: Some nonstick coatings are reinforced with diamond dust to improve durability. Usually PTFE, but may also apply to ceramic.
Earth: Marketing term, largely meaningless. Can apply to PTFE (as in "Ozeri Stone Earth" pan) or ceramic (as in "Ozeri Green Earth" pan).
Granite: Marketing term. Can apply to PTFE or ceramic.
Green: Almost always used to describe ceramic ("GreenPan," "Green Earth" etc.). But it's a marketing term, so be careful and read the fine print.
Greblon: Greblon was one of the original ceramic coatings developed about 10 years ago. Today, Greblon makes several nonstick coatings, some of which are PTFE. So be careful when looking at a pan with a Greblon coating, as it could be either PTFE or ceramic. This website lists the Greblon brand names and whether they're ceramic or PTFE (it's in German, but Google will translate it for you.)
Healthy: Marketing term. Means nothing. Most cookware is "healthy," or at least not unsafe, when used properly, including PTFE-coated cookware. However, the term often leads to assumptions that the pan has no PTFE in it, because PTFE is the usual health concern for people buying nonstick cookware. If a pan is labeled as "healthy," don't automatically assume this means it is PTFE-free. Read the fine print--and if you can't figure it out, it's probably PTFE.
ILAG: ILAG is a chemical company that makes several lines of nonstick coatings, including PTFE and ceramic cookware coatings. See their website for more information--but don't expect crystal clarity. It only makes sense if you know that "polymer" means a hydrocarbon product, and that hydrocarbon means PTFE. It is probably not meant to be deliberately confusing as it is a website for chemists. But be forewarned that the composition of their products may not be instantly clear to you just by reading their site.
lead-free: Some inexpensive ceramic nonstick could have lead, cadmium, arsenic or other toxic chemicals in it. No cookware sold in the US should contain any toxic chemicals, however, so being "lead-free" or "cadmium-free," while it sounds reassuring, doesn't really mean a whole lot. Lead and cadmium are typically associated with ceramic cookware, but now we're seeing these labels even on PTFE cookware, which is not only largely meaningless, but adds to the confusion. Most nonstick cookware is made in China, but if it's a reputable brand, there's almost no danger from toxic chemicals, whether ceramic or PTFE. The best way to avoid toxins in your cookware is to not buy cheap cookware from a maker you're not familiar with.
Non-Toxic: See "Healthy" above.
PFOA-free: As of 2015, all nonstick cookware sold in the US is PFOA-free, including PTFE (Teflon) cookware, so this is a largely meaningless term. It can lead people to believe that a pan does not contain PTFE, when most of the time, it means that a pan does contain PTFE. If a pan is ceramic, it's usually labeled "PTFE- and PFOA-free."
Also, in most cases PFOA has been replaced with GenX, which is just a different type of PFAS. It has many of the same characteristics as PFOA and thus is just as toxic. So "PFOA-free" means the pan is free of one toxic carcinogen, but it doesn't mean the pan is free of all toxins.
PFAS-free: Stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The larger family that PFAS belong to. May mean a safer chemical was used but unless you know what was actually used, it's no guarantee.
Polymer/Polymerized/Polymeric/Polymerization: Polymers are types of plastic molecules, so descriptions with any reference to polymers or polymerization are PTFE (which is a plastic molecule). (See "ILAG" above for an example of this.)
Professional: Any description that calls the cookware "professional" almost always means it's PTFE.
Quantium: Brand name of PTFE coating.
Stone: Marketing term that can refer to either PTFE or ceramic coating. For example, GraniteStone cookware and Stone Earth by Ozeri are both PTFE-coated pans (even though they sound like they're ceramic). Many ceramic nonstick pans also have the word "stone" in the name or the description. Thus, if you see the word "stone" in the name or the description of a pan, keep digging, because it does not definitively tell you which type of coating the pan has.
Thermolon: Brand name for a type of ceramic nonstick coating. Green Pan is a ceramic cookware brand that has Thermolon coating. As far as we know, Thermolon is only ceramic, so it should mean a pan is PTFE-free.
Titanium: Can refer to a brand name ("Zwilling Titanium"), to titanium added to a nonstick coating (either PTFE or ceramic), or, to the composition of the cookware (i.e., titanium rather than aluminum or stainless), or even to a color. Says nothing about the composition of the nonstick coating, and further research is needed. (For more info, see our article on titanium nonstick cookware.)
This list is not complete, and we will add to it as we discover new terms.
Recommendations: Pans We Like and Trust
Though we much prefer cast iron or carbon steel, we know a lot of you are going to buy nonstick. If you're in that category, here are some of the better choices for nonstick cookware.
Green Pan Lima: a very nice, not too expensive ceramic skillet.
For ceramic nonstick cookware, we like the Green Pan and Healthy Legend. Zwilling Spirit is also top notch quality, but being clad stainless, it's probably more than you want to pay for a nonstick skillet that's not going to last more than a few years. (The clad stainless exterior is going to outlast the nonstick interior by a couple of decades, so we do not recommend clad stainless with a nonstick coating--even though we are big fans of clad stainless cookware otherwise.)
Check out our Ultimate Green Pan Review if you want more information.
Healthty Legend skillet
For PTFE, our favorite pan is the Anolon Nouvelle Copper skillet. It's constructed of cast aluminum with an amazing amount of copper and aluminum in the bottom, giving it fantastic heating properties (some of the best you'll find in nonstick cookware at any price). It is also induction compatible.
Anolon makes several lines of nonstick cookware (check out our full review), but this is their best, even though it's not their most expensive. The 8-in./10-in. combination is a great deal.
Anolon Nouvelle Copper skillet, exploded view: see the copper?
We also like the All-Clad HA1 cast aluminum skillets. These are a thick cast aluminum with a stainless disc on the bottom that makes them induction compatible and reinforces them against warping. They are made in China, but they are good quality pans nevertheless, and about the same price as the Anolon Nouvelle Copper skillets shown above.
All-Clad HA1 cast aluminum skillet
There are a lot of brands we haven't tested, so these are by no means the only good nonstick pans out there. A few brands we like (but haven't tested) are Berndes (expensive), Ecolution (economical), and de Buyer (economical, and built like a tank). OXO Goodgrips nonstick pans (PTFE) also get great reviews and were America's Test Kitchen number one pick.
In general, we don't like "celebrity" lines of cookware, or anything else that's extremely inexpensive (less than, say, $25 for a 10" skillet). Even though you don't want to spend a lot on a nonstick pan, you also want one with decent heating properties. These tend to be cast aluminum rather than stamped (simply because the cast aluminum is thicker, so offers more even heating). T-fal Professional is one of the few stamped aluminum pans we like, but in most cases, cast aluminum is the better choice.
We also prefer nonstick for frying pans only. Since nonstick coatings wear out quickly, you should only have it where you need it, and that is on your frying pan. Sauce pans, stock pots, and Dutch ovens are used primarily for liquids, and so are typically easy to clean.
If you prefer a sauté pan to a skillet, then get one of those in nonstick, instead (or in addition to)--but nonstick sauté pans tend to run a lot more expensive than skillets.
The List of Nonstick Cookware Brands
This list of cookware brands is by no means comprehensive. We included as many brands as we could, with a focus on the most popular brands and the most confusing brands. We tried to stick to strictly cookware, ignoring griddles, grills, and electric appliances with nonstick surfaces or insets (the vast majority of which are PTFE if they have a nonstick coating).
In some cases, it was impossible to determine whether a pan was PTFE or ceramic. We feel your pain: this can be really hard to do!
We will continue to update the list, so please feel free to send any thoughts or information that you think would be helpful.
Note also that many brands, the lesser known brands in particular, often go in and out of stock on Amazon. We aren't removing them from the list unless we're certain the brand is no longer being sold. So we apologize in advance if a brand you're researching here is out of stock.
Also, even if the links are old, you can assume the information is still correct if it's the same line and brand you're looking for.
AiCook: ceramic
Aidea 2-Pc Ceramic Frying Pans: Ceramic (though they look like they could contain PTFE too).
Ailwyn USA Blue Gradient Nonstick Deep Frying Pan: The "granite-derived" coating called "German Theflon" is probably PTFE. It says in one place that it is PTFE-free, but everywhere else only PFOA-free; it is possible that this is a ceramic nonstick product, but with so much obfuscation in the write-up, we suspect that it is PTFE. Same with the 5 quart stockpot of the same brand--even though it claims to be made of "German Thermolon" which is a PTFE-free ceramic. We'll keep our eyes on this product and try to get definite information.
All-Clad (all nonstick lines): PTFE
Almond Nonstick Skillet: PTFE
Almond Nonstick Ceramic: ceramic
Alpha COMIN16JU043594 MFI-26 iNoble Stone Nonstick Frying Pan: PTFE
Alpha MF-30: ceramic
Alpha Nonstick Fry Pan w/6 layers of iNoble Coating: PTFE
Amazon Basics Nonstick Cookware Set: PTFE
Amboss Nonstick Frying Pan: They claim to be PTFE free, but we are almost certain this coating is a titanium reinforced PTFE. Made in Turkey (there could be an issue with translation).
American Kitchen Tri-ply Stainless: PTFE (made in USA)
Anolon Advanced Bronze Hard-Anodized Nonstick Skillet: PTFE
Anolon Advanced Onyx: PTFE
Anolon French: PTFE
Anolon Nouvelle Copper: PTFE (IC)
Amore Kitchenware Flamekiss: ceramic
Avacraft Hard Anodized Nonstick Frying Pan w/Lid: PTFE
Ayesha Curry Home Collection: PTFE (probably all Ayesha Curry products contain PTFE)
Ballarini Click n Cook: PTFE
Ballarini Como: PTFE
Ballarini Parma Forged Aluminum Nonstick, Granite: PTFE ("Granitium")
Ballarini Pisa: PTFE
Ballarini Professionale Series: PTFE
Ballarini with Keramic nonstick coating: ceramic
Beka: All PTFE, except for the one listed below.
Beka Chef EcoLogic: ceramic
Bene Casa: PTFE
Berndes Balance Smart Induction Fry Pan: PTFE (yes, really)
Berndes Cookware: All Berndes cookware is PTFE except EcoFit and Pearl Induction.
Berndes Crepe: PTFE
Berndes SignoCast Classic: PTFE
Berndes SignoCast Pearl: ceramic
Berndes Tradition skillet: PTFE
Berndes Vario Click Pearl Induction: ceramic
Better Chef Deep Skillet: Probably ceramic, but could contain PTFE.
Bialetti Aeternum: ceramic
Bialetti Impact: PTFE
Bialetti Simply Italian: PTFE
Bialetti Sapphire: Probably PTFE
Bialetti Simply Italian: PTFE
Blue Diamond Toxin Free Ceramic Fry Pan: probably ceramic, but we can't say with complete certainty.
Brewsly: ceramic
Brund (by ScanPan): PTFE (like all ScanPan nonstick products)
BulbHead Red Copper: ceramic
Caannasweis Stone Frying Pan: ceramic
Calphalon Classic: PTFE
Calphalon Classic Oil-Infused Ceramic: ceramic
Calphalon Signature: PTFE
Calphalon Simply Calphalon: PTFE
Capri by Zwilling/JA Henckels: PTFE
Caraway: All Caraway is ceramic (PTFE-free).
Carote Deep Frying Pan: ?? Probably PTFE
Castey Fundix line: PTFE
Cate-Maker 8 Corners Pan: Ceramic
Cate-Maker Aluminum Frying Pan and Marble Stone pans: PTFE
Catering Line Natura Pan: ceramic
Catering Line Nature Ceramic Skillet: ceramic
CeraPan Perfect Grip Aluminum Fry Pan: ceramic
Chantal Induction 21 Steel Ceramic-coated Fry Pan: ceramic
Chef Delicia Nonstick Copper Frying Pan: ceramic (and also do not contain any copper)
Chef Direct Stainless Mini Nonstick Fry Pan: PTFE
ChefHub Nonstick Cookware Set: PTFE
Chef's Star Frying Pan: ceramic
CHOC Nonstick Aluminum Pan by De Buyer: PTFE
Circulon Acclaim: PTFE
Circulon Contempo: PTFE
Circulon Elite: PTFE
Circulon Genesis: PTFE
Circulon Infinite: PTFE (IC)
Circulon Innovatum: PTFE
Circulon Momentum: PTFE
Circulon Premier Professional: PTFE
Circulon Symmetry: PTFE
Cleverona Nonstick Fry Pan: PTFE
Cohafa Pots and Pans set (black): ceramic
Cohafa Pots and Pans set (blue): ceramic
Cohafa Stainless Steel Sauce Pan set: Neither. These have a stainless steel cooking surface. We include them on this list because the Amazon description says they are nonstick (they are not).
Cohafa set with Dutch oven (red): We believe these contain PTFE, but may be ceramic ("stone-derived" in description rather than "ceramic", which usually means PTFE).
Cohafa Pots and Pans set (red): We believe these contain PTFE, but may be ceramic ("stone-derived" in description rather than "ceramic", which usually means PTFE).
Cohafa 13pc Nonstick cookware set (gray): Probably ceramic, but may be PTFE.
Cohafa Sauce Pan set (black): Probably PTFE ("stone-derived" in description rather than "ceramic", which usually means PTFE).
Concord Ceramic-coated Frying Pan: ceramic
Cooker King Ceramic Nonstick Frying Pans: ceramic
Cooker King Nonstick Pots and Pans PFOA free: PTFE
Cook King Tri-Ply Stainless Honeycomb frying pan: PTFE
Cook N Home 3 Piece Set: PTFE (IC)
Cook N Home 12 Inch Frying Pan: PTFE
Cook N Home Multicolor Nonstick Cookware Set: PTFE
Cook N Home NC-00358 Nonstick Ceramic Cookware Set: ceramic
Cook N Home Heavy Gauge Fry Pan Set: PTFE
Cooksmark 10 Piece Cookware Set: PTFE
Cooksmark/Cooper Pan Faraday Granite Nonstick Coating: PTFE
Cooksmark Hard Anodized Aluminum Nonstick Cookware: PTFE
Cooksmark Copper Pan: Maker says it is ceramic, but it look like it may contain PTFE.
Cooksmark White Ceramic: ceramic
Cooksmark Multicolor Cookware Set: PTFE
Cooksmark Signature Ceramic Set: ceramic
Cooksmark Enameled Cookware Set: ceramic
Cooks Standard Hard Anodized Skillet Set: PTFE
Cooper Pan Faraday: PTFE
Copper Aluminum Frying Pans by Imperial Home: ceramic
Copper Chef (all): ceramic (and do not contain any actual copper)
CorVex fry pan: ceramic (all products--but they look like PTFE)
CorVex Nonstick Ceramic Cooking Set: ceramic
CSK Nonstick Frying Pan: (By Koch Systeme CS) Probably PTFE. Maker says it's PFOA free, then in the questions that it's PTFE free. It may be a language barrier issue, but this pan likely contains PTFE.
Cusinaid Nonstick Cookware Set: looks like PTFE, seller guarantees they're ceramic
Cuisinart Advantage: PTFE
Cuisinart Advantage Ceramica XT Cookware Set: ceramic
Cuisinart Contour Skillet: PTFE
Cuisinart Chef's Classic: PTFE (all pieces)
Cuisinart DSI19 2 Qt. Saucepan: PTFE ("DSI" stands for dishwasher-safe-induction, all DS seems to be PTFE)
Cuisinart DSI22 Skillet: PTFE
Cuisinart GreenGourmet: ceramic
Cuisinart 59122-24BK Open Skillet: ceramic
Cuisinart 59122-30HBK Open Skillet w/Helper Handle: ceramic
Cuisinart Chef's Classic skillet: PTFE
Cuisinart Multi-Clad Pro: PTFE
Cupertino Omelet Pan: It looks like a standard ceramic copper pan, but we suspect this pan contains PTFE. They say it is "PFOA-free" but they don't say "PTFE-free." They also call it a "healthy nonstick coating" but do not call it ceramic. It may be ceramic and PTFE-free, but if so, the makers should do a better job conveying that fact.
Curtis Stone DuraPan: PTFE
de Buyer CHOC Aluminum Nonstick Pan: PTFE
DEIK: ceramic
Delarlo Nonstick Skillet: Says no PTFE, but it has a "Whitford" coating which probably contains PTFE, esp. since it is a Hexclad knockoff and Hexclad contains PTFE.
Demeyere Industry 5 Traditional Nonstick Frying Pan: PTFE
Deslon Quartz Maifan Stone Healthy Frying Pan: Probably PTFE
DuraPan by Curtis Stone: PTFE
Duxtop Ceramic Coated Stainless 7 pc set: ceramic. This 12 Piece set from Duxtop is also ceramic.
Duxtop Ceramic Nonstick Frying Pan: ceramic
Ecolution Bliss: ceramic
Ecolution EABK-5128 Nonstick Fry Pan: PTFE
Ecolution Artistry Nonstick Cookware Set: PTFE
Ecolution Endure: Ceramic
Ecolution Evolve Heavy Gauge Aluminum Nonstick Fry Pan: PTFE
Ecolution Symphony: PTFE
Emeril Lagasse Hard Anodized Nonstick Cookware: PTFE
Emeril Lagasse Hard Anodized Nonstick Cookware 10 Pc. Set: PTFE
EOE Nonstick Frying Pan: PTFE. Free of PFOA and all PFAS including GenX (the replacement for PTFE which is just as bad). Sounds good, but we don't know what they're using instead (it could be just as bad).
Epicurious Aluminum Nonstick Cookware Set in Copper: PTFE
Eslite Life Nonstick Frying Pan w/Granite Coating: Probably PTFE. This pan is identical to the Hansubute, Sensarte, and ZIB pans (below). Eslite and Sensarte do not claim to be PTFE free but the other two do. It looks like a PTFE coating, and we suspect it is, but we're not sure. All these pans are made in China and it's entirely possible the writeups for some of them are wrong (and not necessarily intentionally).
Essenso Lazio Ceramic Braiser: ceramic
Essenso Soho Bronx crepe pan: claims to be PTFE-free, but looks like PTFE.
Eurocast Professional Cookware: ceramic (IC)
EuroHome Copper Frying Pan: ceramic
Farberware Deep Nonstick Pan: PTFE
Farberware Dishwasher Safe Nonstick: PTFE
Farberware Restaurant Pro: PTFE
Farberware Glide: PTFE
Farberware Hard-Anodized: PTFE
Farberware Millennium: PTFE
Farberware New Traditions: PTFE (Yes, it looks like ceramic, but it contains PTFE).
Farberware Restaurant Pro: PTFE
Finnhomy Super Value Hard Anodized Cookware Set: PTFE
Finnhomy Hard Porcelain Enamel Cookware Set: PTFE (the enamel is on the exterior of the cookware).
Fissler: Fissler makes several lines of nonstick cookware, and they don't say anywhere what the coating is made of. We're pretty sure that all Fissler nonstick pans contain PTFE.
FJNATINH Dual Honeycomb Frying Pan: PTFE. Hybrid Stainless/PTFE cooking surface.
FlavorStone Sapphire: PTFE
Flamekiss by Amore Kitchenware: ceramic
Frieling USA Black Cube Hybrid: PTFE
Fruiteam Nonstick Cookware Set: ceramic. All the sets made by this company appear to be ceramic.
Fundix by Castey: PTFE
Germany's Stoneline Xtreme: PTFE
Gibson Home Hummington Ceramic: ceramic
Gibson Home 7 Pc Cookware Set (carbon steel--?): PTFE
Goodful All-in-One Nonstick Pan: Probably PTFE
Goodful Aluminum Nonstick Frying Pan: PTFE
Goodful Cookware Set w/Premium Nonstick Coating: PTFE. Also the nonstick skillet in this stainless set is PTFE.
Goodful Nonstick Ceramic Cookware: ceramic
Gotham Steel: ceramic
Granite Rock Non-stick No warp frying pan: PTFE (All GR products are most likely PTFE)
GraniteStone cookware set: PTFE. Same company as Granite Rock (above), all products are most likely PTFE.
GraniteStone Green cookware: PTFE. It's green-colored, so you might think it contains no PTFE, but it's the same coating as their diamond-reinforced but in a different color.
Green Earth by Ozeri: ceramic
GreenLIfe Classic Pro: ceramic (Thermolon) (Note: All GreenLife is ceramic nonstick--no PTFE.)
GreenLife Gourmet: ceramic
GreenLife Healthy Ceramic Nonstick: ceramic (Thermolon)
GreenLife Lift: ceramic
GreenLife Soft Grip: ceramic
GreenLife Diamond: ceramic
GreenEarth (by Ozeri): ceramic
Green Pan Chatham: ceramic (see our GreenPan review for more info)
Note: All GreenPan cookware is ceramic.
Green Pan Levels stackable cookware: ceramic
GreenPan Lima: ceramic
Green Pan Limited Edition: ceramic
Green Pan Padova: ceramic
GreenPan Paris: ceramic Thermolon
Green Pan Venice Pro: ceramic
Green Pan Valencia: ceramic
GreenPan Rio: ceramic (Thermolon)
Greystone by Moneta: PTFE ("polymeric" coating)
Hansubute Nonstick Induction Granite Stone Frying Pan: Claims to be PTFE free but is identical to the Sensarte, ZIB, and Eslite pans; only Sensarte and Eslite do not claim to be PTFE free, and we think they're telling the truth because it looks like a PTFE coating. But we're not 100% certain.
Happycall: PTFE (all pieces)
Healthy Legend: ceramic (all products)
Hestan ProBond nonstick skillet: PTFE
Hexclad: PTFE
Hiteclife Nonstick cookware: PTFE
Home Hero Nonstick Frying Pan: PTFE
Home Icon Copper Pan: ceramic
hOmeLabs Nonstick cookware set: PTFE
hOmeLabs Ceramic: ceramic
Honeybee hybrid nonstick frying pan: PTFE
HOOEMD nonstick cookware: PTFE
Imperial Home Copper Aluminum Frying Pan: ceramic (induction compatible)
Imperial Home Healthy Nonstick Ceramic-coated pans: ceramic
Induction Cookware Set, Granite: Claims to be PTFE-free, but doesn't say it's ceramic. Looks like PTFE. A cheap set from China, probably a bad description due to language barrier.
Joie Mini Nonstick Egg Pan (by MSC International): PTFE
Kenmore Arlington Nonstick Ceramic cookware set: ceramic.
Kinden Lightweight Cast Iron Skillet w/Nonstick Coating: PTFE
KitchenAid Nonstick cookware: PTFE. It looks like all the KitchenAid lines are PTFE (that may change).
Kitchen Stories by GreenPan: Ceramic.
Koch Systeme CS Frying Pans: Says it's PFOA free but not PTFE free. Normally we would assume it contains PTFE but in this case it's probably a language barrier (non-native English speaking writer). They look like ceramic and from the reviews that say the nonstick lasts only a couple of months, we think it's probably ceramic. This is a German company but the pans are made in China. The pans contain no actual copper.
knf Nonstick Frying Pan w/Lid: neither PTFE nor ceramic. Modified stainless steel w/honeycomb texture (similar to All-Clad D3 Armor--not recommended)
Krampan Professional Nonstick Frying Pan with Lid: Neither PTFE or ceramic. This is a different technology that relies on pan texture rather than chemical coating. The textured stainless steel gets mixed reviews. In general, textured pans like All-Clad D3 Armor) perform poorly and are hard to care for. But we have not tested this pan, so we can't say for sure how nonstick it is.
Kuhn-Rikon Colori Cucina Ceramic Induction Frying Pan: ceramic
Kutime Ceramic Nonstick Frying Pan: probably ceramic
Kyocera Nonstick Pan: ceramic
Laefero 9.5" Nonstick Frying Pan: PTFE. Probably all Laefero products are PTFE.
le Creuset Toughened Nonstick Cookware: PTFE (and very overpriced).
le Creuset Tri-Ply Stainless Nonstick: PTFE
LexiHome Marble Nonstick Frying Pan: probably ceramic (IC) (though it looks like PTFE)
Lestaven Nonstick Fry Pan: PTFE
Lovepan Peas (by Cooksmark): ceramic
LovoIn nonstick cookware set: Say they are PTFE free but it looks like a PTFE coating and has a max temp of 450F. So we are unsure whether these are ceramic or PTFE.
Lux Decor Kitchen Frying Pan: PTFE
MadeIn Cookware: PTFE
Magma Cookware with Nonstick Ceramica: ceramic
Mastertop: PTFE
Mastertop Ceramic: ceramic
Matfer Bourgeat 906024: PTFE (probably all M-B nonstick is PTFE)
Mauviel M'Stone Nonstick Pan: PTFE. It may say it is PTFE-free, but we attribute that error to the language barrier (this pan is made in France). Eclipse is definitely a brand of PTFE.
MEGOO Hybrid Nonstick Wok: PTFE (Please do not buy a nonstick wok of any kind. Woks are designed for high heat, and high heat kills both types of nonstick faster than anything else.)
Meyer Accent Series: PTFE. All Meyer nonstick cookware contains PTFE.
Michelangelo: Some lines are ceramic and PTFE free, but other lines we're not sure about. The writeup calls them "PTFA free" but there is no such chemical. We recommend you err on the side of caution and assume that the "PTFA free" pans may contain PTFE.
Mirro Get a Grip: PTFE
Misen Cookware nonstick frying pan: PTFE
Momostar Nonstick Induction Pots and Pans: PTFE. (They say they are "PTFA" free, but not PTFE. The max oven temp of 550F suggests that this cookware contains PTFE.
Momscook Aluminum Ceramic Nonstick Coating Cookware: probably ceramic, possibly PTFE
Momscook Enameled Cookware: PTFE
Momsook 2 pc Stainless Nonstick: PTFE
Momscook Hard Anodized Aluminum Nonstick Cookware Set: PTFE
Moneta Azul Gres Ceramic Cookware: ceramic
Moneta Greystone Nonstick cookware: PTFE ("polymeric" coating)
Moneta Nova Induction Compatible Nonstick: PTFE
Moneta Zeus: PTFE
Mopita Roccia Viva frying pan: PTFE
Mopita Grail frying pan: PTFE
Mr Captain Tri-Ply Bonded Stainless Steel Nonstick Skillet: PTFE
Mr Rudolph Tri-Ply Bonded Stainless Steel Nonstick: PTFE
MSMK Nonstick Titanium Diamond Skillet: PTFE (all MSMK nonstick is PTFE)
Mueller HealthyStone Fry Pan: PTFE (yes, it looks ceramic and the writeup is extensive on what it doesn't contain, but none of the chemicals listed are PTFE, so we must assume that this is a PTFE pan).
MVCHIF nonstick pan: In some places it says PTFE and PFOA free, in others it says PFOA free. We think it may contain PTFE, but we're not sure.
N++A Deep Nonstick Frying Pan: PTFE
Neoflam Eela: ceramic (probably all Neoflam products are ceramic)
Ninja C39800 Foodi Never Stick cookware set: Ninja avoids the "PTFE or ceramic?" by not naming either one. But with the 500F oven limit and the instructions to not use aerosol cooking sprays, we're almost certain this cookware contains PTFE. (It also looks like PTFE.) Ninja makes a few other sets and they look to all contain PTFE as well.
Nordic Ware nonstick cookware: It looks like all Nordic Ware nonstick is PTFE (we didn't find any ceramic products on Amazon).
Nordic Ware Professional Weight Texas skillet: PTFE (again, probably all Nordic Ware nonstick pans contain PTFE)
Nutrichef Excilon nonstick cookware: ceramic
Oneida Ceramic Nonstick: ceramic
Orgreenic Cookware: They say they are "PTFA" and "PTFH" free, but they don't say they are "PTFE" free. We suspect they're using very deceptive marketing to sell PTFE pans as ceramic--but they might be ceramic.
Original Copper Pan: ceramic
OXO Good Grips Fry Pan and Sets: PTFE. This 8"/10" set is also PTFE. All OXO nonstick pans sold on Amazon appear to be PTFE.
OXO Mira Tri-Ply PFAS-Free Nonstick Skillets: ceramic
Ozeri Stone Earth Frying Pan: PTFE ("Stonehenge" nonstick coating: what is it?)
Ozeri Green Earth Frying Pan: ceramic (Greblon)
Ozeri Professional Series Ceramic Earth Fry Pan: PTFE--You may not believe it but it's true!
Ozeri Professional Series Induction Fry Pan: PTFE
Ozeri Stainless Pan with Eterna nonstick coating: PTFE
Paderno Canadian Signature Frying Pan: Not sure, but probably PTFE ("professional" usually means PTFE).
Paderno Frying Pan with Soft Grip Handle: PTFE ("Quantanium" is a dead giveaway.) This set is also PTFE.
Paderno Hard-Anodized Cookware Set: Almost certainly PTFE ("professional" usually means PTFE.)
Paderno World Cuisine Mini Pans: probably ceramic
Paula Deen Riverbend: PTFE
Paula Deen Signature: PTFE
Pensofal cookware: All lines look to be PTFE, but we're not totally sure (confusing marketing!)
PERLLI Healthy Ceramic Nonstick cookware: ceramic
Pioneer Woman Vintage Speckle Nonstick cookware: PTFE
Pioneer Woman Cobalt Cookware with Porcelain: ceramic
PranzoElite Frying Pan Set: PTFE. May be PTFE combined with ceramic. "PFLUON" is a brand name that refers to an organic compound, e.g., plastic molecule, e.g., PTFE. Induction compatible base.
Primecook Smerelda: ceramic
Rachel Ray Cucina: PTFE
Rachel Ray Hard-Anodized Nonstick: PTFE
Red Copper BulbHead: ceramic (and do not contain any actual copper)
Redmond Nonstick Cookware: ceramic (all Redmond nonstick).
Rockurwok Pots and Pans with Removable Handles: PTFE. The Rockurwok crepe pan is ceramic nonstick (PTFE free), but the rest of their pans, including other round crepe pans (same link as crepe pan above) and sauce pans, appear to contain PTFE.
Rosle Elegance Stainless Steel Cookware: Comes in PTFE and ceramic coatings. The set has ceramic nonstick skillets.
Saflon Titanium cookware: PTFE (all Saflon nonstick products contain PTFE). Good quality cookware, though.
Sakuchi Frying Pan set: PTFE (looks like all Sakuchi nonstick cookware is PTFE).
Sanalaiv frying pan: PTFE (looks like all Sanalaiv nonstick is PTFE).
ScanPan Ceramic and Titanium: PTFE (see our ScanPan review for more info)
ScanPan Classic: PTFE
ScanPan CTX: PTFE
ScanPan HaptIQ Stainless Steel Fry Pan: PTFE
ScanPan Pro S5: PTFE
ScanPan Professional Fry Pans: PTFE
Seekavan Skillet: PTFE
Sensarte Nonstick Pan w/Swiss Granite (ILAG) coating: PTFE. It looks like all Sensarte nonstick contains PTFE.
Shineuri Cookware Set: ceramic (probably the same maker as Copper Chef or something similar)
Silit by WMF Cookware Set w/Nonstick Skillet: PTFE
Silit Pot Set: ceramic. WMF makes durable ceramic coated cookware (made in Germany). It is the type of enamel used on le Creuset and therefore, not nonstick. We don't know if they also make nonstick ceramic. This pan and this pan are both enamel coated and not nonstick. Very durable, stable cooking surface.
Silit Blaue Uncoated Pan: Ceramic but probably not nonstick ceramic.
Skylight: PTFE (all their nonstick appears to be PTFE)
Starfrit The Rock Frying Pan: probably PTFE
Stone and Beam 12-inch Frying Pan with Glass Lid: PTFE. Note: now owned by Amazon Basics. Still PTFE.
Stone Earth by Ozeri: PTFE
Stoneline Xtreme Germany: PTFE
Sturable Nonstick Skillet: PTFE
Sunbeam Newbrook Nonstick Cookware Set: PTFE
Sushar Frying Pan w/German Nonstick Granite Coating: PTFE (all lines)
Swiss Diamond (all lines): PTFE
Tafond Oven Safe Grill Pan: ?? Probably PTFE
TeChef Japanese Omelet Pan: PTFE
TeChef Onyx: PTFE
TeChef Goody pan: PTFE
TIBEK: PTFE
T-fal C921S2 Initiatives: ceramic
T-fal Ceramic: ceramic
T-fal Endura Granite Ceramic: PTFE
T-fal Initiatives: PTFE
T-fal Metallics Thermo Spot: PTFE
T-fal Signature: PTFE
T-fal Soft Sides w/ThermoSpot Indicator: PTFE
T-fal Titanium Advanced Nonstick w/ThermoSpot Indicator: PTFE
Tramontina Professional Fusion Fry Pan: PTFE
Tramontina Professional Restaurant Fry Pan: PTFE
Tramontina Ceramica: ceramic
Tramontina Hard Anodized Sauté Pans: PTFE
Tramontina Nesting Nonstick Cookware set: PTFE
Tramontina Simple Cooking Cookware Set: PTFE
Update International Excalibur-Coated 11-in Frying Pan: PTFE
UrbanixChef Frying Pan: PTFE (Greblon!)
Utopia Kitchen Nonstick Frying Pan: PTFE (probably all their nonstick contains PTFE)
Vario Click cookware by Berndes: ceramic (can tell by the oven-safe temp)
Viking Professional 5-Ply Nonstick with Eterna nonstick coating: PTFE (IC)
Viking Hard Anodized Cookware: PTFE
Vinchef Deep Skillet with Lid: PTFE (Greblon C3 is a PTFE-based nonstick coating).
Vinchef Deep Frying Pan: PTFE. (Yes, it says ceramic but it is a PTFE coating that contains ceramic.)
Vinchef 8 in/9.5in. Skillet w/out Lid: It says no PFAS, but we suspect it's a PTFE coating due to the look and the 500F oven limit.
VINOD Zest Nonstick Griddle: PTFE. The VINOD product page says all of their nonstick is PTFE.
Vesuvio: ceramic
Vollrath Wear-Ever Pan w/CeramiGuard II: PTFE
Vollrath Wear-Ever HardCoat: PTFE
Vollrath Wear-Ever w/PowerCoat 2: PTFE
VonShef: Probably PTFE
Vremi Ceramic Nonstick Cookware: ceramic (IC)
Vremi Nonstick Cookware Set: PTFE
Vremi Nonstick Saute Pan: PTFE
WaxonWare Hive Series: Ceramic (Greblon CK2).
WaxonWare Emerald Nonstick Frying Pan: May be a ceramic/PTFE hybrid, but contains PTFE. See this table on the WaxonWare website for verification.
WaxonWare Marbellous Series: PTFE
WaxonWare StoneTec Series: ceramic
WearEver B022SF Nonstick set: PTFE
WearEver C94407 Pure Living: ceramic; see set here
WearEver C944S2 Pure Living pan: ceramic
WearEver C957SC Admiration set: PTFE
Wee's Beyond Nonstick Fry Pan: PTFE
Woll Nowo Titanium: PTFE (all Woll products are probably PTFE but we're not sure)
Woll Diamond Lite Fry Pan: PTFE (again, all Woll pans are probably PTFE)
Wonderchef Casserole: All Wonderchef nonstick cookware appears to be PTFE.
Xtrema 100% Ceramic Skillet: ceramic (note: this cookware is 100% ceramic, and not necessarily nonstick--read reviews carefully before buying)
YIIFEEO Nonstick Frying Pan Set: PTFE (all YIIFEEO pans are probably PTFE)
Yzakka Stone Earth Saucepan: probably PTFE (all Yzakka nonstick is probably PTFE)
ZIB Hard-Anodized Aluminum Pan w/Stainless Handle: Says it's PTFE free but it sure looks like a PTFE coating to us. We can't say for sure.
ZIB Induction Nonstick Frying Pan w/Child Protection: Says it's PTFE free in one area but in another it says it's PFOA free. We suspect it may contain PTFE (most stone/granite coatings do), but the company claims it's ceramic. It certainly looks like a PTFE coating. We also suspect PTFE because it's identical to the Eslite, Sensarte Hansubute pans (above); Sensarte and Eslite are not listed as PTFE free but the others are. We're not 100% sure about any of them.
Ziling Nonstick Fry Saute Pan w/Lid: PTFE
Zinnor Mini Heart-Shaped Egg Pan: PTFE
Zwilling/JA Henckels Capri: PTFE
Zwilling Madura: PTFE ("DuraSlide")
Zwilling Motion: PTFE
Zwilling Spirit: Ceramic
Zyliss: PTFE
Final Thoughts
Once again, this list is by no means comprehensive. The nonstick cookware market is changing all the time. Even so, we hope we've helped you sort through some of the confusing jargon and labeling that can make buying nonstick cookware so frustrating.
And remember: you can always go with the original nonstick cookware, cast iron or carbon steel. These are both great options for those of you trying to avoid nonstick coatings.
Thanks for reading!
Help other people buy wisely, too! Please share this article:
When choosing cookware It’s important to know the risks of each type of cookware and decide which is the safest cookware for you.
That’s very true devnil. In this article, we assume that people have done some research, have decided they want nonstick cookware, and are trying to sort out the composition of various brands, which isn’t always easy to do. Thanks for your comment!
You should check granite rock pans – they are great…
Granite Rock/Granite Stone are a PTFE (Teflon) nonstick pan reinforced with titanium. They’re a decent nonstick option if you don’t mind using PTFE. (They are on the list.)
This article is indeed very informative and direct-to.-the-point guide to buying coated pans. I’m glad I came across it. I now feel having enough knowledge in buying these frying pans with peace of mind in regard to their quality and heath safety of my family and myself.
Thanks for letting us know you enjoyed the article, Lucio!
I didn't realize that Teflon and PTFE are the same things. I have been looking for PTFE-free Teflon pans and that would probably be why I haven't had any success. Thank you for the article on different types of nonstick pans, now I can make an informed decision on what to buy.
Hi Beverly, thanks for the comment. Considering your URL, I’m surprised that you didn’t know the difference between PTFE and Teflon. But I know that a lot of people don’t, so I’m glad the article was helpful!
Thank you so much for this. I've been searching for days and had come to the conclusion that if I want non-stick it's going to have some type of chemicals. Thank you for confirming this and putting together such a comprehensive and easy to understand article. I feel more confident making a choice on a new set of pots and pans now.
Thank you for commenting, Rachel. For people trying to avoid nonstick, we generally recommend cast iron or carbon steel. They’re not quite as good, but they last forever and are not the environmental hazard that the PTFE industry is. And, they’re inexpensive.
Best of luck to you choosing cookware.
Last Week Tonight just did a very in depth, deep dive into PFAS and nonstick. It's pretty upsetting…
Small spoiler: it's in your blood.
Full Story:
https://youtu.be/9W74aeuqsiU
Thanks for the link, Chris! It’s an excellent report that everyone interested in nonstick cookware should see. Though PTFE cookware is safe when used correctly (at low heat), its manufacturing process has poisoned the entire planet with “forever chemicals” that are extremely unsafe. With most nonstick now made in China, it’s probably even a worse situation, as China is not likely to have any regulations to protect the environment or the workers in the plants. A truly terrible situation.
Great article! I just got “tricked” when buying a Zwilling Madura Plus fry pan set described as “PFOA FREE”.
I see it mentions “Ultra” Dura Slide as the coating and states it is a “3 layer coating”. No mention of what constitutes a layer but I wonder if the PTFE might be covered by one of those layers to inhibit any release of the chemical. Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Jack Mccullough
Thanks for the comment and kind words, Jack! Unfortunately, “Ultra Dura Slide” is a brand name for PTFE that also contains other reinforcing materials, either ceramics or metals depending on the application, per this website. The topcoat is PTFE, as it always is because the PTFE is what makes the surface slippery. I think the Zwilling Madura is a good quality nonstick pan, and you’ll get some good use out of it. Just be careful to never overheat the pan or use metal utensils, and you and your family will be safe. Or, you can always try to return it. 🙂 Best of luck to you whatever you decide.
I don't think that any of us can resist the allure of nonstick cookware, whether it be because they are savvy to its benefits or simply because we have become accustomed to using them and want our cooking skills to remain current with modern trends. This post about PTFE in a nonstick pan was very beneficial for me. I used to believe it was incredibly dangerous, but after reading the article I realized that this nonstick pan is safe to use. Thank you very much for writing this important essay on PTFE, especially given the concerns about Teflon and plastics these days…
Incredible piece. Eye opening. Thank you.
Curious about Berndes Signocast Pearl Ceramic? I have that set and bought it believing it was ceramic and "safe". In re-reading the marketing it only goes on about being "PFOA" free which is saying nothing. Does say ony oven safe to 300 degrees, so hoping that means it's a ceramic safe coating and not mixed with some form of PTFE.
Also, why is PTFE that big of a deal if you can't heat the pan high enough (near 600 degrees) to make it dangerous?
If you have a piece on what numbers 1-9 on GE electric ranges correspond to temperature-wise, I'd appreciate it. That information is nowhere but one place and it's about gas ranges even though it claims to be about electric.
Thanks for your comment, JT. It looks as though the Berndes Signocast Pearl ceramic is a ceramic coating, thus PTFE-free. We will update the article to add that information.
A safe oven temp of 300F is more likely to indicate PTFE than ceramic. However, in this case that low oven temp is probably because of the plastic handle, as most PTFE cookware is oven safe to 500F.
I chuckle a little bit that you ask “why is PTFE that big a deal if you can’t heat it high enough to make it dangerous?” and in the next sentence ask if I can give you temperatures for the settings on your stove: If you don’t know what the settings are, how can you possibly know what temp you’re heating your pan to? And I can tell you that on my gas range, a burner set to Medium can heat an empty aluminum pan to 505F in about 5 minutes.
The heating issue is the most immediate reason that PTFE can be dangerous (and PTFE starts degrading at 392F, not 600F, with anything over 500F releasing toxic fumes). But the larger reason to avoid PTFE is that it is almost completely unregulated everywhere on the planet (esp. China, where most PTFE cookware is made now), so makers are free to dump these “forever chemicals” into the environment–and they do. You should read our Statement about nonstick cookware for more information, there’s a lot to know and too much to go over here in a comment.
The nonstick cookware industry has contaminated the water supply of the entire world and continues to do so. More than 90% of Americans have traces of PFOA in their bodies. And the new chemicals now used in place of PFOA (called “GenX”) are just as toxic and unsafe for the environment as PFOA was. (Lawsuits against Chemours, makers of GenX, are already pending.)
When we started this site, we didn’t know all of this, but we have become staunchly anti-nonstick cookware. We leave our nonstick reviews up because we know people are going to continue buying it, but we are slowly updating the older articles to include (or link to) all of the information we’ve uncovered. Most importantly, we are discouraging people from buying nonstick cookware.
You are much better off with a well-seasoned carbon steel or cast iron pan, both of which are inexpensive, last forever, and can be used at any temperature safely. Ceramic nonstick is also a better alternative (though we know little about its manufacturing process, so that may change), but these pans tend to not last as long as PTFE, and they invariably end up in landfills–another serious issue with BOTH types of nonstick cookware because their life spans are so short compared to other types of cookware.
As for your stovetop settings, my recommendation is to buy an inexpensive infrared thermometer (like this one) and use it to take readings of your settings. Write these numbers down and leave them by your stove until you memorize them. (It’s frustrating that this information isn’t readily available, isn’t it??)
Thank you for the lengthy reply. Good info. Thanks.
Of course, I want to know the temperatures the numbers on the dial correlate to. I found an article that speaks to gas temps and they don't go above 500…yet, I saw another piece claiming a pan sitting unattended on high with nothing in it can reach nearly 1500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hard for me to square the lack of info on electric stove tops and what each number means and seeing 500 or so is the max temp on a gas range. Only to see a claim of an electric being able to reach nearly 1500.
And, I read PTFE release toxic chemicals at 500+ so if I can't reach that, which I can't confirm, it's hard to know about the true concern with it. You mentioned in your piece above you could eat it and it wouldn't hurt you so it peeling off doesn't seem to be as pressing, to me, as toxic fumes at temps I may not be able to reach. I sincerely don't know.
Your article states this:
***PTFE is completely inert. This means it will not react with the human body in any way. You could eat a bowl of it without any adverse effects (except maybe a stomach ache).***
It showed via another article that 5 was 350 on a gas range. If I only use my pan on medium to medium low I was curious how PTFE woudl be a concern for me and my family…unless I left it unattended, which I recently did ruining one of my Berndes Signocast Ceramic fry pans, hence, my visit here looking to replace it with something different, as I wasn't sure it was truly ceramic like I thought when I purchased the set. (run-on sentence alert)
Not a fan of stainless or cast iron. I've tried working with cast iron and didn't enjoy the experience. Prefer plug-n-play but I also want the surface my food touches to be safe. Reality is I'll never know. Nobody ever tells the truth in this world about what is safe and what isn't. As you've noted, it's about confusing people with slick jargon to pad coffers. Never about you. Ever. And that's a tragedy.
Thank you, again…I appreciate the article, the comment and the snark. Good stuff.
Hi JT,
Thanks for your reply. Again, I will say that the best way to understand your burner settings is to check them with your own device and memorize the numbers. That's the easiest, most accurate way for you to know how hot your burners can get. (That's what I did, and for the same reason–to manage the settings I used with a nonstick pan.)
Burners operate at a certain temp at a certain setting, but pans–esp. empty ones–will continue to heat up and theoretically can get hotter than the burner temp if heat is continuous and the pan is not releasing that heat energy as quickly as it gets put in. That may explain the discrepancy between a 500F burner and a top temp of 1500F (although that sounds a little too high to me for any kitchen stove).
As for PTFE being safe, yes, it is a completely stable substance at temps below 392F, and will probably not be toxic to humans between 392-500F. When we started this site, that was our primary knowledge about the safety of PTFE, and it sounded pretty good to us, too. As long as you are careful not to overheat it, you and your family are safe (and your pan will last longer, too).
However, our concern today has become more about the environment, and the unethical nature of the nonstick cookware industry. If none of that bothers you, go ahead and use PTFE cookware. Tens of millions of people do. 🙂
Having said that, you really have to be sure of two things to use PTFE safely: 1) you must know how hot your burners get under all conditions, and 2) you must be sure that everyone in your household will use the PTFE pan correctly.
Thanks again for your comment!
Thanks, Melanie.
Wanted to show you where this info came from on 1500 degrees:
When switched into the maximum temperature setting and left unattended, a huge burner component could reach 1472°F into 1652°F.
https://publicananker.com/how-hot-does-an-electric-stove-get/
Of course, the first concern is for what surface is interacting with our food. I haven't knowing bought a PTFE pan, ever. I look for the most health conscious pan I can within paramaters that work for me. I had a cast iron skillet for that reason but I found it impractical, or better translated, I wasn't skilled enough to make it work for me.
Thanks to you and your site, I'm more educated on the subject than I've ever been. I have it bookmarked and have clicked several of the links and will continue doing so when I need a new pan.
Right before I found you, I did extensive research on pans that would be right for me and chose Greenpan, as I previously owned a Greenlife pan that was very good but nonstick lasted a short while.
Am now part of the line of thinking that ceramic is the way to go for me and I will have to be replacing quite often, which is fine. Gives me opportunity to try a bunch of new pans and that is always fun for me.
Thanks, again, for taking time out to answer me.
Like others, this article has really helped me sort out the differences between the two types. Thank you! I am looking for an air fryer. I normally use cast iron and steel for my cooking so this coating world is new to me. Are there any air fryer brands you recommend as reputable, or that you recommend in general? Ninja, Phillips, and Cosori are coming up as top-rated. Aria brand was the only one that came up in my search as "Basket and Rack free of PTFE, PFOA, Lead, BPA, and all toxins".
Thank you for your comment. We have not reviewed air fryers, and I don’t own one, so we can’t give you any recommendations. Sorry! It’s hard to find small appliances that don’t have PTFE coatings on the inner parts. We’re currently testing rice cookers, and we are going to be sure to differentiate between the ones that do and do not have nonstick inner baskets.
I’m sorry we can’t be of more help. If you do not want the nonstick parts, you should probably go with the Aria, or keep looking. –Melanie, TRK
Thank you’ this is a fantastic article. I would love to learn more about cast iron and rainless steel pots.
Thanks, Olaf! We tend to go into a lot more depth than other review sites, and for nonstick cookware we think it’s particularly important that people know what they’re buying (or maybe even choose not to buy). I’m glad you liked the article. We have a ton of articles about clad stainless cookware and a few about cast iron, too. Both CI and stainless are better choices both health-wise and environmentally. Check out our cookware page for articles: https://therationalkitchen.com/cookware/. If you scroll down the page, articles are listed by topic (stainless, nonstick, All-Clad). Thanks again!
How do stainless steel frying pans compare in terms of health risks?
Stainless steel is a very stable, non-reactive cooking surface. When new, stainless can leach very small amounts of nickel and chromium, but neither of these are toxic to humans, at least not in the very tiny amounts you’ll get from stainless cookware. After several uses, the cooking surface stabilizes and the leaching goes down to almost zero. If you’re concerned about nickel and chromium, you can steep a vinegar solution for a few hours in new stainless pans before using.
If you or someone you cook for has a nickel allergy, then you may want to avoid stainless cookware. Otherwise, it is one of the safest choices you can make. (If you do have a nickel allergy, then we recommend Hestan NanoBond as the most stable and non-reactive cooking surface available.)
We just did an article on safe cookware, if you want to read more: https://therationalkitchen.com/how-to-buy-safe-cookware/
We have done a lot of cookware research and believe our article is the most accurate on the Internet. All of our recommendations are based on the most current science. However, you will find many other opinions on other sites. We recommend that you read several sites and draw your own conclusions. That way, you’ll feel the most safe with whatever cookware you choose.
Thanks for your question!
Just double checking: I bought an in-store blue Diamond frying pan that said it didn’t contain PTFE but everything online doesn’t mention PTFE, just no PFOA, lead, or cadmium. A few years ago this article said they were probably PTFE but now it says they’re ceramic.
I have a bird so I want to be really sure. What’s the reasoning for you considering them to be definitely ceramic now? Especially when they’re not marketed as PTFE-free?
Thank you!!
Hi Casey, We are almost certain that Blue Diamond pans are ceramic and contain no PTFE. Why? Because they behave like ceramic nonstick: they can tolerate high heat and metal utensils without scratching, and they lose their nonstick properties pretty quickly. However, their website and Amazon write-ups don’t say anywhere that they are free of PTFE. So though we are pretty sure these are ceramic pans, we can’t guarantee this with 100% certainty.
I’ve contacted the company a few times with this question, but haven’t gotten a reply.
I will make sure we change that in the article. Thanks for letting us know.
What about the Gastrolux brand with their Biotan? There is no mention anywhere about PTFE or Teflon, Do you know if it is PTFE?
This brand isn’t sold on Amazon in the US, but I found their website and it looks to be PTFE. I base that on a few things:
1) It looks like PTFE
2) Care instructions say no aerosol cooking spray–the propellants in aerosol cooking spray react with PTFE and destroy the nonstick properties.
3) Care instructions say max oven temp 500F, which is standard for PTFE cookware.
4) Described as “PFOA and PFOS free”, which is how PTFE pans are typically described; if the pan is ceramic, it will say “PFOA and PTFE free”.
For these reasons, I am almost certain this is PTFE cookware.
Just bought a Zwilling Clad CFX nonstick cookware set. I am curious if the ceramic coating has Titanium Dioxide nano-particles? I read somewhere that the Titanium Dioxide nano-particles could get into the food at high temperatures in ceramic coating,
Hi Keya, Without doing any research, I can say with near certainty that the CFX coating contains titanium dioxide nanoparticles because as far as I know, all ceramic nonstick coatings contain these particles: it has to do with the way the coatings are applied to the pans, and I don’t believe there is another method.
It’s true that some research has shown that these particles may be associated with some health risks, and also true that high heat may increase the chances of them being released from the cookware. Unfortunately there are very few studies to date, and the ones I’ve read show that ceramic nonstick coatings are *probably* safe at normal cooking temperatures.
Here is one study you may want to take a look at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19440049.2016.1269954
I wish I had more definite information for you. Thanks for your comment.
Hello Melanie,
Thank you for your reply.
I just got a response from ZWILLING in regards to Titanium Dioxide.
“ Thank you for contacting ZWILLING! And thank you for your interest in our Products.
Our Zwilling Clad CFX Non-stick coated Cookware does not contain titanium dioxide.
In addition, the cookware is PTFE, PFOA, Cadmium and Lead free!
Let us assure you Zwilling as a company do certify third party labs test of all our products for harmful materials. We cannot release the findings as they are proprietary, but we can assure you that our products meet all legal regulations and are 100% safe when used properly. And are California Proposition 65 compliant.
We hope this helps!
We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and patronage.
Regards,”
Hi Keya, thanks for letting us know Zwilling's reply! I'll preface this by saying that I believe the cookware is almost certainly safe under normal use conditions. However, "titanium dioxide" is not the same thing as "titanium dioxide nanoparticles." Nanoparticles are the thing you want to know about. The problem with them is their size: they are extremely small, so if they are free to roam, they can infiltrate just about any living cell. The unknowns in ceramic nonstick cookware is how free to roam they are, and there just aren't a lot of studies on that.
My guess is that the people at Zwilling don't really understand the composition of the ceramic nonstick coating. In general, the people who answer customer questions aren't the people who understand the chemistry.
You can ask Zwilling about nanoparticles and see what they say, but my hunch is that they'll have another standard answer that misdirects you from actual composition of the ceramic nonstick coating. Zwilling is a reputable company and they're not trying to be evasive. They just don't know the facts because few of us do.
Again, the cookware is probably safe. But in my opinion, there is not enough research to say that with 100% certainty.
Remember, Teflon (PTFE) was considered safe for at least 50 years before there was enough research to know for sure that it wasn't. I think we're in the same position today with ceramic nonstick, which has only been around since 2007.
I recently purchase a set of pan from Aldi. It says the coating is ILAG/Xeradur2 which I look up on their website they states it is PFAS and PTFE free ceramic. Does this mean that it does not contain harmful PFAS and PTFE and is ceramic? As you mentioned in your article ILAG is does contain PTFE does it include the coating call ILAG/Xeradur2? Do the USA PAN bakeware line with a silicone coating called Americoat contain PTFE? It states it is PFOA, PTFE, and BPA free, does it mean it is free of PTFE. I want to buy a madeleine pan that is PFAS and PTFE free but not sure if pans with PFOA, PTFE, and BPA free baking pan is free of PFAS and PTFE.
Hi Sophie, thanks for contacting us. ILAG is a company that makes nonstick coatings of all kinds. Their ILAG/Xeradur2 is a ceramic nonstick coating, so is free of PTFE, PFOA, GenX, and all other PFAS chemicals (as far as we know).
The Americoat on USA Pans is a silicone coating, so is also free of all PFAS chemicals, including PTFE, PFOA, GenX, etc.
With these coatings, there’s always a bit of an unknown, and both silicone and ceramic nonsticks may have their own issues. There is not a lot of research out there to know for sure. But they are almost certainly safer and better for the environment than PTFE–good for you!
Hope that helps.
Thanks for the quick and detailed reply. This help me a lot. I can feel safe to continue to use the set of pans I got from Aldi. I will place an order to for the Madeleine pan so I can make Madeleines for my grandma. She loves Madeleines. Besides silicone coated Madeleine pan, there is also tinned steel Madeleine pan by Gobel. Is tinned steel bakeware safer than silicone coated bakeware? Will they rust overtime? Can I trust other brands’ Madeleine pan (HONGBAKE) that sells on amazon which also states their pan is free of PFOA and PTFE to be free of these PFAS chemicals like the Madeleine pan from USA Pan? Thank you for your help.
Hi Sophie, Glad our reply was helpful. Tinned steel is an excellent choice for bakeware! I would definitely choose it over silicone coated bakeware. Tin is the traditional coating of high-end copper cookware. Tin is non-allergenic, doesn’t rust, and is even semi-nonstick. The only issue with it is its low melting point of about 450F, but this generally isn’t an issue with bakeware.
Silicone coatings are probably safe but there isn’t a lot of research about them. There are conflicting opinions about them around the Internet. (We need to do more research.)
I had not heard of tinned steel bakeware before. If/when we ever get around to doing a bakeware article, tinned steel will be our number one recommendation.
This was amazing, but can you do the same for bakeware? I am constantly looking for brownie and cake pans that are non toxic and it’s so hard! Aluminum sucks cuz it rusts and warps and stains, non stick is the best but you know- toxic. What should we buy? Help! Thank you!!
Thanks, Luisana! We haven’t done much research on bakeware, but I’d assume the same principles apply. I like clear glass bakeware like Pyrex, and I use stainless steel baking sheets (not aluminum). I think anodized aluminum bakeware (like Fat Daddio) is probably safe, as anodization makes the aluminum harder than stainless steel. I do not use any nonstick bakeware.
We know less about the silicon coated bakeware, like USA Pan, because it’s so different from cookware. We have an article slated for next year, but not sure when we’ll get to it.
Hope that helps.
Great article. Thank you for educating us. After watching the documentary "the devil we know", I have switched to stainless steel but I miss the ease of non stick properties. I recently fell for "granitium" marketing name. Lol. Anyway, with ceramic cookware being safer, I have a couple of questions. 1. Are there any fully ceramic cookware? 2. What's better ceramic coated vs fully ceramic (if it even exists)?
Hi Harsh, thanks for your comment. Ceramic nonstick coatings have an entirely different composition than traditional “ceramic” coatings such as those you’d find on Le Creuset Dutch ovens or other ceramics like Corningware and Xtrema. Ceramic nonstick was invented (or at least first marketed) in 2007, while traditional ceramics/enamels/stoneware go back hundreds of years. We did an article on “stoneware” cookware that you might find helpful: https://therationalkitchen.com/stoneware-cookware/
We say “stoneware” (quotation marks) because if you do a google search for “stoneware cookware”, most of the results are PTFE cookware (like “granitium”), which is not stoneware at all. But there are several types of real stoneware cookware, including Corningware, Pyrex, Xtrema, and Emile Henry that are all 100% “stoneware.” Enameled cast iron is also considered a type of stoneware, though coated and not 100% stone.
Also, while the new ceramic nonstick coatings are considered nonstick (by most people, anyway), traditional ceramics and stoneware are NOT nonstick. They are semi-nonstick at best.
And, the jury is still out on whether ceramic nonstick coatings are completely safe, though they are almost certainly safer than PTFE coatings.
All clear as mud, right? Yeah, it can be a confusing topic.
Check out the article on stoneware and if you still have questions I’ll be happy to try to answer them.
Thank you so much for this! I have three parrots and they live in the dining room next to the kitchen. I have a GreenLife soft grip pan and just acquired the Michelangelo set, but started to get paranoid because the former only addresses PFAS and PFOA and I think the Michelangelo page has a typo? (PTFA?)
Hi Danielle, thanks for the comment. This is a tricky one. Michelangelo uses the acronym “PTFA,” which is not a PFAS as far as I know. (I googled it and no PFAS references came up.) Is it an innocent typo? Or is it a way they get around saying the pans actually contain PTFE? Elsewhere on the page, they use the same acronym, PTFA, so it’s not an oversight. But since there is no such PFAS (the chemical family of Teflon/PTFE and PFOA), who knows.
I would err on the side of caution and not use this pan around your birds. And we will update our site to say it’s possible that some Michelangelo pans may contain PTFE. We just can’t say for sure.
Continued! I was also a bit worried because the red with black interior Michelangelo pans which were listed with the copper interior pans have disappeared in the last week or so. My guess is they discontinued them, NOT for a health reason.
Sorry, I don’t know the answer to this one.
Re: your recommendation of the Anolon Nouvelle Copper Luxe Non-Stick pans as among the best of PTFE type pans, I am wondering how the 12" stir-fry pan in the line can be safe. I have been reading that PTFE is harmful once a pan is heated above 300 degrees F. Anolon rates this pan as being safe up to 500 degrees. Can you clarify this issue?
PTFE nonstick cookware is only safe when used properly, regardless of what type of pan it is. Most PTFE is rated safe up to 500F, but even at temps above about 390F it begins to degrade. It is not up to us what the cookware companies or government say is safe, but our recommendations have always been to use low heat and not let a nonstick pan get above about 350F ever, and also to never, ever buy a nonstick wok, i.e., stir fry pan. It is our belief that using nonstick for a wok pan is unsafe and even idiotic, but the cookware companies have a product to sell, so they will continue to say otherwise.
Thank you for your quick, informative response. The only reason that I was considering the Analon Stir-Fry pan was because I wanted a 12-inch skillet, and that was the only pan in that size in the product line.