About & methodology
How we score plastic-free / low-tox cookware
An independent, evidence-first ranking for cookware in the roughly $100–$500 band. We prefer inert cook surfaces, disclose lab sources, and never invent numbers.
Every ppm/ppb figure on this site comes from a cited published source. If we do not have one, we show “no published lab data” and score Evidence = 0.
Bare stainless, carbon steel, and cast iron outrank PTFE-family nonstick. Ceramic nonstick sits in the middle as a PTFE-free coated option with wear limits.
We score how much of the cookware’s primary build avoids plastic food-contact and primary handles — without pretending every knob on earth is metal.
Affiliate status never changes rank. 0 paid placements. Commissions are never an input.
Scoring formula
Overall = 0.5 × Materials
+ 0.2 × PlasticFree
+ 0.3 × LabEvidence
Rounded to 1 decimal.
Ties: higher Materials, then higher LabEvidence, then A–Z brand/name.
Affiliate status is never an input.Materials scores (cook surface)
- Bare stainless — 10
- Carbon steel — 10
- Bare cast iron — 9.5
- Enameled cast iron — 8.5
- Ceramic nonstick (PTFE-free claim) — 5.5
- Hybrid stainless + PTFE-family — 3.5
- Traditional PTFE / diamond-reinforced — 2
Plastic-free build scores
- Fully inert build — 10
- Mostly metal, minor plastic hardware — 7
- Plastic handles or major set plastics — 4
Lab evidence scores
- Independent lab with clean food-contact findings cited — 10
- Independent lab with detections / mixed findings cited — 5
- Brand-published lab only — 3
- no published lab data — 0
What “lab evidence” is (and is not)
We cite named sources when available: Consumer Reports (performance / PFAS shopping guidance), Light Labs (brand-partnered third-party PFAS panels), Ecology Center Healthy Stuff Lab (FTIR coating identity), and Lead Safe Mama (XRF total-content screening). XRF is not a leach test. Performance ratings are not heavy-metal clearance. Brand marketing is never treated as a lab figure.
Limitations
- One XRF or COA is one piece / one lot / often one colorway.
- Enamel pigments can vary dramatically by color — especially cadmium in bright exteriors.
- Ceramic and PTFE coatings wear; scratched pans change the exposure picture.
- Seed set is 7 products for launch honesty, not a claim of market completeness.
- Nothing here is medical or legal advice.
Core references
- Ecology Center — What’s Cooking? (PFAS/PTFE in nonstick pans)
- Consumer Reports — frying pans if you want to avoid PFAS
- Consumer Reports — safer kitchenware guidance
- Lead Safe Mama — XRF consumer-goods testing archive
- Light Labs — third-party testing reports
Last updated: 2026-10-26. Corrections: contact · editorial policy · affiliate disclosure.