Concerned about metals and forever chemicals in nonstick pans? So are we. Here are the best, truly green, options based on years of staff testing and the latest industry trends.
Our readers are serious about avoiding PFAS, heavy metals, and forever chemicals of any kind, especially in cookware. To address that concern head on, we prioritize brands going out of their way to prove their products are safe to use. Secondary to the toxicity analysis, usability also plays a role. It’s not enough that the cooking surface is green, the cookware itself, as measured against other nonstick options, has to have real utility.
Top tip: Beware non-stick pans that claim to be Teflon-free. This may be true, in that the pans don’t use the brand-name Teflon, but they may still use a PTFE non-stick coating.
We are in touch with most of the brands in this space to verify sustainability claims. In the last year, our job has become a little easier because a handful of brands are participating in a program at Light Labs that tests cooking surfaces for all the nasty things contentious consumers want to avoid and then lists the results publicly. Alva, Caraway, and Made In participate in this program, and should be commended for doing so.
Note: no non-stick pan is truly sustainable because they don’t last. We’d much rather see our readers opt for cast iron or carbon steel and pass it down to the next generation than go with non-stick surfaces. We wouldn’t let PTFE touch our food, but it is durable. Unfortunately, green non-stick ceramic pans wear out quickly, and unless you’re intentional about recycling them, they end up in the landfill on a short time horizon.
It’s for this reason that we have evolved our thinking some on Caraway’s durability. Yes, we would like to see a move towards at least 3-ply for Caraway, but some of the 5-ply ceramic non-stick pans are probably overkill. Normally, 5-ply is a hallmark of great construction and a quality pan. In the case of non-stick, these pans only last as long as their surfaces, so the underlying construction tends not to matter quite as much. It’s a fine line that Made In currently walks quite well, and Alva and Caraway seem to be struggling with. Lancaster, and even Hexclad, have more durability, but each comes with its own trade offs we will discuss in turn below.
Our top picks
These rankings reflect brands that we have contacted directly to confirm sustainability claims and prioritizes the longest lasting non-stick surfaces that can also prove they don’t contain forever chemicals or heavy metals.
Made In CeramiClad Frying Pan
Highlights: Beautifully made, light and maneuverable, but robust 5-ply non-stick ceramic frying pan with impressive performance.
- Light Labs test results show no PFAS or heavy metals
- Sustainably made
- Most durable ceramic nonstick we have tested
- Performs well in the kitchen based on our staff testing
- Made In still manufactures some PTFE products
- Even a robust ceramic nonstick pan has a limited useful life
How we know it’s non-toxic: Made In partnered with Light Labs, an ISO 17025-accredited third-party testing laboratory, to independently evaluate the safety of its cookware. The results of those tests are published directly on the website and show that the cookware is free of PFAS, BPA, and heavy metals.
Although they do still manufacture some products that contain PTFE, which we would love to see phased out, Made In is the gold standard in nonstick cookware right now. Made In is a Leaf Rated brand, which means we have evaluated not only their product lines, but their sustainability practices across the board.
Caraway Fry Pan
Highlights: Enjoy the benefits of ceramic cooking without the heft with this nonstick pan. Caraway pans are PFAS, PFOA, and PTFE free.
- Light Labs test results show no PFAS or heavy metals
- Looks great out of the box
- Performs well in the kitchen for first 6 months
- Short lifespan
- Weak 2-ply construction
How we know its non-toxic: Another Light Labs brand with results published on their website.
Caraway has always been a strong contender in the nonstick world because they are transparent and make beautiful products. The issue for us is durability and the pervasive 2-ply construction which puts the ceramic nonstick surface directly on top of aluminum. Caraway does have a recycling program to mitigate impact which is to be commended. They are also gaining fast on Alva’s Maestro line, it’s neck and neck based on the slew of bad reviews on Alva’s Amazon store.
Alva Cookware Maestro Nonstick Frying Pan
Alva Cookware Maestro Nonstick Frying Pan’s product rating by LeafScore is expired. Claim Product
Highlights: Beautiful, perfectly weighted, truly non-stick, ceramic coated frying pan made with some recycled metals! Cooks evenly, handle stays cool, and is easy to clean. Robust 3-ply stainless steel induction base, with a 5-ply option available as well.
- Light Labs tested
- Beautiful look and feel
- Nonstick performs at a high level out of the gate
- Strong choice for eggs and seafood
- Amazon reviews headed in the wrong direction
- There may have been a change in Maestro construction quality
- Some products made in China
How we know its nontoxic: Alva, like Made In and Caraway, has submitted their pans for testing through Light Labs, which proves the pans are free from heavy metals, PFAS, and BPA. Alva has always been a transparent brand and publishing third party lab tests is another step in the right direction.
We know the pans are non-toxic, we just don’t know how long they will last. As we mention in our Alva review, the online reviews for the Maestro line are increasingly negative leading us to wonder whether something has changed with the way they’re made. Maestro might last a little longer than Caraway, but not by much. Made In has moved past Alva in terms of quality and sustainability.
Alva has long been a favorite of the LeafScore team, and they remain a great brand. However, we have seen a decline in online reviews for the Maestro line as such a volume that we asked Alva whether something had changed with their construction.
Lancaster Cast Iron Cookware
Highlights: Made in America, heirloom quality cast iron. Durable, smooth, and light (the No. 8 skillet weighs just 4.5 lb.!). Seasoned on arrival for a non-stick experience out of the box. Fantastic temperature control while holding optimal heat.
- Heirloom quality cast iron
- Family business
- Long lasting
- Naturally nonstick and performs well in the kitchen based on our staff testing
- Easily rusts
- Heavy (but typical for cast iron)
How we know its nontoxic: Lancaster’s heirloom cast iron is naturally non-toxic.
Lancaster’s founder, Matt Sklar, had this to say about the pan’s nonstick capability. “We use grapeseed oil which has a very high smoke point. We apply two separate coats of seasoning at 480 degrees. The seasoning along with the smooth surface help our cookware to be non-stick out of the box.”
If you’re concerned about the disposable nature of traditional nonstick and want heirloom quality, Lancaster is a great choice.
HexClad
HexClad’s product rating by LeafScore is expired. Claim Product
Highlights: Attractive, innovative, popular non-stick pan. Made with a 3-ply stainless steel body, ceramic non-stick coating, and a stainless steel lattice over top.
- Light Labs test results show no PFAS or heavy metals
- Sustainably made
- Most durable ceramic nonstick we have tested
- Performs well in the kitchen based on our staff testing
- Made In still manufactures some PTFE products
- Even a robust ceramic nonstick pan has a limited useful life
How we know its non-toxic: we really don’t. Hexclad says they ditched PTFE and forever chemicals in 2024, but we can’t confirm the claims independently. We applaud the transition but would like to see Light Lab test results before awarding more leaves.
The thing about Hexclad is its pretty darn durable for a nonstick pan. We have used one in our test kitchen for almost a year and its a tough cookie. You can throw it in the dishwasher and the nonstick coating has held up pretty well. Note that Hexclad is not Leaf rated and we’d like to see more transparency, but the brand is heading in the right direction. Hexclad gets the last spot in this list because it’s more durable than Greenpan and both lack independent test results, so the tie goes to the pan we see as more robust and long lasting.
The bottom line
When it comes to truly non-toxic cookware, the game has changed. We needn’t speculate in the blogosphere any longer about which brands are safe and non-toxic and which aren’t. The leaders in the industry are putting their “money where their mouth is,” and publishing third party test results directly on their websites.
This doesn’t make ceramic nonstick last any longer, but it does help ease concerns about cooking on mystery surfaces in an industry rife with greenwashing.