Cast Iron

🍃💕​​ Learn more on how to get non-toxic, eco-friendly, safer, healthier, and approved cookware. 

Conventional Cookware 

Avoid conventional cookware, they contain chemicals known as PFAS. They are “forever chemicals,” because they don’t break down in the environment. To learn more watch the movie Dark Waters.

99% of humans are believed to have forever chemicals in their blood. Some people are exposed at higher rates. For more information about contamination levels in your area, use EWG’s map. Also, it has also proved that nonstick pans kill birds. Read here. 

​Here is what you need to avoid:

❌ Non-stick: Teflon® has a toxic coating made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). At 464°F: it may off-gas toxic particulates At 680°F: it releases at least 6 toxic gases, including 2 carcinogens (PFOA and tetrafluoroethylene (TFE)), 2 global pollutants, and monofluoroacetic acid (MFA), a chemical lethal to humans even in low doses. Skip Teflon nonstick pans and utensils, and look for eco-friendly, PFAS-free, PTFE-free, Teflon-free, PFOA-free, lead-free, and cadmium-free cookware brands.

❌ Aluminum: linked to Alzheimer’s,  and it can not be detoxed since it accumulates over time.

❌ Clay: it may contain lead and other heavy metals. I don’t recommend even clay skincare products. 

❌ Ceramic: Ceramic cookware or dishes may leach nanoparticles of lead, titanium dioxide, and cadmium into food.

❌ Ceramic-enameled Aluminum: it contain the risks from both ceramic and aluminum cookware.

❌ Thermolon-coated: made by a sol-gel process and has silica (aka sand) which may leach titanium dioxide nanoparticles into food. Here

❌ Conventional slow cookers: Many have the California Proposition 65 warning which means they have heavy metals like the Cuisinart one.

❌ Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE): made potentially from perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which is considered a carcinogen. 

❌ Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): toxic 

❌ Made in China: Several factories aren’t registered with the FDA.

​Greenwashing Cookware

Greenwashing is when a brand pretends to be organic, eco-friendly, natural, or safe when it is not. They use misleading greenwashing techniques, tactics, and claims to convince you to buy their products! 

​Made by companies started by venture capitalists and then sold their brand to greedy multinational corporations and chose to manufacture in China. These companies focus more on profits, cutting quality and costs, and spending on marketing. Reducing safety and quality.

These companies use greenwashing tactics on false advertising:  “ Chemical-free Cookware ” is not regulated.

Other issues are that their pans could not be leaching any toxic metals at the time of manufacture not when they start to wear and the coating is damaged.

Avoid these brands:

❌ Caraway claims: “Our coating is a non-stick ceramic, free of harmful chemicals like PTFE and PFOA.”  They don’t disclose their coating material. Caraway contains a low amount of PTFE. They don’t disclose what they use instead of PFOA and PFOS. AVOID Ceramic-enameled Aluminum Cookware

❌ Green Pan: They make their thermolon coating for their cookware in South Korea.  Ceramic non-stick cookware products are manufactured in China.  

❌ Xtrema: 100% pure ceramic manufactured in China. Independent tests found heavy metals in this brand. 

❌ Our Place: Their sol-gel coating is proprietary and they don’t disclose it. They are manufactured in Thailand, China, and Mexico. The always pan is made in China.​

❌ Made in China: several factories aren’t registered with the FDA.

​

Approved Cookware  
  • ✅ Uncoated Cast iron: Cast iron gets hot and stays hot, making it the best material for stovetop searing, oven-roasting vegetables, and sweet or savory baked goods. 

  • ✅ Uncoated Stainless steel: It is the safest option around. Composition: stainless-steel safe cookware is usually 18/10 or 18/8.  The first number is the percentage of chromium and the second is nickel.  There is also nickel-free stainless steel (18/0).

  • ✅ Made in the USA​

The Best Stainless Steel Cookware Brand

✅ 360 Cookware is my number one stainless steel cookware brand recommendation is this approved brand: 360 Cookware which makes Safer Surgical-Grade Stainless Steel cookware made in the USA versus major cookware brands, cheaply made in China and many of them carry the California Proposition 65 warning.

360 Cookware has ZERO EPA Permits, uses ZERO Toxic Chemicals, and creates ZERO Landfill Contributions. Zero Toxic Chemicals in their entire 360 Cookware and Bakeware collection, 360 Cookware offers products that are free of any harmful coatings such as PTFE.

✅ Their collection is amazing my code will save you 25% off your order: PRETTYORGANICGIRL

 

The Best Cast Iron Cookware Brand

Here are my number one cast iron cookware recommendations: 

 

✅ Field Company created by 2 brothers inspired by their grandmother’s 1930 cast-iron cookware. They went behind that and developed a new everyday cast iron skillet: lightweight, naturally non-stick, and made in the USA. They work with recycled iron sourced from American vendors and pour their cast iron cookware using green sand castings—just like the most celebrated vintage cast iron manufacturers, Griswold and Wagner.

  • ✅ 100% Made in the USA
  • ✅  lightweight, naturally non-stick

Field Company 10% off promo code: PRETTYORGANICGIRL

 

✅ Lancaster Cast Iron is one of my favorite Cast Iron brands:

  • ✅ Hand Made in the USA: every one of our pans is poured, finished, and seasoned by hand in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

  • ✅ Iconic Pour Spouts: Keeping the tradition alive, our large pour spouts make it simple to save rendered bacon grease, drain liquids, and plate tasty pan sauces.

  • ✅ Smooth Finish: pre-seasoned and polished for a smooth finish on the interior creating the best non-stick cooking surface possible.

  • ✅ Light Weight: The Lancaster No. 8 skillet’s thin walls and base allow it to respond to heat quickly, getting up to cooking temperature in seconds.

They also offer approved Lancaster wooden spoons and cooking utensils hand-carved by local Amish craftsmen and artisans, made from sustainably harvested local hardwoods.

My code: PRETTYORGANICGIRL will give a free tin of their cast iron seasoning oil ($16 value)

 

On this page, you will find my favorite approved cast iron cookware brands all made in the USA made of non-toxic, eco-friendly, safer, and healthier materials:

Shop with my links to support my research!💖