Lancaster Cast Iron

Do you know that your nonstick cookware contains​​ toxic chemicals that are stored in our bodies?

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. 

What can you do?

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.

Choose this cookware material:

  • Stainless Steel 

  • Cast Iron 

On this page, you will find my favorite approved cookware made of non-toxic, eco-friendly, safer, and healthier materials:

  • Stainless Steel brand MADE IN THE USA is 360 Cookware  25% off promo code: PRETTYORGANICGIRL

  • Cast Iron cookware MADE IN THE USA is  Field Company

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

Toxic Cookware

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.  

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

❌ 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

  • Made in Italy

The Best Cast Iron Cookware Brand

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)