Borough Furnace · Cast Iron Skillets
Borough Furnace Handmade Cast Iron Frying Skillet
Lower PFAS concern, traditional cast iron with no nonstick coating.
Borough Furnace handmade cast iron skillets are bare cast iron with no synthetic coatings, nonstick treatments, or water repellents that would introduce PFAS. Cast iron cookware is not a typical PFAS vector. The brand does not market PFAS-free claims, reflecting the straightforward nature of the product.
Shop Borough Furnace on Amazon →Material
Cast iron, bare metal surface
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Category baseline
cookware is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
Uncoated safe material
Bare, uncoated material (cast iron, stainless, carbon steel, or glass) with no surface treatment to contain PFAS.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Borough Furnace skillets are bare cast iron with no enamel coating, nonstick layer, or synthetic finish. This means the cooking surface is pure iron that develops a seasoning layer (polymerized oil) over time rather than relying on applied coatings. The material itself does not leach Teflon-type coating, lead, cadmium, or other coating-associated compounds because none exist on the surface by design. Cast iron's primary interaction with food is mild iron leaching, which is nutritionally neutral to beneficial for most users and not considered a safety hazard by regulatory bodies.
The brand's record and disclosure
Borough Furnace maintains a simple product line focused on traditional cast iron manufacturing with minimal public transparency statements on chemical testing or safety certifications. No recalls, lawsuits, or contamination incidents are on record for this brand. The company does not publish third-party testing results or formal PFAS/heavy-metal certifications, which is typical for artisanal cast iron makers but reflects a lack of proactive disclosure rather than evidence of a problem.
How it compares in its category
Bare cast iron skillets are the safest end of the cookware spectrum for chemical hazards because they eliminate risks associated with nonstick coatings (Teflon-type coating off-gassing, coating wear), glazed ceramic (lead in decorative glazes), and enameled cookware (potential for enamel chipping exposing iron). Compared to modern enameled cast iron brands like Le Creuset or Staub, this product skips the enamel layer entirely, which removes both the durability benefit and the chemical risk of that coating.
If you buy it
Establish and maintain seasoning with regular cooking and occasional oiling to prevent rust and ensure a nonstick surface builds naturally. Avoid prolonged contact with acidic foods (tomato-based dishes, vinegar) on an unseasoned skillet, as acid can strip seasoning and increase iron leaching; this is a taste and texture issue more than a safety one. Hand-wash only; dishwasher use strips seasoning. Replace the skillet only if deep rust develops that cannot be scrubbed clean or if the cooking surface becomes severely pitted.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Iron leaching
Bare cast iron naturally releases small amounts of iron into food, especially acidic foods and on new, unseasoned surfaces. This is not classified as a health hazard by FDA or WHO; iron content is nutritionally insignificant and may benefit some populations, but excessive intake from iron-rich foods or supplements poses risk only in cases of hemochromatosis or iron-overload disorders.
Rust and corrosion if unmaintained
Without a protective enamel coating or consistent seasoning, bare cast iron exposed to moisture and air will develop rust. Surface rust is cosmetic and removable; deep rust or pitting can compromise cooking surface integrity but does not create acute toxicity. Prevention through drying and light oiling is straightforward.
Lead or cadmium contamination in raw iron
Modern cast iron cookware is produced under standards that exclude lead and cadmium from the iron feedstock. No recalls or testing evidence suggests Borough Furnace skillets contain these metals. Historical vintage cast iron can occasionally test positive for trace lead; new production does not reflect this risk.
Teflon-type coating or nonstick coating fume release
Absent by design. Bare cast iron has no synthetic coating, eliminating the risk of Teflon-type coating off-gassing or polymer fume inhalation that affects some modern nonstick skillets when overheated.
Seasoning oil degradation or rancidity
If seasoning oil is not food-grade or is stored in warm conditions, oxidized or rancid oil residue can accumulate on the skillet surface. Using fresh, high-smoke-point oils (avocado, grapeseed, refined vegetable) and wiping excess seasoning off after application minimizes this minor risk. Rancid seasoning affects flavor more than safety.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 92% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Cast Iron Skillets
Caraway
12” Enameled Cast Iron Large Skillet
Enameled cast iron
Lower-concern cookware; enameled cast iron is an inherently safer base, and Caraway has publicly committed to PFAS-free formulations.
⚠Risky category by default
More cast iron skillets grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.