Borough Furnace · Cast Iron Skillets
Lodge Cast Iron Skillet Pan 6"
Lower-concern cast iron cookware with no known PFAS risk; buy with confidence.
Lodge and Borough Furnace cast iron skillets are seasoned with food-grade oil, not Teflon-family coating nonstick coatings. Cast iron is a traditional material with no established PFAS association. No PFAS disclosure needed because the product contains no known fluorinated chemistry.
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Cast iron, seasoned with oil
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
Lodge cast iron skillets are solid cast iron with a factory-applied oil seasoning layer. Cast iron itself is a food-safe, chemically stable metal that does not leach under normal cooking conditions. The seasoning is a polymerized oil coating that protects the iron and improves non-stick performance; properly maintained seasoning poses no toxicological concern.
The brand's record and disclosure
Lodge is a long-established US cast iron manufacturer with no public recalls or safety controversies related to chemical contamination or hazardous coatings. The company does not publicly disclose detailed material certifications or third-party testing but maintains a strong reputation for manufacturing transparency and product durability. No evidence of regulatory action or consumer safety complaints specific to this product line.
How it compares in its category
Cast iron skillets are among the safest cookware materials available because iron does not degrade under heat and is not subject to the coating-failure or leaching risks that affect non-stick or ceramic cookware. Lodge skillets are direct competitors to Le Creuset and Smithey and are considered equivalent in safety profile. This 6-inch size is ideal for small portions and careful heat control, reducing any theoretical risk from overheating.
If you buy it
Maintain the seasoning by hand-washing, drying immediately, and applying a light oil coating after each use; avoid prolonged soaking or dishwasher cycles. Cast iron can withstand high heat indefinitely and will improve with age if cared for properly. Replace only if the surface develops deep pitting or rust that cannot be restored; well-maintained cast iron typically lasts decades or longer. Avoid acidic foods (tomato, vinegar, citrus) on newly seasoned pans, as these can temporarily strip the coating.
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
Cast iron does not leach iron in amounts that pose toxicological concern; dietary iron from cast iron cookware is negligible and not considered a safety issue by FDA or public health agencies.
Coating degradation and particle shedding
The oil seasoning is food-grade and polymerizes into a stable protective layer; it does not chip, flake, or shed particles under normal use the way synthetic non-stick coatings can.
Lead or cadmium contamination
Cast iron raw material sourcing and Lodge's manufacturing process are not documented as sources of lead or heavy metal contamination; no recalls or test failures on record for this hazard in cast iron cookware.
Thermal damage or decomposition
Cast iron and oil seasoning remain stable at all typical cooking temperatures (up to 500+ degrees Fahrenheit); there is no fume risk or toxic decomposition product from overheating.
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.