Caraway · Bundt Pans
CARAWAY Nonstick Ceramic Square Baking Pan in Sage at Nordstrom
Lower-concern option; ceramic nonstick avoids Teflon-family coating, and brand transparency supports the claim.
Caraway's ceramic nonstick coating replaces Teflon-type coating/PFOA with a plant-derived alternative, and the brand openly commits to PFAS-free manufacturing. The cookware holds MADE SAFE certification, a third-party standard that screens for PFAS.
Brand says: “Caraway uses a ceramic nonstick coating that is PFOA and PTFE-free; the brand publicly states their cookware contains no PFAS.”
Material
ceramic nonstick coating
Brand disclosure
Brand claims PFAS-free
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Category baseline
cookware is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
Third-party PFAS-free verification
Independently verified PFAS-free by a third party.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Caraway's nonstick coating is ceramic-based rather than Teflon-type coating (Teflon) or other Teflon-family coating, meaning it does not rely on PFAS "forever chemicals" (PFAS) for its release properties. The underlying substrate is likely steel or aluminum with a ceramic topcoat applied by a ceramic-type or similar process. Ceramic coatings are chemically inert at typical baking temperatures (up to 500F is standard for this brand) and do not off-gas toxic fumes under normal home-use conditions, unlike Teflon-type coating at high heat.
The brand's record and disclosure
Caraway explicitly markets itself as PFAS-free and has made transparency around coating chemistry a core part of its brand positioning, with public statements available on their website and retail partners' product pages. No major safety recalls or contamination incidents have been publicly documented for Caraway bakeware as of the available record. The brand sources manufacturing primarily overseas but maintains quality-control documentation; third-party independent lab testing results for heavy metals or leachates in Caraway cookware are not widely published in public databases, which is common for direct-to-consumer cookware brands.
How it compares in its category
Ceramic nonstick baking pans occupy a middle ground: they avoid PFAS entirely (unlike traditional nonstick cookware), but offer less durability and release performance than seasoned cast iron or steel. Caraway is positioned as a premium ceramic alternative in the direct-to-consumer market and is priced accordingly. Compared to budget ceramic bakeware or conventional Teflon-type coating nonstick pans, Caraway's coating formulation appears more carefully engineered to resist chipping and degradation over repeated use.
If you buy it
Hand-wash only to preserve the ceramic coating; avoid metal utensils and high-temperature oven broiler use above Caraway's stated limit (typically 500F). Inspect the coating regularly for chips or damage; if the underlying substrate is exposed, discontinue use to prevent potential metal leaching. Replace every 3-5 years depending on use frequency, as ceramic coatings gradually thin and lose release properties. Store flat or upright, not stacked under heavy items, to prevent impact damage.
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.”
Ceramic coating degradation and substrate exposure
Ceramic nonstick coatings degrade with use and mechanical stress. If the coating chips significantly, the underlying aluminum or steel may be exposed and potentially leach small amounts of metal. This is not unique to Caraway but is inherent to ceramic bakeware and warrants regular visual inspection.
Aluminum leaching (if aluminum substrate exposed)
If the ceramic coating is compromised and the pan has an aluminum core, acidic foods (tomato sauce, vinegar-based batters) could theoretically cause minor aluminum transfer. The intact ceramic coating prevents this; damage accelerates the risk. No specific data on Caraway aluminum content or anodization thickness is publicly available.
Lead or cadmium in glaze or enamel
No documented contamination reports or regulatory actions for Caraway bakeware regarding heavy metals in the ceramic coating itself. Most U.S.-sold bakeware complies with FDA limits on leachable lead and cadmium, though independent third-party testing results for this specific product are not publicly disclosed.
Teflon-type coating or Teflon-family coating fume inhalation risk
By design, Caraway ceramic nonstick eliminates the Teflon-type coating thermal decomposition hazard that occurs in conventional nonstick cookware above 500F. This is a key safety advantage of the ceramic formulation.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or off-gassing from coating
Ceramic ceramic-type coatings do not typically off-gas harmful VOCs at normal baking temperatures. No odor or fume complaints linked to Caraway bakeware have been documented; ceramic remains chemically stable across the home-oven temperature range.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 82% 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.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
More bundt pans 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.