Field Company · Cast Iron Skillets
Field Co. Cast Iron Skillet No. 8
Lower PFAS concern, bare cast iron is a conventional, non-coated cookware choice.
Field Company's cast iron skillet is made from seasoned cast iron with no synthetic nonstick or Teflon-family coating, making PFAS exposure from the cookware itself highly unlikely. The brand makes no PFAS claims, but that is typical for traditional cast iron.
Shop Field Company on Amazon →Material
cast iron, bare/seasoned surface
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Uncoated safe material
Bare, uncoated material (cast iron, stainless, carbon steel, or glass) with no surface treatment to contain PFAS.
Category baseline
cookware is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Field Co. No. 8 is bare cast iron, iron ore melted and cast into shape, then typically seasoned with oil to create a non-stick surface. Cast iron contains no synthetic coatings, polymers, or chemical finishes that can degrade or leach into food. The seasoning layer is simply polymerized fat (from vegetable or animal oil), which bonds to the iron through heat and use rather than adhesive or resin. This construction eliminates the primary failure mode of modern nonstick cookware: coating breakdown releasing Teflon-type coating, PFOA, or other synthetic chemicals.
The brand's record and disclosure
Field Company is a small, US-based cast iron manufacturer with no significant public safety controversies or recalls on record. The brand does not publish detailed material certifications or third-party testing disclosures, which is typical for traditional cast iron makers focused on heritage production. No known litigation, regulatory action, or credible allegations of contamination have been reported. The brand's silence on PFAS reflects the material reality: bare cast iron manufacturing has no PFAS input or output.
How it compares in its category
Bare cast iron skillets are among the safest cookware options by material design. Unlike enameled cast iron (which can chip and expose iron or contain lead in older enamel), or modern nonstick aluminum/ceramic pans (which risk Teflon-type coating fume release or ceramic degradation), bare cast iron has no surface coating to fail. It outlasts virtually all alternatives by decades or centuries. The main trade-off is higher maintenance, regular seasoning and handwashing, but this is a durability feature, not a safety liability.
If you buy it
Hand wash immediately after use and dry completely to prevent rust. Avoid prolonged soaking or dishwashing. Maintain the seasoning layer by wiping with a thin coat of neutral oil after each wash. Do not use metal utensils aggressively; nylon or wood is safer for the surface. Cast iron can be safely used on any heat source up to stovetop flame or oven temperatures. It does not off-gas or leach under normal cooking use. Expect to inherit this pan to your children if properly maintained.
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 into acidic foods
Bare cast iron does release small amounts of dietary iron when cooking acidic foods (tomato sauce, vinegar, citrus) over extended periods. For most diets this is nutritionally neutral or beneficial; people with iron-overload disorders (hemochromatosis) should consult a physician. This is a known property of the material, not a manufacturing defect.
Rust and surface corrosion
Bare cast iron will rust if left wet or stored in humid conditions. Rust itself is iron oxide and is not acutely toxic in small amounts, but heavy rust can harbor bacteria and degrade the cooking surface. Prevention through prompt drying and light oiling is essential; this is maintenance, not a flaw.
Lead or cadmium in casting
Modern cast iron skillets, including Field Co., are cast from recycled or virgin iron stock without intentional lead or cadmium additions. No credible reports of heavy metal contamination in contemporary US-made bare cast iron exist. Vintage or imported cast iron may pose higher risk if sourced from unregulated foundries.
Teflon-type coating or synthetic coatings
Field Co. No. 8 is bare cast iron with no applied nonstick coating. There is no Teflon-type coating, PFOA, or other volatile fluorinated compound in the product by design. This eliminates fume risk entirely.
Ceramic or enamel chip exposure
This product is not enameled, so there is no enamel to chip and expose iron or contaminants. Bare cast iron has no fragile surface layer.
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.