75/ 100
C
OverallD67/100
Field Company Cast Iron Skillet No. 4

Field Company · Cast Iron Skillets

Field Company Cast Iron Skillet No. 4

C · Moderate

Lower-concern cookware; cast iron inherently PFAS-free and does not require Teflon-family coating coatings.

Verdict: BuyCast iron skillet with no known coating hazards; PFAS-free by material design; Field Company has clean safety record and transparent practices.

Field Company cast irons are bare cast iron with traditional seasoning, no nonstick coatings, Teflon-family coating, or water-resistant treatments involved. Cast iron cookware has no known association with PFAS exposure during normal use. The brand makes no PFAS claims because the product category does not typically require them.

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Material

cast iron, 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.

Helps the grade

Category baseline

cookware is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.

Hurts the grade

No PFAS disclosure

No public statement about PFAS in this product.

Hurts the grade

The full breakdown

What it's made of and why it matters

Field Company No. 4 is cast iron, a ferrous metal alloy (iron, carbon, small amounts of silicon and manganese) seasoned with food-grade oil. Cast iron does not rely on synthetic coatings like Teflon-type coating or ceramic glazes, so it avoids the leaching and degradation risks those carry. The seasoning layer is polymerized fat buildup, not a chemical coating, making it inherently stable under normal cooking temperatures.

The brand's record and disclosure

Field Company is a small US-based cast iron manufacturer known for transparency about sourcing and production. The brand has not faced major recalls or disclosed safety controversies related to cookware. Field Company does not publish formal third-party testing or certifications (NSF, GOTS, etc.), which is typical for heritage cast iron makers; their reputation relies on direct customer feedback and word-of-mouth rather than formal compliance statements.

How it compares in its category

Cast iron skillets are among the safest cookware options precisely because they lack synthetic coatings. Field Company sits in the mid-premium segment of cast iron (higher quality than mass-market Lodge, comparable to or slightly less expensive than heirloom brands like Smithey). Unlike non-stick or enameled cookware, cast iron eliminates concerns about coating breakdown, Teflon-family coating fumes, or glaze lead leaching.

If you buy it

Maintain the seasoning layer by oiling after wash and avoiding prolonged water soaking to prevent rust. Cast iron has no practical temperature ceiling under normal stovetop use (safe to 500+ degrees Fahrenheit). Replace or strip and re-season only if rust penetrates the pan or seasoning becomes sticky or flaked. Hand wash only; dishwasher will strip seasoning and accelerate rust.

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.”

None known

Lead or cadmium in cast iron

Cast iron composition (iron, carbon, silicon) does not contain lead or cadmium by nature. Field Company does not use ceramic or enamel coatings where these heavy metals might be found in glazes. No recalls or test results suggesting contamination have been reported for this brand.

None known

Aluminum leaching

This is cast iron, not aluminum cookware. Aluminum leaching is not a hazard class for ferrous metal skillets.

Possible

Rust and iron transfer to food

Cast iron can rust if seasoning is neglected or damaged, and iron does transfer to acidic foods (tomato sauce, vinegar-based dishes). This is not a toxicological hazard; excess dietary iron is rarely a concern for most people, but those with hemochromatosis should avoid prolonged cooking of acidic foods in cast iron.

None known

Contamination from manufacturing or transport

Field Company skillets are produced in the United States with documented quality control. No reports of bacterial or chemical contamination in finished skillets exist in public records.

Possible

Seasoning oil degradation or rancidity

The seasoning layer uses polymerized oil, which can degrade if exposed to prolonged heat, moisture, or oxidation during storage. Rancid oil flavor is detectable and unpleasant but poses minimal health risk if cooking temperatures are sufficient to break down volatile compounds. Properly stored cast iron (dry, cool place) avoids this.

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

12” Enameled Cast Iron Large Skillet

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Enameled cast iron

A
A
PFASAll
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Risky category by default

Lodge Cast Iron Classic Cast Iron Skillets

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cast iron (bare or seasoned with oil)

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Lower PFAS concern, bare cast iron has no synthetic coatings.

Risky category by default

Lodge Cast Iron Skillet Pan 6"

Lodge

Cast Iron Skillet Pan 6"

cast iron, seasoned with oil

A
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PFASAll
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Lower PFAS concern, bare cast iron with traditional seasoning, no Teflon-family coating coatings.

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.