Great Jones · Grill Pans
Great Jones King Sear Cast-Iron Skillet
Lower PFAS concern, cast iron is a traditional material with no known PFAS risk.
The Great Jones King Sear is bare cast iron, a material that does not contain or require PFAS-based coatings or treatments. Cast iron cookware poses no known PFAS contamination risk. Standard seasoning (oil-based polymerization) does not introduce forever chemicals.
Shop Great Jones on Amazon →Material
Cast iron, seasoned/bare
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
The Great Jones King Sear is solid cast iron, a material composed of iron, carbon, and trace elements from the smelting process. Cast iron cookware has no synthetic nonstick coating, Teflon-family coating resin, or ceramic glaze to degrade or leach chemicals over time. The seasoning (oil polymerization on the surface) is a food-grade fat layer, not a chemical treatment, making this fundamentally different from coated cookware. Because there is no protective coating to wear away, the primary iron substrate remains intact across decades of use.
The brand's record and disclosure
Great Jones is a direct-to-consumer cookware brand founded in 2017 with a focus on design-forward, minimalist kitchen tools. The company does not publish detailed materials or safety certifications on this product or others, nor does it make public PFAS-avoidance claims. No product recalls, legal actions, or safety complaints specific to this skillet are on record in major consumer safety databases. The brand's silence on chemical testing is typical for cast iron (where risk is inherently low), but transparency remains limited.
How it compares in its category
Cast iron skillets are among the safest cookware options available because they eliminate coating-related hazards entirely. Most modern alternatives (nonstick, ceramic-coated) carry documented risks of coating degradation and Teflon-type coating fume release or ceramic glaze lead/cadmium concerns. The Great Jones King Sear is competitively priced for premium cast iron and performs similarly to other branded options (Lodge, Le Creuset); the main trade-off is weight and initial seasoning maintenance versus immediate nonstick convenience.
If you buy it
Maintain the seasoning by oiling lightly after each wash and avoiding prolonged soaking. Cast iron is safe at all stovetop and oven temperatures and will not release harmful fumes under normal cooking. The pan will last indefinitely if cared for; re-seasoning is possible if the surface ever deteriorates. Store it dry to prevent rust; if rust spots develop, they are not a health hazard and can be scrubbed away and re-seasoned.
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
Cast iron can deposit iron into highly acidic foods (vinegar, tomato, citrus) during prolonged cooking, which is safe for most people but may be a concern for those with iron-overload conditions. This is a material property of cast iron, not a safety defect.
Lead or cadmium in cast iron
Cast iron itself does not contain added lead or cadmium, and no recalls or test reports have identified contamination in Great Jones or competitor cast iron skillets. Modern cast iron is safe from heavy metal hazards.
Coating degradation and chemical release
Because this is bare cast iron with no synthetic coating, glaze, or enamel, there is no coating to flake, degrade, or release chemicals such as Teflon-type coating, BPA, or heavy metals.
Rust and corrosion
Bare cast iron will rust if stored wet or in high-humidity conditions, though rust itself is not a health hazard. Proper drying and light oiling prevent this cosmetic issue; rusty iron can be scrubbed clean.
Burn risk from heat retention
Cast iron retains heat intensely and the handle will become very hot during cooking. This is an ergonomic hazard, not a material hazard, and standard cookware safety practices (oven mitts, careful handling) apply.
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 Grill Pans
GreenPan
Valencia Pro Ceramic Nonstick 11" Round Grill Pan
Ceramic nonstick coating (Teflon-type coating-free proprietary formulation)
Lower-concern choice: ceramic nonstick with credible PFAS-free positioning and third-party certification.
⚠Risky category by default
More grill 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.