Leverage · Cast Iron Skillets
Lodge Cast-Iron Skillet with Assist Handle
Lower PFAS concern, traditional cast iron is inherently PFAS-free.
Lodge's cast-iron skillets are made from seasoned cast iron with no added nonstick Teflon-family coating coatings, placing them in the lower-concern category for PFAS. The brand does not claim PFAS-free status or hold third-party certifications, but cast iron's material nature avoids the chemical class entirely.
Shop Leverage on Amazon →Material
Cast iron with seasoning layer (oil/wax)
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.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
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 manufactured from cast iron, a naturally inert metal that does not leach toxic compounds into food under normal cooking conditions. The seasoning layer, typically a combination of polymerized oil and wax applied during manufacturing, creates a non-stick surface without synthetic coatings like Teflon-type coating (Teflon). This design eliminates the primary chemical hazard associated with non-stick cookware: thermal decomposition of Teflon-family coating. Cast iron is chemically stable across typical home cooking temperatures (up to 500°F regularly, higher in oven use).
The brand's record and disclosure
Lodge is one of the oldest and largest cast-iron manufacturers in North America and maintains minimal public disclosure about chemical testing or third-party certifications, this is typical for the cast-iron category where material composition is straightforward and regulatory oversight is light. No recalls or documented safety controversies involving heavy metals, coatings, or chemical hazards have been reported for Lodge skillets in standard consumer databases. The company does not advertise PFAS testing, but this is not a concern for cast iron, which is inherently PFAS-free by material class.
How it compares in its category
Cast-iron skillets occupy the safest end of the cookware spectrum regarding synthetic chemical coatings. Unlike ceramic-coated or Teflon-type coating non-stick alternatives, cast iron depends on mechanical seasoning rather than applied polymer layers that can degrade. Among cast-iron producers, Lodge is a mainstream choice with a long production history; alternatives like Smithey or Field are similar in material but command higher prices for finishing quality rather than chemical safety gains. Enameled cast iron (e.g., Le Creuset) adds a ceramic-enamel layer that introduces minimal but documented cadmium and lead risks in rare cases, absent in bare cast iron.
If you buy it
Maintain the seasoning by cooking with fats regularly and hand-washing only, avoid prolonged soaking or dishwashers, which degrade the protective layer. Use on gas, electric, and induction cooktops without temperature limits for normal cooking; cast iron does not off-gas or degrade at typical stove or oven temperatures. Replace when the cooking surface becomes heavily pitted (decades of use for Lodge's quality) or handle develops structural cracks. Re-season every few years by wiping with a thin oil layer and heating briefly, or after cooking acidic foods.
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.”
Lead/cadmium in cast-iron matrix or seasoning residue
Cast iron and food-grade oil or wax used for seasoning are not known sources of lead or cadmium. Lodge does not publicly disclose foundry-level metal purity testing, but cast-iron cookware from established US manufacturers is not associated with heavy metal contamination in published safety data.
Teflon-type coating/Teflon-family coating thermal decomposition (fume risk)
This hazard is eliminated by design; Lodge cast iron relies on mechanical seasoning without synthetic non-stick coatings. No Teflon-type coating or related Teflon-family coating are present.
Aluminum leaching
Cast iron cookware contains negligible aluminum; this hazard is not applicable to this product category.
Seasoning degradation and oxide/particulate ingestion
Poorly maintained or over-scrubbed cast iron may shed small amounts of seasoning or iron oxide particles into food. This is cosmetic and not a health hazard in typical quantities, but indicates maintenance neglect. Avoid steel wool; use soft brushes or salt-and-oil paste for cleaning.
Handle assist attachment durability and material safety
The assist handle on this model is a mechanical feature; no published safety data on handle material composition or failure modes. Verify handle is fully riveted and secure before use; stainless-steel hardware is standard and poses no chemical risk.
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
Lodge
Cast Iron Classic Cast Iron Skillets
cast iron (bare or seasoned with oil)
Lower PFAS concern, bare cast iron has no synthetic coatings.
⚠Risky category by default
Lodge
Cast Iron Skillet Pan 6"
cast iron, seasoned with oil
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.