Lodge · Griddle Pans
Lodge Cast Iron Round Griddle
Lower concern, cast iron griddle with no added coatings or Teflon-family coating risk.
Lodge cast iron griddles are made from uncoated cast iron seasoned with oil, with no PFAS-containing nonstick or waterproof treatments applied. Cast iron is an inherently safe material with no known PFAS risk. This product presents lower concern for PFAS exposure.
Shop Lodge on Amazon →Material
cast iron, seasoned with oil
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
Lodge cast iron griddles are made from molten iron poured into sand molds, then seasoned with vegetable oil (typically soybean). Cast iron itself is chemically inert at normal cooking temperatures and does not degrade into harmful compounds. The seasoning layer is a polymerized oil coating that builds over time with use and protects against rust. Unlike nonstick cookware with Teflon-family coating coatings (Teflon-type coating/PFOA), cast iron has no synthetic chemical barrier to degrade or release fumes.
The brand's record and disclosure
Lodge Manufacturing is the largest cast iron cookware maker in the United States and has operated continuously since 1896. The company does not publicly disclose detailed safety testing or third-party certifications, but cast iron as a material class has a long, well-documented safety history with no widespread recalls tied to chemical leaching. Lodge has not faced established controversies regarding hazardous coatings or manufacturing processes specific to their griddles.
How it compares in its category
Cast iron griddles are among the safest cooking surfaces from a chemical leaching perspective. Unlike ceramic-coated griddles (which may contain lead or cadmium in glazes), aluminum griddles (which can leach aluminum under acidic conditions), or nonstick griddles (Teflon-type coating degradation risk at high heat), cast iron griddles eliminate these concerns entirely. The main trade-off is weight and initial maintenance burden, not safety.
If you buy it
Season regularly with high-smoke-point oil (canola, vegetable, grapeseed) to maintain the protective layer and prevent rust. Avoid prolonged soaking in water or dishwasher use, which degrades seasoning. Cast iron can safely reach very high temperatures without coating breakdown. Over decades of use, the seasoning may wear unevenly; re-seasoning in an oven restores the surface. Replace only if structural cracks develop, which is rare.
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
Cast iron can release small amounts of iron into acidic foods (tomatoes, vinegar, citrus) during cooking. This is not a toxicity concern for most people; many view iron fortification as a benefit. Those with iron overload disorders (hemochromatosis) should consult a physician about cast iron use.
Lead or cadmium in casting molds or old stock
Modern Lodge griddles are manufactured in the USA with quality control standards that prevent lead contamination in the cast iron itself. No recalls or test reports of lead/cadmium in Lodge cast iron cookware exist in public records.
Seasoning oil degradation or rancidity
The initial factory seasoning uses food-grade vegetable oil, which is stable at cooking temperatures. However, if the griddle is stored in humid conditions or left unsealed for years, the seasoning can oxidize or the iron can rust, requiring re-seasoning. This is a maintenance issue, not a chemical safety risk.
Teflon-type coating or nonstick coating fumes
Lodge cast iron griddles have no Teflon-type coating or synthetic nonstick coatings. Fume inhalation risk from Teflon-family coating does not apply to this product.
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 Griddle Pans
Caraway
Sage Ceramic Non-Stick Square Griddle Pan
Ceramic non-stick coating (proprietary, PFOA/Teflon-type coating-free)
Lower-concern option; ceramic coating and third-party certifications support the PFAS-free claim, though independent lab testing of this specific product line i
⚠Risky category by default
More griddle 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.