Made In · Cast Iron Skillets
Made In Enameled Cast Iron Skillet
Lower PFAS concern, enameled cast iron uses glass-based enamel, not Teflon-family coating.
Made In's enameled cast iron skillet is made from cast iron with a glass-based enamel coating, which does not typically contain PFAS. Enamel is a fundamentally different coating technology from nonstick Teflon-family coating like Teflon-type coating.
Shop Made In on Amazon →Material
Enameled cast iron (enamel coating over cast iron base)
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.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Made In enameled cast iron consists of a cast iron core coated with a glass-based vitreous enamel. This enamel is fused to the iron at high temperature and does not contain Teflon-type coating (Teflon) or Teflon-family coating, eliminating the thermal decomposition risk present in non-stick coatings. The enamel acts as a barrier preventing direct contact between food and cast iron, which reduces iron leaching under normal use but creates a dependency on coating integrity.
The brand's record and disclosure
Made In does not publish detailed material safety disclosures or third-party certifications on heavy metals in enamel glazes. The brand has no documented safety recalls related to lead, cadmium, or coating degradation as of public records. Made In markets its cookware as non-toxic and free of Teflon-type coating but does not volunteer independent test reports; transparency on enamel composition is limited.
How it compares in its category
Enameled cast iron is a middle-ground choice: safer than bare cast iron for iron leaching but dependent on enamel durability. Compared to ceramic-coated or stainless steel alternatives, enameled cast iron avoids synthetic non-stick chemistry entirely. Made In's enamel construction appears consistent with industry standard (e.g., Le Creuset, Staub), though Made In does not publish third-party heavy metal testing while some competitors provide certified limits.
If you buy it
Inspect the enamel regularly for chips, cracks, or crazing; any damage exposing bare cast iron should trigger replacement of that piece to avoid accelerated iron leaching and food contamination. Avoid sudden temperature swings (don't cool a hot skillet rapidly) as thermal stress can crack enamel. Do not use metal utensils that can scrape the enamel; wooden or silicone tools are safer. Hand wash only; dishwasher use can weaken the enamel seal over time.
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 and cadmium in enamel glaze
Enamels historically used lead or cadmium as flux agents. Made In does not publish test data confirming absence of these metals. Modern manufacturers typically phase them out, but independent verification is absent from public disclosures.
Enamel coating degradation and chipping
Enameled cast iron cookware can chip or craze with age or thermal shock. When enamel fails, bare cast iron underneath can leach iron and lose its food barrier. This is a wear mechanism, not a manufacturing defect specific to Made In, but replacement becomes necessary.
Iron leaching from cast iron base
If enamel chips or cracks, food contacts raw cast iron, which can leach iron at levels higher than dietary recommendations for some populations (children, those with hemochromatosis). The enamel coating prevents this under normal use.
Teflon-type coating/thermal decomposition fumes
Glass-based enamel does not contain Teflon-type coating or Teflon-family coating. This hazard is absent in enameled cast iron products, differentiating them from traditional non-stick cookware.
Aluminum leaching
Made In enameled cast iron uses cast iron, not aluminum, as the substrate. Aluminum leaching is not a relevant hazard for this product class.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 88% 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.