75/ 100
C
OverallD67/100
Netherton Foundry Shropshire 8" Oven Safe Iron Frying pan

Netherton Foundry · Cast Iron Skillets

Netherton Foundry Shropshire 8" Oven Safe Iron Frying pan

C · Moderate

Lower PFAS concern, traditional cast iron with no coating or treatment known to contain PFAS.

Verdict: BuyCast iron with no synthetic coatings or known hazardous treatments; traditional seasoning poses minimal chemical risk when maintained properly.

Netherton Foundry makes cast iron cookware seasoned with oils, not Teflon-family coating or synthetic nonstick coatings. Cast iron itself has no known PFAS risk. The brand makes no PFAS claims because the product category (unseasoned or naturally seasoned cast iron) is not typical source of forever chemicals.

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Material

Cast iron, seasoned

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.

Hurts the grade

No PFAS disclosure

No public statement about PFAS in this product.

Hurts the grade

Uncoated safe material

Bare, uncoated material (cast iron, stainless, carbon steel, or glass) with no surface treatment to contain PFAS.

Helps the grade

The full breakdown

What it's made of and why it matters

This is solid cast iron seasoned with oil, containing no synthetic non-stick coatings, enamel glazes, or chemical treatments. Cast iron itself is chemically inert at normal cooking temperatures and does not leach toxic compounds into food. The seasoning layer is a polymerized oil coating that hardens over time and improves non-stick properties naturally; it poses no identified chemical hazard when intact.

The brand's record and disclosure

Netherton Foundry is a UK-based foundry specializing in traditionally cast and seasoned cookware with no public record of chemical hazard disclosures, recalls, or certifications regarding food-contact safety. The brand does not publicly state a position on PFAS or synthetic coatings, but their product design inherently avoids these concerns by using no applied coatings. No established controversies regarding material safety or misrepresentation are on record.

How it compares in its category

Traditional seasoned cast iron like this avoids the chemical risks associated with modern ceramic or Teflon-type coating non-stick coatings, which can degrade or off-gas at high heat. It also differs from enameled cast iron, which uses a ceramic glaze that may contain lead or cadmium in older or unregulated products. Seasoned cast iron is lower-risk than aluminum cookware for leaching concerns and comparable to stainless steel in terms of coating-free safety, though with higher maintenance demands.

If you buy it

Maintain the seasoning by avoiding prolonged soaking, drying immediately after washing, and oiling lightly after each use. Do not preheat empty at very high temperatures for extended periods, as this can degrade the seasoning layer and expose bare iron. Replace only if the cooking surface becomes severely pitted or cracked, which rarely occurs with proper care. Avoid acidic foods (vinegar, tomato) for prolonged cooking, as these can strip seasoning; reseason annually if needed by heating oiled surface in a 350-400°F oven for 1 hour.

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.”

Possible

Iron leaching from bare metal

If seasoning is damaged or removed by acidic prolonged cooking or aggressive cleaning, bare iron can leach into acidic foods. This is not acutely toxic but may elevate dietary iron intake; most relevant for individuals with hemochromatosis or iron-storage disorders.

None known

Lead/cadmium in glaze or coating

This product has no applied glaze, enamel, or ceramic coating; seasoning is oil-based. No identified risk for lead or cadmium leaching.

None known

Teflon-type coating or synthetic non-stick coating breakdown

Netherton Foundry uses traditional seasoning only, with no Teflon-type coating or modern synthetic non-stick applied. No risk of coating degradation or fume release.

None known

Aluminum leaching

Cast iron does not contain aluminum; this hazard class is not applicable to this product.

Possible

Seasoning oil oxidation or rancidity

Polymerized seasoning oils can, over years, become oxidized or rancid if stored poorly or exposed to prolonged heat and air. This is unlikely to cause acute toxicity but may degrade flavor or offend sensory quality; proper storage and occasional reseasonings mitigate this.

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.

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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.