Old Mountain · Cast Iron Skillets
Old Mountain Cast Iron Skillet
Lower PFAS concern, cast iron is a traditional, uncoated cookware option.
Old Mountain cast iron skillets are bare cast iron with seasoned (oil-based) surfaces, not nonstick coatings or Teflon-family coating. Cast iron itself carries no known PFAS risk. No PFAS claims or third-party certifications are listed, but the material class is inherently lower-concern for forever chemicals.
Shop Old Mountain on Amazon →Material
Cast iron (bare metal, seasoned surface)
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
Old Mountain skillets are bare cast iron with a seasoned (oil-polymerized) cooking surface, not an enamel or synthetic coating. Cast iron itself is inert and does not leach harmful chemicals when used for cooking, though raw cast iron can transfer small amounts of iron into acidic foods, which is considered nutritionally neutral to beneficial for most consumers. The seasoning layer is simply polymerized oil that builds up from repeated cooking and oiling, creating a natural non-stick surface without synthetic polymers or fluorinated compounds.
The brand's record and disclosure
Old Mountain is a subsidiary of Lodge Manufacturing and has maintained a low public profile on chemical disclosure. No formal safety certifications, third-party testing announcements, or chemical transparency statements are readily available from the brand. No significant safety recalls or controversies specific to Old Mountain cast iron have been documented in consumer safety databases. The brand relies on the established safety reputation of bare cast iron as a product category rather than differentiation through testing or certification.
How it compares in its category
Bare cast iron skillets (Old Mountain, Lodge, Smithey) are considered among the safest cookware options because they lack coatings that can degrade or leach. Enameled cast iron (Le Creuset, Staub) introduces ceramic glaze, which can chip and expose underlying iron, and historically some enamels contained lead, though modern products typically do not. Non-stick alternatives (Teflon-type coating-coated or ceramic) carry fume and coating-degradation risks that cast iron avoids entirely.
If you buy it
Season and maintain the skillet regularly by wiping with a thin layer of oil after each wash to preserve the polymerized surface and prevent rust; avoid prolonged soaking or dishwasher use. Acidic foods (tomato sauce, wine-based dishes) can interact with the iron surface and may strip seasoning, so limit prolonged contact or use a well-seasoned skillet. Cast iron is durable and does not require replacement unless structural damage (cracks, warping) develops; proper seasoning extends functional life indefinitely. Avoid overheating empty skillets at very high temperatures for extended periods, as this can damage seasoning, though the iron itself will not fail.
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 food
Cast iron releases iron ions into acidic or prolonged-contact foods, particularly at higher cooking temperatures. For most consumers this is nutritionally benign or beneficial; however, individuals with hemochromatosis or iron-overload conditions should consult their physician and may need to limit cast iron use.
Seasoning degradation and rust exposure
If seasoning is stripped through acidic cooking, dishwasher use, or neglect, bare cast iron can rust. Rust itself is iron oxide and not toxic in small amounts, but it affects taste and appearance and requires re-seasoning to restore function.
Lead or cadmium in historical enamels (not applicable here)
Old Mountain skillets are bare cast iron without enamel or glaze coating, so enameled cookware hazards do not apply. This product is not enameled.
Teflon-type coating fume risk (not applicable here)
Cast iron is not coated with polytetrafluoroethylene or other non-stick synthetics, so overheating will not release Teflon-family coating fumes. This hazard class is irrelevant to bare cast iron.
Manufacturing contamination or impurities in iron
No documented cases of harmful heavy metals or contaminants in Old Mountain cast iron manufacturing have been reported. Cast iron sourcing and smelting standards are not publicly disclosed by the brand, but no safety alerts exist in consumer databases.
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
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.