Smithey Ironware Co. · Cast Iron Skillets
Smithey Ironware Co Cast Iron Skillet No 12
Lower PFAS concern, bare cast iron carries no Teflon-family coating or coating risk.
Smithey's No. 12 is traditional cast iron with seasoned surface, not a synthetic nonstick coating. Cast iron is a foundational material with no PFAS risk pathway; the brand offers no PFAS claims because none are needed. This is a straightforward, lower-concern cookware choice.
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Cast iron (bare metal, seasoned)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Uncoated safe material
Bare, uncoated material (cast iron, stainless, carbon steel, or glass) with no surface treatment to contain PFAS.
Category baseline
cookware is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The Smithey No. 12 is bare cast iron, meaning it is solid iron with no enamel, Teflon-type coating, or ceramic coating applied at the factory. Seasoning (a polymerized oil layer built through heat and use) is the only protective barrier between the iron and food. This material chemistry is fundamentally different from modern nonstick or enameled skillets, eliminating risks tied to synthetic coatings degrading or leaching synthetic compounds.
The brand's record and disclosure
Smithey Ironware Co. does not publish detailed material safety disclosures or third-party certifications on their website or product documentation. The brand is known for hand-finished, artisanal-grade cast iron with minimal industrial processing. No recalls, safety controversies, or toxicity claims have been established in public records for this product line. The lack of transparency on sourcing and finishing oils is typical for the category but does not indicate hazard.
How it compares in its category
Bare cast iron skillets avoid the primary hazards of enameled cast iron (lead or cadmium in enamel, enamel chipping) and nonstick cast iron (Teflon-type coating fume risk, coating degradation). Smithey is positioned at the premium end of the bare cast iron market, with hand-finishing that rivals vintage pieces. Compared to budget bare cast iron, Smithey's higher price reflects machining precision and seasoning quality, not safety differences, though better flatness reduces hot spots.
If you buy it
Maintain the seasoning by cooking with fat and avoiding prolonged soaking or dishwashing; hand-wash and dry immediately. Do not use metal utensils aggressively, as this will strip seasoning and expose raw iron. Cast iron can leach iron into acidic foods (tomatoes, vinegar) over long cooking times, which is generally beneficial for iron intake but may affect flavor. Replace or strip and re-season if rust develops or seasoning becomes sticky or flakes.
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
Bare cast iron naturally contributes dietary iron to acidic foods during cooking. This is beneficial in most diets but can be a concern for individuals with hemochromatosis or iron overload disorders. Leaching increases with cooking time and acidity; neutral or alkaline foods absorb minimal iron.
Seasoning oil residue quality
Smithey does not publicly disclose the specific oil or finishing compound used in factory seasoning. Factory-applied seasoning is typically food-grade mineral or vegetable oil, but the lack of transparency makes independent verification impossible. Proper re-seasoning at home with known oils eliminates this uncertainty.
Lead or cadmium in raw iron
Modern cast iron is produced from recycled scrap and virgin ore that meet food-contact standards in North America and Europe. No recalls or testing data have indicated lead or cadmium contamination in contemporary Smithey skillets. Vintage cast iron poses higher risk if source is unknown.
Rust and corrosion management
If seasoning is compromised or maintenance is neglected, bare iron will rust, creating rough, unsightly surfaces and potential rust flakes in food. Rust itself is not acutely toxic but is undesirable. This is a maintenance issue, not an inherent material hazard.
Heat stability and fume risk
Bare cast iron has no synthetic coatings to degrade or off-gas. Seasoning oil will smoke at high temperatures (around 450-500 F depending on oil), but this is a normal cooking phenomenon, not a chemical hazard specific 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 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.