Smithey Ironware Co. · Cast Iron Skillets
Smithey Ironware Company Cast Iron Skillet No. 12
Lower PFAS concern, cast iron is a traditional, inherently PFAS-free cookware material.
Smithey Ironware produces traditional cast iron skillets with seasoned finishes, not synthetic nonstick coatings. Cast iron relies on natural oil polymerization for its surface, which does not involve Teflon-family coating or PFAS. No disclosure or testing claims were found, but the material category itself carries minimal PFAS risk.
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Cast iron with seasoned oil finish
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.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
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
Smithey No. 12 is cast iron, a ferrous alloy (iron plus carbon and trace minerals) with a mechanically seasoned oil finish. Cast iron has no synthetic polymer coating, no PFOA/Teflon-type coating, and no glaze chemistry, the seasoning is simply polymerized fat baked onto the surface. This material class is chemically inert at typical cooking temperatures and does not leach organics or off-gas.
The brand's record and disclosure
Smithey Ironware is a U.S. maker known for heirloom-quality cast iron cookware. No major recalls, safety statements, or third-party certifications specific to heavy metals or contaminants are publicly documented for this model. The brand maintains silent stance on PFAS but cast iron as a category requires no PFAS treatment. Build quality and finish consistency are generally well-regarded in consumer reviews.
How it compares in its category
Cast iron skillets occupy the safest end of the cookware spectrum: no ceramic coating degradation risk, no nonstick fluorocarbon fumes, and no aluminum leaching. Smithey is positioned as premium versus mass-market Lodge or vintage options, with hand-finishing and quality control claimed to be higher. Price reflects artisanal production rather than added safety, a standard Lodge skillet carries equivalent chemical safety.
If you buy it
Maintain the seasoning by wiping with oil after washing and light cooking heat. Cast iron can handle high heat (stovetop, oven to 500°F+) without coating breakdown. Avoid prolonged soaking and acidic foods, which can strip seasoning and expose bare iron to rust. The pan will outlast you if properly seasoned; replacement is not a safety concern but a maintenance choice.
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 (normal physiological level)
Cast iron does leach trace iron into food, especially acidic foods. This is not a toxicological hazard for most people and is nutritionally neutral to beneficial; no safety recalls or health warnings exist for cast iron skillets.
Lead or cadmium in iron ore or finish
No recalls, test results, or public safety alerts document heavy metal contamination in Smithey skillets or cast iron cookware as a category. Raw iron ore purity and foundry smelting standards in the U.S. are sufficient to prevent hazardous accumulation.
Bacterial or mold growth in seasoning layer
If skillet is stored wet or in high humidity without proper drying and oiling, the seasoning can degrade and bare iron can rust or support surface microbial growth. This is a maintenance failure, not an inherent product defect, and is entirely preventable with standard care.
Coating degradation or flaking
Cast iron has no applied enamel, glaze, or synthetic coating to chip or degrade into food. The seasoning is polymerized fat and will darken or lighten with use but does not flake or shed particles under normal cooking.
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
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.