Smithey Ironware · Cast Iron Skillets
Smithey 12" Cast Iron Skillet
Lower-concern cookware; cast iron has no PFAS risk inherent to the material.
Smithey cast iron skillets are made from cast iron with traditional seasoning (polymerized oil), not synthetic nonstick coatings. Cast iron itself contains no PFAS. The brand makes no PFAS claims, but that's typical for uncoated cookware, there is no coating risk to disclose. Standard cast iron is a lower-concern choice.
Shop Smithey Ironware on Amazon →Material
Cast iron, seasoning (oil/fat buildup)
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.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Smithey's 12-inch skillet is cast iron, a solid metal alloy of iron and carbon with no synthetic coatings, polymers, or chemical finishes. Cast iron does not leach lead, cadmium, or Teflon-type coating, hazards tied to enameled cookware or non-stick surfaces. The cooking surface relies on seasoning (polymerized oil layers) that builds over time and is entirely in your control; this is not a factory-applied coating subject to degradation or peeling.
The brand's record and disclosure
Smithey Ironware is a modern cast iron maker focused on heritage production and design; the company does not publicly disclose PFAS testing or certifications, nor does it market non-stick or enamel variants that would typically require such disclosure. No recalls, safety controversies, or third-party testing failures are on record for this brand. Limited public information on material sourcing or manufacturing environmental practices beyond general craft positioning.
How it compares in its category
Bare cast iron skillets (Smithey, Lodge, vintage) carry zero risk of synthetic coating hazards, unlike enameled cast iron (which may contain lead in older batches or ceramic glaze contaminants) or modern non-stick alternatives (Teflon-type coating/PFOA risk). Cast iron's durability, lasting decades to generations with proper care, also eliminates the waste and leaching cycles of replaceable cookware. Smithey's product sits at the premium end of the bare-cast-iron market, priced higher than Lodge but with equivalent safety profile.
If you buy it
Maintain seasoning by cooking with fats and wiping clean; avoid prolonged soaking or dishwasher use, which degrades the oil layer and exposes bare iron to rust. Cast iron tolerates all stovetop heat and oven temperatures without degradation; no coating-failure concerns. Replace seasoning layer if rust appears (simple: heat and oil). Pre-seasoned skillets from Smithey arrive ready to use and will improve with age.
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 (non-hazardous context)
Cast iron releases small amounts of iron into food, particularly acidic dishes; this is nutritionally beneficial for most people and not classified as a safety hazard by FDA or EFSA.
Coating degradation and peeling
Smithey's product has no applied coating, only user-maintained seasoning. No factory finish to flake or contaminate food.
Lead or cadmium in material or finish
Cast iron mined and smelted to modern standards contains negligible lead. No enamel, glaze, or ceramic coating (sources of lead risk in vintage or low-quality enameled cookware) is present on this bare skillet.
Bacterial or mold growth on seasoning
If skillet is stored wet or in high-humidity conditions without drying, the seasoned surface can support mold or bacteria. Proper drying after cleaning eliminates this risk; it is a maintenance issue, not a material hazard.
Thermal stress or warping
Cast iron is extremely thermally stable and will not warp or degrade from high heat, thermal shock, or repeated oven use within normal cooking ranges.
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.