Smithey Ironware · Cast Iron Skillets
Smithey No. 11 Deep Skillet with Glass Lid
Lower PFAS concern, cast iron is a safe, traditional cookware material with no nonstick coating.
Smithey's No. 11 Deep Skillet is cast iron, a material inherently free of PFAS coatings or treatments. The glass lid poses no typical PFAS risk. The brand does not claim PFAS-free status, but the product material itself carries lower concern than modern nonstick cookware.
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Cast iron with glass lid
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
The Smithey No. 11 is solid cast iron, a naturally inert cookware material that has been safely used for over a century. Cast iron does not leach harmful chemicals under normal cooking conditions because the seasoned surface (a polymerized oil layer) acts as a protective barrier between food and the metal itself. The glass lid is typically borosilicate or soda-lime glass, chemically stable at standard stovetop temperatures. No Teflon-type coating (Teflon) or other synthetic nonstick coatings are present, eliminating fume-release risks associated with overheated nonstick cookware.
The brand's record and disclosure
Smithey Ironware is a US-based artisanal cookware maker founded in 2012 with no public safety recalls or disclosed product violations on record. The company maintains a transparent website emphasizing traditional hand-finished manufacturing and does not aggressively market food-safety certifications, which is typical for cookware in this category rather than a red flag. No major controversies or undisclosed chemical concerns have been documented in independent consumer or regulatory databases.
How it compares in its category
Solid cast iron skillets are among the safest cookware options available, avoiding the chemical additives and degradation mechanisms common in nonstick aluminum or ceramic-coated pans. Compared to enameled cast iron (which can develop chip-related lead exposure if the coating is poorly formulated), bare cast iron eliminates ceramic or enamel coating concerns entirely. Glass lids are also a lower-risk choice compared to plastic lids, which can off-gas or warp under heat.
If you buy it
Cast iron requires seasoning maintenance (periodic oiling) but this actually reinforces its safety by building up a stable, food-safe polymerized layer. Avoid prolonged high heat (above 500F) and acidic foods (tomato, vinegar) on improperly seasoned pans, as these can temporarily increase iron leaching into food, though this is not hazardous in typical home use and is reversible by seasoning. The glass lid is safe for stovetop use on medium to medium-high heat but should not be used directly over flame or on very high-heat settings, as rapid thermal shock can crack it. Hand wash and dry immediately to prevent rust and maintain the seasoning.
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 (natural, non-toxic but relevant to awareness)
Bare cast iron can leach small amounts of iron into acidic or highly salted foods, especially if seasoning is compromised. This is not a chemical safety hazard but is nutritionally and flavor-relevant; iron content is actually nutritionally beneficial for many diets and poses no toxicological risk in normal cookware use.
Rust and corrosion if improperly maintained
Cast iron exposed to moisture without immediate drying or proper oiling will develop surface rust, which is cosmetic and removable but requires maintenance effort. This is a material property, not a chemical hazard.
Lead or cadmium in cast iron (foundry sourcing)
Smithey uses domestically sourced and cast iron with no disclosed heavy metal contamination issues. Cast iron cookware sold in the US market is not subject to the same lead-in-coating risks as glazed ceramics, as the material itself is not chemically processed into a glaze. No testing or recalls for this product have been published.
Borosilicate or soda-lime glass lid thermal safety
Modern glass lids are chemically inert and safe up to normal stovetop temperatures. Risk of thermal shock cracking exists if the lid is moved from cold to very hot surfaces rapidly, but this is a mechanical failure mode, not a chemical hazard.
Off-gassing or chemical residues from manufacturing
Cast iron cookware does not involve synthetic polymers, adhesives, or chemical coatings that typically off-gas. Smithey hand-finishes products in the US with no public reports of odor, chemical smell, or volatile organic compound concerns.
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.
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.