Smithey · Cast Iron Skillets
Smithey Cast Iron Chef Skillet No. 8
Lower concern, traditional cast iron with no nonstick coating or chemical surface treatment.
Smithey's No. 8 is cast iron cookware seasoned with oil, not a Teflon-family coating nonstick coating. Cast iron itself contains no PFAS; the seasoning layer is a food-grade oil polymer. No PFAS-related claims or lab data exist in public records, but the material category and traditional manufacture process present minimal PFAS risk.
Shop Smithey on Amazon →Material
Cast iron, seasoned finish
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
Smithey Cast Iron Chef Skillet No. 8 is made from cast iron with a seasoned (oil-polymerized) finish, not enameled or chemically coated. Cast iron itself is inert when properly maintained; the seasoning is simply oxidized oil layers that build over time with use. This construction means no synthetic polymers, ceramic glazes, or factory-applied nonstick coatings that could degrade and leach into food.
The brand's record and disclosure
Smithey is a modern heritage cookware maker focused on cast iron and does not publish detailed material safety documentation or third-party certifications. The brand has maintained a largely neutral profile on cookware safety claims, neither making nonstick promises nor issuing recalls for chemical hazards as of available public record. No established controversies or safety incidents linked to Smithey cast iron are documented.
How it compares in its category
Traditional seasoned cast iron like this skillet avoids the chemical risks of enameled cast iron (lead/cadmium in glazes), non-stick coated skillets (Teflon-type coating/PFOA), and aluminum cookware (aluminum leaching concerns). It sits at the safer end of the cookware spectrum from a chemical perspective, though it requires more active maintenance than modern alternatives. Seasoning quality and durability depend on user care rather than factory coatings.
If you buy it
Maintain the seasoning by cooking fatty foods regularly and avoiding prolonged soaking or dishwasher use; hand wash and dry immediately. Cast iron is safe for all stovetop heat levels and oven use up to 500F without degradation risk. The seasoning layer improves and becomes more nonstick over years of proper use. Replace only if the iron itself cracks or warps; the seasoning can always be restored.
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.”
Seasoning degradation and rust exposure
If seasoning is stripped through neglect or aggressive cleaning, bare cast iron can rust and theoretically introduce iron oxide into food. This is a use-and-maintenance issue, not a manufacturing defect; proper care prevents it entirely.
Lead or cadmium in cast iron ore
Cast iron cookware from reputable makers like Smithey is produced from refined iron stock with no documented heavy metal contamination. No recalls or safety alerts specific to lead/cadmium in Smithey cast iron exist in public records.
Aluminum leaching
Cast iron is iron-based, not aluminum. This hazard does not apply to this product.
Ceramic or enamel coating hazards
Smithey No. 8 is seasoned, not enameled. No ceramic glaze or synthetic coating is present, eliminating concerns about glaze cracking, lead, or cadmium exposure.
Teflon-type coating or nonstick fume risk
Traditional cast iron seasoning is oil-based polymerization, not synthetic Teflon-family coating. No Teflon-type coating or similar chemicals are present; overheating will not release toxic fumes.
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.