Smithfield · Cast Iron Skillets
Smith & Clark Ironworks 10" Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet Frying Pan
Lower PFAS concern, cast iron is a safe material choice with no chemical coatings.
Pre-seasoned cast iron skillets are made from iron and oil seasoning, not Teflon-family coating or nonstick coatings, so PFAS risk is minimal. The brand makes no PFAS claims, but the material itself has no inherent PFAS risk. This is a straightforward cookware product with well-understood composition.
Shop Smithfield on Amazon →Material
cast iron, seasoned with oil
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
This skillet is cast iron, a raw metal alloy of iron, carbon, and trace elements like manganese and silicon. Pre-seasoned with oil means a thin layer of polymerized fat (not a synthetic chemical coating) bonds to the surface during manufacturing. Cast iron has no polymer topcoat, non-stick resin, or enamel glaze that could degrade, leach, or off-gas; the iron itself is chemically stable at normal cooking temperatures.
The brand's record and disclosure
Smith and Clark (also marketed as Smithfield) is a legacy cast iron manufacturer with decades of commodity cookware production. No major safety recalls, certifications, or public safety disclosures are on record for this product line. The brand does not publish detailed material sourcing or testing claims, which is typical for traditional cast iron makers but limits transparency.
How it compares in its category
Cast iron skillets are among the safest cookware materials because they lack synthetic coatings entirely. Pre-seasoned cast iron avoids the concern of initial bare-iron rust and off-gassing that raw cast iron may pose. Modern non-stick alternatives (ceramic, Teflon-type coating, PFOA-free polymers) carry residual coating stability risks that cast iron simply does not.
If you buy it
Maintain the seasoning by drying immediately after washing and applying a light oil coat periodically; avoid prolonged soapy soaking. Cast iron is safe for all stovetop and oven temperatures and will not degrade chemically with normal use. Replace only if the casting develops deep cracks or significant rust pitting that cannot be seasoned out. Pre-seasoned coatings may thin with use; re-seasoning is simple and free of any safety concern.
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-hazardous)
Cast iron can leach small amounts of iron into acidic foods (tomato sauce, vinegar, wine). This is chemically unavoidable but nutritionally neutral or beneficial for most adults; not a safety hazard in normal use.
Lead or cadmium in enamel/glaze
This product is unglazed cast iron with oil seasoning only. No enamel or ceramic coating is present, so lead/cadmium in glazes is not applicable.
Teflon-type coating fume risk
Cast iron contains no Teflon-type coating or Teflon-family coating coatings. This hazard class does not apply to this material.
Oil seasoning degradation and smoke point
Pre-seasoned oil will gradually oxidize and thin with repeated heating above the oil's smoke point (typically 350-450F depending on oil type). Manufacturer does not disclose which oil was used; overheating may cause the seasoning to smoke or flake, requiring re-seasoning but posing no acute health risk.
Manufacturing contaminants or residue
No recalls, testing failures, or documented contamination issues exist for Smith and Clark cast iron. Standard foundry processes do not introduce persistent chemical hazards into finished cookware.
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.