Stargazer Cast Iron · Cast Iron Skillets
Stargazer 13.5-inch Cast Iron Skillet | Made In Usa, Seasoned, Premium
Lower PFAS concern, cast iron is an inherently safe cookware material with no PFAS-prone coatings.
Stargazer's cast iron skillet contains no nonstick Teflon-family coating or water-resistant coatings that typically harbor PFAS. Cast iron seasoning uses oil, not PFAS-containing treatments. The brand makes no PFAS claims, but the material itself carries lower PFAS risk than coated or treated cookware.
Shop Stargazer Cast Iron on Amazon →Material
Cast iron, seasoned (oil-based)
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
Stargazer's skillet is solid cast iron, a raw iron alloy that relies on oil-based seasoning rather than applied ceramic, enamel, or non-stick coatings. Cast iron itself contains no added chemical binders, dyes, or thermal polymers, making it fundamentally different from coated cookware. The seasoning layer is typically food-grade mineral oil or animal fat polymerized onto the surface through heat, which chemically bonds and does not leach under normal cooking conditions. This material design eliminates the primary coating-related hazards (Teflon-type coating fumes, ceramic lead, enamel degradation) common in other cookware categories.
The brand's record and disclosure
Stargazer Cast Iron is a small US manufacturer focused on raw cast iron products and does not publicly disclose safety testing, material certifications, or third-party audits on their website or packaging. The brand has no established public record of safety controversies, recalls, or complaints related to this product line. However, the lack of proactive transparency around seasoning oil sourcing and food-contact material safety claims represents a gap in consumer information rather than evidence of a problem.
How it compares in its category
Cast iron skillets without enamel or applied coatings sit at the lowest end of coating hazard risk compared to enameled cast iron (which can shed ceramic glaze), ceramic-coated cookware (lead in glazes), and Teflon-type coating non-stick pans (fume risk). Raw cast iron's reliance on seasoning oil instead of synthetic coatings is a material advantage. The main trade-off is that cast iron requires more maintenance (hand washing, frequent re-seasoning) than modern coated alternatives, which some consumers find inconvenient rather than unsafe.
If you buy it
Hand wash immediately after use and dry completely to prevent rust; do not put in dishwashers. Maintain the seasoning layer by oiling lightly after each wash and occasionally baking it at 450-500°F for an hour. Avoid prolonged contact with acidic foods (tomato, vinegar, citrus) early in the skillet's life, as they can strip seasoning. Cast iron is safe for all stovetop and oven temperatures and will last decades with basic care; replace only if structural cracks develop.
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
Cast iron can release trace iron into food, especially when new or when acidic foods are cooked in it. For most people this is not a health concern and may even be nutritionally beneficial; however, individuals with hemochromatosis or iron-overload conditions should avoid prolonged cooking in raw cast iron.
Seasoning oil quality and sourcing
Stargazer does not publicly disclose the specific origin, refining standard, or food-grade certification of the oil used to season this skillet. Most mineral oils used for seasoning are food-safe, but lack of transparency prevents verification that the product meets FDA food-contact standards.
Lead or cadmium in cast iron material
No recalls or test results on record for Stargazer cast iron showing lead or cadmium contamination. Cast iron sourcing and recycled content standards are not publicly disclosed by the brand, but US-manufactured cast cookware is generally subject to FDA food-contact material regulations.
Rust and bacterial growth from improper maintenance
If left wet or stored in humid conditions, cast iron rusts; rust itself is not acutely toxic but compromises the seasoning layer and creates pitting that can harbor bacteria. This is a use and storage hazard, not a manufacturing one, but critical to owner responsibility.
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.