Staub · Cast Iron Skillets
Staub Cast Iron Double Handle Fry Pan
Lower PFAS concern, cast iron with enamel is not a known PFAS application.
Staub's enameled cast iron cookware uses a traditional vitreous enamel coating, not a Teflon-family coating nonstick. Enamel coatings are not a recognized source of intentional PFAS in cookware. No brand PFAS disclosure exists, but the material class itself carries low inherent risk.
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Cast iron with enamel coating
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.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Staub Double Handle Fry Pans are cast iron with a vitreous enamel coating, typically in black matte or burgundy finishes. Cast iron itself is inert and does not leach; the enamel is a glass-like ceramic layer fused to the surface at high temperature. The enamel is what requires scrutiny, as degraded coatings can expose underlying iron and permit rust, though enamel does not contain Teflon-type coating (Teflon) or known problematic chemistries in modern Staub products. Aluminum and lead in glazes are hazards in low-quality enameled cookware, but Staub's premium positioning and European manufacturing standards make these unlikely.
The brand's record and disclosure
Staub is owned by Zwilling J.A. Henckels, a German manufacturer with established food-safety certifications (CE marking, compliance with EU cookware directives). The brand does not publicly disclose detailed enamel composition or PFAS testing, but has no recorded recalls or safety controversies related to lead, cadmium, or toxic leaching in cookware. Staub's silence on PFAS is typical of the cast-iron-with-enamel category, which is not a known application for PFAS.
How it compares in its category
Enameled cast iron (Staub, Le Creuset, Smithey) is safer than non-stick aluminum or steel with Teflon-type coating coatings because enamel does not degrade into fumes and is not formulated with fluorochemicals. Uncoated cast iron avoids the enamel-chip risk but requires seasoning maintenance. Staub's high-firing European enamel is more durable than budget enameled options, reducing the likelihood of chip-and-leach scenarios over the product lifetime.
If you buy it
Use on low to medium heat; cast iron retains heat exceptionally well and sustained high heat risks enamel crazing (fine cracks). Avoid thermal shock (do not move hot pan to cold water). Inspect the enamel regularly for chips, cracks, or rough spots; small cosmetic chips are harmless, but deep chips exposing bare iron will rust and should trigger replacement or repair. Hand wash and dry immediately to prevent rust on any exposed surfaces. Staub cookware is designed for long service with proper care and is unlikely to need replacement due to safety.
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.”
Lead or cadmium in enamel glaze
Staub's premium European manufacture and CE compliance make toxic heavy metals in enamel highly unlikely. No recalls or documented cases of lead/cadmium leaching from Staub enameled cookware are on record.
Enamel chipping and iron exposure
Like all enameled cookware, physical damage (dropping, thermal shock) can chip the coating and expose iron underneath, which will rust and flake into food. This is a use-and-wear issue, not a manufacturing defect, and risk decreases with careful handling.
Teflon-type coating fume risk (non-stick degradation)
Staub Double Handle Fry Pans are not non-stick and contain no Teflon-type coating, so there is no risk of Teflon fume inhalation from overheating.
Aluminum leaching
Cast iron with enamel coating does not use aluminum construction or aluminum-based glazes in Staub's product line. The enamel is glass-ceramic, not aluminum oxide.
Thermal stress and enamel integrity loss
Rapid temperature changes or sustained overheating can cause enamel crazing (hairline cracks), which may trap food debris and reduce non-stick properties over time but does not directly release toxic substances unless the underlying glaze contains lead (not the case here).
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
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.