9 Non-Toxic Cookware Brands For The Healthiest & Safest Sautés

Why Choose Healthy Non-Stick Pans?

The answer to this question boils down to a few things: whether your non-stick cookware is coated with toxins and if the main material you’re using is safe. 

Most nonstick cookware isn’t great for human health or our planet.

Many of the chemicals found in a standard non-stick cookware are considered “forever chemicals”. That means they take decades to leave our bodies and never break down in the environment.

Per- or poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of thousands of chemicals used to coat consumer goods. The two most notorious of the bunch are PFOA and PFOS, which have been banned in the U.S. after being linked to serious health and environmental problems.

So while we’re normally proponents of using what you have until it’s non-functional, in this case, we say, “Toss the Teflon pans!”

While PFOA is now illegal in the US, Teflon’s new polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) alternative is just as harmful. These “GenX” chemicals still fumes odorless toxins beyond 400°F that result in flu-like symptoms.

So what is non-toxic cookware? 

Or rather, what is the least toxic type of cookware? 

Ceramic pots and pans are made from renewable and natural resources (clay and sand), and are free of toxins. 

But look out for added coats and be wary of scratching it and revealing the potentially toxic metal beneath. For that reason, pure ceramic cookware is the safest bet.

Cast iron cookware is incredibly durable and retains as well as distributes heat evenly, making it a great eco-friendly option. It’s naturally non-toxic, and if seasoned properly, remains non-stick for decades. 

Glass yields one of the healthiest cookware options. It ticks all the boxes: oven-safe, dishwasher-safe, microwave, fridge/freezer safe, and naturally non-stick, so it doesn’t need coating. Vintage Pyrex has high-quality options for glass pots and pans.

If you’re wondering, “Is stainless steel cookware non-toxic?”, know that it’s anti-corrosive and fairly scratch resistant. 

But when exposed to acidic foods, stainless steel cookware can mean metal leaching. Stainless steel alloys can alleviate this.

What cookware should you avoid? 

Let’s talk aluminum: are aluminum pans safe?

It’s tricky, because aluminum itself is sustainable and highly heat conductive, but shouldn’t touch food directly. This is because it can leach metal particles into your food. 

If you know your coated pan has an aluminum core, look out for scratches.

This is why it’s important to not use metal utensils to flip and sauté, and never go above the recommended heat range of your pots and pans. 

Most of the time, getting rid of the “stick” compromises sustainability. A good rule of thumb is to avoid this type of cookware unless a brand is transparent about exactly what it is and what it’s free of.

How We Found The Safest Non-Toxic Cookware Brands

Non-toxic pans wear the pants in our zero waste kitchen.

Maybe that’s why we can actually use our sustainable and ethical fashion criteria to determine which brands are best…

Here are the things that helped these non-stick cookware brands stick out.

Materials:

We touched on cast iron, glass, and ceramic cookware pros and cons as well as aluminum and stainless steel cookware, but copper is another material that may find its way into your kitchen.

The best nonstick cookware is made with a coating clearly labeled to be free of PFAS, PTFE, lead, cadmium, heavy metals, and other toxins. 

Eliminating these materials means that non-toxic frying pan is better for our planet, too.

• Certifications: Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), Proposition 65 

Supply chain & labor practices:

Cookware is made of metals and minerals, which, unless recycled, must be mined. The mining industry is associated with all kinds of harmful and exploitative practices, making ethical sourcing and manufacturing efforts all the more important.

Unfortunately, the push toward transparent supply chains hasn’t quite hit even the most sustainable brand, and sustainability certifications only go so far. 

Still, some brands are incorporating fair wages, safe and respectful working conditions, and methods to improve gender equality. 

• Certifications: Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI), Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA), Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (SEDEX), Social Accountability International (SA8000), ISO 9001, ISO14001, ISO 45001

Carbon commitments & green practices: 

Above all else, eco-friendly cookware is cookware that lasts—unlike Teflon pans that last 2–3 years at most. A solid warranty is usually good proof that non-toxic cookware brands stand behind their product.

If they offer repairs and end-of-life recycling programs, it shows even more initiative to keep their products frying up food for years to come.

On top of that, we like to see environmentally conscious packaging, eco-friendly shipping, and practices of reducing and offsetting carbon emissions.

Community & charitable giving:

The world is a melting pot of wonderful people and cultures, so we think our actual melting pots should help it in some way.

We love brands that give back, either to the environment, those in need, or social justice causes—or all three!