·

Safe Nonstick Cookware with a Natural Finish

What’s the best safe nonstick cookware? I’m worried about whether or not I should still be using my nonstick frying pan. I don’t want to throw it away but I don’t want to be eating Teflon either!

This fall, after eight (eight!!) years of service, my All-Clad nonstick pan was ready to fry its last egg.

Though I had given it a good, coddled life–no metal utensils, no dishwasher, no oven, no high heat, no heating “dry” without” oil–the nonstick finish had deteriorated to a scraped, faded shell of its former self.

It was time to say goodbye to the chemical coating and really commit to using a safe nonstick pan: one with a natural finish that I wouldn’t need to replace every decade.

how to clean, season, and wash cast iron skillets - via goodfoodstories.com
Photo: Casey Barber

The biggest considerations in moving from a chemical-coated nonstick pan (or skillet, or whatever you want to call it) to a version with a more natural finish are how much time and effort you want to put into creating and maintaining that finish.

My Best Safe Nonstick Cookware Recommendations

All of the below recommendations are stove- and oven-safe, and most importantly, they’re all Teflon, PTFE, and PFOA-free. You can cook safe with these and keep them for the rest of your life.

Cast Iron

As I’ve discussed at length in my post on seasoning and cleaning cast iron skillets, the versatility of plain old cast iron is unparalleled and is always my first choice for any kitchen cookware.

The main difference between regular cast iron and enameled cast iron (mentioned below) is the amount of time it takes to build up the perfect nonstick finish.

Safe nonstick cookware options like cast iron, carbon steel, and ceramic pans mean you'll never need to worry about Teflon in your kitchen.
Photo: Casey Barber

New cast iron cookware, like that from Lodge, comes pre-seasoned from the factory. So in theory, you could cook an egg in your pan right off the bat. (The fried-egg test is always my test for a new pan, by the way.)

But a true nonstick finish won’t come until you’ve repeatedly heated the pan and let oil soak into its porous surface, turning the rough initial finish into a smooth, glossy sheen.

Want to kickstart this process? Take your cast iron to the steak spa! Pan-roast a big, juicy steak with a knob of butter in your skillet and baste the meat with the butter and juices until it’s cooked to your liking.

I know, it’s a hardship to bear, but after that meal, your pan will look better than ever.

Don’t clean cast iron with soap: just rinse it with hot water and a clean washcloth as soon as it’s cooled down, and scrub off any schmutz with plain old kosher salt.

Want more info on cast iron cookware? Watch the video.

Enameled Cast Iron

If you’re an instant gratification type of person (or the kind of person who’s not into hunting down cast iron treasures in antiques stores like I am!), you might prefer enameled cast iron as your safe nonstick cookware of choice.

Even if you’re not a seasoned cook, you’re likely familiar with the Crayola-colored enameled cast iron Dutch ovens that so many of us use for braising and simmering.

Le Creuset is the most well-known French brand of these ovens, but for the best enameled nonstick finish, I’m throwing my hat in with another French company: Staub.

Safe nonstick cookware options like cast iron, carbon steel, and ceramic pans mean you'll never need to worry about Teflon in your kitchen.
Photo: Casey Barber

The smooth black interior finish of a Staub frying pan is enameled wizardry, I tell you. It’s forgivingly nonstick–far superior to the matte black finish of the Le Creuset skillet in my eyes–and sears like a dream right out of the box with no pre-seasoning required.

You’ll pay a little more for the privilege of a ready-to-cook finish (about $100 more), but you’ll also be able to clean this one with soap and Bar Keepers Friend, if desired.

Caveat: enameled cast iron is heavy, with the 12-inch Staub fry pan pictured pushing 7 pounds (yeah, I weighed it).

I keep my potholders at the ready and view my use of this pan as a chance to build my upper arm strength.

safe nonstick cookware

Carbon Steel

Carbon steel pans are a lesser-known but equally powerful member of the safe nonstick cookware lineup. Like cast iron, carbon steel develops a naturally nonstick patina after a quick oil seasoning.

Because it’s made from metal sheets, the initial surface of a carbon steel pan will be smoother than that of a brand new, slightly bumpy cast iron pan. This is also why carbon steel pans can be slightly lighter than its cast iron.

Safe nonstick cookware options like cast iron, carbon steel, and ceramic pans mean you'll never need to worry about Teflon in your kitchen.
Photo: Casey Barber

Carbon steel also heats up more quickly than cast iron–crucial for those 5-minute breakfasts–and cleans up simply with hot water and a swipe of a wet washcloth.

Again, no soap is needed to wash this pan; once the seasoning is built up, the pan deglazes easily and a kosher salt scrub removes stubborn stuck-on food.

I own two DeBuyer Mineral B Element pans and love them both; they’re great for shallow frying and quick grilled cheese or quesadilla lunches.

Carbon steel is also frequently used for metal woks, should you be in the market for one of those as well.

Ceramic Pans

I have one ceramic pan in my arsenal: the cast aluminum AnyPan. And while it meets the definition of safe nonstick cookware, I can’t wholeheartedly recommend it more than the three options above.

The pros of ceramic cookware: it’s very lightweight and heats up incredibly quickly. The cons: though it’s oven safe, like all ceramic cookware, it should not be heated over high heat on the stove or over 525 degrees in the oven.

It’s a small caveat, but one that I don’t want to worry about if I happen to be cooking on my grill or over a campfire. For those times, I’ll go back to my trusty cast iron pans.

Safe nonstick cookware options like cast iron, carbon steel, and ceramic pans mean you'll never need to worry about Teflon in your kitchen.
Photo: Casey Barber

I can’t speak to Scanpan, GreenPan, Bialetti, or other anodized aluminum cookware, as I don’t own any pieces.

If you’re interested in this type of cookware as a natural nonstick alternative, click over to Simple Bites, another trusted resource, for a review of Scanpan’s features.

What to do with your old nonstick pan?

When you’re ready to get rid of your old nonstick pans, please don’t just throw them in the trash or donate them to Goodwill–if it’s not safe enough for you to eat on, why would you let someone else cook with it?

Just take them to your local scrap metal company for recycling; they’re more than happy (well, also amused) to melt them down.

FTC Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Good. Food. Stories. receives a minuscule commission on all purchases made through Amazon links in our posts.

Similar Posts

30 Comments

  1. I love my cast iron skillet from Lodge. I also have their enameled cast iron 7qt Dutch oven. It’s a great introduction into enameled cast iron, especially if you don’t have a big budget (I got mine for $50 on Amazon). I will say that after 2 years, it’s starting to show a little wear on the bottom inside of the pan. But, it’ll do for now until I can save up the money (and the upper body strength!) for a Staub!

  2. I’m glad to know about these options. I was just about to toss my little non-stick frying pan. I used it every day for eggs, but the finish is not non-stick any longer. In fact, I just tested out my little cast iron skillet for frying eggs, and guess what?

    Not a bit of egg stuck. Why did I not switch sooner???

    1. baurains, I am so there with you! In fact, I used to be too afraid of ruining the finish on my cast iron skillet to use it for ANYTHING, but that was doing me no good. Once I realized it was in fact very hardy and I wouldn’t destroy it, my whole world opened up.

  3. Hi Casey — I applaud the idea of creating a safer home, and because there’s so much misinformation out there about the Teflon® brand, I’m not surprised that you are concerned. I’m a representative of DuPont though, and hope you’ll let me share some information with you and your readers so that everyone can make truly informed decisions.

    Regulatory agencies, consumer groups and health associations all have taken a close look at the Teflon® brand. This article highlights what they found — the bottom line is that you can use Teflon® nonstick without worry.

    http://www.fluoropolymer-facts.com/PFOA/content.cfm?ItemNumber=4137&navItemNumber=4040xxx

    I’d truly be glad to share additional information about it if you are interested, and appreciate your consideration of this comment. Cheers, Sara.

    1. Hi Sara – thanks for your response. My issue with traditional nonstick is not so much about perceived health risks but instead with the fact that no matter how well I take care of my nonstick pans (and believe me, I care for my cookware like they’re my own children), they will wear out and need to be replaced. I spend lots of money on cookware but I don’t consider it to be disposable – and with the pans I’ve highlighted in the piece, I can be absolutely sure that the nonstick patina on each will only get better with time. That’s the point I’m hoping to drive home with these recommendations: buy once, buy for life.

  4. I have been converting to cast iron and enameled cast iron over the last couple years. It started about 5 years or so ago when I was entranced by the demo on Home Shopping Network, (which I have never watched before or since) by Todd English, who demonstrated how great the Green Pans are. I ordered them, and they were great–for a couple months. Then they completely lost their non-stickiness (and I used them properly!). I ended up giving them away because eggs stuck to the surface and you couldn’t get them off with any amount of soaking.
    Though my pans now work for almost everything, I am still tempted by the Bialetti to use for eggs. Maybe I’ll have to buy it, in the name of research. And there is something sexy about the DeBuyer pan…

    1. Oooh, good to know about the GreenPan! And you’re right, there is something sexy about this kind of cookware. Is it the heft? The sheen? The glossy fried eggs that you can make with them?

  5. This was a good read. Cast Iron pans are my favorite and when I buy them new I always pretreat them with the best olive oil, Carothers’ Olive Oil.
    I love the thought of using kosher salt to clean off schmutz (hee-hee) off the pan. Great idea and fix!

    1. Jen, let me know how you like it! Mine is developing a great patina after going through the steak spa last week; I should post a pic on Instagram to show its progress.

  6. Nice post!
    I, too, don’t pay attention to those pans that aren’t oven-safe. They are quite limited the usages. (So the Bialetti Aeternum is off my list, too.)
    Cast iron is always my favorite. But now I’ve found myself stick with the new carbon-steel wok. My 14″ Joyce Chen wok stands on the stove more than 5 times a week!

    1. Thanks for the post! I agree, to be versatile they have to go on the stove-top and in the oven.  After much searching i finally found MEC 100% natural clay pots and pans.  I was looking for the safest and non-reactive cookware material and found out it was natural clay (not ceramic or stainless steel). They’re oven and stove-top safe, it took a few days for me to get used to cooking in them, but once used to it, I cant go back now…)

  7. Love this post, Casey! I have heard that if you use nonstick cookware at a too high temprature (especially the cheaper options) then it can also release some toxic chemicals?! So I am glad there is some alternatives out there :)

    1. Actually Schmutz is german for dirt. Also adapted for Yiddish. By the way Staub (one of the brand names mentioned) is German for dust.

      Great and informational piece.

    1. Apart from woks with wooden handles, all these pans are safe for the full range of temperatures of home ovens. Cast iron pans, in particular, make excellent deep dish pizza when preheated in a very hot (about 500ËšF) oven–you’ll get an exquisitely crispy crust.

  8. We’ve just purchased an induction stove and I’m so confused. Truthfully I’m not one that enjoys making masterpieces via my stove. I’m having a hard time buying a pan for over $100 for one pan! After 38 years of cooking I can’t stand the thought of scrubbing my cookware again. So in your opinion there isn’t any coated cookware I can use on this new stove?

    1. Diane, I don’t recommend cookware with nonstick coating simply because the coating wears off and you’ll have to buy a new pan every few years. I’d rather buy one great pan once and use it for the rest of my life! All-Clad, Le Creuset, Staub, and deBuyer are all good for induction stoves, according to the manufacturers.

  9. Hi, I am sure I have been dupped because I bought the whole set of Orgeenic cook/bakeware as I wantex to get rid of my teflon and the 99.00 price tag was appealing. The only pieces I don’t have is the large turkey roaster and that silly filp pan. I love them but you sure don’t want to scratch them. Not sure how the med fry pan got scratched as I always use wood, silicone or plastic. I am wondering, now that the metal uncer the ceramic is exposed, is it still safe to use?

    What is the best “ceramic” cookware to use that won’t break the bank?

    what about that cool looking stoneware I see on the infomercial? It is quite expensive.

    Thanks, Tina

  10. I am trying to find a healthy, budget friendly, nonstick skillet for reheating leftover rice. Do you think cast iron will do the job when well seasoned? Rice is a sticky situation, right?
    Thank you and have a blessed day!
    !

Leave a Reply