Ceramic Cookware: Unveiling The Pfas-Free Revolution

Ceramic pans are generally PFAS-free, as PFAS chemicals are not needed to make nonstick ceramic cookware. Consumer Reports recommends buying products with “PTFE-free claims”, such as pans with ceramic coatings. Uncoated pans made from carbon steel and cast iron can also be good options.

Ceramic cookware is made with just one material - ceramic

Ceramic cookware is made with just one material: ceramic. This type of cookware is made with just one material — ceramic. Best for low and slow cooking techniques, and can easily go from stovetop to oven. It conducts and retains heat very well. Another bonus to using ceramic pans is its low carbon footprint. Best cooking technique to use: low and slow, stove top to oven, excellent heat conduction and retention. It’s nonstick and doesn’t off-gas at high temperatures. When treated well it can last for several years, and just might be the best nontoxic nonstick pan. The manufacturing process with this material is also more environmentally friendly, as PFAS chemicals used in traditional nonstick production are under heavy scrutiny concerning public health issues.

Ceramic cookware is made with just one material: ceramic. PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) is one of the many toxic chemicals found in traditional non-stick frying pans, which can leach into food products and potentially cause health concerns. Consumer Reports recommends buying products with “PTFE-free claims”, such as pans with ceramic coatings. Uncoated pans made from carbon steel and cast iron can be good options, too. Other ways to avoid PFAS include testing your drinking water, using a water filter certified to reduce PFAS, and avoiding stain-resistant clothes.

Ceramic cookware is made with just one material: ceramic. Ceramic non-stick cookware has become increasingly popular with chefs and home cooks alike due to its superior performance over traditional metal alternatives. But even the best non-stick ceramic pans need some maintenance to ensure they remain in optimal condition and avoiding damage for years of use.

Ceramic cookware is made with just one material: ceramic. CR didn’t detect any of the 96 PFAS we looked for in either of the two ceramic-coated pans, the Always Pan and the Red Copper, both of which carry a PTFE-free claim. It’s theoretically possible that other PFAS could be present given that there are thousands out there, but they weren’t any of the 96 in our test panel. Most of the scientists we’ve consulted said they were pleased but not surprised to see we didn’t detect PFAS in those pans because such chemicals aren’t needed to make nonstick ceramic cookware. “Ceramic pans, those should be [PFAS] free”, says Lee Ferguson, PhD, an environmental analytical chemist and associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Duke University, who wasn’t involved in CR’s tests.

Ceramic cookware is made with just one material: ceramic. To see if nonstick pans that are claimed to be PFOA-free really are, and if consumers can rely on other PFAS-related claims, CR recently tested three recommended nonstick frying pans in our ratings at different price points. They were the Our Place Always Pan and the Red Copper pan, both of which have ceramic coatings and are said to be free of PTFE and PFOA, and the Swiss Diamond pan, which has a PTFE coating and is said to be PFOA-free. ... The two ceramic pans didn’t contain any of the 96 PFAS our testers looked for. The PTFE-coated pan, on the other hand, had measurable amounts of PFOA and several other PFAS.

Ceramic pans are non-stick and don't off-gas at high temperatures

Ceramic pans are a popular alternative to traditional metal cookware. They are non-stick and don't off-gas at high temperatures, making them a safe and healthy choice for home cooks.

Ceramic pans are made with just one material - ceramic. This single-material construction eliminates the risk of toxic chemicals leaching into food, as is the case with traditional non-stick pans that contain PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances). PFAS is a group of toxic chemicals that can leach into food and potentially cause health concerns.

The manufacturing process of ceramic pans is also more environmentally friendly than traditional non-stick production, as PFAS chemicals used in the latter are under heavy scrutiny concerning public health issues.

Ceramic pans are best for low and slow cooking techniques and can easily go from stovetop to oven. They conduct and retain heat very well, making them ideal for cooking techniques that require precise heat control.

Additionally, ceramic pans have a low carbon footprint, making them an environmentally conscious choice for those who are conscious of their environmental impact.

Ceramic coatings are recommended by Consumer Reports to avoid PFAS

Ceramic non-stick cookware has become increasingly popular with chefs and home cooks alike due to its superior performance over traditional metal alternatives. It is made with just one material — ceramic. Best for low and slow cooking techniques, and can easily go from stovetop to oven. It conducts and retains heat very well. Another bonus to using ceramic pans is its low carbon footprint. The manufacturing process with this material is also more environmentally friendly, as PFAS chemicals used in traditional nonstick production are under heavy scrutiny concerning public health issues.

CR didn’t detect any of the 96 PFAS we looked for in either of the two ceramic-coated pans, the Always Pan and the Red Copper, both of which carry a PTFE-free claim. It’s theoretically possible that other PFAS could be present given that there are thousands out there, but they weren’t any of the 96 in our test panel. Most of the scientists we’ve consulted said they were pleased but not surprised to see we didn’t detect PFAS in those pans because such chemicals aren’t needed to make nonstick ceramic cookware.

Ceramic pans, those should be [PFAS] free, says Lee Ferguson, PhD, an environmental analytical chemist and associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Duke University, who wasn’t involved in CR’s tests.

To see if nonstick pans that are claimed to be PFOA-free really are, and if consumers can rely on other PFAS-related claims, CR recently tested three recommended nonstick frying pans in our ratings at different price points. They were the Our Place Always Pan and the Red Copper pan, both of which have ceramic coatings and are said to be free of PTFE and PFOA, and the Swiss Diamond pan, which has a PTFE coating and is said to be PFOA-free. The two ceramic pans didn’t contain any of the 96 PFAS our testers looked for. The PTFE-coated pan, on the other hand, had measurable amounts of PFOA and several other PFAS.

PFAS chemicals are under heavy scrutiny concerning public health issues

PFAS, an abbreviation for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of over 12,000 human-made chemicals that have been widely used since the 1940s in products like food packaging, stain-resistant fabrics, firefighting foam, and many industrial processes. They earned the nickname “forever chemicals” because they do not break down easily and can build up in the environment and human body over time. PFAS are almost everywhere. Studies indicate that 97% of the U.S. population has PFAS in their system, which can cause a variety of health issues including liver damage, autoimmune disorders, reproductive system issues, and various cancers, according to the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Key adverse effects of some PFAS were known by chemical industry scientists decades ago, but were not disclosed to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the public. For example, the EPA issued a multimillion-dollar fine to manufacturer DuPont because of the company’s “multiple failures to report information to EPA about substantial risk of injury to human health or the environment” from the PFAS perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA or C8). Now, scores of independent studies show PFAS can be toxic to adults and especially children, whose developing bodies are more vulnerable. Some PFAS have even been known to build up in a child before birth.

Concerns about the public health impact of PFAS have arisen for the following reasons:

• Widespread occurrence. Studies find PFAS in the blood and urine of people, and scientists want to know if they cause health problems.
• Toxicity at extremely low levels. PFAS are toxic at extremely low levels (i.e. parts per quadrillion), posing significant risks to our health.
• Resistance to breakdown. The structure of PFAS means they resist breakdown in the environment and in our bodies.

To avoid PFAS in your cookware, Consumer Reports recommends buying products with “PTFE-free claims”, such as pans with ceramic coatings. Uncoated pans made from carbon steel and cast iron can be good options, too. Other ways to avoid PFAS include testing your drinking water, using a water filter certified to reduce PFAS, and avoiding stain-resistant clothes.

Ceramic pans are generally PFAS-free. The manufacturing process with this material is also more environmentally friendly, as PFAS chemicals used in traditional nonstick production are under heavy scrutiny concerning public health issues.

Ceramic pans are theoretically PFAS-free

Consumer Reports recommends buying products with “PTFE-free claims”, such as pans with ceramic coatings. Uncoated pans made from carbon steel and cast iron can be good options, too. Other ways to avoid PFAS include testing your drinking water, using a water filter certified to reduce PFAS, and avoiding stain-resistant clothes.

Ceramic pans are made with just one material — ceramic. Best for low and slow cooking techniques, and can easily go from stovetop to oven. It conducts and retains heat very well. Another bonus to using ceramic pans is its low carbon footprint. The manufacturing process with this material is also more environmentally friendly, as PFAS chemicals used in traditional nonstick production are under heavy scrutiny concerning public health issues.

Consumer Reports tested three recommended nonstick frying pans in their ratings at different price points. They were the Our Place Always Pan and the Red Copper pan, both of which have ceramic coatings and are said to be free of PTFE and PFOA, and the Swiss Diamond pan, which has a PTFE coating and is said to be PFOA-free. The two ceramic pans didn’t contain any of the 96 PFAS our testers looked for. The PTFE-coated pan, on the other hand, had measurable amounts of PFOA and several other PFAS.

Most of the scientists they’ve consulted said they were pleased but not surprised to see they didn’t detect PFAS in those pans because such chemicals aren’t needed to make nonstick ceramic cookware. “Ceramic pans, those should be [PFAS] free”, says Lee Ferguson, PhD, an environmental analytical chemist and associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Duke University, who wasn’t involved in CR’s tests.

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