We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. What to Buy Cookware We Tested Hundreds of Pots and Pans to Find the Best Non-Toxic Cookware Sets These are the most functional options for safe everyday cooking. By Jason Horn Jason Horn With a culinary degree, a master's in journalism, and nearly 20 years of experience, Jason Horn has spent his entire career writing about food and drinks. He lives in Los Angeles, where he grills and entertains outdoors as much as possible. He also loves the winter sport of curling. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on December 2, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Our Favorite Non-Toxic Cookware Sets Factors to Consider FAQ Our Expertise Photo: Food & Wine / Joy Kim You may put a great deal of thought into which ingredients you cook with, but you might not be paying as much attention to the materials in the pots and pans you have on hand. Certain kinds of nonstick cookware contain chemicals known as PFAs (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances), which might be able to get into your food and might be able to cause health problems. The FDA is keeping a close watch on these chemicals, which seem to be reasonably safe — when used properly. But if you don't follow the rules, it can cause the unpleasant symptoms of "Teflon flu." Nonstick cookware is great — and we think it's perfectly safe for any kitchen! — but you might want to avoid these chemicals entirely. Thankfully, you still have lots and lots of cookware options to choose from. We've tested pots and pans of all types of materials, and these are our favorite non-toxic choices. Whether bare cast iron or advanced ceramic nonstick, there's cookware here to fit your needs. How We Test Non-Toxic Cookware We've tested hundreds of cookware sets and individual pans of all shapes, sizes, and materials. This list compiles the top finishers that are also free of any toxic nonstick coatings. The exact tests varied but were designed to evaluate the same set of qualities. Performance: Tests like cooking rice, sautéing vegetables, and searing meats helped us look at heat retention, heat distribution, and effective browning. We made both fast, high-temperature recipes and low-and-slow ones to look at a range of conditions.Design: Before and during cooking, we considered how the pots and pans felt to simply hold and move around, looking at aspects like overall weight, weight balance, handles, and general size and shape.Construction: As we used the pans, we looked for any damage or deterioration, or any other issues that made them less pleasant to use. We also tested durability with specific abuse tests, going as far as scraping cookware with metal spoons and dropping it on the floor to detect any scratches or dents.Cleaning: In between cooking tests, we washed the pots and pans according to the manufacturer's instructions, whether that's hand-washing or using the dishwasher. We noted any models that needed extra scrubbing to remove stuck-on bits, as well as those whose nonstick abilities required just a swipe and rinse. We also inspected the pieces for any damage or corrosion after washing.Value: When possible in our product testing, we keep the retail prices of the items secret until we've finished all of our other tests. At the end, we look at the prices in comparison to each other and the average for the category to consider value for money. Our Top Picks Best Overall Set: All Clad Stainless Bonded Cookware Set at Amazon $690 Jump to Review Best Nonstick Set: Caraway Nonstick Ceramic Cookware Set at Amazon $395 Jump to Review Best Splurge: Le Creuset Stainless Steel Cookware Set at Amazon $850 Jump to Review Best Value: SALE GreenPan Cookware Set at Amazon $300 $240 Jump to Review Most Versatile: Our Place Always Pan 2.0 at Amazon $150 Jump to Review Best Overall Set All Clad Stainless Bonded Cookware Set PHOTO: Amazon $690 at Amazon $700 at Williams Sonoma $700 at Wayfair Pros This versatile all-steel set can handle any cooking situation, with no coatings or enamel to worry about. Cons The set's quite expensive, and it's not dishwasher-safe. The easiest way to avoid any potentially harmful chemicals in nonstick and enamel coatings is simply to choose cookware that doesn't have any at all. All-Clad's D3 Everyday set came out on top in our testing of stainless steel cookware, which makes these all-metal pots and pans an obvious choice for our favorite non-toxic cookware, too. The D3 pans have three layers: inner and outer steel bonded an aluminum core, which decreases weight and helps the material preheat faster. All the pieces are induction-friendly and safe up to 600°F, which covers any stove, oven, or broiler situation. We got great even cooking with all the All-Clad pots and pans in testing, and they did indeed heat up more quickly than some stainless competitors. That's especially helpful if you're switching from nonstick to steel, as high temperatures are key to searing without sticking. The big downside here is price: Stainless steel cookware is expensive in general, and All-Clad is one of the more luxurious stainless brands. (On the other hand, the D3 Everyday set is often on sale for a deep discount.) These pots and pans also require a lot of care. They can't go in the dishwasher, and they're prone to picking up stains and discolorations that need intense scrubbing to remove. Materials: Stainless steel, aluminum | Maximum Temperature: 600°F | Induction-Compatible: Yes | Dishwasher-Safe: No | Includes: 8.5-inch skillet, 10.5-inch skillet, 1.5-quart saucepan, 3-quart saucepan, 3-quart sauté pan, 6-quart stockpot, 4 lids PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Best Nonstick Set Caraway Nonstick Ceramic Cookware Set PHOTO: Amazon $395 $355 at Amazon $395 $355 at Target $395 $356 at Nordstrom Pros Caraway's ceramic coating is effectively nonstick without using any heavy metals or "forever chemicals." Cons The "12-piece" set includes just four actual pots and pans. You'll find Caraway's Teflon-free nonstick cookware all over our lists of bests. It's our top-tested ceramic set, among our favorites for induction and glass stovetops, and one of our best overall nonstick sets — not to mention one of our favorite cookware sets, period. Its nonstick ceramic coating is free of PTFE, PFOA, PFAs, and heavy metals, and it doesn't use a hard-anodizing process, which isn't toxic to cooks but can be harmful to the environment. The pans are induction-compatible, safe up to 550°F, and available in eight joyful colorways. Right out of the box, the pans felt heavy but balanced; well-made, sturdy, and durable. The saucepan passed our sticking test when making rice, and it was quicker than average to bring water to a simmer. We also made an omelet to confirm its nonstick properties, and to our delight, it slid right off when done. (See-through lids would have been nice, but that's not that big a deal.) The Caraway set is priced well and includes one of each item you need — frying pan, saucepan, sauté pan, and stockpot — plus a set of magnetic pan racks and lid holder for easy storage. But the set isn't as extensive as others: The storage pieces count as five of its 12 items, and you get only one of each item you need. Higher-volume cooks might want to look into the Cookware & Minis Set, which adds on another frying pan and saucepan. Materials: Hard-anodized ceramic with diamond-infused thermal; stainless steel handles | Maximum Temperature: 550°F | Induction-Compatible: Yes | Dishwasher-Safe: No | Includes: 10.5-inch frying pan, 3-quart saucepan, 4.5-quart sauté pan, 6-quart stockpot, 3 lids, pan racks, lid holder PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: Food & Wine/Joy Kim PHOTO: Food & Wine / Will Dickey Best Splurge Le Creuset Stainless Steel Cookware Set PHOTO: Amazon $850 at Amazon $850 at Williams Sonoma $850 at Nordstrom Pros It's the most versatile stainless steel cookware set we tested. Cons The handles get hot, and we had to scrub the rivets on the inside of the pots and pans to get them clean. As we mentioned, stainless steel is naturally non-toxic, in addition to being the material many professional chefs prefer. We know our best overall pick, the All-Clad D3 set, isn't cheap, but if you want to invest a bit more, we recommend Le Creuset's 10-piece set. Known for enameled cast iron cookware that can last a lifetime, Le Creuset ranks among our favorite brands, and this stainless steel collection should last decades as well with proper care. As the most versatile set we tested, it includes a large stockpot for hearty soups and a steamer basket (or strainer) for everything from lemony broccoli to shiitake buns, in addition to two saucepans and two fry pans. We liked the rolled edges of the cookware when pouring liquids, and the weight of the pieces felt balanced when we lifted them. The handles didn't dig into our hands thanks to their gentle curves, and only the handles of the stockpot got hot. Food browned evenly in our tests, and we didn't notice any hot spots. While some residue remained from the steak, mirepoix, and a bechamel we made, the cookware released food easily. Unlike other stainless steel sets we tested, the Le Creuset didn't stain, cleaning up spotlessly with soap and water. Materials: Stainless steel, aluminum core | Maximum Temperature: 500°F | Induction-Compatible: Yes | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes | Includes: 10-inch fry pan, 2-quart saucepan, 4-quart saucepan, 3-quart sauté pan, 9-quart stockpot, strainer insert, 4 lids PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore Best Value GreenPan Cookware Set PHOTO: GreenPan $300 $240 at Amazon $240 at Target $300 at Wayfair Pros Its materials can safely to stand up to the extreme temperatures of the oven and dishwasher. Cons Burnt oil stained the pan, so high-heat does require some caution. The first brand to debut a PFAS-free nonstick coating, GreenPan has made a name for non-toxic cookware that rivals traditional nonstick and does what Teflon can't: handling high heat on the stove and in the oven. It's oven-safe up to 600°F and compatible with all stovetops, and it doesn't release fumes when heated. You can also count on it being free of PFOA and heavy metals, such as lead and cadmium. Testing the set in our lab, we were impressed with its heating abilities and nonstick properties. Food browned evenly and released after cooking. We used a little oil to achieve this, and we recommend you do too for best results. At the same time, we found that oil can stain the pans when the heat is high. This happened when we seared steaks, in addition to some browned bits clinging to the pan, though the meat itself did not stick. Otherwise, the cookware cleaned up without a trace of food, even after stewing chili. We found the cookware to be lightweight, with the lids feeling heavier than the smaller fry pans. The stockpot lid can also fit the 10-inch skillet if you want to cover it, and the handles on the lids give our hands enough space to avoid the heat. The handles were less comfortable than some others we tested, but that wasn't a dealbreaker. The set comes in five beautiful colors, from teal to cream. Materials: Diamond-infused ceramic nonstick coating over aluminum; stainless steel handles | Maximum Temperature: 600°F | Induction-Compatible: Yes | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes | Includes: 8-inch fry pan, 10-inch fry pan, 3.26-quart saucepan with lid, 5.11-quart sauté pan with lid, 6.61-quart stockpot with lid PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson Most Versatile Our Place Always Pan 2.0 PHOTO: Amazon $150 at Amazon $150 $99 at Target $150 at Our Place Pros This versatile pan includes self-contained accessories for practically every cooking method. Cons The ceramic coating isn't quite as slick as traditional nonstick, and metal tools can scratch it. Our Place's Always Pan has been a social media favorite for years thanks to its clever design. The shape packs the functions of 10 different items into one space-saving piece of cookware. The flat skillet heats evenly and quickly enough for proper searing, but the sides are tall enough to give space for frying catfish or boiling pasta, and it can go in the oven for braising and roasting. The included insert can act as steamer or strainer, and it stacks up with the lid for simple storage. Plus, you also get a wooden spatula that nests right into the handle. The Always Pan 2.0's ceramic coating is long-lasting and free of PTFE, PFOA, PFAS, lead, and cadmium. We've tested it multiple times in many different situations, and it's reliable — if not quite as effective as traditional nonstick materials. It's not dishwasher-safe but shouldn't need much more than a few swipes with a soapy sponge to keep clean. Just make sure you use only wood and silicone tools in your Always Pan — metal will scratch the coating. The standard 10.5-inch Always Pan is an ideal all-purpose size, but it also comes in mini and large if you want to expand your collection. All three are available in six eye-catching colors, with occasional seasonal and limited-edition releases. Materials: Ceramic-coated aluminum | Maximum Temperature: 450°F | Induction-Compatible: Yes | Dishwasher-Safe: No | Includes: 10.5-inch skillet, lid, steamer basket insert, beechwood spatula PHOTO: Food & Wine / Joy Kim PHOTO: Food & Wine / Elise Wojczyk Wang Our Favorite Non-Toxic Cookware Sets We love stainless steel cookware as an absolutely worry-free option, and our favorite stainless steel set is the All-Clad D3 Everyday 10-Piece Cookware Set. For the ease of nonstick without problematic PTFE, PFOA, PFAS, and other chemicals, the Caraway Nonstick Ceramic Cookware Set is an effective and eye-catching option. Factors to Consider Materials At the core of most cookware is some kind of metal — cast iron, steel, aluminum, and combinations of the three are all quite common. Each of these materials performs differently in cooking, but using a pan made of only metal is a good way to avoid toxins associated with nonstick coatings. One potential exception is copper, which can leach into food and cause health problems when consumed in large quantities. However, modern copper cookware almost always has a layer of steel or other nonreactive metal on the inside to avoid the problem entirely. (If you have antique all-copper cookware, it's safe for occasional use, though cooking acidic ingredients in copper can also cause discoloration and affect flavor.) Nonstick coatings are the real problem when it comes to toxic materials used for cookware. The biggest culprit is polytetrafluoroethylene, aka PTFE, aka Teflon. The chemical is extremely nonreactive and can create a slick, durable coating on pans, and it's long been a favorite for nonstick cookware. It's perfectly safe under normal cooking circumstances, but if you heat it up beyond its maximum recommended temperature (like if you leave an empty pan sitting on the burner), PTFE can start to break down. This releases fumes into the air that can cause symptoms including fever, muscle aches, and cough: the so-called "Teflon flu." Teflon is one of a group of related chemicals called PFAs — per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances — that are often used in nonstick coatings. (PFOA — perfluorooctanoic acid — and PFOS — perfluorooctane sulfonic acid — are two other common PFAs; there are a lot of long names and confusing acronyms involved.) There's not much definitive research on what health problems PFAs can cause, or how much of them it's safe to consume, but they are often known as "forever chemicals" because they break down very slowly and tend to accumulate in the body and in the environment. Cooking Temperature Before cooking with any piece of cookware, it's important to check the manual for the item's maximum temperature capacity. Exceeding this temperature can cause nonstick coatings to break down, seasoning layers to burn, and the pans themselves to warp or even crack. Stovetop and oven situations rarely get much higher than 500°F, while the broiler can get closer to 600°F. A grill or outdoor pizza oven is where you'll find the highest home-cooking temperatures, all the way up to 900°F. Keep in mind as well that lids often have lower maximum temperatures than the pots and pans they match. Cleaning and Care Like all cookware, every material, type, and brand of non-toxic cookware has different rules for upkeep. Cast iron needs careful hand-washing, drying, and reseasoning, while some pans can just run through the dishwasher over and over without harm. Some pans will scratch if you use metal tools, and others can stand up to harsh abuse from a steel fish spatula. The first and most important rule is to follow the instructions for your individual items. Over the long term, if you see bits of enamel or nonstick coatings beginning to flake or scrape off the pan (especially on the inside), it's time to replace it. Food & Wine/Russell Kilgore Frequently Asked Questions Is ceramic cookware non-toxic? Generally, yes. "Ceramic" pans aren't formed out of clay, but they have a glassy glaze-like coating that's baked on at high temperature. This makes for a hard and long-lasting surface with no need for PTFE and other PFAs. Ceramic pans can last for years with proper care, but you will need to replace them eventually when the coating starts to chip off. (And when it comes to items made of the clay kind of ceramic, be sure to check that they're food-safe. Decorative bowls and serving dishes not meant to contact food directly might contain toxic glazes.) Is stainless steel cookware non-toxic? Yes. Bare stainless steel is one of the least problematic materials to use for cooking, as it has no nonstick coating, can handle very high heat, and doesn't react with acidic ingredients as readily as copper or cast iron. Is nonstick cookware safe? The FDA has determined that nonstick cookware is reasonably safe when used according to its authorized and intended use. Studies show that the manufacturing process used for most nonstick cookware eliminates most of the smaller PFA molecules that are more likely to migrate from the coating into your food.However, if you are still concerned, there are other nonstick options that don't make use of PFAs at all, such as many types of ceramic. Cast iron and carbon steel cookware are also good nonstick-like options: They build up a natural layer of seasoning with continued use that can be very effective at avoiding stickage. Our Expertise The original version of this story was written by Rebecca Carhart, a senior ecommerce reviews writer and strategist at Dotdash Meredith, and Laura Denby, a food writer and product reviewer. Rebecca writes product reviews in the home, lifestyle, and beauty space, and her work can be found in Travel & Leisure, InStyle, Real Simple, People, and more. A former chef, Laura has a degree in Culinary Arts from the Institute of Culinary Education and utilizes her professional culinary experience and industry knowledge to guide her product reviews. This story was updated with the latest testing data and top finishers by Jason Horn. A senior writer at Food & Wine, he has a master's degree in journalism, an associate's degree in culinary arts, and has been covering food and drinks for nearly 20 years. Originally written by Rebecca Carhart Rebecca Carhart Rebecca is the senior ecommerce reviews writer and strategist at Dotdash Meredith. When she's not writing about the latest home, fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products, you can find her shopping at sample sales or enjoying a mid-day snack. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines and Laura Denby Laura Denby Laura Denby is a New York-based food writer and private chef with a diploma in culinary arts. As an expert in cookware and kitchen tools, she has tested more than 100 kitchen products for Food & Wine, including hand mixers, nonstick pans, and carbon steel pans. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit