10 Pro-Loved Non-Toxic Cookware Picks That Won’t Leach Lead

The FDA recently flagged cookware that is leaching lead into our food. There’s a lot of chatter to parse through when this kind of information surfaces, and then figuring out how to translate that into shopping for cookware that’s actually safe? Not always straightforward. As your friendly neighborhood public health pro (I hold a Master’s degree in Public Health Nutrition), I’ve got you. Even if you didn’t purchase your cookware at an affected retailer, my non-toxic cookware recommendations still stand; other sorts of forever chemicals may be hiding in your old, peeling pots and pans.

We frequently test cookware to ensure it’s not only a pleasure to use but also safe to use. Below are 10 non-toxic cookware options from brands like Made In, Caraway, Lodge, and Our Place, each of which has impressed us in testing and won’t serve you a side of heavy metals. Nearly all happen to be on sale right now, too.

Public Health Pro-Recommended Non-Toxic Cookware

Food & Wine

Tramontina All-in-One Plus Pan

Amazon

The All-in-One Plus Pan has replaced more than half of my cookware. I can bake a frittata in the oven for breakfast, then sear salmon on the stove for dinner. It’s not only safe for ceramic- and glass-top electric stoves and gas ranges; it’s also induction-friendly. Just toss it all in the dishwasher when you’re done.

All-Clad D3 Stainless Steel Frying Pan with Lid

Amazon

I love how the tri-ply construction of All-Clad’s stainless steel frying pan gets scorching hot fast, heats evenly, and retains that heat. This skillet is particularly good for deglazing — the polished stainless steel finish does a great job releasing fond — and the double-riveted handle helps keep the pan steady while sautéing. It works with any stovetop, including induction, and can safely go into the oven and broiler up to 600°F.

Made In Seasoned Carbon Steel Wok

Made In

If you’re looking for a wok, I nominate this one. It’s made of carbon steel, which gets increasingly nonstick with time. And Made In optimized this wok’s shape — instead of a traditional rounded bottom, the walls slope to a flat base, which sits securely on any home burner (including induction). Stir-fries have never been easier.

Caraway Nonstick Ceramic Sauté Pan with Lid

Amazon

This colorful sauté pan from Caraway is finished in a ceramic coating free of PTFE, PFOA, PFAS, lead, cadmium, and other toxic materials. Luckily, Caraway’s cookware doesn’t suffer for using safer materials — with a light coating of oil or butter, this pan is as slick as an ice rink.

Tramontina 4-Quart Stainless Steel Kadhai

Amazon

Since discovering that Tramontina’s triple-clad stainless steel skillet was nearly indistinguishable from my pricier pans, I’ve come to love the brand for professional performance at an affordable price. Take this kadhai, for example — traditionally used in the cuisines of South Asia, the kadhai’s gently sloping sides, wide base, and handles make braising, deep-frying, sautéing, and baking a snap. This one has helpful measurement markings inside, a detail I love.

Made In Small Spaces Set

Made In

Made In’s stainless CeramiClad pieces are made without any PFAS, PFOA, PTFE, lead, cadmium, or BPA. This set is scaled down for smaller kitchens and city living, with a frying pan, saucier, and saucepan (plus matching lids) for getting all of your cooking done with a modest footprint.

Lodge 8-Inch Cast Iron Skillet

Amazon

If there’s any material as versatile as cast iron in the kitchen, I haven’t met it yet; it just has superior heat retention. This skillet from Lodge comes pre-seasoned with 100% natural vegetable oil, and with extended use, it gets more nonstick. I love it all day, from scrambled eggs in the morning to chicken thighs at night.

Our Place Titanium Pro Mini Cookware Duo

Our Place

Titanium doesn’t get its flowers nearly enough as an innovative cookware material — it resists corrosion and is less reactive than other popular metals. Our Place perfected titanium by finishing it with a non-toxic coating with zero forever chemicals in sight. This duo gets points for being safe for metal utensils, a limitation of some nonstick materials that are too easily scratched.

Caraway Ceramic Nonstick Frying Pan

Amazon

Another Caraway pan, this one is the perfect size for flipping pancakes or sautéing vegetables for dinner. We loved its slick finish during ceramic cookware testing; as an added bonus, chefs even use less oil when cooking thanks to this pan’s slippery surface and perfect release.

All-Clad D5 Stainless Steel 10-Piece Cookware Set

Williams Sonoma

If you’re ready to invest in non-toxic cookware, I recommend this set from All-Clad. It’s made with 5-ply bonded construction for exceptionally even heating and zero warping. The polished stainless steel is finished with smart details like flared rims to make every step of cooking easy. The 10-piece set is oven- and broiler-safe up to 600°F and comes with an 8-inch fry pan, a 10-inch fry pan, a 2-quart saucepan with lid, a 4-quart saucepan with lid, a 4-quart sauté pan with lid, and an 8-quart stockpot with lid.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does it matter that lead is leaching from cookware?

Lead, along with other heavy metals, has been linked to adverse health effects when ingested. In fact, there’s no known “safe level” of consuming lead, which means that accidentally eating any amount puts you and your loved ones at risk of lead poisoning. It’s particularly unsafe for children, as exposure to lead can lead to more serious consequences in developing brains. It’s thus extra important to prioritize safe, non-toxic cookware.

What should I do if I have compromised cookware from the list?

Throw it away; do not donate it. The latter introduces too much risk of someone else accidentally picking up and using unsafe cookware.

What else should I be aware of when shopping for cookware?

Keep an eye out for artificial nonstick coatings, like Teflon. They often contain PFAS, or forever chemicals, which have been linked to all kinds of health problems. Since we directly expose our food to the materials in which we cook, it’s important to use materials that, should they slough off when heated, scuffed, or scratched, will not expose us to anything concerning.