PFAS in Nonstick Pans: What to Avoid and Safer Alternatives (2026)

Teflon and other nonstick coatings have shed PFAS into food and air for decades.

Quick answer

Some nonstick pans contain PFAS ("forever chemicals") and some do not. Teflon and other nonstick coatings have shed PFAS into food and air for decades. Third-party testing has flagged specific brands (below); safer options include Lodge cast iron – zero PFAS, lasts a lifetime and All-Clad stainless steel – zero PFAS in the cooking surface. The same chemicals contaminate drinking water, so the highest-impact step for most people is filtering their tap.

How we source this: we report published third-party testing (Green Science Policy Institute, Consumer Reports, Mamavation, Ecology Center, Silent Spring Institute, and peer-reviewed studies) and name the study behind each finding. We do not test products ourselves.

How PFAS gets into nonstick pans

Most nonstick coatings are made of PTFE (a fluoropolymer in the PFAS family). Older pans manufactured before 2015 were made with PFOA as a processing aid. When pans are heated above 500°F, scratched, or chipped, PFAS particles and gases can transfer to food and indoor air.

What testing has found

A 2022 study from the University of Newcastle (Australia) found a single scratch on a nonstick pan can release thousands of microplastic and PFAS particles. Ecology Center has documented PFAS in nonstick coating residue on used cookware. Manufacturers phased out PFOA in US production by 2015 but continue to use other PFAS chemistries.

Brands flagged in testing

  • Older T-fal, Tefal pans manufactured before 2015 (made with PFOA)
  • Most generic "nonstick" pans still use PTFE coatings (a PFAS)
  • GreenPan and similar "ceramic-coated" pans tested by Ecology Center sometimes contain trace PFAS in non-coating components

Safer brand alternatives

  • Lodge cast iron – zero PFAS, lasts a lifetime
  • All-Clad stainless steel – zero PFAS in the cooking surface
  • Le Creuset enameled cast iron – zero PFAS
  • Xtrema 100% ceramic cookware – third-party tested PFAS-free
  • Carbon steel pans (de Buyer, Matfer) – zero PFAS

How this connects to your drinking water

PFAS from nonstick manufacturing contaminates groundwater near factories – the most documented case is the DuPont Teflon plant in Parkersburg, WV. Discarded nonstick pans add to landfill leachate, which contaminates municipal water supplies downstream.

What to do right now

  • Replace any nonstick pan that is scratched, chipped, or pre-2015
  • Switch to cast iron, stainless steel, or carbon steel for all high-heat cooking
  • If you keep nonstick, never preheat empty and never go above medium heat
  • Check your tap water for PFAS by ZIP code – manufacturing legacy contamination is widespread

Frequently asked questions

Do all nonstick pans contain PFAS?
No. Several brands have been third-party tested PFAS-free, including Lodge cast iron – zero PFAS, lasts a lifetime, All-Clad stainless steel – zero PFAS in the cooking surface, Le Creuset enameled cast iron – zero PFAS. The PFAS-containing products are usually those marketed with words like "stain-resistant," "waterproof," "long-wear," "non-stick," or "grease-resistant."
How do I know if my nonstick pans have PFAS?
Check the ingredient list or product spec sheet for: PTFE, PFOA, PFOS, perfluoro-, polyfluoro-, fluoro-, or "fluorocarbon" prefixes. If the product is labeled "stain-resistant," "waterproof," or "non-stick" without an explicit PFAS-free certification, assume PFAS until proven otherwise.
What's the safest alternative?
For nonstick pans, the cleanest options include Lodge cast iron – zero PFAS, lasts a lifetime and All-Clad stainless steel – zero PFAS in the cooking surface. Replace any nonstick pan that is scratched, chipped, or pre-2015.
How does this connect to drinking water contamination?
PFAS from nonstick manufacturing contaminates groundwater near factories – the most documented case is the DuPont Teflon plant in Parkersburg, WV. Discarded nonstick pans add to landfill leachate, which contaminates municipal water supplies downstream.
Are PFAS in nonstick pans regulated?
Federal regulation is limited. In February 2024 the FDA announced that manufacturers had stopped selling PFAS-based grease-proofing agents for US food packaging, a voluntary phase-out rather than a ban. 13+ US states have passed PFAS-in-products bans (Maine, California, New York, Washington, Minnesota, others). Personal-care PFAS are not federally regulated, though several states are considering bans.