Our 6 favourite non-toxic pans - for safer, reassuring cooking
Luckily, lots of our favourite pans were non-toxic all along
The non-stick coatings that pans use have come under so much scrutiny that even devoted chefs have started side eyeing their saucepans. If you've been worrying about your favourite frying pan too, we have some good news. There are plenty of seriously impressive non-toxic pans out there. In fact, many of the pans in our buying guides to the best induction pans and stainless steel pans were non-toxic all along. So stay cautious, but don't despair.
We've always championed ceramic coatings as a go-to safe alternative, whilst stainless steel and cast iron sidestep the coating question altogether. They need a bit more technique (oil, patience, and high heat) but pans like these will last you decades.
Our food team has tested every pan on this list for cooking performance first, from induction to open flame use, and then vetted each one for materials. So, whether you want a full Ninja set of a single all-rounder Lakeland pan, everything here is cooking without compromise.
The best non-toxic pans, tested for safer cooking
Best non-toxic set
RRP: £219.99 | Materials: aluminium and stainless steel | Size: 16-24cm | Dishwasher-safe? Yes | Oven-safe? Yes - up to 260°C | PFOA-free: yes
Ninja's ZEROSTICK range truly is the market leader when it comes to outstanding quality and durability on a budget. The set even comes with a 10-year guarantee on the non-stick coating. In our testing, the materials heated fast (all in under 10 seconds) and required next to no oil when frying eggs or making pancakes. Some other brands are more stackable, so you'll just need to make room for these in your cupboards.
See our full Ninja Foodi ZEROSTICK Pan Set review
Reasons to buy: Next-level durability
Reasons to avoid: Not stackable
Best affordable non-toxic pans
RRP: £45 | Materials: stainless steel | Size: 16, 18, 20cm | Dishwasher safe? yes | Oven safe? No | PFOA-free: yes
Stainless steel is almost unbeatable as a kitchen basic, especially Salter's. They're robust, non-toxic, and easily stackable thanks to the lids that can sit upside down. I do love the Salter Megastone Pan Set which is non-toxic too, but these steal the show on sheer value for money - and stainless steel purists. Just remember, you need higher heats and a bit more oil with stainless steel.
Reasons to buy: Really versatile trio that work hard for small budgets and compact kitchens
Reasons to avoid: Stainless steel takes a little more practice to perfect
Best non-toxic pan for one-pot cooking
RRP: £84.99 | Materials: forged aluminium and ceramic | Size: 26cm | Dishwasher safe? No, hand wash only | Oven safe? Up to 200 °C | PFOA-free: yes
If you've admired the Our Place Always Pan, this lookalike is a brilliant alternative for saving a little money. Available in a range of five different colours, it's undeniably chic. Aside from being a fantastic induction frying pan, it has multiple other uses too – such as steaming, straining, boiling, and serving, meaning you can enjoy ten uses in one pan. In our tests, it was faultless from everything, including scrambling eggs and making shakshuka. You just need to be careful around the oven, because it can't go above 200 °C.
See our full Lakeland Only Pan review
Reasons to buy: A true multi-tasker, non-toxic coating, multiple colourways
Reasons to avoid: Not dishwasher-safe and can't go above 200 °C, so not suitable for grilling
Best non-toxic frying pan
RRP: £69.99 | Materials: forged aluminium and ceramic | Size: 20-30cm | Dishwasher-safe? Yes | Oven-safe? Yes | PFOA-free: Yes
Frying pans are some of the hardest places to find a non-toxic alternative that still cooks perfect pancakes, but we think this one strikes gold. It cooks evenly and quickly, with the ceramic coating meaning we didn't really need any oil to fry bacon and eggs. It also claims to be scratch resistant, a test which it passed with flying colours when we used stainless steel utensils on it. The only note we made is that the handle is quite long, so make sure you have a wide drawer.
See our full Greenpan Barcelona review
Reasons to buy: Incredibly durable, even temperature distribution
Reasons to avoid: Requires a lot of storage space, quite deep for pancakes etc
Best non-toxic cast iron casserole
RRP: £167-399 | Materials: cast iron | Size: 18-30cm | Dishwasher safe? Yes, but hand wash recommended | Oven safe? Yes | PFOA-free: yes
More premium cast iron casserole dishes are naturally non-toxic, so it's no surprise that Le Creuset nabbed a spot on here. Their stainless steel pans are also non-toxic, but the brand's hero product deserves the spotlight here. Also known as Dutch ovens, these pots can go in the oven, on the stove, or just on display. If you're wondering whether Le Creuset it worth the toppy price tag, when it comes to your health and the lifetime guarantee that the brand offers, this is a place worth investing in. It is worth noting, however, that the extreme weight might crack glass-ceramic cooker tops if dropped, so make sure you have your grip strength up to scratch.
See our full Le Creuset Cast Iron review.
Reasons to buy: Versatile, durable, and comes with a lifetime guarantee
Reasons to avoid: Expensive upfront cost and heavy
Best luxury non-toxic pans
RRP: £935 | Induction compatible? Yes | Dishwasher-safe? Yes - hand washing recommended | Oven-safe? Yes | PFOA-free: yes | Guarantee: Lifetime
When we're talking about investing in your health and your kitchen, these pans are at the front of my mind. They're a favourite of many celebrity chefs and even stole a spot in Em The Nutritionist's 5 investment pieces. They cover every use and little detail with from the small milk pan right through to the casserole and deep saucepan. All have welded, stay-cool handles, which have been used almost daily by me for three years and they're still as good as new.
See Laura's full Made In 10-piece review
Reasons to buy: chef-quality set that comes with a lifetime guarantee
Reasons to avoid: really expensive for a simple set
How we test non-toxic pans
At woman&home, we test everything we recommend to you, which is why you can see a slideshow of the pans in action above, as well as links to the reviews of each collection. We work through all the different uses, temperatures, and meals that you can use in a pan, as well as looking at how they handle burns and abrasive cleans.
We've also done deep-dives into the materials to make sure that they're non-toxic and safe for you to use at home. If you have any questions about the pans, don't hesitate to email one of us. We always love to chat about pans.
FAQs
What should I look for on my non-toxic cookware?
Uncoated materials are always your best bet when it comes to shopping for non-toxic pans. I like to look for stainless steel, ceramic (make sure that it's pure) and cast iron too. Essentially, you want to avoid synthetic chemical coatings and plastic polymers.
What is the healthiest material for cookware?
Experts will always point you towards stainless steel and cast iron because they have great longevity and durability. Stainless steel often comes uncoated and it's not-reactive, so cooks acidic food really well. Cast iron, on the other hand, is made with safe minerals and becomes naturally non-stick when you oil and heat it.
What do chefs use instead of non-stick pans?
You'll see lots of professional chefs cooking on stainless steel, cast iron, and carbon steel pans. These need a bit more skill to get high heat and good sears, but they're impressive.
Are there other non-toxic kitchen essentials to know about?
Non-toxic air fryers are another great appliance to keep an eye on. Lots of these appliances use chemicals, but Ninja is great for coatings, as is Tower and Our Place.
There are plenty of natural swaps you can make in your kitchen if you want to keep nasties out of your food and off your skin, from natural cleaning products to non-toxic bakeware. We're passionate about eco-conscious and safe cooking at woman&home. And whilst most of the food team are too modest to say it, we've been ahead of the non-toxic kitchen trend for a long time.
