The 10 Best Nonstick Pans Without Teflon
Special Honors
Caraway Fry Pan If you take environmental concerns seriously, you'll perhaps want to look at the Caraway Fry Pan. The production of its nonstick coating releases less CO2 than most traditional options, making this an earth-friendly choice. It's also quite handsome, with a sleek handle and a range of color choices that includes sage, gray, and navy. carawayhome.com
Always Pan by Our Place The Always Pan by Our Place is so named because it is versatile; in fact, it was designed to replace your steamer, skillet, saucepan, and more. You'll even receive a beechwood spatula along with it, which nests into an integrated spoon rest for mess-free use. fromourplace.com
Editor's Notes
November 30, 2020:
With this update, we have made sure that all included pans are free of PFOA as well as PTFE, a synthetic polymer better known by the brand name Teflon. To this end, we opted to remove the Techef CeraTerra, as we are unable to verify that it truly does not contain PTFE due to conflicting information. Besides which, there are plenty of options that are just as budget-friendly, including the Cuisinart GreenGourmet 8-Inch and the GreenLife Soft Grip. We especially appreciate that these are each just one piece in a line of cookware, so you can grab the matching pots and pans you're missing in your kitchen, perhaps to supplement a cookware set.
As for higher-priced choices made for the long haul, we still think the Daterra Cucina Vesuvio represents the best value. Whereas some options come with simple lids or no lid at all, this one has a thoughtfully designed lid with a stylish handle. We added the Calphalon Classic Oil-Infused, as well, a 12-inch choice that has a 10-year warranty and is free of all heavy metals. It takes the place of the GreenPan Rio, which doesn't offer enough to make it stand out.
Finally, we kept the T-fal Jumbo Saute for those who need a pan with an ample capacity. We selected it rather than T-fal's Thermo-Spot nonstick jumbo pans, since this version is free of PTFE as well as compatible with your induction cooktop.
January 31, 2019:
Teflon is a brand name for a man-made chemical called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which has been found to use an environmentally unfriendly manufacturing process and is capable of releasing toxins that cause flu-like symptoms when combined with high heat. Our list prioritized pans that were free of PTFE, lead, cadmium, PFOA and other chemicals first and foremost. After that, we made sure to select a wide variety to suit many cooking needs, and favored high-quality cookware with positive feedback and ergonomic designs from reputable companies.