Stainless Steel VS Cast Iron VS Ceramic: Which Non-Toxic Pan Is Best?

According to the WWF the average person consumes about 5 grams of microplastics each week. Many of which come from our cookware when microplastics and toxic chemicals can melt from our utensils and leach from our pans.

In today's article I'll dive into a few non-toxic options to help you figure out which one is the best for you. We'll discuss the different types of cookware, how effective they are to use and clean and what makes them safer than traditional pans.
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Non-Toxic Cookware 101

In today's health-conscious world, the safety of the cookware we use is as crucial as the quality of the food we eat and non-toxic cookware has gained popularity as more people become aware of the potential health risks posed by conventional cookware. Unfortunately there's no one size fits-all when it comes to non-toxic pans, and it really depends on what you value the most - convenience, durability or safety.
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Understanding the Risks

Traditional cookware, such as non-stick pans and certain metals, can release harmful chemicals into our food during cooking. These chemicals include PFOA, PFOS, lead, and cadmium, among others and exposure to these substances can pose serious health risks, including chronic diseases and long-term organ damage. After countless hours of research, I've found several of the best options: ceramic cookware, stainless steel and cast irons.

Ceramic Cookware: A Safe Bet?

Ceramic cookware, such as Xtrema, is typically has a metal base (aluminum or stainless steel) coated with a ceramic glaze or finish made from inorganic minerals. Fully ceramic pans are made entirely from ceramic or clay and are often thicker and heavier, offering excellent heat retention. Ceramic coated pans use a metal base with a non-stick ceramic coating. They're lighter and more common for everyday use. Fully ceramic pans with no coating are the safest option but difficult to clean and typically more fragile and heavier then traditional pans. In comparison, ceramic coated pans require meticulous care to prevent the coating from scratching, which could potentially release harmful particles.

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The Truth About Stainless Steel

Stainless steel cookware (360 cookware) is made from an alloy of iron, chromium, and nickel and is know for its durability and safety. The chromium provides corrosion resistance, while nickel enhances durability and shine. 304 stainless steel also known as 18/10 which contains 18% chromium and 10% nickel. It’s the most common, offering superior durability and rust resistance. If you're sensitive to Nickel then you're going to want to opt for the 403 stainless steel also known as the 18/0 which with no nickle is more affordable but less resistant to corrosion. Most high-quality stainless steel cookware is triply or multiply, with layers of stainless steel and aluminum or copper for better heat distribution.

Tip: The trick with the stainless steel is heating it properly if you get the temperature right then you can make it a semi nonstick.
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Cast Iron: An Old Favorite

Cast iron (Xtrema) cookware is beloved for its durability, versatility, and heat-retention properties, while enameled cast iron (Our Place) offers an easier-to-maintain alternative. Cast Iron is made entirely of molten iron poured into molds, creating a dense and heavy cooking surface. Cast iron develops a natural, non-stick coating when seasoned with oil and heat, creating a protective layer over time. It requires more maintenance than other pans as must be kept dry to prevent rust, and given a light coat of oil before storing. It is best for high-heat cooking and grilling but can leech iron as highly acidic foods can strip the seasoning. Additionally, it is heavy so can be challenging to handle for some users.

Enameled cast iron on the other hand, is coated with a layer of porcelain enamel which prevents rust and eliminates the need for seasoning. It is safe for cooking acidic ingredients like tomato sauce or citrus-based dishes and requires extra care. The enamel coating can chip or crack if dropped or mishandled and damaged if over heated.

Tip: To season the pan add a thin layer of oil that is bake it in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for an hour to build up that protective layer.

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My Review - Cooking, Cleaning & Safety

After testing all the pans its difficult to choose a clear winner. Each type of pan had its pros and cons in terms of heat distribution, stickiness, and maintenance.

The Xtrema fully ceramic pan took the longest to cook and had the worst sear but it made the best tasting steak. It was the second easiest to clean and is the safest option.

The 360 Cookware stainless steel pan was the fastest to cook but it was a little bit sticky. It had the best sear, was the hardest to clean and it had the second best tasting steak. It has no safety concerns unless you are sensitive to nickel.

The Our Place enameled cast iron pan had to be heated up in the oven before use, had an uneven sear, was the second hardest to clean and in my opinion the worst tasting steak. The enamel itself is safe but needs to be carefully cared for.

The Caraway ceramic coated was a quick cook, had an okay sear and was the easiest to clean by far. The taste of the steak was not the best but it definitely wasn't the worst. Alike the enamled cast iron, the ceramic coating on the caraway is safe but needs to be careful for to prevent any leaks.

Price Comparison

• Carway Ceramic Non-stick pan - $145
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• Xtrema Fully Ceramic - $182
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• Our Place Enamled Cast Iron - $200
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• 360 Stainless Steel - $220
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Conclusion

Choosing the right non-toxic cookware is a great step towards healthier cooking and living. By understanding the different options and how to care for them, you can enhance your cooking experience while also keeping your food safe from harmful chemicals. After doing all the research, it seems like the best option actually is to rotate your pants.

I know that's probably not what you want to hear but because all of these are different materials right and what we cook on you know is being absorbed into our food to some respect even though this is ceramic and it's totally safe and this is stainless steel and it's safe and everything's pretty much pretty safe I still feel much better about exposing myself to a variety of things versus overexposing myself to the same thing over and over and over again. Hope this helped!
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‍For the full video review, click the link here.