The 7 Best Non-Toxic Cookware Options You Can Buy, According to Our Food Editors

Former PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen rated this set 90 out of 100 in a PureWow100 review—with good reason. “I never fully believe brands that claim, ‘you can cook with no oil!’” Gillen states, “but Caraway is slippery enough to fry eggs, fillets of fish and delicate crab cakes with a touch less oil than I’d use with stainless steel or cast iron.”

When I tested it, I was impressed by the slick ceramic nonstick surface, the oven-friendly design and the lack of hotspots (its aluminum core allows the pan to heat quickly and evenly, despite its large size). I love the sauté pan for cooking vegetables for the week ahead, or a big batch of pasta or beans. I also adore the sauce pan for cooking rice and the fry pan for eggs. 

Caraway's wares also come in a slew of muted, cheerful colorways like perracotta (a creamy brownish rose) and sage (a calming green), but they're not just Instagram-friendly. They're also made with a ceramic non-stick coating that can handle temperatures up to 550°F, so the pieces can go from stove to oven and without adding unwanted chemicals to your meals. Every piece in the set is stovetop agnostic, a fancy way of saying it works with induction, gas and electric ranges.

Fast Facts

• Max Temp: 550°F
• Induction Compatible: yes
• Dishwasher Safe: no
• What the Set Includes: 10.5-inch fry pan, 3-quart sauce pan, 4.5-quart sauté pan, 6.5-quart Dutch oven, canvas lid holder and magnetic pan racks
• Material: ceramic non-stick
• Colors available: eight

McManus is a big fan of All-Clad, so much so that she it's her top recommended brand for cookware sets. The brand's products are as timeless and good-looking as they are functional. The stainless-steel cookware is not coated with non-stick material, but it can behave like non-stick if you preheat it sufficiently. (Hot tip: If you add a drop of water to the pan, it will bead up and skate across the surface when the pan is heated.)

"I love that it's durable and cooks food really evenly with no hot spots," raves Gillen. "And since the steel isn't coated with anything, you can use any type of utensil without scratching it. Plus, the pieces clean up like new!"

"It's the type of pan you get and keep for life," PureWow editor Dara Katz adds about the three-ply sauté pan (pictured). "The size makes it a multipurpose workhorse, at least in my house. This pan is ideal for meat and fish (on stainless, it's ready to turn when it no longer sticks to the pan) and deglazing for a sauce. It can also take high heat, so you can use the broiler on it, too."

Need more convincing? It’s oven-safe and comes with a lifetime warranty. I like the Weeknight Pan (linked), which is like a hybrid sauté pan and saucier, because its high sides and ample surface area can handle braising, sautéing, searing and simmering. (And with a little cooking oil, it can do anything a non-stick pan can.)

Fast Facts

• Max Temp: 600°F
• Induction Compatible: yes
• Dishwasher Safe: no
• What the Set Includes: 4-quart pan and lid
• Material: stainless steel
• Colors available: 1

For a do-it-all pan that’s easy on your budget and will last you and your grandkids a lifetime (if you take care of it), look no further than a cast iron skillet. Why? Because after just a few uses it becomes seasoned, creating a non-stick coating. ("When you heat a very thin layer of oil, the hot oil polymerizes, or links together on a molecular level, and bonds to the pan’s surface," explains McManus.)

Lodge’s pans have been a favorite among home cooks for years—probably because they’re inexpensive and durable and hold heat like no other. (It doesn’t hurt that they look rustic-chic, too.) "My eggs slide right off, and anything that might stick is easily scrubbed away with chain mail," asserts associate editor of SEO Marissa Wu. "You can put it in the oven, over a fire; it's a versatile cookware staple. The stuff is virtually indestructible. I've heard stories of people rescuing rusting pans from the antique store and cleaning them up, good as new. They're hefty, durable and perform. Yes, they're heavy, but otherwise low-maintenance."

A 10-inch skillet is a good all-purpose size for daily cooking, but for feeding crowds and tackling bigger tasks like roasting whole chickens, I also like the larger 12-inch version. Not sure how to wield cast iron the right way? Here are a few tips.

Fast Facts

• Max Temp: 650°F
• Induction Compatible: yes
• Dishwasher Safe: no
• What the Set Includes: 10.25-inch skillet
• Material: cast iron
• Colors available: 1

GreenPan is arguably the O.G. of non-toxic, non-stick cookware. The brand uses a silicon-based coating called Thermolon, which is slippery, scratch-resistant and won't release harmful chemicals into your food, even if you accidentally overheat the pan. "It's budget-friendly, durable and eggs truly slide right off," claims VP of editorial Candace Davison. "Even though it's dishwasher safe, it's better to hand wash—I've found the non-stick surface doesn't last long if you toss it in there."

Wu also swears by the cookware's nonstick powers and lightweight design. "I burned quinoa to the bottom and was able to use a silicone spatula to scrape away the debris," she explains. "The designs are plentiful and pretty, from brass and gold handles to various colors. I'd cook pancakes, eggs, really anything that you're afraid might stick. Just don't use anything abrasive; it scratches easily."

While there’s no shortage of styles to choose from—GreenPan even makes non-toxic grill pans—I’m partial to the GreenPan Valencia Pro two-piece set, which includes two skillets with a stainless-steel outer finish.

Fast Facts

• Max Temp: 600°F
• Induction Compatible: yes
• Dishwasher Safe: yes
• What the Set Includes: 8- and 10-inch frying pans
• Material: ceramic non-stick
• Colors available: 1

Yep, the fancy French brand that you lust after on Pinterest also happens to be non-toxic. And while it’s certainly not cheap, the price can be justified when you consider how the cookware is famous for being so durable.

"We got this as a wedding gift eight years ago and it's held up amazingly well," Katz claims. "I use it at least once a week to make family dinner. I love the vibrant, rich color, so I keep this out for a decor 'moment.' I appreciate that I can bring this straight to the table from the oven and serve directly from the pot without it being an eyesore. I love that you can sear on the stove and then stick it in the oven. The enamel also means you get the pros of cast iron without any of the tedious seasoning."

The ceramic-coated cast iron conducts and holds heat like a dream, can go from stove to oven to table, is scratch- and chip- resistant and incredibly easy to clean (say goodbye to the infamous overnight soak). The brand makes skillets and pots of all sizes, but I’m partial to the 5.5-quart Dutch oven for its versatility. The only hard part? Choosing a color.

Fast Facts

• Max Temp: 500°F
• Induction Compatible: yes
• Dishwasher Safe: yes
• What the Set Includes: 5.5-quart Dutch oven
• Material: enameled cast iron
• Colors available: 30

Unique among non-stick cookware brands, HexClad is a hybrid material made from tri-ply stainless steel and non-stick. It features a laser-etched surface that allows the ingredients to come into contact with both the stainless steel and non-stick surfaces, so you get better browning and less sticking.

"I absolutely love that this pan is scratch-proof and dishwasher safe," says HexClad fan and PureWow senior director of special projects and royals Rachel Bowie. "It's a breeze to use, and even when you accidentally burn something like a scrambled egg, the laser-etched surface makes it a total breeze to clean."

Personally, I found the 12-inch pan a bit heavy and large when I tested it, but nowhere near as clunky as cast iron. The one-of-a-kind cooking surface makes for crispy edges, impeccable browning and slide-right-out release, plus it looks good doing it.

In case you need more convincing, it's also PFOA-free, oven-safe up to 500°F, induction compatible and strong enough to withstand the force of metal utensils.

Fast Facts

• Max Temp: 500°F
• Induction Compatible: yes
• Dishwasher Safe: yes
• What the Set Includes: 10-inch frying pan
• Material: hybrid non-stick
• Colors available: 1

As popular as the original Always Pan was, I have to be honest: It wasn’t perfect. Our editors loved the functionality and design, but had mishaps in the kitchen due to the outer coating not being flame-resistant. (For instance, it can discolor and scorch if exposed to heat.) That said, I feel the second iteration of this nontoxic cookware piece was a major improvement.

The O.G. wasn’t oven safe, it stained easily, the nonstick coating didn’t last as long as I’d hoped and the handle on mine chipped after a few months. The new version of the Always Pan is much more durable, despite being lightweight and easy to maneuver, and it's designed with multipurpose use in mind. (Looking at you, nested spoon rest, steamer, spatula and steam-releasing lid.)

Fast Facts

• Max Temp: 450°F
• Induction Compatible: yes
• Dishwasher Safe: no
• What the Set Includes: 10.5-inch pan, lid, spatula and steamer basket
• Material: ceramic non-stick
• Colors available: five