12. Circulon — CONTAINS PFAS
PFAS Status: Yes — uses PTFE in all nonstick lines.
Coating: PTFE-based (Total Nonstick System with raised circles)
Those distinctive raised circles on the cooking surface? That’s Circulon’s signature. The design reduces abrasion and extends coating life, but the coating between and atop those circles is PTFE. Circulon, owned by Meyer Corporation, labels products “PFOA-free” and stops there. No PFAS-free alternative exists in their lineup.
Meyer also manufactures Anolon and Farberware nonstick pans with PTFE. All three brands share the same parent company and the same PTFE problem. Safe alternative: Switch to GreenPan or Caraway.
13. Rachael Ray Cookware — CONTAINS PFAS
PFAS Status: Yes — uses PTFE coatings.
Coating: PTFE-based nonstick
Another Meyer Corporation brand. The Cucina, Create Delicious, and Hard Anodized collections all use PTFE. Priced at $30-80 per piece and sold widely at Walmart, Target, and Amazon, this line targets budget shoppers who likely don’t know what “PFOA-free” actually means.
At that price point, PFAS-free options exist. Lodge cast iron runs $15-45. GreenPan Rio ceramic nonstick costs $25-50. Neither contains PTFE. Safe alternative: Lodge cast iron or GreenPan Rio ceramic nonstick.
14. Farberware — CONTAINS PFAS
PFAS Status: Yes — nonstick lines use PTFE. Some stainless options are PFAS-free.
Coating: PTFE-based (nonstick) or none (Classic Stainless)
A brand name dating to 1900, now owned by Meyer Corporation and manufactured primarily in China. Watch the “Ceramic” label on some Farberware products. Several of these “ceramic” lines still contain PTFE. That’s an increasingly common source of confusion. The budget pricing ($20-50 for sets) makes Farberware a fixture in starter kitchens and dorm rooms.
The Classic Stainless Steel line is genuinely PFAS-free, though reviews cite uneven heat distribution. For budget shoppers dodging PFAS, Lodge cast iron delivers better value with zero chemical coatings. Safe alternative: Farberware Classic Stainless Steel, or switch to Lodge cast iron.
15. HexClad — CONTAINS PFAS
PFAS Status: Yes — uses PTFE in the hexagonal coating pattern.
Coating: Hybrid stainless steel and PTFE in hexagonal pattern
Gordon Ramsay endorses it. Social media ads run everywhere. But HexClad’s selling point, a hexagonal pattern of raised stainless steel peaks with PTFE-filled valleys, means this cookware contains PFAS. The brand has been transparent about PTFE when asked directly. That fact just doesn’t headline the marketing.
At $150-200 per pan, the premium pricing buys a hybrid design that critics say doesn’t fully deliver on either promise. Those stainless steel ridges can make food stick. The PTFE valleys still degrade. Safe alternative: All-Clad stainless steel or GreenPan Valencia Pro at similar prices.
16. Made In — PFAS-FREE (Stainless Lines) / CONTAINS PFAS (Nonstick Line)
PFAS Status: Split — stainless and carbon steel are PFAS-free; nonstick line uses PTFE.
Coating: None (stainless/carbon steel) or PTFE-based (nonstick)
Worth knowing about. Made In launched direct-to-consumer in 2018 and produces its 5-ply stainless steel in the same Italian factory that supplies All-Clad. The price runs about 60% less. Cook’s Illustrated and other independent testers have reviewed both the stainless and blue carbon steel lines favorably. Both are completely PFAS-free.
One warning: Made In also sells a nonstick line with conventional PTFE coating. Read the product page carefully. The stainless steel ($89-149 per pan) and carbon steel ($69-89) are the lines to buy. Carbon steel develops natural nonstick seasoning like cast iron at roughly half the weight. Best pick: Made In 5-Ply Stainless Steel or Blue Carbon Steel.