In recent years, we’ve cared more about the quality, provenance and freshness of the ingredients that go into our meals than ever before, so it’s hardly surprising that we’ve begun to place as much focus on the pots and pans we cook them with.
That’s why the best ‘non-toxic’ cookware has become a buzzword among foodies looking to serve up meals for their friends and family that are free from nasties.
After all, it seems like a complete waste of time to splurge on organic produce when everything from your stock pots to your frying pans is coated in chemicals that are harmful to both your body and the atmosphere.
But what exactly is non-toxic cookware, and how can you shop for it? “Non-toxic cookware is made without harmful chemical coatings using materials such as ceramic, uncoated stainless steel and stainless steel layered with metals like titanium,” explains Hannah England, brand manager of cookware maker Stellar.
Best non-toxic cookware at a glance
Best overall – Fissler original-profi serving pan with high-dome lid: £274.95, Harrods.com
Best budget buy – Blackmoor Sherwood 24cm Stock Pot: £21.99, Blackmoorhome.co.uk
Best chef-approved pan – M&S X Tom Kerridge Stainless Steel Saucepan: £30, Marksandspencer.com
Best luxury pan – Le Creuset 3-ply Stainless Steel Non-Stick Chef's Pan with Lid and Helper Handle: £209, Lecreuset.co.uk
Best sustainable buy – Kuhn Rikon Easy Ceramic Frying Pan: £54.95, Kuhnrikon.co.uk
“Toxic cooking surfaces are most often found in frying pans and saucepans with traditional non-stick coatings such as PTFE. Some older pans may also contain PFOA or PFAS. When overheated, these coatings – sometimes referred to as ‘forever chemicals’ – can break down and release harmful fumes.”
She adds: “Non-toxic cookware is better for both your health and the environment. Uncoated stainless steel is one of the purest options as it contains no surface coatings at all. In recent years, many consumers have moved away from traditional non-stick cookware for health reasons. But whilst providing the perfect sear, uncoated pans can be more challenging for less confident cooks. They need to be heated and seasoned to prevent food from sticking – this has created demand for new cookware technologies that combine non-toxic materials with reliable non-stick performance.”
How I tested
I tested every non-toxic pot and pan, considering how they look and how they perform. For the former, I reviewed the design and aesthetics, considering the materials that make it non-toxic and its design. Then I looked at how it cooked my produce – usually something simple – and how the dish tasted afterwards.
Read more: Best non-toxic frying pans for healthier cooking, tried and tested
Fissler original-profi serving pan with high-dome lid
★★★★★
Best: for pot-roasting… and displaying
What we love: Brilliant quality and design – and it looks good enough to have on display. The textured base makes it perfect for long cooks, too, preventing burning or adhesion.
Take note: It’s not easy to store as the lid doesn’t invert, which means it takes up a lot of room – an issue if space is limited.
Hello, gorgeous! Part-objet d’art, part serving pan, this beautiful design from Fissler is created for proper cooks. Working on all hob types, it’s made from stainless steel and is begging for slow-cooking or braising thanks to its generous depth and circumference.
Its surface features a water-based ceramic coating that’s crafted without PFAS or PFTO, meaning it’s both non-toxic and non-stick. Better still, the high-dome lid traps moisture to retain all those flavours and keep everything warm when the pan is presented in the centre of the table.
Buy now £275.95, Harrods.com
Blackmoor sherwood 24cm stock pot
★★★☆☆
Best: Budget non-toxic cookware
What we love: This comes in at a really competitive price point that makes it accessible to most budgets.
Take note: Personally, I’m not a fan of the wood-effect and chrome finishes. Given the price, it’s a lightweight item and could raise questions about its longevity and heat distribution.
This entry-level Sherwood stock pot is made from forged aluminium with a PFAS-free ceramic coating for non-stick performance and surprisingly fast, even heating. It’s finished in sleek black and accented with wood-effect handles and shiny chrome detailing. I did what it said on the tin and trialled the pot by cooking a stock from the carcass of a roast chicken.
Buy now £21.99, Blackmoorhome.co.uk
Stellar profile matte shallow casserole
★★★★★
Best: For hob to oven cooking
What we love: It was brilliant for my bolognese; the base meant it didn’t slide around, while it seared beef and simmered for two hours without sticking.
Take note: A slightly deeper style would be good to avoid spillages.
Beautifully crafted from uncoated stainless steel that will never flake or peel into your food, this PFOA- and PTFE-free casserole pan from premium cookware brand Stellar combines cutting-edge tech with jaw-dropping looks – all stylish matte steel and elegant straight lines.
Its high-conductivity base and shallow design serve up efficient and even cooking, while its twin handles mean it can be transferred from hob to oven pretty easily. Although uncoated, the precision-etched surface helped food release easily.
Buy now £70.00, Stellar.co.uk
AGA cast iron casserole
★★★★★
Best: For long, slow cooks
What we love: Generously-sized for servings of six or more. Really good non-stick performance, while there’s no limit on temperature, meaning it’s perfect for transferring to a hot grill for a gratin finish. It also stores very easily as the lid inverts and other pans can be placed on top.
Take note: It’s fairly heavy, so you need two hands to move it, but what do you expect from cast iron?
Handmade in France from enamelled cast iron, every one of these black cast-iron casserole pans from quintessentially British brand AGA is unique as the mould is broken after production. The non-toxic material accumulates and retains heat that radiates onto the food inside the deep design to seal in flavour and succulence.
Despite being designed specifically for an AGA, the pan is compatible with all hob types, including induction. It cooked my onions slowly and evenly without any burnt edges but plenty of soft textures and caramelised tastes.
M&S X Tom Kerridge stainless steel saucepan
★★★★★
Best: For quality on a budget
What we love: It looks the part, which is important to a budding amateur chef, but backs it up with a lovely weight paired with a strong handle.
Take note: I can’t think of any – I really like this and would snap up the set.
M&S could get away with sticking Tom Kerridge on a non-toxic pan and calling it a day – such is the public’s trust in the quality of the high-street favourite – but I’m happy to report that this nifty little number didn’t rest on its laurels. Perfect for sautéing, simmering and reheating, it’s made from stainless steel with an extra-thick copper-disc base that heats evenly and quickly.
It also comes with ‘StayNew’ technology for durability and can be used on all hob types, including induction. It did a cracking job in retaining the flavours and textures of leftover bolognese.
Buy now £30.00, Marksandspencer.com
ProCook cast iron skillet pan
★★★★☆
Best: For shallow frying
What we love: The long handle makes it easy to move around the hob or transfer to the oven, which it can handle up to 260°C.
Take note: It could easily scratch the hob of an induction surface if you’re not careful, while its shallow design limits what you can fit in it.
I’ll admit – I’m a huge fan of ProCook, the brand that offers everything from knives to electricals, so it’s hardly surprising that I loved cooking up a storm with its cast-iron skillet pan.
Offering incredible heat distribution and retention that’s perfect for browning, charring or frying, it’s crafted from black cast iron and features a hardwearing matt enamel coating on the inside that won’t flake away or rust over time. Better still, it can be used on all hob types, while it feels a lot more expensive than it is – always a plus.
Buy now £39.00, Procook.co.uk
Greenpan Barcelona pro covered casserole
★★★★☆
Best: For long simmering
What we love: Its generous capacity makes this casserole pan really versatile without being cumbersome. The heat distribution and non-stick performance are top-notch, as you’d expect.
Take note: I’ve had a non-stick GreenPan saucepan for a couple of years now, and the only disappointment has been the non-stick coating scratching off where the lid makes contact with the pan.
Featuring a PFAS-free ceramic non-stick coating that’s designed to withstand scratching, the Barcelona Pro from Greenpan is incredibly hardwearing.
The casserole pan is made from extra-thick aluminium that heats food quickly and evenly while the base stays perfectly flat to keep your butter or oil exactly where you want it (meaning you use less). I love the jet-back colour and contrasting mirror-finish handles in cast stainless steel – talk about chic.
Buy now £130.00, Greenpan.co.uk
Cuisinart clicksmart non-stick detachable handle cookware
★★★★☆
Best: For space-saving
What we love: You get a lot of bang for your buck. The non-stick performance is fantastic, the set stacks really well in the cupboard and the anti-scratch felt storage pads are a nice touch.
Take note: If you like traditional pots and pans with fixed handles, this isn’t for you. The detaching and reattaching when cooking or serving up adds unnecessary pressure.
It would be remiss to review non-toxic cookware and not include a set, so here it is: Cuisinart’s Clicksmart range comprises no less than 13 pieces, including a frying pan, saucepans and sauté pan complete with storage lids, felt protectors and detachable handles – a design that makes this set a dream to store when you’re short on space.
Completely PFAS-free, the non-toxic ceramic coating makes for effortless food release, while delivering fast, even heat across all hob types.
Buy now £99.00, Cuisinart.co.uk
Peugeot appolia rectangular dish fern green
★★★★☆
Best: For four-portion lasagne or pies
What we love: The perfect depth and width for four healthy portions of lasagne or cottage pie. Dishes like this are often too shallow or big. Looks great, too.
Take note: Ceramic dishes like this have the habit of cracking over time – but time will tell.
I have to be honest, I didn’t know French car brand Peugeot made cookware, but apparently it’s a thing, and all its cookware is non-toxic with every piece crafted from natural materials – specifically, clay and kaolin.
Free from lead, cadmium and PFAS, the rectangular Appolia dish comes in a lovely fern-green colourway in a tactile matt finish. Its ultra-resistant enamel means it’ll go the distance while the rounded corners make for easy cleaning.
Buy now £49.99, Peugeot-saveurs.com
Le Creuset 3-ply stainless steel non-stick chef's pan with lid and helper handle
★★★★★
Best: For feeling like a top chef
What we love: You feel good feeling when using it. It’s got excellent heat distribution while being non-stick with a non-drip lip. Plus, it’s deep enough to get food moving around without spillages.
Take note: It’s pricy, but you get what you pay for.
Le Creuset needs no introduction – it’s the brand of choice for those who mean serious business in the kitchen, and its non-stick chef’s pan is an essential piece of kit in the arsenal.
Sure to make you feel the part, the pan is perfect for everything from sautéing vegetables to searing meat and simmering casseroles, while its deep shape makes it ideal for dishes with sauces. Compatible with all hobs and oven-safe, it’s an all-rounder that’s worth forking out for.
Buy now £209.00, Lecreuset.co.uk
Morphy Richards forged aluminium sauté pan
★★★☆☆
Best: For meals for two
What we love: A good-looking little pan with a lid, which helpfully has air-vents built-in, meaning no more drips caused by tilting the lid to release steam.
Take note: It’s not huge – you’d struggle to cook for four in this.
The ceramic non-stick coating on this neat little number makes stirring, flipping and serving everyday food a breeze, from risotto to bolognese. It’s built from hardwearing forged aluminium with a scratch-resistant finish and features a soft-touch handle that stays comfortable in the hand even when you’re ferociously cooking up a storm.
Buy now £55.00, Argos.co.uk
Kuhn Rikon easy ceramic frying pan
★★★☆☆
Best: For environmentally-conscious cooking
What we love: A solid base that helps with cooking on induction and hotplates.
Take note: It isn’t the most stylish of pieces and is limited to just 260°C in the oven.
Made from recycled aluminium that’s produced with up to 95 per cent less energy than traditional aluminium designs, this pan from Kuhn Rikon is also more hardwearing because it comprises different alloys. The result? An environmentally-friendly frying pan that distributes heat evenly and quickly with a ceramic coating for fabulous browning and frying.
Buy now £54.00, Kuhnrikon.co.uk
Circulon halo laserdefense non-stick ceramic sauté pan
★★★★☆
Best: For big cook-offs
What we love: Substantial in diameter and depth, both of which help in preparing large servings. The addition of the secondary handle is helpful when the pan is loaded, while the non-stick performance is impressive.
Cons: This is a large pan that uses a lot of storage space, but on the plus side, the lid can be inverted to allow for stacking.
UK maker Circulon, known for unbreakable cookware, is serving up a blinder with this non-stick ceramic pan. Suitable for all hobs, it’s made from durable aluminium with a PFAS-free ceramic coating and features the brand’s signature textured barrier of microscopic dots that cleverly stop utensils from touching and scratching the base of the pan.
Buy now £99.00, Circulon.uk
What is the best non-toxic cookware?
My favourite pan is the Fissler because of the high-end German quality of design and craftsmanship – it also offers great versatility due to the domed lid and pan depth. At the other end of the scale, the M&S was a joy to use. It feels and looks like something three times the price. I was so impressed, in fact, that I went out and bought the roasting tin from the same set.
Why trust me
As a freelance editor with bylines in Sunday Times Style, The Telegraph, The Mail, Forbes, Livingetc, House Beautiful and, of course, The Standard, Nicky is an expert on things lifestyle. He also works with some of the biggest brands on the high street to advise and create content, so he understands products, what goes into making them and how they perform. A keen home cook, he’s also reviewed the best non-toxic frying pans.
