My Non-Toxic Bakeware Picks
Non-toxic bakeware is a key component of reducing the chemical burden on your body. Perhaps you’ve reduced your intake of processed foods and switched to non-toxic body care products, but have you considered the toxins in your bakeware?
When it comes to non-toxic bakeware, my philosophy is:
- Better safe than sorry when it comes to questionable materials.
- Buy fewer and higher quality pieces that will last.
Here are my tips for economically stocking your kitchen with non-toxic bakeware!
Aluminum foil
I didn’t realize how frequently I used aluminum foil until I decided to eliminate it from my pantry a few years ago. I would line baking sheets with it and store food wrapped in it.
Aluminum is a heavy metal controversially linked to neurological disease, including Alzheimer’s. In one study, a variety of meats were cooked in aluminum foil. Researchers found that aluminum leached into all the meats cooked. They concluded, “there are no evident risks to the health of the consumer from using aluminum foil to cook meats. However, eating meals prepared in aluminum foil may carry a risk to the health by adding to other aluminum sources.”
Instead of using foil to line baking sheets, now I reach for this unbleached parchment paper (bonus: you can toss the used paper into the compost bin and you save on scrubbing your baking dishes).
Baking sheets
When I was detoxing my kitchen a few years ago, I went to Sur La Table searching for safe baking sheets and, even at this well-stocked culinary store, only found coated aluminum and non-coated aluminum options. Why aren’t these safe options?
As I just discussed, I don’t want my food touching aluminum, since that is where the issue of leaching arises. But non-stick and coated aluminum bakeware is an even worse option, since they offgass toxic fumes when heated. Non-stick coating contains PFCs (perfluorinated compounds), a group of toxic chemicals. Two of the most common types of perfluorinated compounds include PFOA (perfluorooctonoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate), both of which are considered by the EPA to be a likely human carcinogen. PFC exposure is also linked to low sperm counts, thyroid disease, liver and kidney damage, and reproductive problems.
There are three options for safe baking sheets:
1. Stainless steel baking sheets – difficult to find in stores, so I found mine here at Amazon.
2. Cover non-coated aluminum baking sheets with unbleached parchment paper, so you food isn’t touching the aluminum. The parchment paper can be used in ovens up to 425 degrees.
3. Stoneware baking sheets – Personally, I’ve not used stoneware bakeware. However, a reader suggested it on my Facebook post discussing non-toxic bakings. The key, evidently, is sourcing lead-free and American-made stoneware. This article from Weston Price is helpful.
Cake pans and baking dishes
Once again, the primary culprits here are aluminum and non-stick coating. Here is what I use for non-toxic bakeware:
- Stainless steel cake pans
- Stainless steel pie plate
- Pyrex glass baking dishes – I love this Pyrex set for baking, and I’ve also found some great Pyrex baking dishes at thrift stores for cheap.
- Cast iron muffin tin (you can also look at antique store for this) or stainless steel muffin tin or line aluminum muffin tins with parchment liners
- Enameled skillet – I’ve also used my Le Creuset skillet to bake fruit, crumbles, cobblers. It’s made with enameled cast iron, which is a safe bakeware and cookware option. It also lasts for generations – I still have my grandmother’s Le Creuset pan!
Waffle iron
The most common question I received on the Grain Free Apple Waffles I shared was, “What is a safe waffle iron?” To avoid at the non-stick coating on regular waffle irons, you can use this cast-iron waffle pan.
Is silicone bakeware safe?
I appreciated my friend Katie’s (Wellness Mama’s) post on baking with silicone. She believes the safety testing on heating silicone at high temperatures is not adequate. Because I’m on the fence about baking with silicon, I don’t bake in it. I do use silicon molds for unheated preparations, such as ice cubes, chocolates, and homemade gummies.
Do you use these non-toxic bakeware options? Any other suggestions?
pyrex has lead??? oh no! alright, so I cook with iron on the stove, but I use glass (pyrex) for a lot of baking…darn!
!) here’s the question that brought me to this sight: there are no plain stainless steel pots…the best I’ve found is aluminum in the middle of stainless steel all around…does that keep the aluminum from seeping through into our food???
2) is there glass without lead?
‘solidteknics’ brand has completely solid stainless steel pots
Yes, Libby. Makes lead free glassware (including beautiful dinnerware ).
There is no lead in modern clear glass made in the USA pyrex, only in the paint of the antiques.
Great to know!!
Thanks, I’ve checked all of the stores near me and nothing except some cast iron flat grilling pans I considered. I really appreciated your suggestions and just ordered what I didn’t have. Am moving to glass primarily and Anchor Hocking has a better track record on no lead in it. I follow Lead Safe Mama on facebook. Tamara Rubin. She tests lots of items for lead, cadmium, arsenic and it’s sobering to see how we are inadvertently allowing this stuff into our home environment. Thanks again! Margaret
Been looking for non toxic bakeware for some time…every time I think I’m on to something I find info going against it. The stainless steel pans you spoke of above …no exception, on different sites I looked at it said they warp really bad! Have you experienced this at all? Also was looking into getting glass baking dishes, one site said to go with anchor hoking..it said some Pyrex has lead in it. Then different other sites said a.h. glass is bad to explode…o.m.g. It’s so frustrating….Any thoughts about what I’ve mentioned? Julie, thanks P.S….I’m glad I didn’t have as much of a problem finding safe stainless cookware(Calphalon brand)….I say biting my nails! LOL
Thank you for sharing this useful information, I will regularly follow your blog
Has anyone tried an aluminum free Bundt pan? My searches have brought up glass and steel. Amazon has a Wilton Perfect Results Non-Stick Fluted Tube Pan, 9-Inch that is made of steel. I was thinking of making an Angel Food Cake. I may just use a Pyrex glass 9×13 pan.
I looked up the stainless steel pans on Amazon that you recommended and they have several terrible reviews. They warped with the first use and stayed warped.
See exploding Anchor Hocking and pyrex glass bakeware, shocking stories on YouTube.com. Serious burns, cuts, severed arteries and tendons have occurred. Realize that most people don’t report it, so it actually happens too often.
I got some pyrex loaf pans at a terrific price on black friday before discovering how it can explode unexpectedly. I decided to go ahead and bake in one of the smaller dishes, so I left the finished item in the turned off oven with the door open to let it cool slowly, then very carefully and quickly transferred it to a dry towel.
I imagined being on the bomb squad, hoping the pan didn’t detonate, so I did the sensible thing and returned the new USA made soda lime (cheaper) glass pyrex to the store, and ordered a vintage borosilicate glass PYREX (all upper case letters) dish online. It’s the old tried and true safe non-exploding bakeware used for decades in this country. The European manufacturers still make the sturdy borosilicate also.
The unbleached parchment paper you refer to still has a silicone coating, so baking at high temperatures is questionable for safety. I’ve been wanting to find a parchment paper that doesn’t have the coating but, have been unable to. Any suggestions, anyone? Thanks.
Just use loads of organic coconut oil to grease with, the safest non toxic option!
Can you recommend a truly non-toxic stainless steel ice tray? Thanks