The Best Non-Toxic Baking Sheets of 2023

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The 7 Best Non-Toxic Baking Sheets and Bakeware

As you’re working toward a more sustainable kitchen, you’re probably focusing on things like reducing food waste and making the switch to eco-friendly kitchen products. While these are certainly important steps, there’s one thing that often gets overlooked: using non-toxic baking sheets and bakeware.

After all, you might be wondering: Are my conventional baking sheets really that bad? Are they made with toxic chemicals that are leaching into my food?

Unfortunately, the truth is that just might be the case.

Read on to learn more about the harmful materials you absolutely must avoid in baking sheets. Then discover the safest and best non-toxic baking sheets that will ensure everything you cook is safe to eat.

Toxins in Baking Sheets to Avoid

Cropped image of hand removing cookie tray from oven in kitchen

Whether it’s baking around the holidays or making a birthday cake as a special surprise, you don’t expect the food you cook to include hormone-altering chemicals. Yet that’s exactly what happens every time you cook with old non-stick bakeware.

Are Teflon Non-Stick Baking Sheets Toxic?

At one time, getting perfect results when you baked meant ensuring your sheets and pans were properly greased. Forgetting this important step could lead to disastrous results and a headache of a mess to scrub away.

Then came the invention of Teflon. People were amazed at how cleanly and smoothly food would slide right off the sheets and pans.

Unfortunately, we now know the safety of Teflon non-stick baking sheets is in question thanks to a four-letter problem: PFAS (including PFOA and GenX, which are both types of PFAS chemicals).

PFAS are the chemicals used to make Teflon non-stick. They’re also known as “forever chemicals.” As their name suggests, once PFAS chemicals get into the environment or the human body, they’re impossible to get rid of.

Exposure to PFAS has been linked to a variety of health concerns, including certain types of cancers, liver damage, infertility, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, and obesity.

Once the problems with Teflon became clear, manufacturers started using GenX instead PFOA for non-stick treatments. That’s why you’ll often see non-stick cooking products advertising themselves as “PFOA-free.”

However, “PFOA-free” doesn’t always mean Teflon-free. Sometimes, it just means the company uses GenX instead of PFOA when coating the bakeware in Teflon.

Unfortunately, studies have shown GenX chemicals can have adverse effects on the liver, kidneys, blood, reproductive organs, and more.

Are Aluminum Baking Sheets Toxic?

Uncoated aluminum baking sheets can leach metal into your food, especially if you’re cooking acidic foods or the metal gets scratched.

While excess amounts of aluminum in the body can be linked to dementia and Alzheimer’s (this is why people recommend switching to a natural deodorant that doesn’t contain aluminum), your kidneys tend to do a good job of filtering out the waste.

However, if you have impaired kidney function, using aluminum bakeware could pose a serious health risk.

Not sure if your baking sheets are aluminum? Put a magnet on them!

If the magnet sticks, the baking sheets are stainless steel. If the magnet doesn’t stick, the baking sheets are most likely aluminum. Just keep in mind that this method doesn’t work 100% of the time, so only use it as guidance.

To make sure any bare aluminum baking pans you have don’t get scratched and leach even more toxins, avoid metal utensils and abrasive scrubbers on them. Instead, use wood or silicone utensils.

Can Bakeware Contain Lead or Cadmium?

Like certain types of dinnerware, some bakeware can contain cadmium and lead in the glaze that can leach into food. In dinnerware and bakeware, cadmium is often found in brightly colored red and orange ceramics.

This isn’t the only surprising thing that can contain dangerous heavy metals. One study found common face paints bought in stores can contain lead, which is one important reason to consider making your own natural face paint.

Even artificial Christmas trees can contain lead and shed lead dust onto your presents. We already know all of the numerous health concerns related to lead exposure, so we should always do our best to avoid it.

Eliminate Toxins With the Best Non-Toxic Baking Sheets

Now that you’re familiar with the bakeware you should avoid, you’re probably ready to make the switch to non-toxic baking sheets. Whether you need one piece or an entire set, this collection of the top non-toxic bakeware has you covered.

1. Caraway

You can make sure all of your baked goods don’t contain any bad stuff when you use Caraway. This ceramic-coated bakeware uses a mineral-based non-toxic coating that won’t leach toxic materials into your food.

The coating on the non-toxic baking pans doesn’t contain any potentially toxic materials, such as PFOA, PTFE, other PFAs, lead, cadmium, or toxic heavy metals. All of the pieces are oven safe and can withstand temperatures up to 550°F.

The natural nonstick coating requires minimal prep for baking and less scrubbing during cleanup. Even better, this bakeware releases less CO2 when produced compared to traditional non-stick coatings.

The bakeware set is a fantastic option that has either 5 pieces or 11 pieces and even includes a convenient and easy storage organizer. This baking sheet set is a good choice since it includes a medium and large size baking sheet.

If you don’t need a complete set, you can also pick and choose which individual pieces you need. This includes options like a circle pan, square pan, loaf pan, muffin tin, cooling rack, and more.

Plus, not only will you find an outstanding selection of bakeware, but Caraway also has some of the best nonstick pans and non-toxic cookware and the top non-toxic muffin pans, so you can make sure everything you cook is clean and healthy.

2. GreenLife

GreenLife uses a healthy and easy-to-clean ceramic coating that’s free of PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium for non-stick cooking and quick cleanup. The pieces are made from heavy-duty steel to deliver fast and even heat distribution, which is definitely important when you’re baking!

They’re oven safe up to high heat temperatures of 450°F. When you’re done baking, you can simply wipe clean or wash by hand.

The 12-piece baking set is a great option and comes with everything you need to get started, including 1 full cookie sheet, 1 half sheet, 1 loaf pan, 2 round cake pans, a 12-cup muffin pan, 4 baking utensils, and measuring spoons.

And the best part is you can get all of this for a very reasonable price!

If you don’t need that many pieces, you can also get a 6-piece bakeware set or a 12-cup muffin pan.

3. All-Clad Pro Release

All-Clad is the go-to cookware brand for professional chefs and home cooks alike. Their bakeware is made from commercial grade aluminized steel that’s warp resistant and oven safe up to 450°F.

The pieces are coated in a food-safe, PFOA-free, ceramic nonstick material that resists stains and ensures that even the gooiest, softest chocolate chip cookies slide right off.

Once you’re done baking, cleanup is a breeze. Simply hand wash with a gentle soap, warm water, and a soft sponge.

All-Clad Pro Release has two excellent sets for all of your baking needs. The 10-piece set comes with a half sheet pan, a cookie sheet, a nonstick cooling and baking rack, a 12-cup muffin pan, 2 round cake pans, a square baking pan, a rectangular baking pan, a quarter-sheet pan, and a 1-pound loaf pan.

You can also opt for the 5-piece set that includes a cookie sheet, cooling and baking rake, loaf pan, square baking pan, and 12-cup muffin pan.

4. casaWare

CasaWare makes beautiful, non-stick bakeware that features a granite ceramic coating so that food slides off easily without any mess or stress.

The nonstick coating is free of PFOA, PTFE, PFOS, cadmium, and lead. Plus, it also provides long lasting durability, scratch resistance, and heat tolerance up to 450°F.

The best part is no matter what type of baking you’re doing, casaWare has pieces to suit your needs.

The 3-piece cookie or jelly roll pans set comes with two 15 x 10-inch baking sheets and one 13 x 9-inch baking sheet.

You can also get muffin pans, fluted cake pans, rectangular cake pans, or loaf pans.

Do you have a toaster oven? I often use my toaster oven instead of the regular oven so I don’t heat up the entire house. (This is a simple way to keep your house cool without running the A/C and save money on your electricity bill!)

Fortunately, casaWare also makes it easy to avoid toxins when using your toaster oven thanks to their toaster oven bakeware. You can get square pans, pizza pans, baking sheets, muffin pans, loaf pans, and more all with a non-stick surface and all perfectly sized to fit in your toaster oven.

5. Lodge Cast Iron

You might be familiar with Lodge because of their amazing cast iron skillets, but did you know they also make bakeware?

It’s true! You can get all types of bakeware that will help you bake yummy, unforgettable treats. Since these pieces are cast iron, you can rest assured they won’t dent, bend, or warp at high temperatures.

They’re seasoned with 100% natural vegetable oil, so they’re free of harmful chemicals.

Each piece is designed to easily grip, lift, and move around the kitchen. Of course, cast iron is unparalleled in heat retention and even heating, and the whole piece will heat up when you’re using it.

So you definitely want to make sure you have some of these silicone handles. These are what I use with my cast iron skillet. They’re incredibly convenient, and they work great to protect my hands!

The Lodge Cast Iron Baker’s Favorite Set is a good option to consider. It includes a 9-inch pie pan, a casserole pan, a loaf pan, a muffin pan, and two silicone grips.

If you don’t need an entire set, you can also pick up a baking pan, loaf pan, muffin pan, pie pan, or wreath pan separately.

Best of all, everything is made in the United States right at the foundries in South Pittsburg, Tennessee.

6. Silpat

If you want to have your food completely avoid touching metal, you can use the silicone bakeware from Silpat. Silicone replaces the need for unhealthy butter, oil, and grease because the non-stick coating helps food slide right off without making a mess.

You can get this silicone bakeware in a variety of different designs, such as muffin, brownie, cake, scone, or mini loaf. To use them, simply place the bakeware on a baking sheet, pour your mixture inside, and stick it in the oven.

When you’re done baking, you can pop out what you made without having to worry about any breakage.

The silicone baking mats are also an ingenious way to reduce waste in the kitchen. You can use them on your baking sheets in place of parchment paper or aluminum foil.

I have some for my baking sheets, and they work brilliantly. Simply put your food right on the silicone and bake it. When you’re done, cleanup is a breeze because you can wipe the mess right off.

The mats come in different sizes, such as medium, 3/4 sheet, and half sheet, so you can easily find one to fit your baking sheets.

Plus, not only are these silicone bakeware pieces oven safe, but they’re also safe to go in the freezer.

7. Le Creuset

The bakeware from Le Creuset combines timeless style with impressive functionality. Made from stoneware, the nearly nonstick glazed interior helps food release cleanly and easily for quick cleanup.

Plus, stoneware maintains even temperatures to help prevent scorched food, and the exterior enamel resists stains and scratches.

Since stoneware is so thick, it blocks moisture absorption to prevent crazing, cracking, and rippling. Just make sure you don’t accidentally drop it, because its dense weight could also damage your floor.

Le Creuset bakeware is highly versatile and is safe to use in the oven up to 500°F, broiler, microwave, dishwasher, and freezer.

With options that range from rectangular dishes with lids and square casserole dishes to pie dishes and mini round cocottes, you’ll have no problems finding the designs and styles you need for everything you like to bake.

Banish Hidden Toxins With the Best Non-Toxic Baking Sheets

Whether you’re cooking dinner or baking treats, you don’t want to leach dangerous chemicals into the foods you and your family eat. That’s why it’s so important to make the switch to non-toxic baking sheets.

Fortunately, with options that range from non-stick ceramic coating to food-grade silicone, you’ll have no issues finding something in the style that will suit all of your baking needs.

More Helpful Sustainable Tips

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