For those new to the Lead Safe Mama website:
Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her four sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005).
- Tamara owns and runs Lead Safe Mama, LLC — a unique community collaborative woman-owned small business for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety.
- Since July of 2022, the work of Lead Safe Mama, LLC has been responsible for five product recalls (FDA and CPSC).
- All test results reported on this website are science-based, accurate, and replicable.
- Please check out our press page to see some of the amazing coverage of our work so far this year!
As a rule, stainless steel items do not have toxicants (e.g. Lead, Mercury, Arsenic, or Cadmium) in the actual stainless steel components.
In “complex” items (those with multiple parts, like the pot pictured here), there can sometimes be Lead in other, non-stainless–steel pieces affixed to the pot (like handles, knobs, grommets, or quite often, the brass valves on pressure cookers, etc). However, that has not been the case on any of the many Ikea stainless items I have tested.
Additionally interesting to note: Many Ikea stainless items are also Nickel-free (or at least low Nickel, as this one is — with varying, low levels of Nickel in different components). Some people have concerns about Nickel allergies, and so if that’s you, Ikea stainless steel products might be a good alternative (given most non-Ikea stainless steel cookware has Nickel that is typically closer to 82,000 ppm).
Below are the full XRF testing readings for a 2018 Ikea Stainless 2.5 Liter cooking pot.
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO SEE ALL IMAGES AND READINGS FOR ALL COMPONENTS TESTED.
Related — #AskTamara: What is Stainless Steel?
Interior Markings on pot (which appear to be etched)
One-minute reading (image above)
- Chromium (Cr): 161,600 +/- 1,600 ppm
- Nickel (Ni): 753 +/- 356 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 830,100 +/- 2,500 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 1,234 +/- 445 ppm
- Manganese (Mn): 4,606 +/- 1,144 ppm
Inside Bottom (Food Surface) of pot
“Metal – 430/40” — one-minute reading
- Chromium (Cr): 161,600 +/- 1,600 ppm
- Nickel (Ni): Negative / Non-Detect
- Iron (Fe): 831,100 +/- 2,500 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 1,149 +/- 436 ppm
- Manganese (Mn): 3,767 +/- 1,122 ppm
Handle on pot:
One-minute reading (see image above)
- Chromium (Cr): 141,000 +/- 1,100 ppm
- Nickel (Ni): 1,481+/- 434 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 850,200 +/- 2,200 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 624 +/- 182 ppm
- Manganese (Mn): 5,366 +/- 1,248 ppm
Metal of Grommets on Outside of pot (image above):
“Metal-301” — one-minute reading
- Chromium (Cr): 152,000 +/- 7,600 ppm
- Bromine (Br): 34 +/- 17 ppm
- Tin (Sn): 354 +/61 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 17,000 +/- 900 ppm
- Nickel (Ni): 75,300 +/- 2,300 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 741,600 +/- 5,800 ppm
- Manganese (Mn): 10,600 +/- 1,200 ppm
Outside Bottom of pot (image above)
“Metal – 430/40” — one-minute reading
- Chromium (Cr): 135,300 +/- 1,000
- Copper (Cu): 1,111 +/- 266 ppm
- Nickel (Ni): 2,500 +/- 453 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 852,400 +/- 2,100 ppm
- Manganese (Mn): 5,896 +/- 1,175 ppm
Outside Side of pot
“Metal – 430/40” — one-minute reading
- Chromium (Cr): 139,900 +/- 1,100
- Nickel (Ni): 831 +/- 375 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 852,400 +/- 2,100 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 572 +/- 177
- Manganese (Mn): 3,926 +/- 1,192 ppm
Pot Lid
“Metal – 430/40” — one-minute reading
- Chromium (Cr): 134,600 +/- 1,200
- Nickel (Ni): 1805 +/- 398 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 858,600 +/- 2,100 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 481 +/- 220
- Manganese (Mn): 3,053 +/- 1,138 ppm
As always, please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you for reading and sharing this work.
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
Hi Tamara, I am currently looking for a big soup pot. Is the IKEA 365+ Stock pot with glass lid a safe choice? You have said IKEA stainless steel cookware seems to be a safe choice. Thank you so much?
ello u did not answer question for ikea 365 pots/pans would you please?? new r to you love you tank you !!!
Hi Nicole,
Here’s the link to the Ikea category on the blog: https://tamararubin.com/category/ikea/
Generally new Ikea products fall within safe range for toxicants.
Tamara
Which range of Ikea cookware does this article refer to please?
Hi Catherine,
It refers only to the pot pictured. If you showed the post to an Ikea salesperson they might be able to help you identify it in their line (as far as product numbers.)
Tamara
Thanks for responding.
Hi Tamara! Thank you, first of all, for All the hard work you do and for caring enough to do it!!
I was wondering if you could talk about Nickel leaching into foods from pots and pans as well as from silverware. It is also an important health concern.
Hi Marsha,
Yes – I mention that in a few posts -but still need to do a post just focused on that concern. In general – using mixed cookware is your best bet. Don’t just rely on one type of cookware. I mix it up between: bare natural wood (utensils), bamboo (steamer), vintage cast iron pans (uncoated/undecorated), stainless pans (uncoated/undecorated), plain modern pyrex pans (for baking primarily). Relying on any one type of cookware as your only type isn’t necessarily a good idea (unless your cooking habits make it possible for you to cook everything in modern clear glass!)
Tamara
Hi. Im a mom of 12 :o) and I’m struggling with finding safe cookware. Cast iron I learned is not ideal for males or woman who have went through menopause due to no way to rid the extra iron from their body. So I found out about Homichef who also offers nickel free cookware with a chromium percent of 21. However, I can’t find alot of info in regards to the chromium and health risks. Any idea?
Hi Jas,
Chromium is going to be in all Stainless Steel. My advice is to keep your cookware varied… some glass, some stainless, some cast iron (avoid any cookware that is brightly colored or has decorative elements.) We also use a bamboo steamer and untreated wooden utensils when cooking.
It’s also my understanding that properly seasoning cast iron will limit iron-leaching concerns to some degree (and possibly entirely). You should never use detergents to clean your cast iron as that will strip the seasoning.
Ikea is generally a good inexpensive low-toxics (or non-toxic) brand across the board.
Tamara
Hi Tamara,
What is your favorite pan to cook acidic foods, like spaghetti sauce? Really appreciate all your testing on cookwares. Make the process of finding cookware a lot more easier!
Carmy
Hi Tamara,
Did you know which types of stainless steel of Ikea use? 314? 304? 18/10?
Thank you.
Hi Gemma,
I don’t actually – I think they use a variety of different types. 304 Stainless usually has about 80,000 to 90,000 ppm Nickel and most Ikea is low Nickel – so I expect they do not use 304 very much (if at all!)
Tamara
Hi this has got me thinking of the markings on the inside of my instant pot. I thought I was buying the most non toxic pot as it was stainless steel but it does have black painted measurements inside. Would you know much about this at all? Many thanks
What about the 2003 ikea pot same style? Is there lead? My stainless inside bottom is turning very dark as if the stainless wore off
Thank you so much for this – I’m thrilled about this being low nickel as it’s so affordable and being Ikea, very accessible as well. Just wondering if you think there’s any reason to believe that their other stainless steel cookware might not be low nickel as well? (i.e. their non-365 cookware)
Thanks for your work Tamara! Did you also test these pans for aluminum? Have you run into aluminum reading in stainless steel?
Hi Tamara
Wow lot of information at one place. Thanks to you. After reading this particular post I am considering Ikea for some stainless steel cookware options. I have just started changing my cookware.I have already started using some carbon steel pans and some earthern clay pots. Now I want to explore stainless steel and quite surprised to know solidteknics noni pans still have nickel in it. I am planning to buy Ikea ‘SENSUELL’ pan and pot. Can you please suggest ways to get them tested for lead and any other harmful metals.
How does the asence of nickel affect durability? There must be a reason why nickel is added. Is the current 365 series also nickel free in additon to the Oumbarlig?
Good questions – I haven’t tested any new pieces like this from ikea… I need to do a shopping run when I get caught up on the testing and reporting I am in the middle of! If you want to send something in for testing: https://tamararubin.com/2019/08/tamara-can-i-send-you-one-of-my-dishes-to-test-for-lead/
T
Hello
Many pots seem to have aluminum core on the bottom. What are your thoughts on that? Still safe? I’ve heard aluminum is bad.
Hi, I know others have asked about the new 365+ range of cookware already and you haven’t tested yet, but they have painted measurement marking rather than etched. Have you ever tested any cookware with painted measurement marking that are not lead? Is there any chance at all it’s not?
I just bought one for making my baby’s porridge because i presumed like these and being more expensive, that it would be etched. I’m so disappointed and wondering if I should return it.
Thank you for all this testing that you do!
Do you know what type of steel the Ikea 365+ pots are made of? (Either because you have tried them with XRF or because of knowledge).
I’m looking online but I can’t find if they inside they are 18/0 or 18/10
Hi Tamara!
Just wondering if you cook your acidic foods in the stainless steel pots as well?
Many IKEA pots (and non-IKEA pots) say the bottom is a 3-layer stainless steel sandwiching aluminum (so it sounds as though the aluminum is encased in stainless steel). They’re sold as stainless steel but you only get this information if you go deeper into the product details. I’m wondering if this inner aluminum layer would be detected by XRF? I don’t think I’ve seen it showing up in any of the results for any of the aluminum pots but it seems ubiquitous.
So I can buy any ikea pot or it has to be this one ?