I am unsure of the brand on this pan. This is a pan from my kitchen that I just grabbed off the rack for this post. I believe we got it at a yard sale, maybe 20 years ago. In addition to the words “Made in USA” and “6-1/2 inch Skillet” there is a “T” symbol in two separate places. Perhaps that indicates the brand? If you have any information about this please let me know (I googled it but didn’t find any answers!)
Since so many people ask me (all the time!) what is EXACTLY in plain cast iron, I thought this would be a good opportunity to answer that question.
When tested with an XRF instrument (for a full 2-minutes / 120 seconds), this particular cast iron pan had the following readings:
- Chromium (Cr): 551 +/- 70 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 987,700 +/- 1,200 ppm [so about 99% iron!]
- Vanadium (V): 192 +/- 72 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 496 +/- 112 ppm
- Cobalt (Co): 2,353 +/- 990
- Manganese (Mn): 7,370 +/- 446 ppm
- Metals not detected are not listed, testing was done multiple times and all test results are replicable.
If you like you can compare this XRF reading set to the XRF reading set for the Stargazer pan (which is also plain cast iron) and you will notice that the readings are very similar, yet with some distinct variations as well. Cast iron is always mostly iron – usually very close to 99% iron. The remaining 1% is not generally additives to the cast iron, but more likely low level contaminants or artifacts of the mining and manufacturing process (or in some cases the recycling process if the pans are made of recycled iron as they are with the Stargazer product.)
You can read more about cast iron pans (and potential toxicant concerns) here on this link.
We have many cast iron pieces in our home (7 I think altogether) and we use them every day. I think plain cast iron is an important part of a non-toxic kitchen. My favorite piece is our stove top cast iron waffle maker (vintage), and I also love our stove top griddle for pancakes (it plunks down right over the top of two of the burners on the gas stove giving us a lot of real estate for making lots of pancakes for my ever-hungry boys!)
I often use these little pans (I have two like the one pictured on this post) for grilling mushrooms or garlic – or cooking a quick fried or scrambled egg for my one lacto-ovo vegetarian (non-vegan) son!
As always, please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you for reading and for sharing my posts!
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
Probably a Wagner made after 1960 when “Made in USA” was required. I believe the photo faintly shows a flat spot on the bottom of the handle where it attaches to the skillet. If it’s there then the skillet is a Wagner.
https://thepan-handler.com/blog/identifying-and-dating-unmarked-or-unknown-maker-vintage-and-antique-cast-iron-skillets/
Oh! Thank you so much for commenting! I really appreciate that.
Tamara
Are the ones made in China safe? On your amazon recommend list there was a set of cast iron amazon basic made in China.
In general I have no concern for brand-name items made in China (sold by reputable retailers.) In fact items from China are often more likely to be compliant with regulatory standards (when mass manufactured by a major retailer or brand) because they have been nabbed for so many violations in the past, and they understand the risk associated with non-compliance with regulatory standards.
Tamara
Tamara,
I am looking at this retailer on amazon. They seem to have great carbon steel woks. But of course, they are made in China (that’s their selling point. They are hand crafted in China). Would you be concerned about toxicants in this?
https://craftwok.com/collections/craft-woks
Hi Nidhi,
I really cannot say without testing specific examples. Many companies say they have unfinished wood but they do not, may say they have no surface coatings on their cooking surface (or stove-side surface) but that is not always true.
If they are truly uncoated raw materials – no enamel, paint, logo, decoration or other finish… they should be fine.
Here’s my post about the makeup of Carbon Steel (in the one example pictured:) https://tamararubin.com/2018/07/what-is-carbon-steel-morakniv-made-in-sweden-carving-knife/
Tamara
Thank you for a reply! Who knew it would be so hard to buy a wok!
Are enamel cast iron skillets (like Le Creuset) safe?
Hi Tamara, is lodge logic a safe cast iron pan to use, and if not can you identify the names of the pan you actually use. Thanks in advance
I would be interested to know this as well
What griddle do you have?
Is this a safe waffle maker? How does it say cast iron and non-stick? Can I be sure this isn’t coated?
https://amzn.to/2OsVg8X
If you add this to your store, I’ll buy it today.
Thanks for everything you do. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Hi Leslie,
I cannot know for sure without testing – but if it is actually made of cast iron it should be Lead-free.
Tamara
I can’t find a griddle big enough that is safe! Have you ever checked into central restaurant products? They have a stainless steel griddle plate (3/16”) -crown verity. I would purchase it if it seems safe. They claim it’s only stainless steel. Otherwise what about all clad?
I have a whole set of vintage dishes (perhaps from the 80’s), brand is International Tableworks, pattern is Heartland, 7774. I think it is made in China. I could not find this on your website. Do you have any information on this, and if so, could you please advise me? If I sent you a piece of it, what would you charge to test it? Thank you.
Have you come across the corelle green ivy pattern around the edges of the plate and tested it for toxins if so I cannot find it listed
Tamara I was wondering if non stick skillets cause nausea. I know someone that uses them and bought a new one and she’s feeling nauseated a lot. Thanks in advance.
Stumbled on this looking for enameled pans and thought I’d mention:
Cast iron typically contains several percent carbon by weight as well. But carbon won’t show up on XRF. I’ve used optical emission spectroscopy before for measuring lighter elements in metal.