{"id":604771090738,"title":"Gotham Steel Reviews: Is Steel Cookware Safer?","created_at":"2023-02-14T15:40:55-05:00","body_html":"\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\/\/ \u003c![CDATA[\n{\n \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"Article\",\n \"headline\": \"Gotham Steel Reviews: Is Steel Cookware Safer?\",\n \"keywords\": \"gotham steel, gotham steel review, gotham steel reviews, gotham steel cookware, gotham steel cookware reviews, gotham steel pan, gotham steel pans, gotham steel pan reviews, gotham steel cookware review, reviews for gotham steel cookware, gotham steel frying pan\",\n \"description\": \"Our research team reviews the materials in Gotham Steel based on medical studies to give our take on whether the brand is a safer non-stick option or if it's harmful to health. We share some of our concerns about the brand and highlight real user reviews including cooking tests.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/gotham-steel-review\",\n\"author\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"editor\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"DJ Mazzoni\",\n \"honorificSuffix\": [\n \"M.S.\",\n \"R.D.\",\n \"C.D.N.\",\n \"C.S.C.S.\"\n ],\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/dj-mazzoni\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/dj-mazzoni-rd-cdn-cscs-00a33038\/\",\n \"http:\/\/djmazzoni.com\/\"\n ],\n \"jobTitle\": \"Medical Reviewer\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"exercise, drugs, pharmaceutical, health, workout, strength and conditioning, nutrition, dietetics, medicine, medical research, scientific research, scientific method, healthcare, patient care, wellness\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": [\n \"State University of New York College Oswego\",\n \"D’Youville College\"\n ]\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"image\": {\n\"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Gotham_Steel_Thumbnail.png?v=1676407516\",\n\"width\": \"3084\",\n\"height\": \"3084\"\n},\n\"citation\": [\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/28913736\/\", \n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/greenpan-review\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8249525\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5135532\/\",\n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/caraway-cookware-review\",\n\"https:\/\/www.bbb.org\/us\/ny\/brooklyn\/profile\/steel-warehouse\/gotham-steel-supply-0121-150991\/complaints\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/23868537\/\"\n],\n\"mentions\": [{\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"PTFE\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"PFOA\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Adam Ragusea\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"titanium\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"ceramic\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Home Depot\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Macy's\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Walmart\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Amazon\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"BBB\"\n }\n],\n\"datePublished\": \"2023-02-14\",\n\"copyrightHolder\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n},\n\"publisher\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/\",\n \"description\": \"Illuminate Labs is the most transparent supplement company in the U.S., and is a leading publisher of research-based health information.\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"supplements, science, nutrition, exercise, health, medication, pharmaceutical, wellness, diet, weight loss, medical research\",\n \"publishingPrinciples\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/editorial-guidelines\",\n \"memberOf\": [\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"U.S. Chamber of Commerce\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Certified B Corp\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.bcorporation.net\/en-us\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Natural Products Association\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.npanational.org\/\"\n }\n ], \n \"logo\": {\n \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Illuminate_Labs_Favicon_48x48_7595c3cc-e27b-47b8-a4fe-edcc7ed9b29a.png?v=1666502785\", \n \"width\": 48,\n \"height\": 48\n},\n \"foundingDate\": \"2019-01-30\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/illuminate-labs-supplements\",\n \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCpgSJAsIPb-fZ25djtTxBEA\"\n ]\n }\n}\n\/\/ ]]\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Gotham_Steel_Review_Article_Header_Image_Optimized.png?v=1676407053\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"dc\"\u003eG\u003c\/span\u003eotham Steel is a cookware brand that’s heavily advertised on TV. The product is highly affordable and the brand claims it can be used in the oven and dishwasher and is “PTFE\/PFOA\/PFOS FREE.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBut is Gotham Steel a safer option than traditional non-stick pans? What does PTFE-free even mean and is this traditional non-stick cookware chemical dangerous? Is Gotham Steel even made with steel? And how do real users rate and describe the experience cooking with Gotham Steel?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we review medical studies to give our take on whether traditional non-stick cookware is a health risk and if Gotham Steel is a safer option because it’s PTFE-free.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe’ll share our thoughts on the materials used in Gotham Steel cookware and highlight real, unsponsored user reviews of the brand.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIs Traditional Non-Stick Cookware Unsafe?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eGotham Steel, like many non-stick cookware brands, makes claims that their products are free of the chemical compounds “PTFE,” “PFOA” and “PFOS.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThere’s a good reason that Gotham Steel makes these representations. These chemicals are clinically shown to be harmful to human health.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA 2017 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/28913736\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e found that non-stick cookware coated with \u003cstrong\u003epolytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) “releases various gases and chemicals that present mild to severe toxicity.” The study authors also described perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) as a “well-known toxic environmental pollutant.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSo it’s a good thing that Gotham Steel products are free of these harmful compounds. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that their products are safer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAs we documented in our \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/greenpan-review\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eGreenPan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e review article, clinical studies have shown that non-stick alternatives to PTFE are no safer, and in some cases may be more toxic. So because Gotham Steel fails to publish the specific chemicals used to create the non-stick coating, or data on their toxicity, we have no reason to believe that it’s a safer option than traditional non-stick.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA well-researched and interesting video with over 600,000 views from YouTube cooking influencer Adam Ragusea explains in more detail some of the safety concerns regarding non-stick cookware, and includes interviews with experts:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5FNNKhVoUu8\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eGotham Steel Material Analysis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSurprisingly, Gotham Steel is not primarily made of steel. Only the handle is. Gotham Steel pans are made using titanium as a base and a ceramic non-stick coating as a finish.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe consider titanium to be an excellent choice for the base. A \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8249525\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eJournal of Food Science and Technology\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e found that \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003etitanium cookware had the best retention of micronutrients in the food after cooking compared with all other materials.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCeramic is a more questionable choice in our opinion. A 2016 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5135532\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e described \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ea significant risk of lead toxicity from glazed ceramic cookware\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, especially ceramics sourced from Mexico, China and some European countries. Gotham Steel does not appear to publish the source of their ceramic on their website.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eGotham Steel does not appear to publish any testing data on the potential for lead leaching due to use of their pans, but no ceramic cookware brands we’ve reviewed on Illuminate Health have done so.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAs we discussed in our article on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/caraway-cookware-review\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eis Caraway Cookware safe\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, the lack of clarity on toxicity and standards in the non-stick cookware industry as a whole is concerning to us. We hope that more companies publish information on the non-stick coating chemicals used and their materials sourcing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverall we consider Gotham Steel’s materials to be average for a non-stick cookware brand, but we do not recommend the product\u003c\/strong\u003e due to our concerns about the glazed ceramic coating and the non-stick chemicals used.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBut how does the pan actually perform? We’ll review in the next section.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReal, Unsponsored Gotham Steel User Reviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA YouTube creator named “Reviews_and_more” published a review of Gotham Steel’s pan after one year of use, and shared their thoughts about the durability and whether it’s frustrating to clean after use:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MALE3J7KxV4\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA TikTok creator named “MamaWaffler69” found the non-stick feature of the Gotham Steel pan to be surprisingly effective:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" cite=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@mamawaffler69\/video\/7125240593462152490\" data-video-id=\"7125240593462152490\" style=\"max-width: 375px; min-width: 325px;\"\u003e\n\u003csection\u003e\u003ca title=\"@mamawaffler69\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@mamawaffler69?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e@mamawaffler69\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGotham Steel pot does not stick!!!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ca title=\"♬ original sound - MamaWaffler69\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/original-sound-7125240617361263402?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e♬ original sound - MamaWaffler69\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cscript async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhere to Buy Gotham Steel for the Best Price\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eGotham Steel is sold at a variety of online retailers. Here’s the price breakdown for their pan at the time of publishing this article:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHome Depot: $29.87 (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.homedepot.com\/p\/Gotham-Steel-12-in-Aluminum-Ti-Ceramic-Non-Stick-Shallow-Square-Fry-Pan-1736\/309025393\"\u003elink\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWalmart: $29.49 (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.walmart.com\/ip\/Gotham-Steel-12-5-inch-Fry-Pan-Nonstick-Helper-Handle-Metal-Utensil-Safe\/49773394\"\u003elink\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAmazon: \u003c\/span\u003e$21.49 (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3Xyw2UB\"\u003elink\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBrand website: \u003cstrong\u003e$19.99\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.gothamsteelstore.com\/Detail.dtm?item=P92\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.gothamsteelstore.com\/Detail.dtm?item=P92\"\u003elink\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe brand’s website is the best option for those looking to buy more than one pan, because the average cost per pan is only $13.47 even including shipping costs.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReal Customer Reviews of Gotham Steel\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe consider Amazon to be a more objective resource for honest customer reviews than a brand’s website. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe brand’s most-reviewed product is their frying pan, which has been reviewed over 22,000 times with an average review rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “P. Kim” who finds the pan to be effective and convenient:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“As seen on TV, I can drop an egg and use a folk to scramble without a scratch, I can throw bunch of cheese and it will not stick.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e This is a palm sized and just enough for an egg. I just wished it was a bit bigger so a spatula can fit to flip the egg. I can flip the pan but the size of the pan makes it hard to catch. an Inch wider would make better use of the pan and stove top.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Customer X” who claims that the non-stick capabilities failed within a year and that staining appeared:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e“6 months after purchase - in spite of this occasional use - food started to stick to the pan. For example, omelettes had to be cooked as scramble eggs because, in spite of using butter (though you TV add contend that it's not necessary to use butter or oil to cook on your pans) the egg mixture started to stick to the middle of the pan Finally, a month or so ago, the stain or discoloration shown on the attached photograph appeared!”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThere are a few more customer complaints about Gotham Steel on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bbb.org\/us\/ny\/brooklyn\/profile\/steel-warehouse\/gotham-steel-supply-0121-150991\/complaints\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003ewebsite\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, and the business has not responded to the customers to try to resolve those complaints which we consider a red flag about the brand.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOur Clean Cookware Pick\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Cast_Iron_Pan.png?v=1665003412\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe consider cast iron pans to be the safest and healthiest cookware option. \u003cstrong\u003eCast iron has been used for thousands of years and is non-toxic. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCast iron pans are made primarily from iron and steel, and are somewhat naturally non-stick because of the effects of fat heated on the cooking surface over time.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne fascinating fact about cast iron pans is that the minimal levels of iron leaching may have a beneficial effect on human health. Iron is an essential mineral, and many people are deficient in iron (particularly women). Cooking in cast iron pots has been\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/23868537\/\"\u003eclinically shown\u003c\/a\u003e to improve iron status.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe recommend \u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3SVIwDS\"\u003eLodge Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet\u003c\/a\u003e as our top cast iron pan because it's free of any questionable chemical coatings. The only material is cast iron.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInterested consumers can check out Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet \u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3SVIwDS\"\u003eat this link\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe recommend purchasing some\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3HkD0qi\"\u003eLodge Pan Scrapers\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ealong with the pan. They're only $4.90, and cast iron pans can be challenging to clean for the first few uses without scrapers, before the pan becomes seasoned.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eConclusion\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eGotham Steel is one of the best-priced non-stick cookware options. We do not recommend the brand due to our concerns over the toxicity of their non-stick coating and ceramic sourcing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThat being said, we consider Gotham Steel to be equivalent from an efficacy and safety perspective to more expensive options like Caraway Cookware.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe hope that in the future more non-stick cookware companies transparently publish information about their chemical coating materials and ingredient sourcing. This is important for consumer safety.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe consider cast iron to be a much better choice for consumer health and for the environment than non-stick cookware. It’s also much more durable, and can last decades with proper maintenance.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFor consumers intent on purchasing Gotham Steel cookware, the best price for a single pan is one Amazon and the best price for two pans is on the brand’s website.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":49281925193,"author":"Calloway Cook","user_id":26601750601,"published_at":"2023-02-14T15:50:37-05:00","updated_at":"2023-09-25T15:23:26-04:00","summary_html":"We review the materials in Gotham Steel based on medical studies to give our take on whether the brand is a safer non-stick option or if it's harmful to health. We share some of our concerns about the brand and highlight real user reviews including cooking tests.","template_suffix":"","handle":"gotham-steel-review","tags":"_related:cookware"}

Gotham Steel Reviews: Is Steel Cookware Safer?

Gotham Steel Reviews: Is Steel Cookware Safer?


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Gotham Steel is a cookware brand that’s heavily advertised on TV. The product is highly affordable and the brand claims it can be used in the oven and dishwasher and is “PTFE/PFOA/PFOS FREE.”

But is Gotham Steel a safer option than traditional non-stick pans? What does PTFE-free even mean and is this traditional non-stick cookware chemical dangerous? Is Gotham Steel even made with steel? And how do real users rate and describe the experience cooking with Gotham Steel?

In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we review medical studies to give our take on whether traditional non-stick cookware is a health risk and if Gotham Steel is a safer option because it’s PTFE-free.

We’ll share our thoughts on the materials used in Gotham Steel cookware and highlight real, unsponsored user reviews of the brand.

Is Traditional Non-Stick Cookware Unsafe?

Gotham Steel, like many non-stick cookware brands, makes claims that their products are free of the chemical compounds “PTFE,” “PFOA” and “PFOS.”

There’s a good reason that Gotham Steel makes these representations. These chemicals are clinically shown to be harmful to human health.

A 2017 medical review found that non-stick cookware coated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) “releases various gases and chemicals that present mild to severe toxicity.” The study authors also described perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) as a “well-known toxic environmental pollutant.”

So it’s a good thing that Gotham Steel products are free of these harmful compounds. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that their products are safer.

As we documented in our GreenPan review article, clinical studies have shown that non-stick alternatives to PTFE are no safer, and in some cases may be more toxic. So because Gotham Steel fails to publish the specific chemicals used to create the non-stick coating, or data on their toxicity, we have no reason to believe that it’s a safer option than traditional non-stick.

A well-researched and interesting video with over 600,000 views from YouTube cooking influencer Adam Ragusea explains in more detail some of the safety concerns regarding non-stick cookware, and includes interviews with experts:

Gotham Steel Material Analysis

Surprisingly, Gotham Steel is not primarily made of steel. Only the handle is. Gotham Steel pans are made using titanium as a base and a ceramic non-stick coating as a finish.

We consider titanium to be an excellent choice for the base. A medical review published in the Journal of Food Science and Technology found that titanium cookware had the best retention of micronutrients in the food after cooking compared with all other materials.

Ceramic is a more questionable choice in our opinion. A 2016 medical review described a significant risk of lead toxicity from glazed ceramic cookware, especially ceramics sourced from Mexico, China and some European countries. Gotham Steel does not appear to publish the source of their ceramic on their website.

Gotham Steel does not appear to publish any testing data on the potential for lead leaching due to use of their pans, but no ceramic cookware brands we’ve reviewed on Illuminate Health have done so.

As we discussed in our article on is Caraway Cookware safe, the lack of clarity on toxicity and standards in the non-stick cookware industry as a whole is concerning to us. We hope that more companies publish information on the non-stick coating chemicals used and their materials sourcing.

Overall we consider Gotham Steel’s materials to be average for a non-stick cookware brand, but we do not recommend the product due to our concerns about the glazed ceramic coating and the non-stick chemicals used.

But how does the pan actually perform? We’ll review in the next section.

Real, Unsponsored Gotham Steel User Reviews

A YouTube creator named “Reviews_and_more” published a review of Gotham Steel’s pan after one year of use, and shared their thoughts about the durability and whether it’s frustrating to clean after use:

A TikTok creator named “MamaWaffler69” found the non-stick feature of the Gotham Steel pan to be surprisingly effective:

@mamawaffler69

Gotham Steel pot does not stick!!!

♬ original sound - MamaWaffler69

Where to Buy Gotham Steel for the Best Price

Gotham Steel is sold at a variety of online retailers. Here’s the price breakdown for their pan at the time of publishing this article:

Home Depot: $29.87 (link)

Walmart: $29.49 (link)

Amazon: $21.49 (link)

Brand website: $19.99 (link)

The brand’s website is the best option for those looking to buy more than one pan, because the average cost per pan is only $13.47 even including shipping costs.

Real Customer Reviews of Gotham Steel

We consider Amazon to be a more objective resource for honest customer reviews than a brand’s website. 

The brand’s most-reviewed product is their frying pan, which has been reviewed over 22,000 times with an average review rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars.

The top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “P. Kim” who finds the pan to be effective and convenient:

“As seen on TV, I can drop an egg and use a folk to scramble without a scratch, I can throw bunch of cheese and it will not stick. This is a palm sized and just enough for an egg. I just wished it was a bit bigger so a spatula can fit to flip the egg. I can flip the pan but the size of the pan makes it hard to catch. an Inch wider would make better use of the pan and stove top.”

The top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Customer X” who claims that the non-stick capabilities failed within a year and that staining appeared:

“6 months after purchase - in spite of this occasional use - food started to stick to the pan. For example, omelettes had to be cooked as scramble eggs because, in spite of using butter (though you TV add contend that it's not necessary to use butter or oil to cook on your pans) the egg mixture started to stick to the middle of the pan Finally, a month or so ago, the stain or discoloration shown on the attached photograph appeared!”

There are a few more customer complaints about Gotham Steel on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website, and the business has not responded to the customers to try to resolve those complaints which we consider a red flag about the brand.

Our Clean Cookware Pick

We consider cast iron pans to be the safest and healthiest cookware option. Cast iron has been used for thousands of years and is non-toxic. 

Cast iron pans are made primarily from iron and steel, and are somewhat naturally non-stick because of the effects of fat heated on the cooking surface over time.

One fascinating fact about cast iron pans is that the minimal levels of iron leaching may have a beneficial effect on human health. Iron is an essential mineral, and many people are deficient in iron (particularly women). Cooking in cast iron pots has been clinically shown to improve iron status.

We recommend Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet as our top cast iron pan because it's free of any questionable chemical coatings. The only material is cast iron.

Interested consumers can check out Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet at this link.

We recommend purchasing some Lodge Pan Scrapers along with the pan. They're only $4.90, and cast iron pans can be challenging to clean for the first few uses without scrapers, before the pan becomes seasoned.

Stay up-to-date on our research reviews

Conclusion

Gotham Steel is one of the best-priced non-stick cookware options. We do not recommend the brand due to our concerns over the toxicity of their non-stick coating and ceramic sourcing.

That being said, we consider Gotham Steel to be equivalent from an efficacy and safety perspective to more expensive options like Caraway Cookware.

We hope that in the future more non-stick cookware companies transparently publish information about their chemical coating materials and ingredient sourcing. This is important for consumer safety.

We consider cast iron to be a much better choice for consumer health and for the environment than non-stick cookware. It’s also much more durable, and can last decades with proper maintenance.

For consumers intent on purchasing Gotham Steel cookware, the best price for a single pan is one Amazon and the best price for two pans is on the brand’s website.




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