What is the Best Non Toxic Baking Pan?

What is the best non toxic baking pan? Readers ask us all the time here at Clean Cuisine. Instead of just emailing back the response to the question, we have finally put together an entire post about choosing non toxic baking pans.

But, you may be surprised by our answer. Plus, we will give you the next best option. Keep reading!

As we prepare for the busy baking season ahead for the holidays we wanted to finally get this post live. We are going to help you make excellent healthy, non toxic baking pan purchases for your kitchen. Not only for this baking season… but for many years to come!

- Table of Contents -

1. Healthy Foods Starts with Healthy Cookware (Specially, Non Toxic Baking Pan Options)
2. The WORST Baking Pans
3. How to Select a Non-Toxic Baking Pan
4. What Non Toxic Baking Pans do we Use?
5. Large Pizza Stone
6. Stone Loaf Pan
7. Small Stone Bar Pan
8. Large Rectangular Baker
9. 7 Reasons Why We Recommend Unglazed Stoneware as the BEST Non Toxic Baking Pan
10. #5 Your stoneware is safe in the microwave, freezer and in the oven up to 450 degrees.
11. What is Pampered Chef Stoneware made from?
12. The Next Best Option to Ceramic Non-Toxic Baking Pans
13. Best Stainless Steel Option
14. A Few Healthy Holiday Cookie Recipes to Bake in Your New Baking Pan!

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Healthy Foods Starts with Healthy Cookware (Specially, Non Toxic Baking Pan Options)

Without a doubt, I am a firm believer that healthy food starts with healthy cookware. It is not really all that hard to find non-toxic pots and pans if you know what to look for. My favorite “green” cookware happens to be Xtrema 100% Ceramic Cookware.

However, finding a healthy baking pan is a little trickier.

The market is flooded with so many non-stick (but toxic!) baking pans. In some ways it is easier to locate a healthy cookie recipe than it is to find a healthy pan to bake them in.

The WORST Baking Pans

Before we get too deep, let me be frank. There are MANY, MANY brands out there claiming to be the “healthiest baking pans” or “non toxic baking pans” just because they are ceramic-coated, non-stick like GreenPan, Caraway or Hexclad. Ugh, please stay away from these terrible gimmicks. These are NOT healthy.

So, as you’re sourcing healthy cookware for your kitchen, do not be fooled by cheap (or expensive) brands that play the game. Here’s what you SHOULD look for…

How to Select a Non-Toxic Baking Pan

Ok, here’s the deal. The absolute greenest baking pan would be a stoneware cookie sheet. We trust Pampered Chef and their incredible line of unglazed stoneware. The best part – they are 100% unglazed, stoneware and completely non-toxic. Oh, and made in the USA.

So, give me a minute to talk about why we love unglazed stoneware from Pampered Chef first. Then we’ll talk about a the second best baking pan.

What Non Toxic Baking Pans do we Use?

We get asked ALL THE TIME about the stoneware we use in our dessert and dinner recipe photos. We lovingly have used stoneware for over 20 years. I still have some original stones that I bought in 2001, long before I set up my “adult kitchen”. I am so thankful for my dear friend that I called Mama Ginger, for showing me the way all those years ago. She knew I would appreciate the stoneware purchases for years to come.

Here are the stoneware baking pans I keep in my house. They are truly the best non toxic baking pan options I’ve ever found.

STONEWARE STARTER SET: If you want to try out the stoneware, the best and cheapest way is to buy the Stoneware Starter Set. It includes the large bar pan, the pizza stone and the loaf pan!

7 Reasons Why We Recommend Unglazed Stoneware as the BEST Non Toxic Baking Pan

We love unglazed stoneware because that’s all it is: unglazed, uncoated 100% stoneware that is pure and clean to bake with. It’s quite simple really. Here are 7 things that we love about using stoneware:

#1: You do not have to preheat the stoneware.

If someone once told you that you had to preheat your stoneware, it’s a myth. Just simply place your food, cookies or pizza directly on the stoneware and place it in the oven.

I’ve made a few homemade bread recipes and the recipe encourages you to preheat your stoneware first. This is a personal decision… I tend to preheat my oven and not my stone.

#2: Stoneware has an amazing heat retention

Stoneware retains heat and distributes it evenly. Choosing to cook in a stoneware, will ensure your food is evenly cooked and ready at the same time. If the outside of your dish is cooked, then so is the center.

Not just that, but stoneware’s superior heat retention makes it perfect for transferring something right from the over to serving the meal. Stoneware is great for keeping your food warm during meals. Great for second helpings!

#3: Stoneware draws moisture away from the food

Whether you’re making some homemade Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chunk cookies, a Healthy Apple and Cranberry Crisp or Baked Salmon Burgers with Chive Sauce… your food will come out light and crispy because the stoneware draws moisture away from your food.

#4: Stoneware doesn’t retain oils, odors or flavors.

Pampered Chef stoneware is nonporous. Which means foods and liquids won’t soak in. I’ve owned some of my baking stones for 15 years and the flavor of one dish never transfers to another.

There’s no scents, no slick oils and no flavors.

#5: Your stoneware is safe in the microwave, freezer and in the oven up to 450 degrees.

I LOVE the flexibility of using our stoneware, especially this small stone bar pan for only $25. It fits perfectly in the microwave and our toaster oven.

By the way, the brand new stoneware that has just been released can now be heated up to 550 degrees. This is such exciting news. Be sure to check the product to make sure yours can. For older stones, like my collection, we should stick to 450 degrees.

#6: Cleaning Stoneware is a Breeze!

Cleaning Pampered Chef stoneware is easy because their stones are virtually nonporous so nothing will soak in.

Once the stone is completely cool, just wash it by hand using warm water and the little scraper that came with your stone. This will help remove any leftover food.

Let air dry and use again!

#7: Pampered Chef stoneware is made in the USA.

I was raised to value the “Made is the USA” stamp… it protects jobs while allowing the creation of jobs so that our American citizens can provide for themselves and care for their families.

When you purchase products that are made here, you are helping to sustain and strengthen our economy for generations to come.

What is Pampered Chef Stoneware made from?

All of the Pampered Chef Stoneware is made from natural clay that is mined here in the United States. When the stones are fired at over 2,000°F, the clay produces a light colored Stoneware that is unaffected by moisture and completely safe for use with food. The color can be slightly different from piece to piece, based on natural variations in the clay.

If by now, you’re still not a fan of the cleanest, greenest and most non-toxic baking stoneware… well, here’s the next best option.

The Next Best Option to Ceramic Non-Toxic Baking Pans

The next best option for a non-toxic baking pan would be 100% stainless steel or heavy gauge aluminized steel. We ONLY recommend this if you don’t want to use ceramic and only when using unbleached parchment paper. We never recommend cooking directly on the surface of anything but stoneware. More about this in a minute.

There are still a number of things to consider:

#1: A number of stainless steel baking pans have been dipped in an aluminum coating. I am not too crazy about this because people tend to bake right on the baking sheet. The only surface we would suggest baking directly on would be ceramic stoneware.

#2: Stainless steel is not the best option for conducting heat uniformly and consequently your cookie recipes might not turn out the way you expect.

#3: Some manufacturers coat their aluminum cookie sheets with substances much worse than aluminum. To include toxic non-stick chemicals which are often done to improve the cooking performance of the stainless steel cookie sheet.

#4: Always use unbleached parchment paper. Bleached parchment paper is bleached with chlorine gas or chlorine derivatives. However, you can always cover your stainless steel cookie sheets with unbleached parchment paper, which will help prevent aluminum and other toxins from leaching onto your food.

A professional baker who is not as concerned about the healthfulness of their cookies might tell you that the best bet for a cookie sheet is aluminum because it is such a great conductor of heat.

Can you tell that we really do suggest using stoneware over anything else?

Best Stainless Steel Option

I truly believe that using unglazed stoneware is really, truly the best thing for you and your family. Then, you won’t need to buy and use unbleached parchment paper that isn’t 100% free of toxins, even though it’s the best option. 

However, if you don’t want to spend the money on stoneware, then this Large Sheet Pan is the second best option (grab a box of unbleached parchment paper too!).

You can also look for these baking sheets or the medium and half sheets found here.

A Few Healthy Holiday Cookie Recipes to Bake in Your New Baking Pan!

Just in case you missed my healthy holiday cookie recipes earlier this week, here are my 3 favorite:

Gingerbread Cookies

Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies

Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies