How the grades work
The whole system in three steps:
Every product starts at 100.
A perfect score, until the evidence says otherwise.
Warning signs take points away. Proof gives points back.
A Teflon coating costs 50 points. A clean lab test earns 40 back. Every factor is listed below.
The final number is a school grade.
90+ is an A, 80s a B, 70s a C, 65 to 69 a D, below 65 an F. Exactly like a report card.
Two ratings on every product
PFAS grade: the A-to-F below, measuring forever-chemical risk only. It never mixes in anything else, so an A always means “lowest PFAS concern.”
Overall grade: the combined call. It starts from the PFAS safety score and subtracts a fixed penalty for every other hazard our deep analysis flags (heavy metals in glazes, coating breakdown fumes, BPA and plasticizers, dyes and preservatives): 4 points for a possible hazard, 10 for a reported one, 18 for a likely one. A product whose verdict is Skip can never score above 59 overall. Products still waiting on their deep analysis show the PFAS grade alone; the Overall appears automatically once their analysis lands.
The grade scale
A · Very low PFAS (90–100/100)
PFAS-free likely — a top-safe pick
B · Low PFAS (80–89/100)
Low concern, minor unknowns
C · Moderate (70–79/100)
Mixed — limited disclosure
D · Elevated (65–69/100)
Likely contains PFAS-related materials
F · High PFAS (0–64/100)
PFAS confirmed or highly likely — avoid
What takes points away
The longer and redder the bar, the harder it hits the score.
Teflon (PTFE) coating confirmed
−50
Teflon-family (fluoropolymer) coating detected
−45
Non-stick coating, chemistry not disclosed
−40
PFAS detected in lab testing
−40
Waterproof or stain-resistant treatment
−35
Riskier product category to begin with
up to −30
Unknown or proprietary coating
−25
Government recall or advisory
−25
Stain-resistant finish
−20
Brand says nothing about PFAS
−15
Vague safety claims only ("non-toxic", no specifics)
−10
What earns points back
Real evidence of being PFAS-free, weighted by how strong the proof is.
Lab test found no PFAS
+40
Third-party verified PFAS-free
+30
Bare safe material (cast iron, stainless, carbon steel, glass)
+20
Safe base material (ceramic, mineral, natural fiber)
+10
Brand itself claims PFAS-free
+10
Beyond PFAS: hazard flags and the Verdict
The A-to-F grade measures PFAS risk only, and it stays that way. Separately, every product gets a deep analysis covering the other established hazard classes for its category: heavy metals like lead and cadmium in ceramic glazes, PTFE fume risk, BPA and phthalates in plastics, formaldehyde and azo dyes in textiles, 1,4-dioxane and talc in personal care, flame retardants in furniture. Each is reported as a qualitative level, None known / Possible / Reported / Likely, never a letter grade, because public information about these hazards does not support that precision.
The Verdict (Buy / Buy with care / Skip) synthesizes the PFAS grade, the hazard flags, and the brand’s record into one recommendation, with two hard rules no analysis can override: a product graded D or F for PFAS is always Skip, and a Likely non-PFAS hazard caps an otherwise clean product at Buy with care. Buy links follow the Verdict.
Important
These scores are model-based estimates from product materials and publicly available information. They are not laboratory certifications. We phrase results as “likely contains PFAS-related materials” or “no evidence of PFAS found in reviewed sources.” For decisions that matter, confirm directly with the manufacturer or an accredited lab.
Now put it to work
Search anything you own and read its grade with this rubric in hand.