Nordic Ware Aluminum Bakeware

Nordic Ware is a Minneapolis-based company that has made bakeware in the US since 1946. Their cast aluminum bakeware — particularly Bundt pans and specialty shaped molds — is widely considered the industry standard for these forms. Cast aluminum provides excellent heat distribution and the detail-capturing properties needed for decorative bakeware. Most Nordic Ware bakeware is uncoated aluminum, sold without any non-stick surface.

Raw cast aluminum is more reactive than anodized or stainless surfaces. Acidic batters — those containing lemon juice, buttermilk, cream of tartar, or vinegar — can interact with the aluminum surface and absorb some aluminum into the food. The industry-standard practice for aluminum bakeware is to grease and flour the pan, or use parchment paper as a liner. This creates a fat-and-flour or paper barrier between the batter and the aluminum, dramatically reducing the contact and therefore the aluminum migration.

For standard baked goods — vanilla cake batter, muffins, pound cake, cornbread — the aluminum contact under typical baking conditions is modest and well within established safety parameters for healthy adults. The concern is proportionally greater for highly acidic batters baked at high temperatures without a lining layer.

Nordic Ware does offer some coated versions of popular items, including non-stick Bundt pans. The uncoated cast aluminum is preferable from a chemical exposure standpoint — PTFE coatings at oven temperatures present the concerns described elsewhere on this site. Paired with parchment paper or a thorough greasing and flouring, Nordic Ware's uncoated aluminum is a sensible and durable baking choice.