Is aluminized steel safe in cookware?

To assess the safety of aluminized steel in cookware you first must understand the process and construction of this type of cookware. Aluminized steel is made by coating steel with aluminum and silicon at high temperatures that cause it to diffuse into the steel creating an intermetallic layer above the steel base layer, but below the outside aluminum coating. The aluminum coating is then oxidized to form an oxide layer over the aluminum coating.

If you are baking muffins there will be no abbrasive action to disrupt the oxide layer and release toxic aluminum into your food. Baking termperatures will not get high enough for diffusion of aluminum to take place and the oxide layer will offer a protective barrier as well preventing aluminum from getting into the food. If you use muffin liners you are even safer.

If you are stove top cooking on this type of surface and scraping and abrasive action is taking place you could potentially release aluminum into your food. Washing your pans in a way that could remove the oxide layer would expose food directly to the toxic aluminum as well. This would include abbrasive scrubbing or harsh detergents.