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Carbon Steel Pans

Carbon Steel Pans, according to Cooking YouTube

Only claims about carbon steel pans made by people we have grounds to call Cooking YouTube. The unrestricted carbon steel pans evidence is on the carbon steel pans page.

10 people we have grounds to call Cooking YouTube make 142 quoted claims about carbon steel pans across 18 sources. Membership of the Cooking YouTube group is recorded per person with its own evidence, and authority is scoped to carbon steel pans rather than to fame.

Which carbon steel pans do Cooking YouTube recommend?

Endorsements and objections about carbon steel pans from Cooking YouTube, together, strongest evidence first.

De Buyer carbon steel pan

5 voices 25 claims 8 objections

0:31 supports earns commission on this
I would start with this guy right here this is an 11in deuer mineral B pro carbon steel this is an easy can't go wrong decision

recommendation owns and uses it daily Which De Buyer should you get? Recommendations, Buying Advice, and BIG Sale!

The speaker earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “I am actually W's first ever affiliate partner so back in I think it was 2019 or so” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

0:30 supports Tom's Kitchen Cookware Reviewer
the buyer mineral B is my favorite pan so for those of you that want a straight up answer to which one I personally like more there you have it the video is over the mineral B wins

comparison owns and uses it daily Why de Buyer Is A Better Carbon Steel Pan Than Matfer

he decided to give the buyer a try and instantly understood what I meant even with the seasoning process I think
0:31 supports earns commission on this
very versatile pan it works on on gas cooktops electric cooktops induction cooktops and with this stainless steel handle also can go into the oven so very versatile there

use-case fit owns and uses it daily Which De Buyer should you get? Recommendations, Buying Advice, and BIG Sale!

The speaker earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “I am actually W's first ever affiliate partner so back in I think it was 2019 or so” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites induction compatible, oven safe, stovetop compatibility, versatility, weight

also a good Jack of all trade size big enough for a riye yet you can still do omelets and eggs in this guy as well this one at 11 in is still a manageable size for maneuverability right at 5 lbs for this guy
the coated handle it would be damaged by the high heat and length of time in an oven seasoning so you want to go with the oven safe Pro handle
4:01 supports Tom's Kitchen Cookware Reviewer
both pans have zero issues there's no warping although that has a lot to do more with improper use or user error the rivets are sturdy the handles are perfect with no signs of giving out and the seasoning has been great they really have treated me really really good for the last five ten years or so

durability owns and uses it daily Why de Buyer Is A Better Carbon Steel Pan Than Matfer

Cites build quality, warp resistance

2:30 supports Tom's Kitchen Cookware Reviewer
I have the 11 inch model which I find perfect for two people

use-case fit owns and uses it daily Why de Buyer Is A Better Carbon Steel Pan Than Matfer

Cites oven safe, size and capacity

the buyer was going to be more of a personal everyday Pan
I've had no issues at all since I've done that and it works just like the mat for in the oven or the broiler now
with the the buyer I feel it's similar enough to cast iron that it's totally replaced cast iron for me
if I didn't own the buyer and only had the mat for I would still feel the need to own a cast iron pan but if it was the other way around the buyer would fill in that cast iron need for me
1:00 objects
Then, they recommend adding what they describe as a "thin layer" of oil. However, their instructional video shows them using far more oil than I expected—probably close to a half cup.

performance tested it Why Your Carbon Steel Pan Is Sticky (And How to Fix It)

Cites maintenance (against)

After the pan cooled, I wiped away all the oil and heated the pan again for 2 minutes to dry any remaining moisture. Sure enough, after cooling, the pan was sticky and gummy.
2:30 supports Tom's Kitchen Cookware Reviewer
I love how this thing performs and it feels

performance owns and uses it daily Why de Buyer Is A Better Carbon Steel Pan Than Matfer

Cites maintenance, weight

the the buyer was a lot easier to season for some reason in my opinion
that's where I personally stand that the buyer is heavier and it has some of that weight and density to it even now compared to the larger mat for 12 inch plus Pan
the buyers still really Hefty but it's still lighter than an equivalent cast iron pan with the same size
2:00 objects Tom's Kitchen Cookware Reviewer
this pan can be used for anything it's completely oven safe and Broiler safe unlike the buyer mineral B with that stupid coating on the handle

use-case fit owns and uses it daily Why de Buyer Is A Better Carbon Steel Pan Than Matfer

Cites handle (against), oven safe (against)

the buyer does have cons and it's related to the mineral B model and the coated handle which limits its use in the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit at no more than 10 minutes or so
8:05 objects earns commission on this
the coated handle it would be damaged by the high heat and length of time in an oven seasoning so you want to go with the oven safe Pro handle

use-case fit owns and uses it daily Which De Buyer should you get? Recommendations, Buying Advice, and BIG Sale!

The speaker earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “I am actually W's first ever affiliate partner so back in I think it was 2019 or so” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites oven safe (against)

6:34 supports earns commission on this
the regular series mineral bees have a coated strip style handle with a decorative Medallion uh very nice tactile feel to it and I think they look really nice

appearance owns and uses it daily Which De Buyer should you get? Recommendations, Buying Advice, and BIG Sale!

The speaker earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “I am actually W's first ever affiliate partner so back in I think it was 2019 or so” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites appearance, handle

Made In carbon steel pan

3 voices 21 claims 9 objections

18:41 supports Cook Culture Cookware Reviewer was given the product
So, you know, as a usable pan, I would say over my copper pan that this is even more of a usable pan.

use-case fit tested it The Pan I Waited A Year For... Did Made In Meet My Sky-High Expectations?

Cook Culture was given the product. Stated in the source: “this pan here was given to me by Maiden.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites versatility

But, you know, for my trusted Duboet, you know, the Mineral B and the Mineral B Pro, um, you know, I think it fits in there beautifully.
especially if you're thinking about giving it to somebody, it's absolutely fantastic.
7:33 supports Cook Culture Cookware Reviewer was given the product
Overwhelmingly, people really enjoy the pan and it's doing what they want it to do

performance tested it The Pan I Waited A Year For... Did Made In Meet My Sky-High Expectations?

Cook Culture was given the product. Stated in the source: “this pan here was given to me by Maiden.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites ease of cleaning, even heating, heat conduction, maintenance, non-stick surface, seasoning durability, surface finish

This guy is conducting more heat. More heat's being pulled into it. So, it is a little bit of a hotter pan.
I had brought this down just cooking this on a one out of 10. So really, really gentle heat just to get a nice even fry.
Uh, but you know what it's done in such a short time I think is completely adequate.
Uh, but you know what it's done in such a short time I think is completely adequate.
So, I think it look great. Made in pan here. Little bit residue. Really nothing much. And residue, nothing on there.
So, I think it look great. Made in pan here. Little bit residue. Really nothing much. And residue, nothing on there.
It's got that that micro texture on it, which is a a purpose thing done by Maiden. They do several different finishings to the pan to give it a texture and then they season that to grab hold of that texture to make sure that it works incredibly well and that it stands up really well.
So, the seasoning that I've done from cooking has worked out great with a simple egg test.
But the heat is down on the maiden pan. But I would say that that pan is cooking a nice delicate crepe beautifully.
I am finding that using this seasoning that they've done and the the finish has worked out really really nicely. It's really even and it works beautifully. So I have no problem with how that pan has finished up. Like it's it's seasoning beautifully.
So, you know, the ease of maintenance to what they've done makes it great.
7:33 supports Cook Culture Cookware Reviewer was given the product
there's now a lot of reviews online from the previous 9-in pan that was launched a a year ago and they've got 4.6 six out of five stars.

best in class tested it The Pan I Waited A Year For... Did Made In Meet My Sky-High Expectations?

Cook Culture was given the product. Stated in the source: “this pan here was given to me by Maiden.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

I love what they've done with this pan. They've replicated an old pan and what is old is new. And to me, that is a beautiful thing in cookware.
So, this is, you know, a a celebration of the history of cookware that Maiden has done. And I think that is a absolutely tremendous thing.
So, I'm a fan. I think what they've done is amazing.
5:02 supports Cook Culture Cookware Reviewer was given the product
And they had created this small run of this amazing looking pan.

appearance owns and uses it daily The Pan I Waited A Year For... Did Made In Meet My Sky-High Expectations?

Cook Culture was given the product. Stated in the source: “this pan here was given to me by Maiden.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites appearance

9-in beautiful pan and it was sold out.
superficially, I'm in love with this pan. Like the first time I saw that amazing Ferrari in Ferris Beer's Day Off car that I could not get out of my head. This pan is the same to me.
this pan is in brilliant, brilliant shape. It's hardly any carbon buildup. It's just such a beautiful, beautiful pan.
this pan is in brilliant, brilliant shape. It's hardly any carbon buildup. It's just such a beautiful, beautiful pan.
Like, you know, this guy is wonderfully uniform in its in its color, and that's already started that way. So, it looks beautiful to start with.
15:10 objects Cook Culture Cookware Reviewer was given the product
it wasn't great out of the box. It's a seasoned pan, but it's not ready to cook. It needs some seasoning. It needs like proper cooking seasoning, not just the protectant layer that's on it.

use-case fit tested it The Pan I Waited A Year For... Did Made In Meet My Sky-High Expectations?

Cook Culture was given the product. Stated in the source: “this pan here was given to me by Maiden.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

13:38 supports Cook Culture Cookware Reviewer was given the product
I think that's working well and you know the pan works and feels well like it's a it's a nice balance to the pan. Sits on the stove top really nicely.

handling tested it The Pan I Waited A Year For... Did Made In Meet My Sky-High Expectations?

Cook Culture was given the product. Stated in the source: “this pan here was given to me by Maiden.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites ergonomics

I think that's working well and you know the pan works and feels well like it's a it's a nice balance to the pan. Sits on the stove top really nicely.
8:33 objects Cook Culture Cookware Reviewer was given the product
the texture of the pan, it comes like the Lodge carbon steel. comes with this kind of like almost like a candy coating shell on it like a a rough texture all around it which isn't as appealing as the softness the rawness of when you open up a dubet pan or a mattifer pan or a lot of the brands you know that that you…

appearance relaying someone else The Pan I Waited A Year For... Did Made In Meet My Sky-High Expectations?

Cook Culture was given the product. Stated in the source: “this pan here was given to me by Maiden.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites surface finish (against)

And in a tactile sense, I'm not excited about that part of it.
8:33 objects Cook Culture Cookware Reviewer was given the product
One thing that I found is that the brass handle heats up. Some people found it got really hot.

handling relaying someone else The Pan I Waited A Year For... Did Made In Meet My Sky-High Expectations?

Cook Culture was given the product. Stated in the source: “this pan here was given to me by Maiden.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites handle (against)

And that handle, it's starting to get warm. Like it's a bit too hot right in the middle. I'm grabbing the center.
It's got some, you know, negatives to it like the handle
6:03 mixed Cook Culture Cookware Reviewer was given the product
This is bigger than I kind of want. I would have loved to have had the nine. I just like that size for that type of pan, but the 11 is going to be perfect for my family of four.

use-case fit owns and uses it daily The Pan I Waited A Year For... Did Made In Meet My Sky-High Expectations?

Cook Culture was given the product. Stated in the source: “this pan here was given to me by Maiden.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites size and capacity (against)

14:39 mixed Cook Culture Cookware Reviewer was given the product
I talked about the the textured surface. I I didn't really actually notice it that much. I thought I would more, but uh you know, it's a nice uniform color. I'm not negative against it, I think, as I was now using it and seeing it sitting on the stove top.

appearance tested it The Pan I Waited A Year For... Did Made In Meet My Sky-High Expectations?

Cook Culture was given the product. Stated in the source: “this pan here was given to me by Maiden.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites surface finish

19:42 notes Cook Culture Cookware Reviewer was given the product
And this is just a couple of weeks old, right?

ownership tested it The Pan I Waited A Year For... Did Made In Meet My Sky-High Expectations?

Cook Culture was given the product. Stated in the source: “this pan here was given to me by Maiden.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Owned 1 month

10:33 notes Cook Culture Cookware Reviewer was given the product
to grab the handle, it's been on here for 10 minutes. The handle's decent. It's It's okay.

handling tested it The Pan I Waited A Year For... Did Made In Meet My Sky-High Expectations?

Cook Culture was given the product. Stated in the source: “this pan here was given to me by Maiden.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites handle

but yeah, like comparatively that one's actually cold, but yeah, it's a it's a bit warm. It's warmer than the than the mineral B, but that's not a problem. I don't have any worry about that right now.

Matfer carbon steel pan

3 voices 13 claims 4 objections

3:31 supports Lisa Cookware Reviewer
I loved this pan so much that when I was testing it, before I was even done, I was like, "I want this pan," and I ordered one for myself, which I never do. So I've had mine for several years and I love it. I cook in it all the time.

durability owns and uses it daily Are Carbon Steel Pans Really The Best? | Gear Heads

1:30 supports Lisa Cookware Reviewer
We tested eight pans, and believe me, they were not all good. Some of them were real clunky, some really just never took to seasoning. They had sides that were too high, really off in balance. They just were not worth it. This one's our favorite. It's Matfer Bourgeat 11 7/8-inch Black Steel Frying Pan.

best in class tested it Are Carbon Steel Pans Really The Best? | Gear Heads

3:31 supports Lisa Cookware Reviewer
It also really took to seasoning well. It basically got seasoned and kept getting more and more non-stick. Some of the other pans seemed to really take a step back occasionally. You'd go through the whole seasoning process, cook something, and it would just come up. This really just kept building.

performance tested it Are Carbon Steel Pans Really The Best? | Gear Heads

Cites seasoning durability

4:01 supports Lisa Cookware Reviewer
One other factor that was important with skillets, especially ones that you're gonna be searing in and that you might be baking in or cooking in, is rivets, the way the handle is attached to the pan. A lot of them had big, lumpy rivets, and they actually acquired a lot of schmutz, basically. This is nice and smooth.…

handling tested it Are Carbon Steel Pans Really The Best? | Gear Heads

Cites build quality, ease of cleaning

2:00 supports Lisa Cookware Reviewer
There are several things that we really loved about this pan and one is you want some space to cook. This is 12 inches or 11 7/8 rim to rim and that's how they measure it. Then, the sides come down, and some of these tapered down like a wok to this little tiny space at the bottom. This one gives you a good broad…

use-case fit tested it Are Carbon Steel Pans Really The Best? | Gear Heads

Cites even heating, size and capacity, handle

Finally, the angle of the handle, this goes up a little bit. A lot of European pans do that. They tend to angle up. American pans, for whatever reason, tend to go flat. This is a French pan. It is angled up a little bit, but not so high that it was hard to get into the oven. When we were making tarte Tatin, you start…
2:30 mixed Lisa Cookware Reviewer
The handle is all metal and that's a good thing. Some of them had other things on the handle. You you wanna be able to use this in the oven or on the stove top, and we like that this one has an all-metal handle. It's not super comfortable, but it's not bad. Some of the hands we tested had very awkward balance when you…

handling tested it Are Carbon Steel Pans Really The Best? | Gear Heads

Cites ergonomics (against), handle, oven safe

Matfer Bourgeat carbon steel frying pan

1 voice 11 claims 9 objections

4:01 objects KeithTube
I was going to complain about it afterwards and how I don't like the pan and how it hasn't been worth it so far.

value tested it Matfer Bourgeat Carbon Steel Pan Review UPDATE #2 (NOT HAPPY!)

Cites price (against)

This is the most expensive pan I've ever had in my life. And I've done technique after technique after technique that I found on the internet, and nothing works.
I've got a $55 frying pan that my mama gave me for Christmas that is useless. I would have rather had something else that cost $55.
10:03 objects KeithTube
This is supposed to be better than cast iron. It's lighter. It's more versatile. It's uh easier to cure. Those are all the things that people are saying. And I don't know what the heck they're talking about because that's not my experience at all.

comparison tested it Matfer Bourgeat Carbon Steel Pan Review UPDATE #2 (NOT HAPPY!)

5:01 objects KeithTube
It's going to come off. It's I mean, it's You can see it moving there. Can you see how that that stuff's moving around? It's going to come off pretty easily. But you can see under where that is the the markings where it's not slick black anymore. All that's in the surface, these little lines and stuff. Almost…

durability tested it Matfer Bourgeat Carbon Steel Pan Review UPDATE #2 (NOT HAPPY!)

Cites seasoning durability (against)

this has already happened to me in the past few weeks, a spot of cheese got stuck in there and didn't want to come out. I had to get so aggressive with that spot that when it did come up, all of the black came up with it. And then you have to re-season to try to replace that bare spot, or that's going to be a spot…

Anolon EverLast N2

1 voice 10 claims 3 objections

6:02 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer
The water from the Misen and Anolon came out completely clear, but the water from Strata was cloudy with a yellow tint, which means bits of the seasoning layer were breaking down and leaching into the liquid.

performance tested it Which “Forever Nonstick” Pan Is the Best? I Tested Them All

Cites flavour impact, heat control, heating speed, non-stick surface

Anolon was by far the fastest to heat, but that means it's also very easy to overheat.
When I preheated it slower, it worked fine.
Next, I cut the fat in half, using just a half teaspoon of oil and 2 g of butter. Again, all three pans handled it without sticking.
Then I tested pancakes with a light layer of butter. Misen and Anolon released cleanly, but Strata had some slight sticking.
Misen and Anolon were both impressively nonstick right out of the box, and they've stayed that way for months.
To be totally honest with you, this was one of the toughest reviews I've ever done because all three pans perform really well, and they're all priced pretty much the same.
6:32 objects Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer
Anolon was by far the fastest to heat, but that means it's also very easy to overheat. A few times during testing, I had to stop, open a window, and start over because the pan started smoking before I could even add food.

performance tested it Which “Forever Nonstick” Pan Is the Best? I Tested Them All

Cites heat control (against), heat retention (against), non-stick surface (against)

They're not optimized for heat retention like thicker carbon steel or cast iron pans, but within this group, Strata held its temperature the best by about 10°.
The only issue was with Anolon on my first try. Because it heats so quickly, the pan got way too hot and the egg stuck.
Finally, I cooked pancakes with no fat at all. Anolon had just a little sticking, but I was able to flip the pancake without breaking it.
They're not as slick as a brand-new Teflon pan, but if you don't overheat them and you use a little oil or butter, food won't stick.
The only times I've had issues were when I overheated them.
3:31 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer
After that, I set up a stand mixer so a whisk was in constant contact with the cooking surface for two straight minutes. All three ended up with some light scuff marks, but no deep scratches or any real damage.

durability tested it Which “Forever Nonstick” Pan Is the Best? I Tested Them All

Cites acid resistance, coating durability, maintenance, rust resistance, scratch resistance, warp resistance

To test it, I measured how flat each pan was, then heated them to 425°F on induction for 2 minutes. All three started out slightly concave, which is common because manufacturers build in a little curve to allow for expansion. After heating, none of them showed any visible change.
To see if Misen and Anolon's claims are true, I got all three pans wet and left them overnight. The next morning, none of them had any rust.
Next, I simmered crushed tomatoes in each pan for 15 minutes. Acidic foods usually break down seasoning, and that's exactly what happened with Strata. Its surface went from dark and seasoned to light and patchy. Misen and Anolon were unchanged.
I haven't noticed any decline or change in their performance.
But because it needs seasoning and that seasoning can break down with acidic foods, it requires more maintenance than Misen and Anolon.
7:03 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer
These pans are designed to be lightweight and easy to use.

handling tested it Which “Forever Nonstick” Pan Is the Best? I Tested Them All

Cites handle, weight

Anolon's handle is flatter with a shallow groove on top, which gives your thumb a place to rest and makes it feel a little bit more secure, although I wish it wasn't so thin.
When comparing the 10-inch pans, all three are under three pounds, so they're easy to maneuver, but Misen has the widest cooking surface and the lowest walls. The difference is minor.

Matfer Bourgeat carbon steel skillet

1 voice 7 claims 2 objections

2:02 objects Uncle Scott Beginners
the old directions were very precise about that now for the updated pans you still need to use potato peels oil and salt but the directions are a little bit more ambiguous there's a little bit more wiggle room here they're not nearly as precise

reliability tested it Problems seasoning an UPDATED model Matfer Bourgeat Black Carbon Steel pan?

Cites coating (against), non-stick surface (against)

this video has pretty much gone off the rails at this point uh midway through the seasoning i noticed things looked like they were sticking the potato peels the oil the salt it just seemed to be sticking i didn't know if it had to do with the amounts and i went through that second round of it it was sticking again and…
it looks like these pans are indeed coated coated now i was told by maffer that the reason for these bags is that they protected the pans and there was no need to apply any coating at the factory that's what they told me now i bought my pans myself use my own money i did get to buy early models so i've got an email…
went back to the old way and just scrubbed the heck out of this pan for about 15 minutes i could see what looked like some coating on there and i didn't think there was going to be coating at first but there's coating on there
1:01 supports Uncle Scott Beginners
these older models came with a thick hard to remove coating protected the pans in the shipping process the first thing you always had to do was just scrub the heck out of that thing with a brush dish soap hot water it took about 15 minutes or so of scrubbing you don't have to do that anymore so that is a big deal…

performance tested it Problems seasoning an UPDATED model Matfer Bourgeat Black Carbon Steel pan?

Cites coating, non-stick surface

there's nothing wrong with the pan there's nothing wrong with the seasoning you're simply cooking at the wrong temperature now if you're moving over from like i said from a non-stick nobody really tells you and nothing sticks in your nonstick pan anyway but you gotta change up the way you do things a little bit when…
10:09 supports Uncle Scott Beginners
the map were performed on par with the traditional cast-iron skillet we could tell any difference in the results of the Agra from either both right up very very well

performance relaying someone else Matfer Carbon Steel Pan Seasoning Problems Solved

Cites non-stick surface

I tried the new pan again I made salmon croquettes and look no sticky so that tells me a couple of things hey she's enjoying the new pan and that's saying something from a cast-iron traditionalist
3:06 objects Uncle Scott Beginners
now my mother's case she followed the mat for directions to a tee she used the potato peels salt and oil method and cook those twice and as matter of fact she ended up cooking them for like an hour and a half and at the end of the hour and a half the pan still had not changed color she had a spot of seasoning in the…

reliability relaying someone else Matfer Carbon Steel Pan Seasoning Problems Solved

Cites seasoning durability (against)

Lodge carbon steel pan

1 voice 3 claims 1 objection

Strata carbon steel pan

1 voice 2 claims 1 objection

Smithey Farmhouse carbon steel skillet

1 voice 2 claims 1 objection

Matfer carbon steel skillet

1 voice 1 claim no objections from Cooking YouTube

What do Cooking YouTube say about carbon steel pans in general?

Not a recommendation for a specific product — technique, materials and what to look for in carbon steel pans. Citable on its own terms.

1:30 supports Lisa Cookware Reviewer
the non-stick pans that you buy are gonna gradually become less and less non-stick. So the great steering that you can get in this pan and its ability to become more and more naturally non-stick makes this a favorite here at The Test Kitchen. All of our Test Cooks love this pan and we love to use it. In fact, we kind…

best in class uses it professionally, daily Are Carbon Steel Pans Really The Best? | Gear Heads

Cites coating durability, heat retention, maintenance, non-stick surface, versatility

As we saw with the burgers, the carbon steel pan has certain traits that really make it a great all-around pan. It definitely has that nice heat retention and heat transfer of a cast iron pan. It has that nice release of a non-stick pan. This is a great all-around pan, does almost anything you want it to do, it's…
0:30 supports Lisa Cookware Reviewer
Retains a lot of the properties that we love in cast iron, this ability to retain heat and really put a nice sear on food, but it's much easier to handle.

performance owns and uses it daily Are Carbon Steel Pans Really The Best? | Gear Heads

Cites ergonomics, heat control, safety, ease of cleaning, even heating, heat retention, non-stick surface

Other secret of this pan is its ability to become naturally non-stick. So the smooth grain of this takes to seasoning a little faster than cast iron and it becomes very rapidly non-stick when you season it. And you can cook in it with just a little bit of fat, and food will just come right out. So if you're really…
Stainless steel or, in particular, a fully clad pan where there are layers of stainless steel, aluminum, and stainless steel is really known for its ability to make even, uniform heat. The aluminum transmits heat very quickly, stainless steel much more slowly. The stainless retains it so it spreads, and you get this…
In the carbon steel, I think we got the sort of Goldilocks moment. You get this really beautiful golden brown crust that is deeply brown, and nice, and crusty. Inside is nice and pink. And you really get this nice contrast between the brown crust and the cooked interior that is nice and juicy. So I thought it was a…
When we were done, there was almost nothing in the pan. It was just, I wipe it out, rinse it out, and we're good to go.
1:00 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer
Carbon steel, with its lower carbon content, is more pliable. In other words, it can be bent and shaped without cracking.

durability Carbon Steel Pans EXPLAINED (What They Don’t Tell You)

Cites acid resistance, durability, ease of cleaning, flexibility, maintenance, scratch resistance, seasoning durability

carbon steel pans are made thinner and significantly lighter than cast iron while still being incredibly durable.
For acidic foods, stainless steel and enameled cast iron are better options since there's no seasoning to damage and those materials are non-reactive.
For acidic foods, stainless steel and enameled cast iron are better options since there's no seasoning to damage and those materials are non-reactive.
But you don't need to do it often and after you do it once, you realize how easy it is.
In my experience, mild dish soap does no harm.
One of the biggest advantages of carbon steel is its durability. It won't crack or break if you drop it, which can happen with cast iron.
And there's no coating or enamel that can wear down or chip.
You can use metal utensils and even cut food in it, although I try to avoid that because the sharp edge will scratch the seasoning.
It’s one of the rare products that gets better with age. The more you use it, the better the seasoning develops.
1:00 objects Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer
The higher carbon in cast iron makes it harder but also more brittle. That's why cast iron has such thick walls - thinner walls would be prone to cracking.

durability owns and uses it daily Carbon Steel Pans EXPLAINED (What They Don’t Tell You)

Cites acid resistance (against), dishwasher safe (against), durability (against), maintenance (against), rust resistance (against), scratch resistance (against), seasoning durability (against), warp resistance (against)

The one major limitation with carbon steel pans is acidic foods. A squeeze of lemon or a splash of wine won’t hurt, but prolonged exposure to acidic foods, like tomato sauce, will strip the layer of seasoning right off the looking surface.
Bare cast iron pans have this same issue.
Carbon steel consists primarily of iron, which rusts when exposed to water and air.
The fact that you need to season carbon steel pans may seem like a major downside, and for some, it's a deal-breaker.
The two rules that I do highly recommend following are, one, don’t put carbon steel pans in the dishwasher. The hot water, steam, and dish detergent will ruin the seasoning.
And two, always dry your pans completely after washing them. Even a well-seasoned pan can rust if moisture is left on it for long periods.
if you notice tiny black bits on your food when you cook with carbon steel, or if you wipe the pan with a paper towel and the paper towel turns black, that's a sign that you need to deep clean your pan. Those black bits are either tiny pieces of the seasoning flaking, burnt food, or both.
One of the biggest advantages of carbon steel is its durability. It won't crack or break if you drop it, which can happen with cast iron.
You can use metal utensils and even cut food in it, although I try to avoid that because the sharp edge will scratch the seasoning.
The one thing you need to be cautious about is warping. If you expose it to drastic temperature changes, like rinsing it under cold water when it's piping hot, the metal can expand and contract unevenly, which leads to a wobbly, unusable pan.
1:01 supports
because these pans are made entirely of metal they have no upper limits on their oven safe temperatures so you can use them in the oven anytime

performance tested it Equipment Review: Best Carbon-Steel Skillets (Can This One Pan Do It All?) & Our Testing Winner

Cites ease of cleaning, even heating, heat conduction, heating speed, non-stick surface, oven safe

most of the pans once we'd seasoned them were amazingly non-stick after one round of seasoning we saw fried eggs sliding around like a puck in air hockey
omelets rolling out in perfect golden Oblongs zero sticking
Tarts popped right out with very few exceptions looking glossy and intact
most of the time we weren't even tempted to scrub because nothing stuck we could practically just wipe them out with a paper towel after we were cooking
a smoking hot traditional Skillet does a perfectly acceptable job and a cast iron skillet is brilliant at Browning and Searing but we found the carbon steel pans trumped both of them
impressively deep even Browning in the best carbon steel pans easily on a par with cast iron
they're lighter and thinner so they heat up in almost half the time as cast iron
5:01 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer
One of carbon steel’s biggest strengths is its versatility. It’s compatible with all cooktops, even induction, and you can use it safely in the oven, under the broiler, and on a grill.

use-case fit Carbon Steel Pans EXPLAINED (What They Don’t Tell You)

Cites heat resistance, induction compatible, non-stick surface, oven safe, versatility, weight

Because of its high heat tolerance, it’s ideal for searing and browning.
Because it’s much lighter than cast iron, it’s great for sauteing vegetables, tossing food, and any other situations that require you to lift and maneuver the pan.
The lightweight construction, high heat tolerance, and relatively slick surface make it fantastic for one-pan meals and recipes that require searing on the stove and finishing in the oven.
7:32 objects Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts
like cast iron, it rusts when it's bare. It requires seasoning or a process that bonds oil to the surface of the pan not only for protection, but also to start the pan on its journey to make it non-stick.

durability Are Carbon Steel Pans Really The Best? | Gear Heads

Cites dishwasher safe (against), rust resistance (against)

One thing you wanna note with carbon steel, you don't wanna put these pans in the dishwasher. The dishwasher will ruin the seasoning.
4:02 supports Chow House
So yes, it is okay to use soap while cleaning your carbon steel. The polymerized oil or seasoning on the pan shouldn't be all that affected by the use of mild soap and mild abrasive scrubbing.

durability owns and uses it daily Carbon Steel Pan Guide: Seasoning, Cleaning, Maintenance, Cooking Techniques

Cites durability, rust resistance, seasoning durability

And the surface adheres well with oils and gives your carbon steel one more layer of rust resistance.
They last a lifetime if you maintain them properly
4:03 supports
usually somewhere around cook number eight number 10 uh the light bulb goes off and carbon steel goes from being a little bit of a headache to absolutely delightful and then people love their carbon Steels after that

use-case fit Which De Buyer should you get? Recommendations, Buying Advice, and BIG Sale!

Cites even heating, learning curve

if you have a gas cooktop they do a fantastic job of seasoning pans the gas flame hits the bottom of the pan and curls up and around and you can get nice even color and seasoning up the sides of your pan
1:30 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer
However, because carbon steel pans are typically made thinner than cast iron, they heat up much faster and respond to temperature changes more quickly.

performance Carbon Steel Pans EXPLAINED (What They Don’t Tell You)

Cites heat control, heating speed, non-stick surface

The answer is responsiveness. When you turn the heat up or down, the temperature of the pan changes quickly. This gives you more control.
But in general, carbon steel is more responsive than cast iron, and in some cases, it's more responsive than stainless steel.
Certain meats might stick slightly, but if you leave them for a minute and allow a crust to form, they will naturally release from the pan.
A well-seasoned carbon steel pan releases food similar to a non-stick pan.
3:01 supports
each time we cooked more patina built up as the hot oil polymerized and bonded to the surface of the pans the shiny silver surfaces of the new pans got more Brown and blotchy and that's a good thing it means your pan is getting seasoned

durability tested it Equipment Review: Best Carbon-Steel Skillets (Can This One Pan Do It All?) & Our Testing Winner

Cites acid resistance, seasoning durability

a quick short use of an acidic ingredient like a tomato based pan sauce had no effect on the seasoning
11:34 mixed Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts
you can see this pan has a nice non-stick layer started on it that will build over time. But you can do things in the normal path of cooking that will damage that non-stick surface. Really acidic things, for example, like tomato sauce, or white wine, or lemon juice. They can strip that coating back a little bit. This…

durability tested it Are Carbon Steel Pans Really The Best? | Gear Heads

Cites acid resistance (against), seasoning durability (against), repairability

Seasoning is a process. It can take upwards of a year to fully season a pan, even if you use it frequently. And sometimes, the seasoning will look like you're taking one step forward and two steps back. It can look blotchy, and brown, and sad.
2:36 objects Uncle Scott Beginners
if you have an electric flattop stove it makes it more difficult to get your pan seasoned now i season my pan regularly when our gas stove top if you're cooking on a gas stove top the flame hits the bottom moves outward enough around the sides of the pan so you get a good even distribution of heat all over the pan…

use-case fit owns and uses it daily Matfer Carbon Steel Pan Seasoning Problems Solved

Cites heat conduction (against)

3:33 objects
there's a little bit of a learning curve and just be prepared the first five six seven times you cook in it you will be learning you might stick something you might need to touch up your seasoning

use-case fit Which De Buyer should you get? Recommendations, Buying Advice, and BIG Sale!

Cites even heating (against), learning curve (against)

if you cook on an electric flat top or an induction stove those cook tops heat more just where the pan touches the cooking the uh the surface of the stove top and for that reason the pans are heated only where they make contact you get nice seasoning on the cooking surface but you're not going to get that even…
4:32 objects
some of these pans felt unbalanced or had slightly cramped cooking surfaces

handling tested it Equipment Review: Best Carbon-Steel Skillets (Can This One Pan Do It All?) & Our Testing Winner

Cites shape and form (against), ergonomics (against), handle (against), size and capacity (against)

other ones had two high sides that made it awkward to get under food with a spatula or so low that liquids kind of threatened to Splash out
several had unusually long steeply angled handles that were a little bit awkward for shorter testers

How do carbon steel pans score among Cooking YouTube?

Computed only from claims about carbon steel pans by people we have grounds to call Cooking YouTube, so the axes answer “according to Cooking YouTube” rather than “according to everyone”.

Domain authority

1 recommender, weighted by demonstrated expertise in carbon steel pans. Weighted by expertise in this category, never by audience size.

0.06

Independent consensus

1 independent voice across 1 source. How many independent voices converge, unweighted.

0.04

Long-term ownership

no dated ownership reports yet. Volume and length of dated first-hand ownership reports.

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Performance

1 performance claim. Claims about how well it does the job.

0.04

Value

no value claims yet. Claims about what it costs relative to what it does.

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Repairability

no repairability claims yet. Claims about whether it can be maintained or rebuilt.

—

Community breadth

all evidence from a single community so far. How many distinct communities converge, rather than one echo chamber.

0.00

Recency of evidence

most recent evidence from 2024. How recent the evidence is. Old evidence is not wrong, just older.

0.54

Objections raised

3 negative claims, mostly ergonomics and aesthetics. Weight of negative claims. High is not bad — it is well-documented.

0.19

These are separate measurements, not components of a score. They are never added together, and there is no overall rating — which of them matters depends on what you are buying the thing for. A dash means no evidence on that axis yet, not a low result.