Gear guide
Best carbon steel pans, skillets and sets
Picked from Amazon listings, not hands-on tests. How we pick
Top picks at a glance
Compare all picks
Closest match for the job
de Buyer Mineral B 3-Pan Set: 8, 10.25 and 12.5 in
Listing gives true cooking surfaces of 5.5, 7.3 and 9 inches, so you know the flat area of each pan.
See price on AmazonSee it on Amazon
Most for the money on paper
de Buyer Mineral B Pro Country Pan 11 in: high sides
High sides suit sauteing, simmering, deep frying and stir frying, per the listing.
See price on AmazonSee it on Amazon
Most complete listing
Made In Carbon Steel Griddle + Press: 19.6 x 10.5 in
Listing states it handles heat up to 1200°F and works on stovetop, grill and open flame.
See price on AmazonSee it on Amazon
Carbon steel sits between cast iron and stainless. It is lighter than cast iron, takes very high heat for searing, and builds a slick seasoned surface with use, without a factory nonstick coating. The tradeoffs are care and patience. Most pans ship with a beeswax or protective coat you wash off, then you season with oil, hand wash, and dry right away to stop rust. Acidic sauces can strip young seasoning. When choosing, look at the real cooking surface, not the rim diameter, because sloped sides shrink the flat area a lot. Also check the oven limit, since some handles are rated for short oven use only. This guide compares six carbon steel options from de Buyer, Mauviel and Made In, from single pans to a three-pan set and a large griddle. Only six listings fit this guide well, so it stops there.
Compare the picks
- de Buyer Mineral B 3-Pan Set: 8, 10.25 and 12.5 in
- Size
- 8, 10.25 and 12.5 in (5.5, 7.3 and 9 in cooking surfaces)
- Material
- Carbon steel
- Oven-safe to
- 400°F for up to 10 min
- Induction
- Yes
- de Buyer Mineral B Pro Country Pan 11 in: high sides
- Size
- 11 in (7.7 in cooking surface)
- Material
- Carbon steel
- Oven-safe to
- 400°F for up to 10 min
- Induction
- Yes
Mauviel M'Steel 3-Piece Set: 7.9, 9.4 and 11 in- Size
- 7.9, 9.4 and 11 in
- Material
- Extra thick black carbon steel
- Oven-safe to
- Not stated
- Induction
- All cooking surfaces per title
- Made In Carbon Steel Griddle + Press: 19.6 x 10.5 in
- Size
- 19.6 x 10.5 in griddle, 5.5 x 5 in press
- Material
- Carbon steel
- Oven-safe to
- Handles heat up to 1200°F per listing
- Induction
- Yes
Mauviel M'Steel 14.2 in Frying Pan: extra large- Size
- 14.2 in
- Material
- Extra thick black carbon steel
- Oven-safe to
- Not stated
- Induction
- All cooking surfaces per title
Mauviel M'Steel 14.2 in Paella Pan: two handles- Size
- 14.2 in
- Material
- Extra thick black carbon steel
- Oven-safe to
- Not stated
- Induction
- All cooking surfaces per title
| Pick | Size | Material | Oven-safe to | Induction | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| de Buyer Mineral B 3-Pan Set: 8, 10.25 and 12.5 in | 8, 10.25 and 12.5 in (5.5, 7.3 and 9 in cooking surfaces) | Carbon steel | 400°F for up to 10 min | Yes | - | Amazon |
| de Buyer Mineral B Pro Country Pan 11 in: high sides | 11 in (7.7 in cooking surface) | Carbon steel | 400°F for up to 10 min | Yes | - | Amazon |
| Mauviel M'Steel 3-Piece Set: 7.9, 9.4 and 11 in | 7.9, 9.4 and 11 in | Extra thick black carbon steel | Not stated | All cooking surfaces per title | - | Amazon |
| Made In Carbon Steel Griddle + Press: 19.6 x 10.5 in | 19.6 x 10.5 in griddle, 5.5 x 5 in press | Carbon steel | Handles heat up to 1200°F per listing | Yes | - | Amazon |
| Mauviel M'Steel 14.2 in Frying Pan: extra large | 14.2 in | Extra thick black carbon steel | Not stated | All cooking surfaces per title | - | Amazon |
| Mauviel M'Steel 14.2 in Paella Pan: two handles | 14.2 in | Extra thick black carbon steel | Not stated | All cooking surfaces per title | - | Amazon |
Facts are taken from each Amazon listing. Prices are checked daily and shown with their date.
The picks in detail
Pick 1 · de Buyer
de Buyer Mineral B 3-Pan Set: 8, 10.25 and 12.5 in
See price on AmazonThree Mineral B fry pans made in France, with the cooking surface of each stated. The most complete way to switch to carbon steel.
What the listing offers
- Listing gives true cooking surfaces of 5.5, 7.3 and 9 inches, so you know the flat area of each pan.
- Can be used on all cooking surfaces including induction, per the listing.
- Seasoning steps are spelled out on the listing, which helps first-time carbon steel owners.
Limits to know
- Oven use is limited to 10 minutes at 400°F per the listing, so it is not for long oven roasts.
- Hand wash only, and the listing warns harsh soaps can strip the seasoning.
Pick 2 · de Buyer
de Buyer Mineral B Pro Country Pan 11 in: high sides
See price on AmazonA deep carbon steel pan with high sides and a cast stainless handle. Fits sauteing, shallow frying and stir frying where a flat skillet would splatter.
What the listing offers
- High sides suit sauteing, simmering, deep frying and stir frying, per the listing.
- Cast stainless steel handle is riveted and described as oven safe.
- Works on all cooking surfaces including induction.
Limits to know
- Cooking surface is 7.7 inches, small for an 11 inch rim, so it is not a big searing pan.
- Oven use is limited to 10 minutes at 400°F per the listing.
Pick 3 · Mauviel
Mauviel M'Steel 3-Piece Set: 7.9, 9.4 and 11 in
See price on AmazonThree extra thick black carbon steel pans with iron handles, made in France. A full set for cooks who want heavier-gauge pans.
What the listing offers
- Listing describes extra thick black steel with commercial grade durability for long preheating.
- Three sizes from 7.9 to 11 inches cover eggs through weeknight searing.
- Beeswax coating is stated to prevent rust before first use and save seasoning time.
Limits to know
- Oven limit and cooking surface sizes are not stated on the listing.
- Listing advises using cooktop controls at about 60 percent power and heating the pan slowly.
Pick 4 · Made In
Made In Carbon Steel Griddle + Press: 19.6 x 10.5 in
See price on AmazonA large carbon steel griddle with a grill press, made in Sweden. For smash burgers, pancakes and grilling outdoors or across two burners.
What the listing offers
- Listing states it handles heat up to 1200°F and works on stovetop, grill and open flame.
- 19.6 x 10.5 inch griddle spans two burners for big batches.
- Includes a grill press, useful for smash burgers and sandwiches.
Limits to know
- A flat griddle has no sides, so it cannot replace a skillet for sauces or shallow frying.
- Seasoning and care steps are not spelled out on this listing.
Pick 5 · Mauviel
Mauviel M'Steel 14.2 in Frying Pan: extra large
See price on AmazonA single 14.2 inch carbon steel pan for big sears, family-size batches and cooking on a large burner or grill.
What the listing offers
- 14.2 inch size gives room to sear several steaks or a big batch of potatoes at once.
- Extra thick black steel is described as heating quickly for searing, browning and grilling.
- Made in France, per the listing, from the same M'Steel line as the 3-piece set.
Limits to know
- A 14.2 inch pan is larger than most home burners, so the edges may run cooler.
- Hand wash only and not dishwasher safe; oven limit is not stated.
Pick 6 · Mauviel
Mauviel M'Steel 14.2 in Paella Pan: two handles
See price on AmazonA wide, shallow carbon steel pan with two iron handles. Built for paella and rice dishes, and handy for roasting or a big saute.
What the listing offers
- Two handles make a full 14.2 inch pan easier to move than a single-handle skillet.
- Extra thick black steel is described as rising in temperature quickly.
- Care notes explain that the dark layer that forms on the pan builds a non-stick film.
Limits to know
- Specialist shape; a regular skillet is more useful for everyday cooking.
- Hand wash only, not dishwasher safe, and no oven limit is stated.
Read before you buy
- Why food sticks to stainless steel pans and how to stop itWhy food sticks to stainless steel pans: cold pans, too little fat, wet or cold food and moving it too soon. The fix for each cause, step by step.
- What is a carbon steel pan and is it goodWhat carbon steel cookware is made of, how it compares with cast iron and stainless in weight and heat, and the cooking a carbon steel pan suits best.
- Stainless steel vs nonstick pansStainless steel vs nonstick pans: which jobs need a coating, which do not, how long each lasts, and where carbon steel fits, with All-Clad and Scanpan examples.
- What cookware works on inductionWhat cookware works on induction: the magnet test, which materials work, and whether Le Creuset, Staub, All-Clad and carbon steel pans are induction compatible.
- How to season a carbon steel panHow to season a carbon steel pan: remove the factory coating, apply very thin oil layers, and build seasoning on the stovetop or in the oven. Reseasoning tips too.
More gear: Carbon steel and cast iron
Braise & Sear chooses every product independently from what its Amazon listing states. We may earn a commission from the links above. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.