May 2026 Rankings
Best Carbon Steel Pans
We tested 6 products across safety, efficacy, and usability. Our top pick: de Buyer Blue Carbon Steel 11" Fry Pan.
6 products · 5 brands40+ hrs researchZero sponsors
Renée's Take · May 2026
How I Tested 6 Carbon Steel Pans
I tested 6 carbon steel pans from 5 brands across 3 safety checks — including PFAS / PTFE-Free Claim and Cooking Surface Coating. Every product was scored the same way — material safety first, then real-world performance and ease of use.
What I found: The top picks pass third-party safety verification and hold up in everyday use. The carbon steel pans I left off had unverified material claims, missing certifications, or hidden tradeoffs that matter for daily cooking.
Here's what came out on top:
- 1.de Buyer Blue Carbon Steel 11" Fry Pan — de Buyer · 9.3/10 · $70
- 2.de Buyer Mineral B Element 11" Fry Pan — de Buyer · 9.3/10 · $115
- 3.STRATA Carbon Steel Clad 10.5" Frying Pan Skillet — STRATA · 8.9/10 · $119
What Matters Most?
The criteria R3 evaluates for every carbon steel pans
Safety
PFAS / PTFE-Free Claim, Cooking Surface Coating, Manufacturer Guidance on Acidic Foods
Usability
Handle Material / Construction, Factory Shipping / Protective Coating, Oven-Safe Temperature (°F)
Efficacy
Pan Gauge Thickness
All Carbon Steel Pans Rankings
6 of 6 products
1
de Buyer
de Buyer Blue Carbon Steel 11" Fry Pan
PFAS /: YesPan Gauge: 2 mmHandle Material: Bare iron welded
SafestUsability
9.3
$70
2
de Buyer
de Buyer Mineral B Element 11" Fry Pan
PFAS /: YesPan Gauge: 3 mmHandle Material: Bare iron riveted
Efficacy
9.3
$115
3
STRATA
STRATA Carbon Steel Clad 10.5" Frying Pan Skillet
PFAS /: YesPan Gauge: —Handle Material: Stainless steel riveted
8.9
$119
4
Matfer Bourgeat
Matfer Bourgeat Black Carbon Steel Frying Pan 11 3/4"
PFAS /: YesPan Gauge: —Handle Material: Bare iron welded
8.3
$113
5
Lodge
Lodge 10 Inch Carbon Steel Skillet
PFAS /: YesPan Gauge: 2.8 mmHandle Material: Carbon steel riveted
8.2
$39.90
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