Compare Carbon Steel Pans
de Buyer Blue Carbon Steel 11" Fry Pan scores higher on safety - here's why.
R3 scored the Lodge 10 Inch Carbon Steel Skillet 8.2/10 and the de Buyer Blue Carbon Steel 11" Fry Pan 9.3/10 on the same carbon steel pans scoring system, weighing safety, efficacy, and usability. The de Buyer Blue Carbon Steel 11" Fry Pan comes out ahead, led by its safety score (9.7/10 vs 8.6/10).
The most important dimensions, side by side.
See which one actually scores higher — and why
Free account unlocks full safety scores, spec-by-spec breakdown, and the R3 verdict on Lodge 10 Inch Carbon Steel Skillet vs de Buyer Blue Carbon Steel 11" Fry Pan.
Unlock the full Lodge 10 Inch Carbon Steel Skillet vs de Buyer Blue Carbon Steel 11" Fry Pan breakdown
Free account unlocks all safety scores, complete spec comparison, scoring rationale, and the R3 verdict on which one to buy.
Everything you need to make the call - who each one is for, and who should skip it.
Go for it if you...
You want a PFAS-free carbon steel pan under $40 made in the USA with a disclosed gauge specification.
You are new to carbon steel and want a pre-seasoned, ready-to-cook option that works on all cooktops including induction.
You want solid 2.8mm gauge heat performance at a budget price — comparable gauge to entry-level French carbon steel.
You cook primarily on the stovetop and value transparency: Lodge is one of the few brands that puts 'PFAS-Free' in the product name itself.
You want the strongest material safety credentials in the category at the most accessible price — bare carbon steel with a verified PFAS-free surface.
You prefer a welded handle over riveted: no moisture-trapping crevices at the handle join, and no rust risk at that seam.
You are new to carbon steel and want a lighter, more maneuverable pan without giving up material safety.
You cook on induction and want a confirmed-compatible pan at a lower price than the Mineral B lineup.
The main thing to know
No oven-safe temperature rating is published by Lodge despite the all-metal construction. The riveted handle has minor rivet-crevice moisture concern compared to welded alternatives.
The beeswax full-pan shipping coat must be scrubbed off with steel wool before first seasoning — skip this step and your seasoning won't adhere. The 2mm gauge is also the thinnest in this category, so if you run induction at maximum heat for long searing sessions, the thicker Mineral B models will hold heat more evenly.
Skip this if you...
You need a confirmed oven temperature rating for high-heat recipe finishing — Lodge does not publish a specific ceiling.
You want a welded handle with no rivet crevices — the de Buyer Blue or Matfer Bourgeat offer welded construction at a higher price.
You want the lightest carbon steel option or prefer bare (unseasoned) construction — the STRATA clad pan and de Buyer Blue are alternatives to consider.
You sear large proteins on induction at maximum heat regularly and want the best heat retention — the 3mm Mineral B Element handles sustained high-heat better.
You want a ready-to-cook pan straight from the box — the beeswax full-pan coat requires a 10-minute steel wool removal step before first use.
Pan size matters for your batch cooking — the Blue is 11"; the Mineral B Pro at 12.5" gives meaningfully more cooking surface.
Neither of these quite what you're looking for?
I've reviewed all Carbon Steel Pans options at every price pointEvery Carbon Steel Pans in our database is scored using R3's deterministic scoring system - the same inputs always produce the same score. For this comparison, we evaluated Lodge and de Buyer across 3 independent criteria: Safety (83%), Efficacy (6%), Usability (11%). No sponsored rankings. No paid placements.
Straight answers - no sponsored content, no filler.
I'd start with de Buyer de Buyer Blue Carbon Steel 11" Fry Pan - it scored 9.3/10 overall in our scoring system. Safety is our top-weighted scoring pillar, followed by efficacy, and usability. Check which pillar matters most to your family and compare those specific scores.
R3 uses a deterministic scoring system - the same inputs always produce the same score. We evaluate each Carbon Steel Pans across Safety, Efficacy, Usability using independently verified data. No sponsored rankings. No paid placements. Every score is fully reproducible.
Not necessarily. The overall score reflects how we weight those three pillars, but your priorities may differ. If you care most about safety, compare the safety scores directly. If budget drives your decision, the prices tell a clearer story. The "right" pick is the one that matches what matters most to your family.
Not the right match? Explore these alternatives in the same category.
