Compare Carbon Steel Pans
de Buyer Mineral B 12.5" Fry Pan scores higher on safety - here's why.
R3 scored the Merten & Storck Pre-Seasoned Carbon Steel 10" Frying Pan Skillet 7.7/10 and the de Buyer Mineral B 12.5" Fry Pan 9.3/10 on the same carbon steel pans scoring system, weighing safety, efficacy, and usability. The de Buyer Mineral B 12.5" Fry Pan comes out ahead, led by its safety score (9.6/10 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 Merten & Storck Pre-Seasoned Carbon Steel 10" Frying Pan Skillet vs de Buyer Mineral B 12.5" Fry Pan.
Unlock the full Merten & Storck Pre-Seasoned Carbon Steel 10" Frying Pan Skillet vs de Buyer Mineral B 12.5" 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 confirmed PFAS-free carbon steel pan at a budget price point. The factory oil-seasoned surface is verified free of synthetic coatings.
You want a pre-seasoned, ready-to-cook pan at $46 with induction compatibility and broad cooktop support.
Gauge transparency isn't a priority — you cook on moderate heat where thickness matters less, or you've seen this pan perform well in real use.
You want the largest cooking surface (12.5") with 3mm professional gauge in this carbon steel set
You cook large proteins or batch meals where surface area matters more than handle oven-ceiling
You want verified PFAS-free bare carbon steel with professional French construction
The main thing to know
Merten & Storck does not publish gauge thickness, so heat distribution quality and warp resistance cannot be independently verified before purchase. PFAS-free status is confirmed — the factory oil-seasoned carbon steel surface has no synthetic coatings.
No oven-safe temperature rating published — the stainless-steel-riveted handle implies limited oven use, but the exact ceiling is unconfirmed. Budget time for beeswax full-pan removal before first seasoning.
Skip this if you...
You want to benchmark heat distribution and warp resistance before buying — gauge thickness is not disclosed anywhere in the listing or brand materials.
You are choosing between budget carbon steel options based on performance specs — Lodge at $40 with a disclosed 2.8mm gauge offers better performance predictability.
You need oven temperature certification — the listing confirms oven-safe use but omits a specific temperature limit.
Oven finishing at high temperature is important — the Element (400°F confirmed) or Blue (500°F) are safer choices if you regularly finish proteins in the oven
You are new to carbon steel — the beeswax setup and larger mass make this a better choice for experienced users
You want the most usability-optimized de Buyer — the Blue at $70 has the welded handle and 500°F oven rating for $40 less
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 Merten & Storck 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 Mineral B 12.5" 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.
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