# Ultimate Guide to Buying a Carbon Steel Pan | Made In - Made In Before you press “purchase” on a Carbon Steel Pan, here’s everything you need to know about this type of cookware, along with caring for and cooking with it. Before buying any piece of cookware, it’s important to do your homework. How this tool differs from the cookware you already own, how to care for it, what you can cook with it, and how long it’ll last are all important factors to consider when adding a new item to your kitchen. This is definitely the case for [carbon steel cookware](https://madeincookware.com/blogs/what-is-carbon-steel), which has been a fixture in European kitchens for centuries and is becoming more prevalent in home and professional kitchens in the USA. Made In’s Carbon Steel cookware is now the best-selling carbon steel cookware in the United States. If you’re debating adding a Made In Carbon Steel Pan to your lineup, then use this guide to walk you through everything you need to know so you’re set up for success before hitting “purchase.” ```json { "_key": "badc98927623", "_type": "tableOfContents" } ``` ## What Is Carbon Steel? We like to describe carbon steel as a combination of the best parts of stainless steel and cast iron cookware—with the heat retention and non-stick properties that develop over time of cast iron, paired with the cooking speed and heat control of stainless steel. This combination means it can perform various kitchen tasks, including low- or high-heat cooking and oven finishing, while remaining lightweight and easy to maneuver around the cooktop and in and out of the oven. In short, it’s one of the most versatile cookware materials on the market. NY Magazine rated Made In’s Carbon Steel line the top pick for searing meats, and Consumer Reports named the Made In Carbon Steel Frying Pan the best frying pans without PFAS, both showing the versatility of this line of cookware from Made In. ## How Is Carbon Steel Made? The Made In Carbon Steel line is manufactured in a Swedish factory from premium carbon steel sourced from the Netherlands, defining professional quality. It's composed of 99% iron and less than 1% carbon. That carbon content is what distinguishes it from cast iron, which usually runs 2-4% carbon. The lower carbon content is what makes carbon steel thinner, lighter, and more responsive to heat changes than cast iron. To make the Made In Carbon Steel pans, a sheet of carbon steel is cut into a circle (called a blank) and shaped into the body of a pan that includes high, curved walls via a hydraulic press. The Stainless Steel handle is then attached to the body using three rivets, each capable of holding up to 1 ton of weight. Because the pan is made from a single piece of metal, it heats evenly and quickly—unlike pans made from multiple pieces. ## Is Carbon Steel Safe? Made In’s Carbon Steel cookware is third-party tested to ensure it is [100% safe](https://madeincookware.com/blogs/is-carbon-steel-cookware-safe-for-cooking). Made In uses Light Labs, a third-party certified testing laboratory, to test its pans for heavy metals, PFAS, and more. Made In’s Carbon Steel cookware passed 100% of tests for PFAS, BPAs and heavy metals under extreme conditions. If your pan rusts or gets scratched, you’ll just need to remove the rust or fill in the scratch with more seasoning, which you can learn more about in our [seasoning guide](https://madeincookware.com/blogs/seasoning-101-the-guide-to-seasoning-carbon-steel-cookware). ## Why Does It Need to Be Seasoned? Much like cast iron, carbon steel should continue to be seasoned over time to help develop a non-stick surface. The Made In Carbon Steel line helps get you past the hardest seasonings, the first few, by preseasoning the pans for you. This is a unique feature that almost no other company does. Preseasoning involves a layer or two of oil that polymerizes, or transforms from a liquid to a hardened solid when exposed to high heat, creating a seal on the pan. The initial seasoning, along with periodic reseasoning, helps seal the metal’s microscopic pores, preventing rust and creating a non-stick surface that keeps your food from sticking, and is an important part of upkeep. ## Is Caring for Carbon Steel Difficult? While caring for carbon steel isn’t as simple as a quick wash and dry like you may be used to, it’s not complicated by any means. There are a few key things to remember when caring for your carbon steel pan, and we cover them all in our [care guide](https://madeincookware.com/blogs/carbon-steel-care-guide). ## What Can I Use Carbon Steel For? Since the Made In Carbon Steel Frying Pan is endlessly durable, can handle both high and low temperatures, and is oven-safe up to 1200F, it is a versatile pan that can handle just about [any recipe](https://madeincookware.com/blogs/carbon-steel-pan-recipes) you throw at it in the kitchen. It can develop a beautiful sear on any protein or char on any vegetable. A few of our favorite uses beyond recipes include: - **On the Stovetop: **The Made In Carbon Steel Frying Pan can do anything that’s expected of a frying pan, especially once it's built up a non-stick patina. This includes sautéing vegetables, frying eggs, and searing steaks or other meats. - **In the Oven: **Since Made In Carbon Steel can withstand temperatures up to 1200F, this pan is perfect for finishing dishes in the oven, keeping meals warm, or for techniques that involve high-heat cooking, like cornbread. - **Over an Open Flame: **Whether you’re using the standard Carbon Steel Frying Pan or the Made In [Carbon Steel Grill Frying Pan](https://madeincookware.com/blogs/grill-frying-pan-behind-the-design), you can grill or [campfire cook](https://madeincookware.com/blogs/campfire-cooking-kit) to your heart’s content and make dishes like pan-roasted fish, grilled wings, or charred steak sandwiches. ## Carbon Steel vs. Other Cookware Materials Since carbon steel is often seen as a combination of stainless steel and cast iron cookware, it’s worth wondering if this is a necessary purchase if you already own either (or both) of those pans. Here’s how this cookware material holds up against similar counterparts. ### Carbon Steel vs Cast Iron The closest relative to carbon steel in both appearance and performance is the cast iron skillet. Both are constructed of dark, iron-based metals, can withstand high temperatures, and are versatile pans that are just as at home on the stovetop as they are over a campfire. That said, carbon steel has a significant advantage in terms of weight—a 12” carbon steel frying pan weighs only 4.5 pounds, while a Lodge cast iron skillet weighs in at 7.89 pounds. While we don’t think you need to toss out your cast iron if you have one, we prefer carbon steel for everyday tasks. Cast Iron is a great performer for reverse-sear steaks, but its weight precludes it from being the cookware of choice for sauteeing and any cooking that requires changes in temperature. ### Carbon Steel vs Stainless Steel While not as similar to cast iron, stainless steel offers the same cooking speed and heat control as carbon steel. Both these pans heat up quickly, can handle high temperatures, and are the perfect choice for getting a beautiful sear on a protein. We recommend not viewing these pans as competitors but rather as complements—they can both be used for a variety of purposes to help round out your kitchen. For instance, carbon steel is not recommended to handle heavy acidic ingredients like citrus or tomatoes as they can strip the seasoning, so if you’re looking to finish a pasta with tomatoes in your frying pan, we’d recommend [Made In Stainless Clad cookware](https://madeincookware.com/collections/stainless-clad) for that. ### Carbon Steel vs. Non-Stick While carbon steel develops a non-stick surface over time, a high-quality non-stick pan will have this quality from the time it’s unboxed. These two materials differ in many ways, and we recommend having both, as they excel at different tasks and serve different purposes around the kitchen. A carbon steel pan will last forever, whereas all non-stick surfaces have a shelf life. Also, nothing will truly replace a non-stick pan’s slick surface, on which eggs and flaky fish will slide right off. A Carbon Steel pan will develop a very nice non-stick surface over time, it will last forever, and you can use any type of utensil you want on it. We recommend a non-stick pan for light use and a carbon steel pan for heavier everyday use in your kitchen. ## How Much Is Carbon Steel Cookware? Carbon steel cookware can come in a wide range of prices. The [Made In Carbon Steel pans](https://madeincookware.com/products/carbon-steel-frying-pan/8-inch) start at $99. The unique factor here is that Made In’s pans come preseasoned at the factory, which saves you hours doing the first coatings at home compared to DeBuyer and Matfer. A carbon steel pan can last for decades with proper care—which in our opinion is a better choice than buying a cheaper pan and replacing it every 1–2 years once it's degraded. ## Ready to Shop? Now that you’ve done your homework and learned all about why Carbon Steel is right for you, you can feel confident when making this purchase—now you just need to decide whether you want a Frying Pan, Grill Frying Pan, or a Wok—or all three. ```json { "_key": "3bc129a90ecb", "_type": "variant", "data": { "_id": "variant.42148114464847", "badges": [], "collegiateAsset": null, "computed": { "discount": 0, "isAvailable": true, "isPrimary": false, "offset": 0, "price": 119, "status": "forSale" }, "handle": { "current": "10-inch" }, "imageBadges": null, "media": [ { "_key": "e84f3f1a3a06", "description": null, "hotspots": null, "image": { "asset": { "altText": "Sizzling bacon strips cooking in a black frying pan on a gas stove.", "metadata": { "dimensions": { "_type": "sanity.imageDimensions", "aspectRatio": 1, "height": 1440, "width": 1440 }, "lqip": "data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAUABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAGQABAAMBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUGBwIE/8QAJRAAAgEDBAEEAwAAAAAAAAAAAQIDAAQFBhESISIHJDFxFVFh/8QAFgEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQMC/8QAHBEAAgICAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECEQQhEhNB/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwDI8TfYvHjleRtcxDsITwO/8qaiucbdxl8ZmWt1l6kVozyQH5+6g8XgrXK28jreLxDkBR+vupaXR1rBjlexnuGuieyB4EUdqTotHGnJckd/gsPF4x67tQD2Q0TA70quWulchdq7paTSgOV5cCfilaJN1qyqm4liG0TsgJ38TtXsizuTVV97MQnSgt0KUrPo3o3L0219moNKwRe1l4uw5SQ7sfs0pSqJhR//2Q==" }, "url": "https://cdn.sanity.io/images/fr9flhkd/main/852e167d54c00000408bc772eda63e843d7d2271-1440x1440.jpg" } }, "tags": [ "gallery", "secondary" ], "type": "image", "video": null } ], "meta": { "hasCollegiate": false, "hasTrial": true, "hasWaitList": false, "isCollegiate": false, "isDiscountEligible": true, "isFinalSale": false, "isOnSale": true, "isSet": false, "promoDates": null, "promoPrice": null }, "product": { "ranking": 22, "rating": { "rating": 4.8, "rating_count": 10683 }, "shopify": { "handle": "carbon-steel-frying-pan", "id": 7586940125263, "image": { "alt": null, "height": 1500, "src": "https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2131/5111/files/Web_1x1_Carbon_Steel_Carbon_8in_Fry_Stay_Cool_Handle-3q-Hero.jpg?v=1772464074", "width": 1500 }, "title": "Seasoned Carbon Steel Frying Pan" } }, "shopify": { "handle": null, "id": 42148114464847, "image": { "alt": null, "height": 1500, "src": "https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2131/5111/files/Web_1x1_Carbon_Steel_Carbon_10in_Fry_Stay_Cool_Handle-3q-Hero.jpg?v=1772464074", "width": 1500 }, "title": "10\"" }, "taxonomies": [ { "handle": { "current": "10-inch" }, "title": "10\"", "type": "size" }, { "handle": { "current": "induction-compatible" }, "title": "Induction Compatible", "type": "features" }, { "handle": { "current": "oven-safe" }, "title": "Oven Safe", "type": "features" }, { "handle": { "current": "pfas-free" }, "title": "Free of PFAS", "type": "features" }, { "handle": { "current": "stay-cool-handle" }, "title": "Stay Cool Handles", "type": "features" }, { "handle": { "current": "grill-safe" }, "title": "Grill Safe", "type": "features" }, { "handle": { "current": "third-party-tested" }, "title": "Third-Party Tested", "type": "features" }, { "handle": { "current": "sweden" }, "title": "Sweden", "type": "country_of_origin" }, { "handle": { "current": "carbon-steel" }, "title": "Carbon Steel", "type": "material" }, { "handle": { "current": "frying-pans" }, "title": "Frying Pans", "type": "product_type" } ], "title": "10\"" } } ``` --- URL: https://madeincookware.com/blogs/carbon-steel-pan