Are you the experimental home cook who tries new recipes, cooks every night, and knows your way around loads of cooking techniques? You know that stainless steel provides excellent results for searing, making pan sauces, and handling acidic ingredients. But if you haven’t worked with stainless steel’s close counterpart, carbon steel, it’s time to give it a try.
Adding a Made In Carbon Steel Skillet to your cookware collection can unlock next-level results. You’ll still keep your Made In Stainless Clad close at hand. Having both stainless steel and carbon steel in your kitchen adds versatility to your cooking routine.
Key Advantages of Made In Carbon Steel Cookware for Home Cooks
Made In’s Carbon Steel behaves similarly to stainless steel: it heats quickly and responds rapidly to changes in temperature, and it’s ideal for searing ingredients to lock in their flavor. Carbon Steel is lightweight compared to other types of cookware (especially cast iron), making it easier to maneuver and control if you’re doing sauteing or other high-heat cooking techniques.
Another huge bonus of Made In’s Carbon Steel is that it develops a safe, natural, non-stick coating. Made In’s Carbon Steel comes seasoned twice out of the box, providing a non-stick surface that's ready to cook on and easy to clean. Unlike other non-stick cookware, you can use metal utensils with this carbon steel.
Made In’s Carbon Steel is compatible across cooking surfaces, including induction and glass stovetops. It’s also so durable that you can literally throw it in a fire or pizza oven and safely cook with it at temperatures of 800 degrees or higher.
Made In’s Carbon Steel is the go-to choice for professional chefs worldwide. We’re proud to be a trusted source for carbon steel, selling the most carbon steel cookware in the country.
Pros of Made In Carbon Steel include:
- Durability
- Naturally non stick cooking surface
- Heat conductivity and responsiveness
- Great for searing and getting a good crust on proteins
- Works on a variety of cooktops, including induction
Cons of carbon steel include:
- Avoid acidic ingredients
- Hand wash only
- Learning curve for general maintenance
- Can seem intimidating
How Made In's Stainless Clad Cookware Shines
Made In Stainless Clad features a premium, 5-ply construction. Made In’s Stainless Clad line is constructed with a 304 stainless steel cooking surface, making it highly durable. Meanwhile, layers of pure aluminum and aluminum alloy sandwiched between the stainless layers make each frying pan, saucepan, stock pot, and saucier an excellent heat conductor. Made In’s Stainless Clad cookware is incredibly responsive and reacts quickly to changes in temperature.
Stainless steel is also very durable and works on all stovetops, including induction. Made In’s Stainless Clad Frying Pans are ideal for sauces and deglazing, as you often want to deglaze with an acidic ingredient, such as wine or vinegar (Acid is the key to depth!). Like carbon steel, stainless clad is also beloved by professional chefs, especially for its non-reactive, versatile nature.
Pros of stainless steel include:
- No seasoning required
- Highly heat-responsive
- Durable
- Able to handle acidic ingredients
Cons of stainless steel include:
- Can’t take as high of heat as carbon steel
- Food can stick if the pan isn’t properly preheated
- Learning curve for beginner cooks
Side-by-Side Comparison
There are a few differences and similarities between stainless steel with carbon steel.
Heat response: Both stainless steel and carbon steel react quickly to changes in heat.
Maintenance: Stainless steel is very low-maintenance. Even if you have sticking issues, it’s easy to clean. Carbon steel requires minimal maintenance in the form of seasoning, but once you’ve seasoned it once, you’ll have a good handle on best practices.
Versatility: Stainless steel and carbon steel are both extremely versatile, but each shines for specific tasks. Use stainless steel when you’re deglazing with anything acidic. Carbon steel makes a nicer crust on proteins and can also handle the heat of a campfire or grill.
Weight: Stainless steel is a little lighter than carbon steel. For example, the Made In 12” Stainless Clad Frying Pan weighs 3 pounds, while the Made In 12” Seasoned Carbon Steel Frying Pan weighs 4.31 pounds.
Cleanup: While both are easy to clean, stainless steel can be soaked to help remove stuck-on food. Carbon Steel requires a bit more care since it’s prone to rust with prolonged exposure to moisture.
Build Your Ultimate Pan Duo
Depending on what you’re cooking, you may find that using both Carbon Steel and Stainless Clad yields optimal results.
If it’s steak night, use a Made In Carbon Steel Frying Pan for searing. You’ll get a lovely crust that locks in flavor and juices. Know what pairs well with steak? Wine, tomatoes, and other acidic ingredients balance out the meat’s richness. That’s where a Made In Stainless Clad Frying Pan steps in to make a pan sauce.
For a vegetable stir-fry, achieve crisp-tender perfection by quickly searing and tossing the vegetables in a Made In Carbon Steel Frying Pan. Then, transfer them to a Made In Stainless Clad Frying Pan to steam and cook until they’re as tender as you like.
Feeling like eggs for breakfast? Use your Made In Carbon Steel Frying Pan to make an omelet (or level up and make omurice like in Tampopo). If you’re looking for a saucy shakshuka, consider the Made In Stainless Clad Frying Pan, which is designed to handle acidic tomato sauces.
Why You Should Choose Made In Carbon Steel & Stainless Clad
Made In is the leader in high-quality cookware adored by home cooks and professional chefs alike. Made In Carbon Steel pans are thoughtfully designed with ergonomic Stay Cool handles, making it easy and comfortable to flip, toss, and maneuver your skillet. We pre-season Made In Carbon Steel Cookware with a mixture of shea nut oil and coconut oil, so you can cook with your pan straight from the box.
With repeated proper use and maintenance, the Made In Carbon Steel Frying Pan becomes naturally non stick. Use your skillet on all stovetops, including glass and induction. Even if you take it camping or set it over a grill, the Made In Carbon Steel Frying Pan comes with a lifetime warranty.
Paired with the Made In Carbon Steel Frying Pan, a Made In Stainless Clad Frying Pan gives you that one-two punch in the kitchen. With a best-in-class 5-ply construction and, polished food-grade surface, the Made In Stainless Clad Frying Pan rounds out the versatility of Carbon Steel. It’s even dishwasher safe (though we still prefer hand washing to maintain durability).
As one reviewer noted: “Carbon steel is becoming the go-to pan for many foods. The Stainless Steel is still my favorite for certain foods because it's easier to clean up, and it doesn't have to be reseasoned. It just takes experimentation. Both the Stainless and Carbon Steel are virtually indestructible.”
