This guide pulls together what thousands of real owners have to say about four of the most-discussed carbon steel frying pans available, so you can compare them at a glance. Whether you're drawn to a mainstream Wirecutter-backed pick or a traditional French pan beloved by professional cooks, the data below will help you find the right match.
All four pans are 10–12-inch carbon steel frying pans in overlapping price ranges — a genuinely apples-to-apples comparison across different brands, price points, and design philosophies.
| Image | Rank | Product | Customer Rating | Confidence | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1 | OXO Obsidian 12" Carbon Steel Frying Pan with Silicone Sleeve (B09LLYLYX6) | 4.6 ★ (14,482 reviews) | 100/100 | ~$69.99 | Check on Amazon |
 |
2 | Made In Cookware Seasoned 12-Inch Carbon Steel Frying Pan | 4.5 ★ (14,480 reviews) | 98/100 | ~$99–$129 | Check on Amazon |
 |
3 | Matfer Bourgeat 062005 Black Carbon Steel Round Frying Pan, 11-7/8 Inch (B002ONP7UY) | 4.2 ★ (8,193 reviews) | 86/100 | ~$60–$90 | Check on Amazon |
 |
4 | De Buyer Mineral B 10.25" Carbon Steel Fry Pan (B00462QP0W) | 4.5 ★ (2,346 reviews) | 79/100 | ~$65–$80 | Check on Amazon |
1. OXO Obsidian 12" Carbon Steel Frying Pan with Silicone Sleeve
4.6★ across 14,482 customer reviews · Confidence: 100/100 · ~$69.99
The OXO Obsidian holds the highest customer rating in this comparison — 4.6 stars across more than 14,000 reviews — a combination that earns it the top Confidence score of 100/100. Customer reviews frequently highlight the included silicone sleeve as a practical, safety-minded detail that most bare-steel competitors skip, and the pan's endorsement by Wirecutter (referenced in the individual review) has made it the go-to gateway recommendation for buyers new to carbon steel. Owners consistently report that initial seasoning is straightforward and that the cooking surface reaches good non-stick performance relatively quickly. A common note in customer reviews is that buyers expecting a cast-iron-like surface straight out of the box are surprised by how much the pan improves over the first several uses — the seasoning process takes patience.
Read the full review → · Check price on Amazon →
2. Made In Cookware Seasoned 12-Inch Carbon Steel Frying Pan
4.5★ across 14,480 customer reviews · Confidence: 98/100 · ~$99–$129
With a review base nearly identical in size to the OXO's (14,480 ratings, 98/100 Confidence), the Made In pan earns its 4.5-star average with unusually broad agreement. Customer reviews frequently describe it as lighter-handling than traditional carbon steel pans of similar diameter — the individual review titles it as "a lighter workhorse," a quality owners note makes sautéing and tossing noticeably easier. The factory seasoning (the pan ships "Seasoned") is called out by many reviewers as a genuine head start for first-time users, cutting down on the break-in period. The most consistent caveat across customer feedback is the price: at $99–$129, buyers at the premium tier hold it to a higher standard, and a minority of reviewers note the factory seasoning required supplemental treatment before reaching its full potential.
Read the full review → · Check price on Amazon →
3. Matfer Bourgeat 11-7/8" Black Carbon Steel Round Frying Pan
4.2★ across 8,193 customer reviews · Confidence: 86/100 · ~$60–$90
The Matfer Bourgeat draws its 8,193-strong review audience from a customer base that skews toward cooks who already know what they're buying. Customer reviews return again and again to the pan's durability and its place in professional kitchens — the individual review title calls it "the French pan chefs won't replace," and aggregated feedback from owners mirrors that reputation: users report that a properly seasoned Matfer is among the longest-lasting carbon steel pans on the market. The uncoated all-steel construction, including the uninsulated steel handle, is part of the pan's traditional profile and is praised by oven users who need full oven-safe capability at any temperature. The 4.2-star average — the lowest in this comparison — reflects a documented pattern in customer reviews: the initial seasoning process is notably more demanding than OXO or Made In, and buyers who skip or rush it frequently report sticking and frustration in their earliest sessions.
Read the full review → · Check price on Amazon →
4. De Buyer Mineral B 10.25" Carbon Steel Fry Pan
4.5★ across 2,346 customer reviews · Confidence: 79/100 · ~$65–$80
The De Buyer Mineral B holds a strong 4.5-star average from its 2,346-review base, matching the Made In's rating at a lower price ceiling. Customer reviews draw heavily on the pan's ability to develop a deep, cooking-enhancing patina over time — the individual review title describes it as "the French pan that earns its patina," and owners consistently report that the surface noticeably improves across months of regular use. Aggregated user feedback highlights the pan's solid build quality and even heat retention as reasons buyers choose it over lighter-gauge competitors. A common note across customer reviews is the factory beeswax coating: the Mineral B ships with a protective beeswax layer that must be properly burned off and replaced with seasoning oil before first use, and reviewers who skip this step frequently report an unpleasant odour and compromised early-season cooking performance.
Read the full review → · Check price on Amazon →
How We Ranked These
Each carbon steel frying pan in this guide receives a single Confidence score that blends two signals: the average customer star rating and the number of people who gave it. A high star rating only carries real weight when a large enough audience has weighed in — a 4.9-star pan with 180 reviews is a weaker signal than a 4.7-star pan with 12,000 reviews, because the larger audience makes the rating far harder to argue with. Every pan is then scaled against the strongest performer in the guide, so the leader sits at 100 and the others fall in line below it.
The individual reviews behind each entry consolidate Amazon customer feedback and YouTube reviewer coverage for that specific pan. This buying guide aggregates those reviews into a single head-to-head comparison. Prices and ratings reflect the values recorded at the time of each individual review and may have changed since publication.
Category Winners
| Best for… | Winner |
|---|---|
| Highest customer rating | OXO Obsidian 12" Carbon Steel Frying Pan — 4.6★ across 14,482 reviews |
| Most-reviewed | OXO Obsidian 12" Carbon Steel Frying Pan — 14,482 customer reviews |
| Lowest entry price | Matfer Bourgeat 11-7/8" Black Carbon Steel Frying Pan — from ~$60 |
| Premium choice | Made In Cookware Seasoned 12-Inch Carbon Steel Frying Pan — up to ~$129 |
| Best rating under $80 ceiling | De Buyer Mineral B 10.25" Carbon Steel Fry Pan — 4.5★, priced up to ~$80 |
Pick the angle that matches what you care about — none of these is a universal best.
