Drawing on thousands of customer reviews and YouTube reviewer coverage consolidated in our individual reviews of each pan, here's how the two compare across the dimensions that matter most.
| OXO Obsidian | Made In Carbon Steel | |
|---|---|---|
| Image |  |
 |
| Customer rating | 4.6 ★ (14,482) | 4.5 ★ (14,480) |
| Confidence | 100/100 | 98/100 |
| Price | ~$69.99 | ~$99–$129 |
| Buy | Check on Amazon | Check on Amazon |
What Owners Say About the OXO Obsidian 12" Carbon Steel Frying Pan
4.6★ across 14,482 customer reviews · Confidence: 100/100 · ~$69.99
The OXO Obsidian earned Wirecutter's Best Pick designation and carries 4.6 stars across 14,482 customer reviews — the highest confidence score in this comparison. Owners consistently highlight the included silicone sleeve, which lets you handle the hot steel handle without hunting down a separate mitt or pot holder. Reviewers also praise the factory-applied pre-seasoning, with many noting the pan was usable straight out of the box with minimal break-in.
The main caveat owners raise is the same one that applies to all carbon steel: the seasoning requires ongoing maintenance, and buyers who neglect that upkeep report sticking. A handful of reviewers also note the pan can discolour unevenly early in its seasoning life — a normal characteristic of carbon steel that surprises first-time owners.
Read the full review → · Check price on Amazon →
What Owners Say About the Made In 12-Inch Carbon Steel Frying Pan
4.5★ across 14,480 customer reviews · Confidence: 98/100 · ~$99–$129
The Made In 12-Inch Carbon Steel Frying Pan holds 4.5 stars across 14,480 customer reviews — a near-tie with the OXO in raw satisfaction. Where owners most consistently distinguish it is weight: the pan is notably lighter than many carbon steel competitors, reducing hand and wrist fatigue during extended cooking sessions. The "Seasoned" designation in its product name reflects factory pre-seasoning that reviewers say delivers a reliable, ready-to-cook surface from day one.
The most common owner caveat is the price. At $99–$129 depending on the retailer, the Made In sits $30–$60 above the OXO, and a portion of reviewers question whether the weight advantage and premium branding justify the gap given how closely the two pans perform on paper.
Read the full review → · Check price on Amazon →
Where They Differ
Price is the clearest dividing line. At ~$69.99, the OXO Obsidian costs $30–$60 less than the Made In, which runs $99–$129. That gap is real money for a single skillet, and with both pans earning comparable ratings across nearly identical review volumes, the lower-cost option does not appear to sacrifice satisfaction in any measurable way according to consolidated owner feedback.
Weight is the second meaningful differentiator. The Made In review's headline — "A Lighter Workhorse That Earns the Burner" — reflects what customer reviewers and YouTube testers consistently call out: this pan is lighter than the typical 12-inch carbon steel skillet. If you cook for extended periods, sauté frequently, or simply prefer a pan you can manoeuvre one-handed, the Made In's lighter build is a genuine functional advantage. The OXO is not described as unusually heavy for its class, but the Made In reviewers flag lightness with a frequency that stands out.
Out-of-box accessories differ. The OXO Obsidian includes a silicone sleeve as part of the package — a small but practical touch that owners appreciate and one that Made In buyers would need to source separately. Both pans ship pre-seasoned, so neither has a break-in advantage in that regard.
On raw review metrics, these two pans are as close as any comparison we've run. The difference is 4.6 vs 4.5 stars and 14,482 vs 14,480 reviews — figures that are functionally indistinguishable at this scale. Confidence in both ratings is exceptionally high. The choice ultimately comes down to how much the weight advantage and Made In's premium positioning are worth to you versus the meaningful price difference.
How We Compared
Our Confidence score combines each product's star rating with the weight of the review volume behind it — a pan rated 4.6 by 14,000 owners is harder to argue with than one rated 4.8 by 80 owners. The top scorer in each comparison is scaled to 100; the other product's score reflects its standing relative to that benchmark. Well Seasoned's individual reviews consolidate Amazon customer feedback and YouTube reviewer coverage; this comparison aggregates those reviews. Prices and ratings reflect values recorded at the time of each individual review and may have changed.
When to Choose Which
| If you care most about… | Choose — why |
|---|---|
| Highest customer rating | OXO Obsidian — 4.6★ vs 4.5★ |
| Lower upfront price | OXO Obsidian — ~$69.99 vs ~$99–$129 |
| Lightest 12-inch carbon steel pan | Made In — lighter build is the most-cited differentiator across owner and YouTube reviews |
| Premium pick (if budget isn't the constraint) | Made In — higher-end positioning, factory seasoning, and strong 4.5★ rating across 14,480 reviews justify the spend for buyers who prioritise weight |
| Included accessories out of the box | OXO Obsidian — silicone sleeve included; Made In buyers source it separately |
Pick the dimension that matches what you care about — neither is universally better.
