Drawing on over 22,000 combined customer reviews and YouTube reviewer coverage, here's how the two compare across the dimensions that actually matter.
| OXO Obsidian | Matfer Bourgeat | |
|---|---|---|
| Image |  |
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| Customer rating | 4.6 ★ (14,482) | 4.2 ★ (8,193) |
| Confidence | 100/100 | 86/100 |
| Price | ~$69.99 | ~$60–$90 |
| 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
According to the 14,482 customer reviews on Amazon, the OXO Obsidian is praised most consistently for how quickly it comes out of the box ready to use. Owners frequently note that the included silicone handle sleeve makes daily handling noticeably safer than bare-metal carbon steel pans, particularly on high heat. Reviewers also highlight how evenly the pan heats across the cooking surface, and many describe building a reliable nonstick patina within just a few cook sessions.
The main caveat owners report is that the silicone sleeve, while convenient on the stovetop, limits oven use to around 400°F — a meaningful constraint compared to all-metal alternatives.
Read the full review → · Check price on Amazon →
What Owners Say About the Matfer Bourgeat 11-7/8" Carbon Steel Fry Pan
4.2★ across 8,193 customer reviews · Confidence: 86/100 · ~$60–$90
The Matfer Bourgeat has 8,193 customer reviews, and the most common thread is long-term loyalty: owners who put in the initial seasoning work tend to keep this pan for years and recommend it to other serious home cooks. Reviewers frequently call out the all-steel construction as a key advantage — no silicone, no coatings, fully oven-safe at any temperature. Many customers with professional kitchen backgrounds describe it as the same pan they used at work.
The main caveat owners raise is the initial seasoning barrier: Matfer ships the pan with a protective beeswax coating that must be removed and replaced with a proper seasoning, and a subset of reviewers report frustration at this first-use learning curve, which contributes to the pan's lower overall rating.
Read the full review → · Check price on Amazon →
Where They Differ
The most practical difference between these two pans is the handle and what it means for oven use. OXO Obsidian owners frequently call out the silicone sleeve as a daily convenience — it's comfortable to grip at stovetop temperatures and eliminates the need for an oven mitt during a quick sear. But that sleeve caps oven-safe temperature, which matters for recipes that finish a sear in a hot oven. Matfer Bourgeat reviewers, by contrast, more often mention sliding the whole pan straight from burner to a 500°F+ oven without a second thought — something the all-steel construction makes possible.
The seasoning experience also divides these two camps sharply. OXO Obsidian buyers frequently report that the pan's factory pre-seasoning gave them a functional, relatively low-stick surface from the first cook. Matfer owners more often describe a deliberate break-in ritual — stripping the beeswax, building layers of seasoning, sometimes over several sessions — and those who follow through tend to be the pan's most enthusiastic long-term advocates. Those who skip or rush that process account for a meaningful share of the Matfer's lower-rating reviews.
Customer feedback also points to a community difference. The OXO Obsidian draws a lot of carbon-steel newcomers converting from nonstick or stainless; reviewers describe it as the pan that made carbon steel "click" for them. Matfer reviews skew toward cooks who already know the material and are looking for a professional-grade workhorse. Neither framing is a knock — they just reflect different starting points.
On price, the OXO holds steady at around $69.99. The Matfer's range ($60–$90) means it can be cheaper, but it can also cost more depending on the retailer and timing. Budget shoppers who catch the Matfer at the low end of its range get strong value; those who don't may find the OXO more predictably priced.
How We Compared
The Confidence score combines a product's star rating with the size of its review base. A 4.6-star average from 14,000 people is harder to dismiss than the same rating from 200 — the score reflects that. The top-scoring product is rescaled to 100, and the other is shown relative to it.
Well Seasoned's individual reviews consolidate Amazon customer feedback and YouTube reviewer coverage; this comparison aggregates those reviews. Neither product was tested in our kitchen — this guide reflects what owners and external reviewers report.
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 4.2★ across a larger base of reviewers |
| Largest body of customer feedback | OXO Obsidian — 14,482 reviews vs 8,193 |
| Lower upfront price | Matfer Bourgeat — available from ~$60 vs OXO's ~$69.99 (though Matfer can reach $90) |
| Full oven versatility (any temperature) | Matfer Bourgeat — all-steel construction with no silicone components to limit heat |
| Easiest out-of-the-box experience | OXO Obsidian — factory pre-seasoning and a silicone sleeve reduce the first-cook learning curve |
Pick the dimension that matches what you care about — neither is universally better.
