You can use it for many different recipes, ingredients, and cooking methods, but not all (more on that in a minute). Do note also that even among traditional carbon steel skillets, the size of the flat cooking surface can vary. That is, some pans have short sides and a lot of flat cooking surface, while some pans have longer sides and less flat cooking surface. One reason we chose the Matfer Bourgeat as the best overall carbon steel skillet is because it has a good amount of flat cooking surface. When purchasing new cookware, it’s important to know some of the downsides so you can decide whether it’s right for you.

Matfer Carbon Steel Pan: Seasoning, Cooking UPDATED MODEL Matfer Carbon Steel Pan: Seasoning, Cooking

Do not put carbon steel in the dishwasher. The cycle (especially if you use today's grease-fighting detergents) will likely strip away the seasoning, and it may keep the pan wet long enough for rust to develop on the exposed material. There are no chemicals coatings, no pigments, no nothing—just carbon and iron. The Cons of Carbon Steel Cookware Stainless steel cookware contains more of the alloy chromium, and the reason that matters for you is that it protects stainless steel from corrosion. Carbon steel has less chromium, so it can rust and needs to be seasoned . But the two materials are similar in that they are lightweight and responsive to heat. Again, this matters to you because responsiveness lets you control the pan when you want to drop a boil to a simmer or to avoid burning something you're searing. Carbon steel, with it’s lower carbon content, is more malleable (bendable) than cast iron, which is why it can be manufactured with thin, lightweight walls. So, if your tired of cluttering your cabinets with single-use pots and pans, a quality carbon steel pan is the way to go. Pro: DurableLids: As far as we know, there are no carbon steel skillets that come with lids, though some of the newer designs geared to home cooks may have them. If you think you'll use a lid, you may already own one that will fit, or you can invest in a universal lid that should fit any pan you own. Yes: carbon steel pans are some of the safest you can cook with. They are 100% carbon steel, which may leach iron, but this is completely safe unless you have a rare condition where your body produces too much iron. Pots, pans, woks and other utensils of our kitchens are made from all kinds of materials. But, some materials can contaminate food and represent a real danger to our health – Teflon, aluminum, lead, etc…

Matfer Bourgeat Carbon Steel Fry Pan Review: A Versatile Pan

The thinner walls also mean, though, that carbon steel doesn't have quite the heat retention of cast iron. But it's still pretty good--better than aluminum (coated or bare) and most clad stainless steel.Second, the handle is very high, which helps keep it cool and could be great for tall people, but can also make it harder to maneuver and store, and possibly harder to fit in an oven. Rust occurs because carbon steel doesn’t contain enough chromium to form a corrosion-resistant layer, allowing oxygen to bond with the material, creating rust.