The 7 Best Carbon Steel Pans of 2020

Lodge is well-known for its vast array of cast iron cookware, so it makes sense that the company would venture into making carbon steel cookware as well. Like Lodge's cast iron, this skillet comes pre-seasoned, so you can start cooking with it right away, but of course, more seasoning will make it more nonstick and more rust-resistant. The skillet comes in a 10- or 12-inch size and is broiler safe.

Like cast iron, carbon steel pans become more and more nonstick over time, without the need for special coatings during manufacturing. In use, carbon steel pans are thinner and lighter than cast iron, and also more responsive to temperature changes. This one can be used on all cooktops, including induction, as well as on a barbecue grill or campfire. 

Made from a single piece of Australian steel and designed to be a pan that gets passed down through generations, this skillet is pre-seasoned so you can get right to cooking, whether you’re searing steaks or cooking the perfect burger. The long handle has cutouts near the pan’s edge to help vent heat and keep the handle cooler in use, while a helper handle gives you an extra hand-hold when you’ve got a full pan to move.

Considering cast iron instead? Check out our reviews of the best cast iron pans for your kitchen.

If you’re not sure you’ll love cooking with carbon steel, this affordable 10-inch skillet is a good starter piece. It’s pre-seasoned, so you can use it right after giving it a preliminary wash to remove the protective silicone wax and it’s a nice size for searing a few small chops for dinner. The handle is coated cast iron, and shaped to give you a comfortable hand-hold while you cook.

If you’re going to buy a paella pan, why not buy one from a Spanish cookware company like Magfesa? They’ve got the know-how and the experience to make a pan that will perform when you need it. Paella pans are often made from carbon steel, which helps to produce the socarrat—the crisp rice at the bottom of the pan—while the dimpled bottom on this pan also improves the cooking process. Two generous handles make this one easy to move and carry as it goes from stovetop to oven to table. This option is a generous 17-inch pan, but it's also available in 13.5- and 15-inch versions when you don’t need to feed as many people.

Carbon steel is one of the traditional materials for woks, and if you peek into a Chinese kitchen, you may see woks in use that are well seasoned at the bottom of the bowl where the cooking occurs, with less seasoning towards the top. This wok is made for home use, with a flat bottom that allows it to be used on any cooktop, so you don’t need to fuss with a wok ring on your gas burner. The long handle has a convenient hanging loop for storing the wok, and a helper handle so you can carry it easily, even when it’s full of your favorite fried rice recipe.

Made in France by a well-known, premium cookware company, this crepe pan comes with a protective beeswax coating that should be removed before seasoning the pan. While this pan has low sides that make it perfect for making crepes, it can also be used for searing meat, making or heating tortillas, and cooking any foods that don’t require the higher sides of a traditional skillet or frying pan.