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Misen

Misen Carbon Steel Pan 12"

Carbon steel — between cast iron and stainless. Single-piece construction, no coating.

Misen 12-inch carbon steel pan with angled handle

$95

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Our take

Carbon steel is the best-kept secret in non-toxic cookware: lighter than cast iron, develops a non-stick patina like cast iron, heats faster than both. Misen makes a well-priced 12" with a flat bottom and an angled handle. Like cast iron it needs initial seasoning and benefits from oil after washing. The reward: a near-non-stick cooking surface that is just iron and a thin patina of polymerized oil.

Pros

  • Single piece of carbon steel, no coating
  • Lighter than cast iron at similar performance
  • Cheap to replace if you ruin the seasoning

Cons

  • Requires seasoning ritual
  • Reactive to acidic foods (strips seasoning)
  • Steel handle gets hot

Citations

  1. [1]Single-piece carbon steel construction with no synthetic coatings — Misen Carbon Steel Pan product page