DE BUYER PAN REVIEWS – THE CLASSIC CARBON STEEL FRY PANS

the omlette being fried in the De Buyer pan

The De Buyer Mineral B pans are among the most used carbon steel pans used anywhere. The simple, sturdy design already gives away that these pans are not for decoration, they are heavy-duty workhorses in many commercial kitchens around the world.

De Buyer pans have been the favorite in professional kitchens for decades. Especially, the carbon steel frying pan can count on a great deal of appreciation.

Let's how to choose the right model from this traditional French manufacturer.

About De Buyer

De Buyer is a French company that specializes in the manufacture of fine and reliable cutlery for professional and domestic lovers of cuisine. Their great experience in manufacturing cookware spans over two centuries.

The manufacturer involves chefs in their innovations, something that has seen them keep up with the demands of modern kitchens.

De Buyer Pans in this Article

*We select and review all products independently, based on our opinion and customer feedback. Some links on this page are affiliate links and if you make a purchase we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. You can read more info on our disclaimer page.

#1

De Buyer Mineral B 11-inch Carbon Steel Fry Pan

- Base material: carbon steel
- Interior: carbon steel
- Cooktops: gas, electric, ceramic, induction

Our Rating

9.2

#2

De Buyer Mineral B Round 9.5-inch Carbon Steel Fry Pan

- Base material: carbon steel
- Interior: carbon steel
- Cooktops: gas, electric, glass top, induction

Our Rating

9.4

#3

De Buyer Mineral B Carbon Steel 10.25-inch Grill Pan

- Base material: carbon steel
- Interior: carbon steel
- Cooktops: gas, ceramic, glass top, induction

Our Rating

8.6

#4

De Buyer Prima Matera Copper Stainless Steel Fry Pan

- Base material: copper and stainless steel
- Interior: stainless steel
- Cooktops: gas, electric, glass top, induction

Our Rating

9.0

#1

De Buyer Mineral B 11-inch Carbon Steel Fry Pan

- Base material: carbon steel
- Interior: carbon steel
- Cooktops: gas, electric, ceramic, induction

Our Rating

9.2

#2

De Buyer Mineral B Round 9.5-inch Carbon Steel Fry Pan

- Base material: carbon steel
- Interior: carbon steel
- Cooktops: gas, electric, glass top, induction

Our Rating

9.4

#3

De Buyer Mineral B Carbon Steel 10.25-inch Grill Pan

- Base material: carbon steel
- Interior: carbon steel
- Cooktops: gas, ceramic, glass top, induction

Our Rating

8.6

#4

De Buyer Prima Matera Copper Stainless Steel Fry Pan

- Base material: copper and stainless steel
- Interior: stainless steel
- Cooktops: gas, electric, glass top, induction

Our Rating

9.0

De Buyer Mineral B 11-inch Carbon Steel Fry Pan

Design:

The Mineral B 11-inch pan comes in a bright gray color both on its interior cooking surface and on its exterior. The cooking surface is slippery and smooth.

The dark gray handle is slightly sloped and triple riveted on the interior. This pan is 11-inches wide and 1.5 inches deep on the cooking surface.

Materials:

The body of this pan is made of Mineral B, which includes 99% iron and 1% carbon. The cooking surface features an exceptional design of beeswax finish that is free from any synthetic coating.

The handle is fixed with three firm rivets on the pan's interior that are carefully selected to expand and contract in coherence with the pans surface. This pan is suitable for oven use up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and supports all stovetops including gas, electric, ceramic, and induction stoves.

Usability:

The body is made of 100% natural materials and a beeswax finish, which are PTFE and PFAO free. The body is also thick and measures 2.5 to 3 making this pan warp free and oven safe for up to 20 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The cooking surface, however, requires frequent seasoning to make its non-stick ability better with every use.

It is also advisable to deglaze and season the pan before its first use. Deglaze with warm water and rinse the cooking surface before drying it by wiping with a dry cloth. Afterwards, apply a light layer of cooking oil on the surface and store it in a dry place.

The pan received admirations, especially from users who own birds as pets, due to its lack of toxic materials. The users praised its safe use around pets, revealing that it does not release harmful gases when they are using it to prepare meals.

Before using soaps and detergents when cleaning the pan, note that some users have warned that such cleaning materials discolor and affect the smoothness of the pan's non-stick surface.

Cleaning:

The pan is not dishwasher safe. You should also refrain from using detergents on the pan's surface. To clean the pan after use, we advise that you wipe dry with a cloth and rinse with warm water. Dry the surface again and apply a thin coating of cooking oil before storing in a dry place.

Pros

  • Works on induction stoves
  • No synthetic covering; the pan, therefore, is safe for use around bird pets
  • Supports oven use up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Can be used on flat glass top cook stoves without scratching them

Cons

  • Warping reported on electrical and induction heaters
  • Requires seasoning before use

De Buyer Mineral B Round 9.5-inch Carbon Steel Fry Pan

Design:

This pan is dark gray in color and comes with a cooking surface that is three inches deep. The pan's ergonomic handle is long and sloped to make tossing and handling of the pan easy.

The handle is also triple riveted in a tri-angular pattern for a firm and permanent fit. This pan is lightweight and easy to handle.

Materials:

The pan's body has 100% natural materials with 99% of the materials being Iron. Its cooking surface comes covered with a cutting-edge beeswax layer that prevents the pan from oxidation while also helping with seasoning the surface for use.

The handle has a slight slope where it meets the body, a feature that enables easy sautéing, stirring, and flipping maneuvers in the kitchen.

Usability:

From an analysis of user reviews, the smooth surface sets De buyer pans apart from competitor brands. With proper care as instructed by the manufacturer, the non-stick ability only gets better with increased use. Moreover, the pan is heavy and ideal for most modern kitchens.

They also agreed that proper care is needed to ensure that the iron material that makes up 99% of the pan does not rust.

As such, you should always coat the pan with a thin layer of cooking oil before storing it. We also recommend using coarse salt on the pans cooking surface to sterilize it.

Users reviewed positively the pan's suitability for deep-frying without damaging its surface. However, you should avoid vinegar and acidic foods on the pan's surface because they eventually speed up rusting.

Users also gave thumbs up to this pan for its performance when in use over induction heaters and its tolerance to high heat in the oven. Users, however, cautioned against touching the handle, revealing that it gets excessively hot when heated in the oven.

Cleaning:

According to the manufacturer's instructions, this pan is not dishwasher compatible. We also caution you against cleaning the surface with detergents since this will scratch the surface and expose the iron material, thus making it prone to rust and corrosion.

Cleaning the pan should be done using warm water to remove leftover cooking oil and later wiping with a dry sponge or cloth. Coarse salt applied on the pans surface also works to sterilize it for safe and healthy cooking.

Pros

  • Supports use over induction heaters
  • Supports oven use
  • The pan does not warp under high temperatures.
  • The pan can be used for deep-frying without damaging its surface
  • The deep cooking surface enables stir frying

Cons

  • The pan is sold without an accompanying cover lid
  • Use over electrical coils causes hotspots

De Buyer Mineral B Carbon Steel 10.25-inch Grill Pan

Design:

This De Buyer grill pan has a deep light gray cooking surface that has straight grill lines running horizontally. The top edge has a thin shiny finishing while the handle is long and slightly bent where it meets the body.

Holding the handle in place are three rivets arranged in a triangular pattern. This pan is 10.5 inches wide while the cooking surface is 1.6 inches deep.

Materials:

Natural and safe materials make up the pan's body 99% of which is iron. This ensures there are no PFOA and PTFE in the food you cook on the pan.

The cooking surface utilizes beeswax coating and prevents the iron base from oxidation and rust while also supporting the pan's non-stick capabilities. The pan works well over induction, gas, and ceramic stoves.

Usability:

This pan's cooking surface provides a smooth and easy release of food due to the natural coating of beeswax. The pan's iron base material enables usage over all common stoves in most homes including induction heaters.

The grill lines enable liquid and fats present in the food you are cooking on this pan to drop and leave a nice pattern on the food.

After monitoring the user feedback from users of this pan, we found out that following the correct process of seasoning makes the non-stick surface better with time. Users also recommend following the manufacturer's directions when seasoning.

Many users like the way the pan cooks on high wattage induction heaters without warping. Some users, however, warned against using detergents when cleaning this pan, as it damages the non-stick surface.

From the reviews, we also realized that the handle gets too hot to handle after the pan has been on the stove for a long time.

Cleaning:

The pan cleans easy if it is seasoned well the first time it is used. You just need warm water and a sponge to clean the pan and ensure you follow the manufacturer's guidelines to avoid detergents and soap on the cooking surface. Do not wash it in the dishwasher either.

Pros

  • Supports induction heaters
  • Easy to clean
  • Supports oven use up to high temperatures
  • Non-stick cooking surface gets better with time

Cons

  • A large size for the pan is not available
  • Non-stick surface takes some time before it is effective

De Buyer Prima Matera Copper Stainless Steel Fry Pan

Design:

De Buyer prima Matera pan has a light brown copper exterior and a shiny polished interior. The pan has a long ergonomic handle that is held in place by two horizontally placed rivets.

The body is thin at only 2 millimeters. The cooking surface on this pan measures 11 inches wide and has a depth of 1.80 inches.

Materials:

The pan is made of a mix of copper and stainless steel. The mixing ratios for these materials are 90% copper and 10 % stainless steel. The effective heating and heat distribution of copper makes this pan heat up fast while the stainless steel works well to protect the pans surface from reacting with acidic foods.

The bottom of the pan has Ferro magnetic material that makes it suitable for use over gas, ceramic, electric, and induction stoves.

Usability:

This pan is the only copper-based cookware that utilizes a Ferro magnetic bottom to make it induction compatible. The thin body that is 90% copper heats up quickly and evenly, thus eliminating hotspots.

Heat distribution on the copper and stainless steel body works sideways as well as upwards, thus making the pan perfect for preparing sauces. The polished cooking surface is smooth and offers an easy release of food cooking on the pan.

We love the pan's ergonomic handle because it comes clad with cast stainless steel to ensure it remains cool to the touch even after long hours on the cooking stove.

The Prima Matera has received many positive reviews regarding its impressive performance on induction heaters. Its heat distribution is awesome with users claiming to have achieved perfect crust on beef while using this pan.

A few users, however, have complained about the pan being heavy. Others have also warned against cleaning it in the dishwasher revealing that doing so might scratch the stainless steel surface and expose the copper base.

Cleaning:

We recommend cleaning the pan using warm running water and a sponge to remove the leftover food particles. Avoid abrasive cleaning pads that can scratch the stainless steel off.

For burnt stains, soak the pan in water that has a little amount of detergent for some time and gently scrub the cooking surface with a sponge to remove them.

Pros

  • Supports all stoves including induction heaters
  • No need for preheating
  • Easy cleaning
  • Fast and effective heating
  • Beautiful look and packaging, thus making it perfect for gifting

Cons

  • It is expensive
  • Cannot be washed in the dishwasher
Sean Bennett
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