I was very happy to have found these, because cooking is something you do every day, and the fancy and sometimes very expensive "no-stick" pans have been a bad joke for a long time.
I've used cast iron cookware for many years, although probably like some other people, I have gravitated to the "non-stick" camp for the last few pans I've bought.
But I've gone through several non-stick pans, for various reasons - one of which was that the handle was heavier than the pan (which was made of aluminum) which sometimes caused it to tip over backwards, because of the weight of the handle.
Simply because the pan is out of balance might not seem to be too much of a problem, but when it tips backwards and spills hot grease out on the stove when the weight of the food is removed, it is a disaster waiting to happen. A tip-prone pan full of hot grease on a hot stove-top can flip without warning, with just the slightest bump or jostle.
When this happens, catching you totally by surprise, your startled reaction to try to grab the pan could cause you to accidentally knock the pan - with the hot grease - off of the stove.
This is very dangerous, because just imagine a grease fire starting on top of the stove, which would be disastrous, to say the least. Hot grease splashed on a hot burner equals instant fire.
Of course, that's on an electric stove. On a gas range, the flame is already present.
Either way, it's a potential disaster.
And if the handle was sticking out over the edge of the stove, the pan could easily flip over backwards, throwing hot grease everywhere.
Or worse yet, splash the hot grease back on you, giving you severe burns in addition to the grease fire!
A potential catastrophe in the making, simply because the handle is heavier than the pan - which would not, at first glance, seem to be a big deal.
But it definitely is a big deal. Something that might seem to be very minor can escalate completely out of control, with terrible consequences, before you even know it has happened.
I didn't really pay close attention at first, but once I discovered that it was handle-heavy, I realized how dangerous that could be. It's not something that you notice right away, but while it's sitting on a hot stove burner is not exactly the best time to find it out. It only takes one small incident for disaster to strike, whether or not you were aware of it. One inadvertent wrong move could cause a catastrophe.
When you discover that a pan has a problem with the handle being too heavy, the best time to get rid of it is immediately, because it can tip backwards in a split second even if you're aware of it, and the hot grease can easily catch fire.
And then, a second no-stick pan didn't have a problem with the handle being too heavy, but did have other problems.
Over time, the "non-stick" part became "always stick," which was disgruntling, because that was the primary reason you wanted a non-stick pan in the first place.
In addition to the ugly spot in the middle of the pan where the non-stick surface wore off, it emitted a chemical stench (sort of like brake fluid) every time it was heated up - which they say can kill a parakeet, so you know it's not exactly healthy for humans, either.
Plus, it also kills your appetite.
That weird industrial odor has no place in the kitchen, and doesn't do a lot for the olfactory senses in anticipation of the delicious meal you are attempting to create.
Ultimately, the non-stick part deteriorated, and you were left with a pan that would sometimes stick even worse than a plain aluminum or cast-iron pan.
And so from every angle, nothing about the "non-stick" pans was a boon to cooking; in fact, it was a complete fiasco.
The only saving grace about those pans was that they had an insulated handle, which was very handy, because you didn't need an oven mitt or a dishtowel to be able to pick them up.
But then, that insulation was what made the handle heavier than the pan to start with!
Probably my big meal of the day is breakfast - and I have long been accustomed to using three pans - all the same size - (8") to make breakfast; meat, hash browns, and eggs. Three different pans, with all three food items going at the same time.
And so I bought one of these carbon steel pans, to try it out and see how I liked it.
The first thing you notice is that they are heavy; not super-heavy like cast iron, but definitely heavy. And the handles are very long, which seems a little strange.
But this is actually a plus, because that pan sits solidly on the burner, and it's not about to tip over and spill the food (or grease) out on the hot stove. And, the handle does get warm, but usually not so hot that you can't grasp the handle with your bare hand.
As to the length of the handles; you get in the habit of positioning the handles sort of angled out to the side, instead of straight back.
At the time I ordered my pan, I also ordered the red slip-on handle cover, which is especially made for the long handle, thinking that if I liked it, and got more pans later on, I could use it for all of them.
To make a long story short, I now have three pans, and never have to use the handle cover, because the handles do get warm, but not so hot that you need an oven mitt to pick them up.
Except when you heat them in the oven to re-season them, in which case you absolutely do need a handle cover of some sort, when you first take them out of the oven.
But that's the beauty of these pans: Because there is no non-stick chemical on the cooking surface, and no insulating material on the steel handles, you can stick them in the oven and re-season them as often as needed (which probably will mean only two or three times) until they perform as well as a no-stick pan. (Actually, better. The non-stick aspect of these pans gets smoother with each use).
To clean them, I just put them in the sink and run some hot water in them, and let them stand (nestled together) for a few minutes - or as long as it takes for me to remember them and come back to the sink, and then go over them with the Dobie pad and washcloth under hot running water, and rinse them off, and wipe them dry with the wrung-out wash cloth, and then put them back into the oven storage drawer, ready to go for the next time.
Very hardy - very tough, and you can use sharp utensils without worrying about scratching them. Plus, your kitchen has the wonderful aroma of good food cooking, instead of smelling like brake fluid.
Go for it!
PS: Although it's probably not necessary, I've gotten in the habit of spraying all my pans, first thing, with non-stick spray, and then turning the heat on to pre-heat the pans, before I put any food or oil into them.
And then, I read somewhere to always let the food warm up to room temperature, if possible, before you put it into the pan (which had been pre-heated) to assure that the food won't stick.
However, I sometimes forget, and put frozen sausage patties right from the freezer into the pan. (And ditto, the frozen hash browns - right out of the bag.)
But after they've been seasoned a few times, not much is going to stick anyway, so it doesn't prove to be a problem.
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Price: $25 - $50
Size: 8 to 9 in.
Color: Black
Brand: Lodge
Compatible Devices: Smooth Surface Induction
Care Instructions: Hand Wash Only
Special Features: Induction Stovetop Compatible
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From the manufacturer
Lodge Carbon Steel Skillet, 8-Inch
From commercial broilers to high BTU ranges, this Lodge 8" carbon steel skillet can take the heat in the kitchen. When brought to the table, this distinctive pan makes any meal a more memorable experience. Seasoned with oil for a natural, easy-release finish that improves with use. Perfect tool to sear, saute, grill, roast and fry and can be used in the oven, on the stove, on the grill or over the campfire. Great for induction cooktops. Constructed of 12 gauge carbon steel with welded handles. Carbon steel is preferred by professional kitchens. Easy care: hand wash, dry immediately and rub with cooking oil.
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The griddle is amazing on induction and grills.
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Lodge Showdown: Carbon Steel vs. Cast Iron! #thisorthat
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This Item  Lodge Manufacturing Company CRS8DLH Carbon Steel Skillet, 8", Black |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | -20% $40.02 List: $50.00 | -34% $21.69 List: $32.95 | $39.95 | $49.90 | $39.99 | $24.74 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Monday, May 13 | Get it as soon as Monday, May 13 | — | Get it as soon as Monday, May 13 | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 | Get it as soon as Monday, May 13 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Heat distribution | ||||||
| Versatility | ||||||
| Easy to clean | ||||||
| Durability | ||||||
| Value for money | ||||||
| Sold By | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | YANTURION | Amazon.com |
| capacity | 400 milliliters | 12 inches | 1.8 liters | 5 liters | 1 cubic inches | 8.5 inches |
| material | Steel | Carbon Steel | Carbon Steel | Cast Iron | Carbon Steel | Carbon Steel |
| diameter | — | 12 inches inches | 8 inches inches | 12 inches inches | — | 8.5 inches inches |
| has nonstick coating | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| dishwasher safe | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| oven safe | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
Reviews with images
First impression cooking with this pan... Not good.
I had high hopes for this product especially being an owner of several Lodge cast iron products. Received the carbon steel skillet tonight and attempted the egg test. The pan appeared to be seasoned well per factory seasoning process like the other cast iron items I've received (no chips or dings). I added a generous amount of olive oil and let it heat a while on medium (gas burner). Cracked the egg and dropped it in and it stuck to the pan almost immediately. I've uploaded some photos of the egg's journey...# Pros- Lighter than cast iron- Rugged, and will be used on a campfire and grill- Should last a lifetime- Long handle# Cons- Nothing like the cast iron which passes the egg tests on first use- Price, more expensive than the cast iron but performed the worst on initial cookI will be scrubbing down the pan and re-seasoning it myself since other reviews mentioned the same problem I faced. The cast iron items get better with use so I'm hoping the same thing. First impression cooking with is pan was horrible. Hopefully I can update this review and increase the stars since I'm a huge fan of Lodge.# Update 2017-03-22I've had to bump it up from 3 to 4 stars. Second time using the pan, the egg did not stick! I had scrubbed it down with a chainmail scrubber and re-seasoned the pan on the stove top and not the oven. I added a light coat of vegetable oil to the entire pan after washing it. Then placed it on the stove top with high heat setting until it started smoking. I reduced the heat to medium and allowed it to cook in some more. I wiped down the pan after it cooled down. Then I heated it up again, added a little olive oil and cooked an egg that didn't stick. I've uploaded more photos of the 2nd time cooking an egg with this pan. I'm a very happy customer and will update this review as I use this pan more.# Update 2017-03-26I've had to bump it up from 4 to 5 stars. This carbon steel pan has become my favorite frying pan in the kitchen! My first impression cooking with this item was poor due to the factory seasoning. After using it several times and washing it properly, it's non-stick and works amazing. It's now my go-to egg pan. The factory seasoning seems to only help with actual continued seasoning. I'm pretty sure the factory seasoning is there just to keep it from rusting and it provides the new black finish look without the toxic metals/chemicals and paint that most non-stick frying pans come with. I haven't ran into issues that other people have reported with the warping issue. I use a gas range and heat the pan up on high with the biggest burner and experienced no warping. I noticed my pan has started to build up a nice patina with only several uses. For those who are experienced with carbon steel know what a good patina does and how it helps to prevent rusting. I'm very happy with this purchase and will be ordering the 12 inch pan soon. Next and final test will be using it at the campfire!
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Top reviews from other countries
Mariusz Zakiewicz
My everyday pan, it's not perfect but still 5 stars
Reviewed in Canada on December 9, 2023Size: 10 InchStyle: SkilletVerified Purchase
Mariusz Zakiewicz
Reviewed in Canada on December 9, 2023
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FAB
Sarten se uso diario
Reviewed in Mexico on March 4, 2023Size: 8 InchStyle: SkilletVerified Purchase
Collin Schwantes
Me encantan. Los uso diario
Reviewed in Mexico on June 17, 2022Size: 15 InchStyle: SkilletVerified Purchase
David Cataford
Products are chipped, quality is terrible.
Reviewed in Canada on December 18, 2021Size: 8 InchStyle: Dual HandleVerified Purchase
David Cataford
Reviewed in Canada on December 18, 2021
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Bruce Alderson
A great griddle pan for home use too
Reviewed in Canada on August 4, 2021Size: 18 InchStyle: GriddleVerified Purchase
