The Matfer Bourgeat Black carbon steel frying pan may be difficult to season at first, but then it quickly becomes a cook’s favorite pan. It holds the seasoning well and heats very evenly on gas cooktops, while the handles stay relatively cool. It’s fully oven-safe.
Pros
Cons
Matfer means business. Built with thick 3mm carbon steel and a welded, rivet-free handle, the Matfer Bourgeat black carbon steel frying pan was designed to excel in high-intensity commercial kitchens. Seasoning and using this piece of equipment takes practice and skill – so it’s probably not a pan you should give to a friend who’s never cooked on anything besides nonstick aluminum before.
But if you’re a serious home chef looking to get the most out of your cookware, you’ll love the Matfer Bourgeat Black carbon steel pan.
Side by Side Comparison with Other Carbon Steel Pan Competitors
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Matfer Bourgeat
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De Buyer
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Misen
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93/100
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90/100
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86/100
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10.25”
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10.25”
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10.88”
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7.25”
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7.3”
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8.5”
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1.8”
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2”
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2”
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3.68 lb
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4.2 lb
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3.2 lb
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3mm
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3mm
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2mm
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Steel
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Epoxy-coated steel
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Steel with silicone
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Yes
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Only pro version
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Yes if silicone slip is removed
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France
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France
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China
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Read how we test and review products
Matfer Bourgeat Carbon Steel Pan - History & Recent Update
Matfer Bourgeat has a fascinating history beginning in 1814, during the first industrial revolution. The company started by manufacturing tools for the culinary industry, catering to the needs of professional chefs. As it expanded and specialized in high-quality cookware, Matfer Bourgeat's products became fixtures in European commercial kitchens – but were little-known by American home cooks. Until YouTube, that is.
Matfer has had a great run in recent years with home cooks, thanks to accessible YouTube channels (think Uncle Scott’s Kitchen and America’s Test Kitchen). These both hail Matfer Bourgeat as the greatest carbon steel pan and explain how to use it.
In 2022, Matfer made a few changes to its Black carbon steel pan so it would better meet the needs of new carbon steel converts. The updates include:
Is the Matfer Bourgeat a Good Pan for a Home Cook?
Yes - if you’re ready to learn how to handle carbon steel, the Matfer Bourgeat is among the finest options you can buy.
America’s Test Kitchen named the Matfer the Best Carbon Steel Pan (beating Lodge, Made In, and De Buyer) thanks to its broad cooking surface, lack of rivets, and the way its seasoning stayed intact.
At The Skillful Cook, we’ve handled this pan and compared it to other carbon steel competitors. We’ve also watched several tests that others have performed on the Matfer Bourgeat. Here are our takeaways:
Cooking Performance
Most of the problems that users have had with the Matfer Bourgeat Black carbon steel pans were related to removing factory wax and doing the initial seasoning – and we’ll talk about that below.
Once the pan was seasoned right, even after just one round of seasoning, it performed truly beautifully. We could cook eggs, steak, crepes, and fish on this pan with very little sticking, thanks to how evenly it heated up on a gas range.
The updated Matfer pan still got a hot spot in the middle when used on a cheap induction burner – but it didn’t warp, thank goodness!
The Matfer has lower sides (only 1.8 inches!) than most European carbon steel pans, making it easier to flip food in and allowing steam to escape. The sides are still more angled than the American-designed Misen, though.
Like the De Buyer Mineral B we tested, the Matfer is made of heavy gauge (3mm) carbon steel. That makes it get extremely hot while cooking, and it holds that heat for a very long time.
If you want a more responsive pan that will heat and cool quickly, you should try a 2mm carbon steel pan like the De Buyer Blue or the 2023 Misen.
Do the Handles Get Hot?
Even though the Matfer pan body gets extremely hot while cooking, the handle, surprisingly, stays relatively cool when used on the stovetop. The handle is made of black oxidized carbon steel. The layer of oxidation gives the handle a bit of texture and color, but – unlike the epoxy coating on De Buyer’s Mineral B – the coating on the Matfer handle is totally oven-safe. You can take this pan from the oven to the stove and back again with no problems.
The handle will, of course, get very hot if used in the oven, so pop on a pair of mitts before you grab it!
Build Quality
When my husband saw me testing the Matfer Bourgeat pan, he asked if the handle was going to fall off.
That’s because the handle is welded to the exterior of the pan. It’s not attached to the pan body with rivets, like most competitors. This unique design is incredibly sturdy, despite looking like it might break apart. (You’ve got to feel it to understand!)
This design serves two important purposes. Rivets tend to collect crud and are often the first part of the pan to rust. Eliminating the rivets means a cleaner cooking experience and a faster cleanup afterward. It also slightly reduces heat transfer to the handle.
The body of the pan is made of pure carbon steel. Matfer has not revealed the exact alloy of its carbon steel, but we know it’s about 98-99% iron and 1-2% carbon, silicon, and possibly other components. Matfer Bourgeat carbon steel pans are designed and made in central France.
Design and Comfort
Handling this piece of cookware filled me with appreciation for the science and skill behind its construction. Like I said, the Matfer means business! But it won’t decorate your countertop. It’s not elegant like a De Buyer Pro or a handcrafted carbon steel pan. The handle honestly does look (not feel!) like it might fall off.
The design is thoroughly functional, though. The Matfer’s handle rises at an angle, which is typical of European-style pans. But the angle isn’t too high for the pan to fit comfortably in the oven. The handle on the 11 ⅞” model rises from 1.8” where it attaches to the pan to 4.5” above the cooktop. This makes it easy to maneuver while keeping the handle distant from the flame.
Versatility
The Black carbon steel line is the only Matfer Bourgeat CS collection available to the US market. But it comes in four different pan styles and nine different sizes, from a tiny 4.75” blini pan to a paella pan that’s almost 18” in diameter.
One potential drawback to the Matfer Bourgeat line is that it’s heavy. I didn’t have trouble flipping pancakes in the 10” fry pan, but I’d probably skip the flip in the larger sizes. Thankfully, flipping is easier in this pan thanks to its lower sides.
The updated Matfer Bourgeat is marketed as being great for induction cooktops. But, as the Youtuber at Cook Culture explains in the video below, induction performance depends more on your cooktop and less on the pan itself. Inexpensive induction plates tend to heat so unevenly that any pan would have trouble keeping up.
That said, carbon steel is compatible with induction cooktops, as well as electric, glass, gas, and even open flame. Since it can handle high heat, you can put this pan right on a grill.
The Matfer, like other carbon steel pans, isn’t a great choice for acidic foods, sugary foods, or boiling. The Matfer does all the “carbon steel things” wonderfully, but it’s not the only pan you’ll need in the kitchen.
Ease of Use and Maintenance
Let’s talk about seasoning the Matfer Bourgeat Black pan.
First: Do you need to remove factory wax before seasoning it? Yes. Matfer has allegedly removed or reduced the amount of wax on their new carbon steel pans, replacing wax with a protective bag. But when I handled a brand new Matfer, it felt to me like there was still some wax. (When I rubbed my finger on it, it squeaked just a bit.)
I recommend washing the pan with a scrubby sponge (not steel wool) and water that’s as hot as you can tolerate before drying and seasoning the pan, no matter which seasoning method you choose.
Matfer is famous for recommending the “potato peel” method of seasoning a pan. This involves cooking potato peels and salt in several tablespoons of oil. Allegedly, the salt helps remove the factory wax, and the potato peels, when stirred frequently, distribute heat evenly to all parts of the pan. But lots of people find this method antiquated, messy, smoky, and unnecessary.
Users have had success seasoning the newer Matfer pans in several different ways. No one can explain it better than Scott from Uncle Scott’s Kitchen, so I’ll leave you with his tutorial:
Longevity and Warranty
If you ask me, the best thing about the Matfer is that it will truly last forever. Short of hitting it with a hammer or letting it rust in the rain, you really can’t ruin this pan – unless it warps. Warping appears to be less of a problem on the updated models – and certainly doesn’t happen as often as with cheaper brands – but a look through Amazon reviews reveals that a few users still have warping problems when using the pan on induction cooktops.
Unlike a nonstick pan that wears out over time, the Matfer will become more nonstick with proper use. Matfer offers a limited lifetime warranty on its carbon steel, whether it’s used in a commercial or home kitchen.
Price and Availability
Matfer is competitively priced compared to other European carbon steel brands.
Tip: I’ve found that prices for different sizes fluctuate on Amazon, and sometimes bigger sizes can cost less than smaller ones, so check often if you’re in the market for this pan!
Matfer does not have many local retailers in the US, but its products are easy to purchase online. You can get this pan from Amazon, Web Restaurant Store and other suppliers.
Safety and Health Considerations
Matfer Bourgeat carbon steel pans are made of all-natural materials, primarily iron and carbon. They don’t contain any plastics, polymers, PFAS, or pigments. There are very few health concerns regarding using carbon steel compared to some other types of cookware. The pan itself won’t release fumes if overheated; though the oil used with it may. The biggest risk of cooking on carbon steel is likely burns.
Company and Environmental Impact
Carbon steel is one of the best kinds of cookware for the environment, since it’s made without PFAS and doesn’t need to be replaced frequently, if ever. Matfer Bourgeat has consistently reduced its Co2 emissions since 2018, and has made several statements regarding its CSR (corporate social responsibility) and waste reduction efforts.
As of 2024, all Matfer Bourgeat products appear to be made in France with high quality and hygiene standards. Our only concern is that the company continues to use PFAS to produce its nonstick products.
What Do People Say About This Pan?
The reviews for the Matfer Bourgeat Black carbon steel pan are, on the whole, glowing.
Lisa McManus, executive editor at America's Test Kitchen Reviews, says in the video embedded above: "I loved this pan so much when I was testing it, before I was even done, I was like, 'I want this pan' and I ordered one for myself, which I never do."
Another YouTuber, affectionately known in the carbon steel community as Uncle Scott, says, “I really like this Matfer pan; I give it an unhesitating thumbs up.”
The Matfer Bourgeat Black pan has a 4.4/5 star score on Amazon, with over 6,900 global ratings. Verified buyers report that it’s heavy, but “super nice feeling and sooo nonstick once you get it seasoned.”
There are few complaints about warping, either pans arriving warped or warping on induction cooktops. And, although the Matfer is one of the smoothest, highest-quality carbon steel pans available, some home cooks still struggle with the learning curve of cooking on it.
Alternatives to Consider
If you’re in the market for a carbon steel fry pan, but not sure if Matfer is the one, here are some good alternatives:
De Buyer Mineral B.
The De Buyer Mineral B is comparable in price and quality to the Matfer, but more visually attractive. It has a riveted handle that is not oven-safe, unless you get the Pro version.
Read our full review of the De Buyer Mineral B pan.
✅ Naturally Nonstick
✅ Made in France
✅ All cooktops compatible
In-Depth Comparison: de Buyer Mineral B vs Matfer Bourgeat Black Carbon Steel Skillet
Mauviel M’Steel
Another prestigious French-made carbon steel pan, the Mauviel M’Steel Black is a bit thinner than the Matfer, at 2.5mm thick. This makes it heat and cool more responsively. Some cooks prefer the shape and angle of the M’Steel pan’s sides.
✅ Made in France
✅ Extra thick black carbon steel
✅ Beeswax coating
✅ Riveted handle
OXO Obsidian
A new product from a long-respected manufacturer, the OXO Obsidian is thinner and lighter weight than most French-made pans. It comes pre-seasoned and holds up well in user tests. (See the video below.)
✅ Pre-Seasoned
✅ Metal utensil safe
✅ All cooktops compatible
✅ Lightweight
Conclusion: Is Matfer Bourgeat a Good Brand?
Yes, Matfer Bourgeat is one of the best-respected manufacturers of carbon steel cookware in the world. Its history of quality goes back two centuries – even though it’s only had a US presence for about 35 years. The Matfer Black carbon steel pans don’t have aesthetics that cater to American sensibilities – no flashy paint or contoured grips on the handles – but the pan’s performance will earn the respect of any serious chef.
