Misen Carbon Steel Pan Review: You'll Love It As Long As You Remember To Season

Price: $75

Misen was founded in 2015 by Omar Rada out of frustration. One of his favorite pans was inadvertently lost by a friend he loaned it out to. And when he went to replace it he realized just how absurdly expensive good pans were. He didn’t want to have to compromise on quality since he used his cookware so much. Therefore, the idea for Misen was born from this frustrating experience.

From this experience, a kickstarter campaign was launched in the knife arena. Such great success was found in this genre, that they decided to enhance their offerings of complimentary kitchenware.

The Misen Carbon Steel Pan is currently offered in 3 different sizes: 8”, 10” & 12”. The pricing varies depending upon which size pan you go with. Currently, the 8” sells for $65, the 10” for $75, and the 12” for $85. However, if you are in the market for different sized pans you could choose the 10” & 12” package for $135 and save yourself $25. If you want to get really crazy and want to try all 3 different sizes, you can purchase the bundle for $175 and save yourself $50.

No matter which size you go with, upon receiving one of these pans, it will be a flat gray color. But after seasoning it through cooking, this color will begin to take on a more brownish hue. With each cooking session the brown hue will darken as the pan becomes more seasoned. Until the pan is seasoned fully, it’s best not to cook eggs on it, as they tend to stick a lot. If you do want to cook eggs on these pans before they are fully seasoned then you’ll need to use oil or butter to prevent sticking.

In lieu of that, these pans are just as diverse as cast iron pans, in that they can easily perform the following functions:
- Baking
- Frying
- Roasting
- Sauteing
- Searing
- Oven cooking
- Stovetop cooking

The handle is made of stainless steel instead of carbon steel, which means it won’t get as hot as the actual pan. Even though the handle will be a bit cooler than the pan itself, it can still get pretty warm. So to prevent issues with more tender fingers, each pan comes with a removable silicone gripper. It’s best to remove the gripper when you wash the pan or if you plan to put the pan in the oven to cook anything.

Ultimately, these pans cook exceedingly well and are easy to clean and maintain. You just need to get through the initial seasoning process, just like a cast iron pan, and then you’re good to go for life.

When it comes right down to it, what customers have to say about their experience with the Misen Carbon Steel Pan is important. Not everyone is going to have the same experience, so it’s good to get a feel for what the general consensus is. Across the board, this particular pan received 4.7 out of 5 stars from customer reviews.

Overwhelmingly, most consumers were aligned in the following positive qualities of the pan:
- Sleek design
- Even heat distribution
- Oven-safe
- Stay cool handle
- Easy to clean
- Well priced
- Nice weight

“Followed directions for seasoning in oven and pan turned that lovely burnished color. Cooking on it has been a breeze, and nothing sticks. Sautéing potatoes or quickly cooking an omelet, the food cooks evenly and slips out of the pan!”

“After taking time to season it properly it works great. It heats up quickly and hold heat well. Just use a little bit of oil and food doesn't stick.”

While the scant few reviews that didn’t give them 5 stars had a couple of things in common:
- Difficulty with seasoning
- Handle being too long

“I need more information on how to fully season the pans. I bought the seasoning wax and followed the instructions, but eggs stuck on the smaller pan, and I am not sure how to best remove the stuck bits without damaging the pans. So not sure where to go next. They look fabulous and are very well made, but wondering if plain old cast iron might not have been better.”

“The pan is not much lighter than my cast iron. And the longer handle increases the twist on my wrist despite it's actual weight being lower than the cast iron. I find that the surface does not hold up as well as the cast material. I suspect that's simply a characteristic of it's less porous surface. Regardless, it is a solid pan and you can expect it to last longer than yourself.”

The seasoning issue may be due to more of a user error, or lack of patience, than anything else. And the handle being too long may in fact be an issue for those consumers with a shorter reach. But, all in all, most consumers really love this pan.

The Misen Carbon Steel Pan sports a slightly thicker pan wall than some of the other pans on the market. While these pans (2-4 lbs) are exponentially lighter than cast iron (4-12 lbs), they are still heavier than stainless steel (2-3 lbs). However, the compromise makes them more efficient with heat distribution and easier to handle for most consumers.

The handle is secured to the pan with two fairly large rivets for added stability. These handles are also formed to be flat instead of rounded to increase the maneuverability of the pan while decreasing the chance of inadvertent hand rotation.

While the brand isn’t as forthcoming about the exact location of their manufacturing plant or where they source their raw materials, the lifetime guarantee helps instill reassurances about the overall quality.

When it comes to cookware, finding something that works really well and can last a lifetime can be a big order. So, when something like the Misen Carbon Steel Pan comes along that may potentially check all of the boxes, you have to decide what that’s worth to you.

Most consumers have heard of Lodge cast iron before. But they have recently joined the carbon steel game to add more diversification to their offerings as well. Since both Misen and Lodge offer 8”, 10”, and 12” carbon steel pans, it seemed like a time to compare the two.

Similarities

- Weights are comparable - Misen 8” (2.4 lbs), 10” (3.8 lbs), 12” (4.6 lbs); Lodge 8” (2.35 lbs), 10” (3.49 lbs), 12” (4.4 lbs)
- Even heating
- Oven and grill safe
- Require seasoning through regular cooking

Differences

- Misen is made in China and Lodge is made in the USA
- Misen has a 60 day return policy, whereas Lodge has none
- Lodge carbon steel pan has 3 rivets attaching the handle, whereas Misen only has 2
- Misen offers a sleeker looking pan, whereas Lodge offers a more rustic look
- The Lodge carbon steel pan doesn’t come with a silicone grip on the handle, but can be purchased separately
- Lodge pans range from $40 - $50, whereas Misen pans range from $65 - $85
- Lodge pans come pre-seasoned with vegetable oil, but still do require further seasoning

Misen offers consumers a mystery discount (20%) by signing up for their email list and text notifications. The brand also states if you want to know about new products and receive discounts, this is the way to go. Other than that, they don’t generally offer any other discounts or coupons since their prices are pretty low, to begin with.

Overall, if you’ve been considering giving a carbon steel pan a try, Misen may be a good way to go. The price points aren’t astronomically expensive and they offer financing for those who need a little more leeway in their housewares budget. The pan is easy to use and season, and it looks great in anyone’s kitchen. Plus they offer a good returns policy if you aren’t happy with the pan within a reasonable amount of time.

If you're curious about a great knife set, we reviewed the Misen 3-piece knife set here!