Lodge Carbon Steel vs de Buyer: The Better Skillet

Both Lodge and de Buyer carbon steel skillets are made of the exact same materials. But have you ever wondered exactly what differences set them apart?

To be honest, there are a lot of differences between them. So, which one to choose between Lodge carbon steel vs de Buyer carbon steel skillets?

Lodge carbon steel skillets are cheaper and lighter than de Buyer skillets. Lodge also takes less time for seasoning. But on the other hand, de Buyer carbon steel skillets are more oven resistant. De Buyer skillets also have a better finish and heat distribution.

We know this is not enough information to quench your thirst. But don’t worry! We’ve gathered all the information regarding these two skillets. So, let’s get aboard!

Lodge Carbon Steel vs de Buyer: Quick Differences

Choosing between Lodge and de Buyer skillets can be as puzzling as 210 vs 240 gyuto knives. But lucky for you, we’re here to save all your time and effort!

Now, before jumping into the details, let’s take a quick look at the differences between these skillets.

Feature	Lodge	De Buyer
Price	Less	More
Weight	Less	More
Heat Capacity	Less	More
Required Space	Less	More
Finish	Better	Moderate
Non-Stickiness	More	Less
Seasoning Time	More	Less

Not sure yet which skillet to get? Don’t worry, it was just the trailer. Let’s learn about the whole in-depth differences between Lodge and de Buyer carbon steel skillets.

Lodge Carbon Steel vs de Buyer: Head to Head Comparison

We’ve seen the quick differences between these two skillets. But they hardly give you a detailed idea about the differences, right?

We need to look at all the features of Lodge and de Buyer carbon steel skillets. So, let’s jump right in!

Price

We all look at the price tag before anything, right? So, let’s start off with the cost of these carbon steel skillets.

If you’re planning to save some extra bucks, Lodge carbon steel skillet is your guy. The 12” Lodge will cost you around 50 dollars.

On the other hand, a 12.5” de Buyer will cost you around 55 dollars.

Now, don’t just decide by looking at the price. We can assure you, price is not the only thing you’ll look at after you go through this article. There are a lot of things to consider when it comes to buying a skillet. So, let’s move on to our next segment!

Weight

A lot of things depend on the weight of a skillet. The major factor is the portability of the skillet. If you are going camping, a lightweight skillet would be more convenient for you.

Lodge carbon steel skillet weights 5 lbs where the de Buyer skillet will weigh 5.8 lbs.

Thus, if you don’t want to carry some extra weight, Lodge is your skillet.

Heat Capacity

Heat capacity greatly depends on the thickness of the skillet. Heat capacity also includes oven resistance.

The Lodge carbon steel skillets have a thickness of approximately 2.39 millimeters. On the other hand, de Buyer skillets are around 2.5 millimeters thick.

The thicker a skillet is, the more heat capacity it will have. This means de Buyer will absorb more heat on raising the temperature. As a result, your food will constantly get more heat at a lower temperature.

So, if you prefer more heat capacity, de Buyer should be your choice.

But there are also some downsides to this advantage. Due to more heat capacity, de Buyer will take a longer time than Lodge to cool down.

Carbon steel skillets are well known for their oven resistance. Unlike regular skillets, carbon skillets can withstand more heat. But there are variations in carbon steel skillets. This leads to the question “which one is more oven resistant between Lodge and de Buyer?”

The answer is, de Buyer carbon steel skillets can withstand more heat than Lodge skillets. According to the manufacturer, de Buyer can endure 400°F in the oven for up to 10 minutes.

On the other hand, Lodge skillets are not so durable in the oven. They can tolerate up to 5-6 minutes at the same temperature.

So, if your recipes frequently require ovens, you should probably go for a de Buyer carbon steel skillet.

Required Space

If you’re a fan of long handles, de Buyer is your guy. It has a long 14” handle attached to it. But the downside is, a bigger skillet will require more counter space for operating.

The de Buyer skillet has a total length of 26.5 inches with the handle. On the other hand, the Lodge skillet is in total 20.5 inches in length with an 8.5” handle.

So if you are really space constraint, Lodge will be a better fit for you.

However, a longer handle has its own advantages. For instance, with a longer handle, you’ll have to stand a little bit farther from the stove. So, de Buyer would be a safer choice than Lodge if the hot oil is to spill from the pan.

However, to ensure maximum safety, you can use a pair of kitchen gloves. Check out these top-notch kitchen gloves and get the one that meets your preference.

Now that you have a heat-resistant glove, burning your hand won’t be on the list anymore.

Finish

The finish of skillets greatly affects the lifespan of a skillet. Especially when it comes to fighting the rust, the finish is the main fighter.

Now, the Lodge skillets come pre-seasoned with natural oil. On the other hand, de Buyer skillets are pre-seasoned with their signature beeswax.

Both of these finishes are quite rust-resistant. Rust is formed if the skillet is exposed to water for a long time. It’s not impossible that sometimes you’d forget to dry the skillet after a wash. In cases like these, rust makes its home on your skillet.

However, beeswax can prevent oxidation better than natural oil. Thus it is comparatively a better rust-resistant finish. Therefore, de Buyer is the winner here.

But if your skillet gets rust anyways, there’s nothing to worry about. You can always remove the rust from your skillet by following some simple steps. The steps are similar to removing rust from cookie cutters.

Non-Stickiness

The stickiness factor is a game-changer when it comes to skillets. After all, none of us wants our skillets to get sticky.

Now, stickiness mainly depends on the surface of the skillet and the finish. Between beeswax and natural oil, beeswax is the one that prevents stickiness better. So, de Buyer is the winner here again.

But the surface plays a more important role in this case. A smoother surface is always a better one.

Lodge skillets come with a comparatively rougher surface. Rough surfaces have small pores on them that stick with the food. On the contrary, de Buyer comes with a surface that defines smoothness.

Seasoning Time

It’s true that both Lodge and de Buyer come pre-seasoned. But for maximum utility, it’s better to season them often.

To season a skillet, we have to heat a thin layer of oil. We have to heat it until the skillet gets a darker color.

But to do this, de Buyer needs 2-5 more minutes than Lodge skillets. You’ve probably figured out the reason why.

Let us tell you anyway. We’ve already seen that the de Buyer skillets are thicker than Lodge skillets. That’s why seasoning a de Buyer skillet takes a longer time to turn darker.

Though they come pre-seasoned, you can season carbon steel skillets yourself anytime you like.

Choosing Our Pick between Lodge vs de Buyer

You’ve seen all the differences till now. We hope you’ve got your winner already.

But if you’re looking for our suggestion, we’d suggest you go for de Buyer carbon steel skillets. 

Both Lodge and de Buyer skillets are well known for their performance. In fact, both of them outperform most of the skillets out there in the market.

So, see which one fits you and get the one right away!

FAQs

Question: What can you not cook in carbon steel?

Answer: It is recommended not to cook acidic food on carbon steel pans. Carbon steel contains 99% iron. The reaction between iron and acid might hamper your pan.

Question: What is the best seasoning for carbon steel?

Answer: There is no particular best seasoning oil for carbon steel pans. You can use canola, sunflower, flaxseed, grapeseed, or any other natural oil. You can also use seasoning wax.

Question: What is the difference between carbon steel and mineral B?

Answer: Practically, mineral B and carbon steel are the same things. They are made of 99% iron and 1% carbon.

Final Words

A skillet is an essential cookware that every kitchen needs. So choosing the right one requires proper research.

We hope you’ve been able to help you choose between Lodge carbon steel vs de Buyer. If you have any other queries feel free to let us know in the comment box.

Till then, happy cooking!