Name: 12" Carbon Nonstick™ Frying Pan
Brand: Misen
Price: 139.0 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.9 (1755 reviews)

12" Carbon Nonstick™ Frying Pan

$139.00

Best Carbon Steel/Nonstick Alternative

Best Carbon Steel/Nonstick Alternative

A Forever Pan,
Without Forever Chemicals

Kickstarter campaign stats: $2.3M pledged, 15,000 backers, 9,377% funded

Chart comparing nonstick performance over time for ceramic, traditional nonstick, carbon nonstick, and traditional carbon steel pans

A New Way
to Nonstick

With its smooth nitrided surface, Carbon Nonstick™ is a
clean-cooking alternative to chemical nonstick and ceramic.

Completely Uncoated,
Naturally Nonstick

Nitrided carbon steel has no chemicals, coatings,
or anything that can flake off or degrade.

Carbon Steel, Without the Fuss

A lightweight aluminum core makes this pan easy to handle and ultra-responsive to heat.

Not Your Grandma’s 
Cast Iron

Carbon Nonstick™ is perfect for carbon steel fans looking
for a lighter, rust-proof pan you can soak in the sink.

How Carbon Nonstick™ Stacks Up

Carbon nonstick pan comparison chart vs regular nonstick, ceramic, carbon steel, stainless steel, and cast iron across 8 benefits

Questions?

Carbon Nonstick™ is a carbon steel pan with an aluminum core. It’s 3-ply, meaning it has three layers. The inner layer is the aluminum core, which helps the pan heat and cool more quickly than other carbon steel pans. The top and bottom layers are nitrided carbon steel.

Nitrided carbon steel is essentially carbon steel that has been super-heated in a nitrogen-rich oven, which creates an extremely durable, corrosion-resistant, and virtually nonstick surface without the need for coatings.

Nitriding is extremely safe and widely used in industries beyond cookware, including aerospace, automotive, surgical, and industrial machinery.

Carbon steel (Carbon Nonstick's™ primary material) relies on something called “seasoning” to achieve its non-stickiness. Unlike ceramic (aka Silicon dioxide) and nonstick (Teflon) which both require a special coating, seasoning is completely natural and builds up more and more over time.

This process of seasoning is called polymerization: when any type of fat is heated in the pan, it chemically bonds with the metal to create a durable surface that prevents rust and improves nonstick properties. The more you cook, the more the seasoning builds up. Over time the pan will become even more nonstick.

Our pan takes things a step further: through a process called "nitriding," Carbon Nonstick™ is fully nonstick right out of the box, and even moreso over time. Nitriding is a process by which a metal surface is super-heated in a nitrogen-rich environment, which creates an extremely durable, corrosion-resistant, and virtually nonstick surface without the need for coatings.

Nitriding is extremely safe and widely used in industries beyond cookware, including aerospace, automotive, surgical, and industrial machinery.

No, Carbon Nonstick™ is free of PFAS, PTFE, and PFOA.

Traditional nonstick pans (Teflon) and ceramic are both made with coatings that wear off over time, making the pan useless. Carbon Nonstick™ does not contain any chemical coating; instead, it self-seasons over time as you cook with it, creating a lasting, nonstick surface.

This process of self-seasoning is called polymerization: when any type of fat is heated in the pan, it chemically bonds with the metal to create a durable coating that prevents rust and improves nonstick properties.

This process happens naturally as you cook. The more you use the pan, the more layers of seasoning build up, and the more nonstick the pan becomes.

Carbon Nonstick™ takes it a step further: through a process called nitriding, this pan is made even more nonstick out of the box and over time. Nitriding is a process by which a metal surface is super-heated in a nitrogen-rich environment, which creates an extremely durable, corrosion-resistant, and virtually nonstick surface without the need for coatings.

Nitriding is extremely safe and widely used in industries beyond cookware, including aerospace, automotive, surgical, and industrial machinery.

TL;DR: At first, no. But soon, yes.

The longer answer: Traditional nonstick (Teflon) and ceramic are both made with chemical coatings that create a nonstick effect on your pans. Carbon Nonstick™ does not contain any chemical coating, therefore it may not be quite as nonstick right out of the box. However, while ceramic and other nonstick pans lose their nonstick coating as you use them, Carbon Nonstick™ will actually become more nonstick with use as cooking oils build up on the pan’s surface (this is called seasoning, and Carbon Nonstick™ seasons itself naturally as you use it). So while your other nonstick pans will be useless in a matter of years, your Carbon Nonstick™ has the potential to last forever.

Absolutely, bring on the lemons! Whereas most carbon steel pans will lose their seasoning and rust if they're exposed to acid, Carbon Nonstick™️ can stand up to acid without a problem. (We find it especially useful for finishing our pasta in tomato sauce.)

That said, our factory recommends waiting about 30 days before you go heavy on the acid, so that the pan has a little time to build up its seasoning.

No. Unlike traditional carbon steel cookware, you don’t need to season your Carbon Nonstick™️ pan. By simply cooking with it, you'll be seasoning it; the more you use it, the more seasoned it becomes.

That said, we like to apply a thin layer of cooking oil to the pan’s surface after cooking, and rub it in with a towel. This step speeds up the seasoning process, but it is completely optional.

Carbon Nonstick™️ is not pre-seasoned. This sets it apart from our Pre-Seasoned Carbon Steel, which is pre-baked with neutral oil to jumpstart the seasoning process. Carbon Nonstick™️, on the other hand, does not need to be pre-seasoned because it's been nitrided, which does the same job. Instead, the pan is simply wiped down with a thin layer of neutral corn oil after nitriding. This moisturizes the pan and makes it nice and slippery right out of the box.

We still love and use our Pre-Seasoned Carbon Steel pans. But there are some key differences between that pan and Carbon Nonstick™️.

First, Carbon Nonstick™️ is lighter: only 2.48 pounds, compared to 3.2 pounds. It's an easier pan to hold and use on a daily basis.

Second, Carbon Nonstick™️ doesn’t require seasoning. Our original Carbon Steel needs to be regularly seasoned as you use it, that seasoning can come off depending on what you cook, and sometimes the pan needs to be re-seasoned from scratch. That won’t happen with Carbon Nonstick™️ because it’s nitrided, aka heated in a super-hot, nitrogen-rich oven to make it extra-hard, extra-smooth, and extra-durable.

Third, Carbon Nonstick™️ has an aluminum core, while our Pre-Seasoned Carbon Steel pan does not. The aluminum core makes the pan lighter and helps it heat and cool faster. This responsiveness to temperature changes makes your cooking more efficient and precise, whereas our Pre-Seasoned Carbon Steel has slightly better heat retention for tasks like heavy-duty searing.

Fourth, Carbon Nonstick™️ is resistant to rust. Our other carbon steel pan isn’t nitrided, so it will rust if you don’t wash and dry it immediately after cooking. Carbon Nonstick™️ can soak in the sink overnight without issues.

Nitriding is a process by which a metal surface is super-heated in a nitrogen-rich environment, which creates an extremely durable, corrosion-resistant, and virtually nonstick surface without the need for coatings like ceramic or Teflon.

Nitriding is completely safe and nontoxic, and is widely used in industries beyond cookware, including aerospace, automotive, surgical, and industrial machinery.

Carbon Nonstick™ works on all stovetop types - gas, electric, and induction.

Customer Reviews

4.9

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars

Based on 1,755 reviews

Reviews Summary

Customers say this carbon steel frying pan delivers impressive nonstick performance right out of the box, with food sliding easily across the surface with minimal oil. Many reviews highlight how eggs cook without sticking and cleanup is remarkably simple. The lightweight design, quick heat response, and durable construction appeal to users seeking a long-lasting alternative to traditional coated nonstick pans. Several mention the deeper sidewalls make cooking more versatile, while a few note the pan requires proper preheating and seasoning maintenance. Overall, customers appreciate the balance of performance, durability, and ease of care.

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Larry B.
Verified Buyer
Reviewing
12" Carbon Nonstick™ Frying Pan
I recommend this product
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
4 minutes ago
Love this pan!
This is the easiest pan to use. I've always struggled with having to properly season pans. I'm not a restaurant chef and I don't cook on the stove every day. When I do, I want the quickest, easiest way to fry without everything sticking. Especially eggs, which tend to stick badly even with oil or any other type of grease. I like to wash my pan and put it away after each use since I am not using it more than one or two days per week. Having the carbon nonstick frying pan has made this process effortless.
Thank you!
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Kathleen J.
Verified Buyer
Reviewing
12" Deeper Carbon Nonstick™ Frying Pan
I recommend this product
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
4 days ago
Great Pan
Easy to clean and it really is non stick! I like that it is light weight and deep. I am very happy with this purchase.
Was this helpful?
Fred M.
Verified Buyer
Reviewing
12" Deeper Carbon Nonstick™ Frying Pan
I recommend this product
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
5 days ago
I need more practice with this
Great idea with much potential. Happy that there are no dangerous chemicals. I just have to work with the pan to maximize the non-stick characteristic. Love the deeper option.
Was this helpful?
Mary B. B.
Verified Buyer
Reviewing
12" Deeper Carbon Nonstick™ Frying Pan
I recommend this product
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
6 days ago
Amazing pan
Wanted a "nonstick" without the nonstick for eggs, etc. This pan fills all the needs of a nonstick pan and being free off all the bad stuff. Bought a few pans for my children with their promise to throw away their nonstick, they love them!
Was this helpful?
Denise D.
Verified Buyer
Reviewing
10" Deeper Carbon Nonstick™ Frying Pan
I recommend this product
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
6 days ago
nice sized pan
So far this pan has lived up to my expectations. I have been having problems with eggs sticking to the bottom. It has cleaned very well. I am hoping that the more I use it, the sticking problem will get resolved.
Was this helpful?

If you like the heat performance and longevity of carbon steel but want an easier nonstick experience, the 12" Carbon Nonstick™ Frying Pan is designed as a coating-free alternative that works well from day one. The wide 12-inch surface gives you room for weeknight staples like seared proteins, sautéed vegetables, or frying multiple portions at once, without relying on a traditional nonstick coating.

This pan uses nitrided carbon steel to create a naturally nonstick cooking surface without toxic chemicals. It also includes an aluminum core, which helps keep the pan lighter than traditional carbon steel or cast iron, while the construction is described as ultra rust-resistant and more forgiving than typical carbon steel.

For best results, plan on a simple routine: pre-heat the pan for 1 to 2 minutes, then cook with a small amount of oil (about ½ to 1 tablespoon). Because it is safe to use with metal utensils, it fits naturally into busy kitchens where you do not want to baby your cookware, and it is built for long-term use.

It is induction compatible and oven safe up to 1100°F, so you can move between stovetop and oven when your recipe calls for it. Cleanup is straightforward but specific: this pan is hand wash only. To keep it performing as nonstick as possible over time, Misen recommends conditioning; the Carbon Nonstick Care page walks through the brand’s approach.

If you are comparing sizes or building out a set, you can browse more carbon nonstick pans, or zoom out to the full cookware lineup to see what complements this frying pan in your kitchen.

Explore Frying Pans Sautes for more verified options related to this product.

Frequently Asked Questions About Carbon Nonstick Frying Pans

Do I need to season the 12" Carbon Nonstick™ Frying Pan before first use?

No lengthy seasoning process is required. It is designed to be ready to cook on day one. For best cooking results, pre-heat the pan for 1 to 2 minutes and use a small amount of oil, then keep up with conditioning to maintain strong nonstick performance.

What is this pan made of?

The pan is made with nitrided carbon steel for a coating-free, naturally nonstick cooking surface. It also has an aluminum core, which is intended to reduce weight compared with traditional carbon steel or cast iron styles, while still delivering the carbon-steel cooking experience.

Can I use this pan on induction and in the oven?

Yes. The 12" Carbon Nonstick™ Frying Pan is induction compatible, and it is oven safe up to 1100°F. That makes it a flexible option for recipes that start on the stovetop and finish in the oven, or for high-heat cooking methods.

How should I clean and care for it?

Hand wash only. To keep the surface performing at its best, Misen recommends conditioning as the key step for maintaining a more nonstick feel over time. Following the brand’s care guidance is especially helpful if you want the pan to stay forgiving and resistant to rust.