De Buyer MINERAL B is a line of carbon steel cookware. They make a wide range of cookware from the frying pan to chef pasn. The carbon steel construction is durable and will pretty much last your lifetime. With use, it will take on a nonstick coating that rivals cast iron. Unlike modern day cast iron, the finish is still smooth like traditional cast iron. Making it one of the best all natural nonstick cookware around. This review will take a closer look at the general construction of De Buyer MINERAL B. We will go through handle, shape and general performance.

De Buyer MINERAL B Fry Pan Review Quick Summary

Categories	De Buyer MINERAL B Fry Pan 12 Inch
Performance	Good
Colors	Silver but Turns Black
Brand Awareness	Europe and America
Country of Manufacturer	France
Oven Safe	400 Degree Fahrenheit
Thoughts	A durable and chemical free nonstick cookware. Overtime, the seasoning will build up and get better. This type of cookware is actually preferred by restaurant professional because of the abuse it can take. It is also one of the few pans that have a helper handle. A must for a pan of this weight. Others in their class have none. One odd thing is the low oven safe temperature. I usually expect higher end kitchenware to have temperature of 500 plus.
Reviewed Cookware	De Buyer MINERAL B Round Carbon Steel Fry Pan 12.5-Inch – 5610.32

History of De Buyer

De Buyer has been making food related products since 1810. They first started out producing products such as bowls, containers and utensils. Through the years, the company was mostly family owned. With management being passed though the family from generations to generation. They continued to expand their manufacturing process and gain popularity. In 2015, the De Buyer family sold its share to the company Edify. While they currently focuses on manufacturing for restaurant professionals. Their products have been picking up popularity among the general public. One of the most popular product being the De Buyer MINERAL B product.

De Buyer MINERAL B vs Blue Steel

There are a few difference between the Blue Steel and the Mineral B. With the Mineral B being the higher class of the two. The Mineral B uses a thicker steel and comes finished with beeswax. This extra thick steel means that it distribute heat better and holds more heat. If you are looking for a pan that can sear steak, this is the way to go. The handle is also affixed with rivets instead of being welded on. While some like the rivet less design, I personally prefer the security and strength of rivets.

De Buyer MINERAL B Carbon Steel Fry Pan Design

This section will discuss the various design and construction of De Buyer MINERAL B carbon steel skillet. We will go over handle, shape and general performance.

Handle

The handle is like every other carbon steel skillet. It is a large piece of metal that is very industrial looking. The center has a slight divot that helps you maintain grip. It is not at all ergonomic but rather built for durability. I highly doubt that it can get destroyed in its lifetime.

This all metal design lets the pan have a higher oven safe temperature. Soft rubber and silicone handle is more comfortable but they usually have a lower oven safe temperature. Oddly enough, the oven safe temperature is only at 400 degree Fahrenheit. Not exactly high and some nonstick skillet have that same limit. Quite disappointing actually. At the end of the skillet there is a small little B symbol for branding.

There is one thing about the 12 inch skillet that other brands do not have, that is the helper handle. Given how large and heavy the skillet is, this handle helps you carry and pour out food. I wish most manufacturer included it.

Shape

The shape of their skillet is like a miniature windsor pan. It rises up with a slight slant. The base of the cooking surface is quite small compared to its rim diameter. For that reason, I recommend that you buy a larger size one. Smaller diameter version will force you to crowd the food and cause food to steam. There is also no pouring rim on the skillet. When you go to pour liquid, it will drip to the side of the pan. Overall, this shape is a little bit archaic and not as functional as modern day skillet.

Carbon Steel vs Cast Iron

Both are actually very similar. You can think of Carbon Steel as a slim downed cast iron pan. The biggest difference is the texture. Cast iron lover drool over the smooth finish of the vintage cast iron. Well, you dont have to hunt for vintage carbon steel. The new carbon steel cookware comes smooth from the factory.

In terms of heat distribution and performance, they will perform about the same. I will say that cast iron can hold heat better but only because of the weight. Other than that, you wont see much of a performance difference.

Seasoning and First Use

When you first use the skillet, you need to strip the bees wax finish. That finish is there to prevent it from rusting. You can strip it by washing it with hot soapy water. After that is stripped, you need to keep it seasoned. If not, the pan will start to form rust.

To season the pan, I recommend that you fry potato peels with salt and oil. Do this for 5-10 minutes then dump it. If you are not satisfy with the seasoning you can repeat the process. With use, the seasoning will get better.

There are some people online with a complete jet black smooth seasoning. You can achieve this by wiping it with oil then baking it in the oven for 30 min at 400 degree Fahrenheit. Repeat the process until you get your desired finish. Just a word of warning, if you plan on using the pan, dont expect it to stay that way. It will build up oil and start to look disfigured.

Maintaining Seasoning and Rust Removal

To maintain the seasoning, it is not recommended to use soap to wash it. You can clean off crud by deglazing the pan. Just add water to the hot pan and fond should release. If that does not get it out, use salt and paper towel as an abrasive.

If rust should start to form. You can remove it by using sandpaper or use a rust eraser. Both method will remove it and I recommend that you re season the pan right after.

Eco Friendly and Chemical Free

One of the best thing about the carbon steel skillet is the lack of chemical. In production, all they really need to do is stamp it out. Hence, there is no ptfe or pfoa that will be used to damage the environment. You can rest assure that you are not contributing to the carbon foot print.

De Buyer Mineral B Thoughts

De Buyer MINERAL B is a commercial focused cookware. While it does not have the fit and finish of brands like All Clad or Le Creuset, this design is built to last. The price is relatively affordable and it meets the demands of the professional kitchen. While its not as common as cast iron, you will find it in restaurant all over the world. No matter which model you choose, you cannot go wrong.

I hope you like this De Buyer MINERAL B Review, If you would like to see more, please visit our Pots and Pans Review page.