Blue Carbon Steel 12" Frying Pan

For those who like cooking with cast iron but love the versatility of a clad stainless steel pan, the Viking Blue Carbon Steel Fry Pan is the perfect pan. Available in both 10” and 12” sizes, this fry pan is made of carbon steel, an alloy that is a combination of iron and carbon. This pan works like cast iron with the performance of clad cookware. Stay-cool cast iron handles securely attach to the pans with heavy duty rivets for confidence in construction and a lifetime of use.

The “Blue” in “Blue carbon steel” references a heat treatment process to help resist rust and corrosion, a nuisance that can plague traditional cast iron pans. Carbon Steel needs the care of cast iron, but has performance benefits that help it excel over cast iron. Though cast iron maintains even heating, it can take time to rise to temperature. Since iron itself is so brittle, more of the material must be used to make it durable, making traditional cast iron pans larger and heavier than carbon steel fry pans that boast superior performance without the wait.

With blue carbon steel, you’ll have a pan that is noticeably lighter without sacrificing performance. Carbon steel heats quickly and evenly, reducing the risk of hot spots from occurring. Blue carbon steel is also prized for achieving high temperatures quickly without fear of damage occurring to the pan itself. Viking Blue Steel is oven safe to 600°F for restaurant quality finishing in the oven. While carbons steel is chemical coating free and doesn’t have a nonstick coating, with proper seasoning and use, carbon steel will release and perform similar to a nonstick coated pan that uses a chemical based coating.

Please know that the acids in foods will cause the pan to change color (discolor) during use and over time. This is normal and expected with carbon steel cookware as the food interacts with the natural raw material. Just cook away and enjoy the performance, knowing that this cosmetic change means the pan is working for you just as it should.

There are some tips to success with your Viking Carbon Steel cookware. Like cast iron, your blue carbon steel pan will need to be seasoned regularly to maintain its nonstick properties. “Seasoning” refers to the process of coating the base of the pan with a thin layer of oil that imparts a flavorful taste to your foods while also protecting foods from sticking. There are plenty of methods to seasoning your pan, but if this is your first time seasoning the pan, we recommend using very hot water and dish soap to first scrub the pan, then wipe dry and place it on the burner at low heat to finish drying. Add some oil to the pan and cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes. Then, let the pan cool and wipe with paper towels and your pan is ready for use! Season the pan twice for the best natural nonstick results. For future maintenance, simply rinse the pan with water after use and scrub gently with a soft-bristled brush or sponge if necessary (No need for soap!). Season with vegetable oil periodically to maintain its smooth cooking surface and nonstick properties. It is not recommended to put these pans into the dishwasher as it will remove the seasoning, and make the pan more susceptible to rust. Should you find rust on the pan, like natural cast iron, this can be normal. Just clean the rust off with a scrubby sponge and season the area with vegetable oil.