de Buyer Mineral B vs. Mineral B Pro vs. Blue Carbon Steel (Test Results)

If you’ve decided to invest in a de Buyer carbon steel pan but aren’t sure which collection to choose, you’ve come to the right place. 

While all three collections – Mineral B, Mineral B Pro, and Blue Carbon Steel  – offer excellent cooking performance, there are significant differences you need to know before buying.

I’ve spent months testing these pans side by side, cooking dozens of meals, and running controlled tests to measure everything from heat distribution and retention to durability and handle comfort. 

In this comparison of de Buyer Mineral B vs. Mineral B Pro vs. Blue Carbon Steel, I’ll break down the key differences and help you decide which is right for your kitchen.

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Use the links below to navigate the comparison:

• Comparison Chart
• Construction and Materials
• Heating Performance
• Handle Design
• Handle Angle
• Maximum Oven-Safe Temperature
• Corrosion Resistance
• Price
• Bottom Line: Which de Buyer Carbon Steel Collection Is the Best?

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Comparison Chart

Frying Pan	de Buyer Blue Carbon Steel	de Buyer Mineral B	de Buyer Mineral B Pro
Price	$$ (de Buyer’s site)	$$$ (de Buyer’s site)	$$$$ (de Buyer’s site)
Where It’s Made	France	France	France
Materials	Carbon steel	Carbon steel	Carbon steel
Diameter Rim to Rim (in)	12.7	12.5	12.5
Diameter Flat Cooking Surface (in)	9.2	9	9
Ratio of Flat Cooking Surface to Full Diameter	72.44%	72.00%	72.00%
Wall Height (in)	2.2	2	2
Handle Height (in)	7	5.8	5.1
Weight (lb)	4.2	6	6.9
Thickness (mm)	2	3.1	3.1
Handle Length (in)	10.0	9.3	10.0
Oven Safe Temp	450°F	400°F (10 mins only)	500°F
Induction Compatible	Yes	Yes	Yes
Handle Temperature (°F after 10 min boiling water)	88	95	79
Probe Test: Center Temperature at 2 min (°F)	500	484	501
Probe Test: Edge Temperature at 2 min (°F)	421	393	423
Probe Test: Temperature Difference (center vs edge) (°F)	79	91	78
Thermal Camera Test: Center Temperature at 2 min (°F)	401	187	263
Thermal Camera Test: Edge Temperature at 2 min (°F)	326	151	247
Thermal Camera Test: Temperature Difference at 2 min (°F)	75	36	16
Heat Retention: Surface Temperature After 5 min (°F)	126	154	162
Top Reason to Buy	Lightweight; low cost	Excellent heat retention	Best heat retention; comfortable handle
Top Reason to NOT Buy	Poor heat retention	Limited to 10 minutes in the oven	Most expensive; heavy

Construction and Materials

All three collections are made in France and feature similar overall designs with sloped walls and long handles. However, the similarities end there. 

The Blue Carbon Steel collection features significantly thinner walls at just 2mm compared to the 3.1mm thickness of both Mineral B collections. 

This difference in thickness has a major impact on weight – the Blue Carbon Steel 12.5-inch fry pan weighs just 4.2 pounds, the Mineral B weighs 6 pounds, and the Mineral B Pro tops out at 6.9 pounds.

This weight difference is immediately noticeable. The Blue Carbon Steel pan is much easier to maneuver, especially when full of food or transferring it in and out of the oven. However, the thicker walls of the Mineral B collections provide superior heat retention, which we’ll explore in detail later.

Another key construction difference is the handle attachment method. The Blue Carbon Steel collection features a welded handle with no rivets interrupting the cooking surface. This makes cleaning slightly easier since there are no rivets to scrub around. 

The Mineral B has three rivets attaching its handle, while the Mineral B Pro uses a two-rivet design.

Heating Performance

How evenly a pan distributes heat across its surface and how well it maintains temperature when you add cold ingredients are two of the most important factors in cooking performance. 

Even heat distribution ensures food cooks consistently without hot spots, while good heat retention helps achieve better browning and prevents temperature crashes when you add cold food to the pan. To measure these crucial properties, I conducted several controlled tests.

In my first test using the surface thermometer, I heated each pan on medium heat for 2 minutes. The Blue Carbon Steel reached the highest center temperature at 500°F, with its edge measuring 421°F – a difference of 79°F. 

The Mineral B heated to 484°F in the center and 393°F at the edge, showing a slightly larger difference of 91°F. 

The Mineral B Pro achieved 501°F in the center and 423°F at the edge, maintaining a similar 78°F difference.

However, I got quite different results when I examined the same pans using a thermal camera after 2 minutes on medium heat. The Blue Carbon Steel showed the most dramatic variation, with a center temperature of 401°F and edge temperature of 326°F – a 75°F difference. 

Mineral B demonstrated better heat distribution with a center temperature of 187°F and edge temperature of 151°F, reducing the difference to 36°F. 

The Mineral B Pro performed best in this test, with its center reaching 263°F and edge hitting 247°F – just a 16°F difference.

Heat retention testing revealed even more significant differences. After heating each pan to 400°F and removing them from heat, I measured their surface temperatures after 5 minutes. The Blue Carbon Steel cooled the most rapidly to 126°F, while the Mineral B maintained 154°F, and the Mineral B Pro stayed hottest at 162°F. 

Handle Design

The Blue Carbon Steel and Mineral B collections feature a traditional flat handle design. This design allows you to quickly and securely grip the pan with a kitchen towel or oven mitt without the risk of rotation that can occur with rounded handles. However, the thin, flat profile can become uncomfortable during extended use as the edges press into your palm.

The Mineral B Pro takes a different approach with its hollow, rounded stainless steel handle featuring a heat-dispersing cutout. This ergonomic design makes it significantly more comfortable, though it can be slightly more slippery when gripping with a towel or oven mitt.

These design differences directly impact the temperature of the handle during cooking. 

To test handle heat absorption, I boiled water in each pan for 10 minutes and measured the handle temperatures using a surface thermometer. The Mineral B Pro’s handle stayed coolest at 79°F, while the Blue Carbon Steel reached 88°F and the Mineral B got hottest at 95°F.

This might not seem like a huge difference, but it’s noticeable when cooking multiple dishes in succession, particularly if you’re gripping the handle without protection.

Handle Angle

The handle angle also varies significantly between collections. The Blue Carbon Steel’s handle rises 7 inches from the base of the pan, requiring considerably more oven and cabinet clearance.

The Mineral B sits lower at 5.8 inches, while the Mineral B Pro has the lowest profile at 5.1 inches from base to handle.

Maximum Oven-Safe Temperature

Perhaps the most significant functional difference between these collections is their oven safety. The Blue Carbon Steel collection can handle temperatures up to 450°F with no time limit, and the Mineral B Pro offers even more flexibility with a maximum temperature of 500°F and no time restrictions.

The Mineral B, however, has a major limitation: due to its epoxy-coated handle, it can only withstand temperatures up to 400°F and for no more than 10 minutes. 

This restriction severely impacts the pan’s versatility. You can’t use it to finish thick cuts of meat in the oven, roast vegetables, or bake bread. Most importantly, this temperature limitation affects maintenance.

While the Blue Carbon Steel and Mineral B Pro can be seasoned in the oven using traditional methods, the Mineral B can only be seasoned on the stovetop. If you have an electric or induction cooktop, you can only season and protect the cooking surface from rust, not the exterior of the pan.

While some users in online forums and YouTube comments suggest burning off the epoxy coating in the oven or with a blow torch to eliminate these restrictions, I strongly advise against this. Not only is burning epoxy potentially dangerous and likely to release toxic fumes, but it also defeats the purpose of buying a premium pan if you need to modify it to make it fully functional. 

For the same price range, you could simply choose the Blue Carbon Steel or invest a bit more in the Mineral B Pro, both of which offer full oven compatibility.

Corrosion Resistance

The Blue Carbon Steel collection undergoes a heat treatment process known as bluing, which creates a protective oxide layer on the surface. This process makes the pan more corrosion-resistant and gives it its distinctive dark blue color. 

This added protection helps prevent rust between uses, especially if you accidentally leave the pan wet or forget to dry it thoroughly after washing. You don’t need to be quite as vigilant about maintaining the seasoning.

Without the protective bluing treatment, both Mineral B pans are more susceptible to rust if not well seasoned and dried immediately and thoroughly after each use.

All three collections come from the factory with a protective beeswax coating that prevents rust during shipping and storage. This coating must be removed before first use by heating the pan gently. Once the beeswax is removed, the pan needs to be seasoned before cooking.

Price 

The Blue Carbon Steel 12.5-inch pan is the most affordable at $80. The Mineral B costs $110, and the Mineral B Pro is the most expensive at $145.

The higher prices reflect more substantial construction – both Mineral B collections feature thicker walls than Blue Carbon Steel. The Mineral B Pro commands the highest price due to its premium stainless steel handle design. 

While all three collections are made in France using high-quality carbon steel, you’re paying more for additional features and thicker construction as you move up in price.

Bottom Line: Which de Buyer Carbon Steel Collection Is the Best?

After extensive testing, the Blue Carbon Steel collection offers the best value for most home cooks. Its lighter weight makes it easier to handle, the welded handle design simplifies cleaning, and the corrosion-resistant treatment adds valuable protection. While it doesn’t retain heat quite as well as the thicker Mineral B pans, it still performs excellent.

The Mineral B Pro is objectively the best performer of the three, but its benefits come at a significant price premium. Its superior heat retention, comfortable handle design, and full oven compatibility make it worth considering if you don’t mind the extra weight and cost. 

Despite its excellent heat retention, I cannot recommend the standard Mineral B collection. The 400°F/10-minute oven limitation is too restrictive for a pan at this price point, especially when both alternatives offer full oven compatibility.

Whether you prioritize lightweight maneuverability (Blue Carbon Steel) or superior heat retention and comfort (Mineral B Pro), avoid the standard Mineral B and choose between these two excellent options based on your cooking style and budget.

Learn more and compare the current prices of each collection at the links below:

• De Buyer Blue Carbon Steel (deBuyer-USA.com)
• De Buyer Mineral B (deBuyer-USA.com)
• De Buyer Mineral B Pro (deBuyer-USA.com)