Vollrath 58900 French Style 8 1/2" Carbon Steel Fry Pan

Initial take: The pan arrived well packaged. The handle (as other reviews point out) does seem too long, although I knew that going in and wouldn't detract for it. It was well oiled from the factory to prevent rust and zero rust was present. So far the pan felt like a great bargain for the price compared to some of the higher priced carbon steel brands. I washed the pan thoroughly and proceeded to season it per the instructions on the Vollrath website. After warming the pan and applying oil I slowly started raising the temp, however the pan almost instantly warped very badly. One side of the pan was almost 1" higher than the other. I turned off the heat and allowed the pan to cool. Some of the warping went away, however the pan is still nowhere near flat. Obviously, this resulted in the 1 star review. At this price, it is not worth the hassle to return it. It went in the trash before ever cooking anything.

I used this pan extensively over the past 3 years. #1. it wraps under high heat. Surprise because the main advantage of carbon steel pan is its ability to take high heat. I used gas range so it does not bother me. But now I use induction.... #2. It requires high maintenance and constant, repeated seasoning. Once seasoned it is a non-stick pan. But see #3. #3. heat distribution is not good at all, because the sheet metal is thin. Which creates trouble during cooking and repeated seasoning #4. it is pretty light.

Over all good pan, but warped slightly in the center during seasoning, may be just uneven heat versus uneven thickness. Virtually non stick after the seasoning, and clean up is easy and quick.

Pan arrived rusty, just rattling around in a beat up cardboard box. Many manufacturers coat these pans in beeswax to protect against that, but it was clear that this pan was bare metal. As I soaked in vinegar and then scrubbed to remove the rust, I could see the metal rusting almost in real time, under the water. Webrestaurantstore’s return policy is also prohibitive. 20%+ restocking fee + pay my own shipping on garbage products? They say you get what you pay for, and that was the case here. I can’t recommend this pan. Buy something of higher quality from a store that offers better return policies.

This vollrath carbon steel pan is awesome! It is super durable and easy to use. Make sure you season it properly so you don’t stick! Great pan!

I love Volrath carbon steel pans. They are the work horses of my kitchen. Virtually indestructable, and once seasoned, as non stick as teflon. Seasoning is a breeze.

Once properly seasoned these pans will last a lifetime! Quickly heats up and stays hot! Also great for induction top burners! Nicely stacks on top of each other!!!

I purchased the 12 1/2 inch pan, seasoned it beautifully and it warped the first time I used it. I called customer service and, to its credit, Vollrath sent me a new pan. I seasoned it equally as beautiful and it also warped the first time I used it. I didn’t call customer service again because I was tired and annoyed of seasoning pans and having them warp.

Been using this pan for around 8 months now and its a great pan except that there's a ton of warping that occurs when it heats up. I can still cook on it, but it is far from ideal and seeing that other people are experiencing the same problem, couldn't say I recommend it at all. I'm going to be shopping around for an alternative.

Love this pan as well for smaller saute' pickups. We keep several in the kitchen at all times.

Quick preface, I'm an amateur cook with no professional kitchen experience. This pan has been great, high quality. Requires seasoning. I really like that it is rivet-less (makes for easy cleaning). I would highly caution against using these pans on an electric or induction stove, will cause them to warp unfortunately. Given that I don't have a gas range, I prefer using these pans in my oven to sear salmon / a small steak.

I have become a big fan of carbon steel. This has replaced cast iron for most tasks. They seasoned well. Love welded handle instead of riveted. Makes cleanup easier.

Positives: Lighter weight/thinner gauge steel (better for tossing) and half the price compared to Matfer Bourgeat (also sold here) and the other brands that are made overseas. Also, my example has a flat bottom. It also fits on a large residential burner. Negatives: The handle had some rough and sharp edges along the sides of the grip that required smoothing out before seasoning (I used 400 grit sandpaper, but a green scotch-brite pad would work too). Also when you looked closely where the handle meets the pan, you could see the handle wasn't welded on perfectly straight, leaning ever so slightly (barely) towards the left, but without looking closely it isn't noticeable, and so far doesn't seem to affect the usage. Overall: It's a good budget alternative compared to the more expensive fancy brands, and better for tossing, but it lacks some of the quality.

I bought this pan and watched the video on how to season it which I did faithfully. It did not evenly become seasoned. I have done catering, so I know how to cook, but this pan has been a disappointment. I bought it to make omelets and they are sticking like mad. I'm tossing this pan in the trash!

Warped Bottom; Still a Favorite Pan... Love this pan. Perfect slope for tossing a saute. Large enough bottom for a couple steaks. Super hot fast for a great sear. Long handle stays cool so no pot holder required. Easy to season. Easy to clean. Perfect. Except the bottom warped during seasoning and subsequently worsened with use. Still a good pan, but not as stable on the range top as one would like. Please tell me I don't have to buy a pan the name of which I cannot pronounce in order to get a flat bottom....

Was a great fry pan for a while but began to pit and rust at the welds after 6 months. It was always wiped and dried but I guess the humidity got a hold of it.

I bought 3 different pans , the french style, the Matfer and the Vollrath. The Matfer is thicker and heavier than the others but I go to the Vollrath over the others. It seasoned better ( probably my inexperience ) the edge where the side meets the bottom is rounded and allows me to stir fry as well. I use it for everything I can. buying Vollrath sauce pans right now, can't say more than that I guess.

Need to season before use, its a good quality pan, heavy as expected, and i like the high sides. It will become non stick after seasoning

I ordered the Vollrath Carbon steel pan not knowing how it would work out but I was really amazed. The pan is nice and sturdy. The handle is long and at a very high angle. Unlike other peoples review, the handle lenglt and weigh did not tip my pan over. It was well balanced.

This frying pan has quickly become my favorite pan. I have an induction stove and the pan is better than my 5 ply and even my cast iron pan. It seasoned easily and is the perfect in between size.