The Merten & Storck 12 inch at $59.99 for value, or the Made In 10 inch at $119 for finish. Pre-seasoning is a head start, not a finished surface.

The Armorbear 10 inch at $26.99 is the best budget pick: nitrided, rust-resistant, a third of the premium price. Cheap carbon steel cooks like expensive carbon steel.

Start with a forgiving nitrided 10 inch pan like the Armorbear at $26.99. Rust-resistant, cheap, manageable. Start small before spending on a premium pan.

Carbon steel or cast iron sear steak best. Carbon steel wins for most cooks: fast heat, fast recovery, oven safe. Our value pick is the Merten & Storck 12 inch.