Misen Review: Honest Thoughts from a Beginner Home Cook (Carbon Nonstick Pan, Stainless Steel Pan, Misenware Review)
If you're researching Misen cookware or wondering whether Misenware containers are actually worth it, you're in the right place. And if you’re reading this between Oct 6-12, 2026… Misen is having a sitewide sale right now! Everything is on saleeee!
As it says in the title, I’m not a professional chef—or even an experienced cook. I’m just a 31-year-old gal learning how to cook. I grew up in a typical Chinese home where my parents did all the cooking, and I somehow made it through college on cereal, instant oatmeal, eggs, salads, roasted sweet potatoes, and leftovers from home (🥹). After my mom passed away in May 2025, I decided it was finally time to learn and take some of the load off my dad. And for the first time, I felt like I could actually do it!!!
As I’m learning about cooking, I also learned more about the things we were cooking with—from Teflon cookware to black plastic utensils—and became more intentional about creating a healthier kitchen for my family. But if you know anything about Asian dads… it’s not always easy to introduce change 🥲😂… so I’m taking it slowly because maintaining family harmony is just as important to me.
Why trust this review? I’m not a cookware expert or someone who reviews dozens of different brands to find the one that’s incrementally better. I’m just a regular person learning how to cook, and Misen is the cookware I’ve actually been using multiple times a week for the past several months. I’m not looking for the absolute best pan—just pieces that genuinely make cooking easier (and fun!), and improve my quality of life in the kitchen.
Misen has been a big part of my cooking journey (after researching cookware brands, I reached out to them and am so grateful they replied!), and while the products in this post were gifted in exchange for social media content, I was not paid or asked to write this review.
If this blog post is helpful and you decide to shop Misen, I’d really appreciate you using my affiliate link. You can also use code KATRINASTACIE to save on your first order. 💛 I’ll update as I continue to use + try new products.
Quick note: For now, all of the links in this post will take you to the Misen homepage. I’m currently working with the Misen team to see if they can create product-specific affiliate links, and I’m hoping to have those available for you soon. Sorry for the inconvenience!
I specifically have the 12" Deeper Carbon Nonstick Frying Pan + Glass Lid. I’m aware this pan has very mixed reviews on the internet… but so far, I’m 3 months in and still digging it!
I do think people understandably get hung up on the word “nonstick,” and honestly, I think that was a bit of a marketing mistake on Misen’s part. After reading so many reviews, I didn’t go into this expecting it to perform exactly like a Teflon nonstick pan. I’ve never used traditional carbon steel, but to me, this feels like a nice introduction to it: you get some nonstick properties without a coating you have to be really careful with. There’s definitely still a learning curve with preheating and cooking, and things can stick or burn (just like they would with our Teflon pans!), but I don’t have to be as gentle and paranoid about cleaning it afterward.
Why I love it:
Nitrided carbon steel = a coating-free cooking surface (no PFAS, PTFE, or PFOA).
Heats up much faster than stainless steel and is super easy to clean—my husband aka dishwasher especially appreciates this 😂.
Metal utensil-friendly, which is one less thing to worry about.
The lid is great: fits snugly, the silicone rim seals well, there’s no annoying dripping, and it’s easy to clean.
The deeper sides mean less oil splatter compared to my stainless steel pan.
For me, it’s been a nice middle ground between stainless steel and Teflon: I don’t have to be quite as careful with the surface, but I still get some of the benefits of nonstick.
Things to know:
Burn marks have been the hardest thing to clean. I haven’t tried Misen’s recommended salt scrub yet, but a little gentle scraping with a metal dish scraper has worked for me (even though they don’t specifically recommend it).
I condition the pan after every use by heating it, adding a tiny bit of oil, and wiping it down to leave a very thin layer. So far, so good!
The surface will change as you use it—mine has developed some dark brown/black spots, aka patina. Totally normal and supposedly helps with the nonstick quality, but it’s not that cute imo LOL.
I originally hoped this would be a good middle ground for my dad (nonstick without the coating), but after trying it once, he thinks it’s too heavy (he’s big on high heat + constant flipping when he cooks) and went back to his Teflon pans 🥲. But I’ve been enjoying it!
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Here’s the 12” Deeper Carbon Nonstick Pan in Action:
I have the 10” Stainless Steel Frying Pan, and it’s my first ever stainless steel pan!! I don’t have anything to compare it to, but so far, I’m loving it :-)
Why I love it:
No coating = no PFAS, PTFE, or PFOA.
Solid, durable, and honestly feels indestructible.
Great everyday size for 2–3 people.
I can go to town with a metal scrubber without worrying about damaging the pan.
I’m having fun learning how to properly preheat stainless steel. On my gas stove, I use medium heat for ~3 minutes until water beads and dances across the surface. It’s nice having a visual signal that tells me when the pan is ready!
Things to know:
Eggs have been the hardest to clean up. I usually need a metal scrubber + elbow grease to get off the brown oil marks—my husband is not a fan 😂.
Food can stick if the pan is too hot or not hot enough, so learning the right temperature has been key.
Misen recommends waiting until the pan cools before washing, but I’ve occasionally soaked mine while it’s still warm to loosen stuck-on food. So far, no warping!
Some reviews mention the handle being slippery, but I personally haven’t had an issue with it.
I haven’t needed Bar Keepers Friend or a deep clean yet because I scrub thoroughly after each use.
Shop Stainless Steel Pan and use KATRINASTACIE to save $
Here’s the 10” Stainless Steel Frying Pan in Action:
I have the 6-Piece Misenware Mixed Set and these are the containers of everyone’s dreams! They’ve fixed pretty much every container problem… and yes, they really are microwave-safe! Apparently, it’s all about the rounded edges + thickness of the metal. I was traumatized from microwaving a corndog wrapped in foil as a child, but I tested these out and I’m happy to report… zero sparks!! 😂
Why I love it:
Microwave-, freezer-, oven-, grill-, and dishwasher-safe… it’s basically everything-safe!
Truly leakproof. We put soup in one, turned it upside down, and gave it a good shake. Not a drop came out.
Stackable, really durable, they fit a lot!, super easy to clean, and all the containers use the same lid. My husband really appreciates this because he gets confused trying to find lids for our other containers 😆.
You can write directly on the metal with a dry-erase marker, which makes labeling easy.
Measurements are engraved directly into the containers. I haven’t needed this yet, but I can see it being really helpful!
Things to know:
They’re pricey. If you’re just looking for containers to store + reheat food in, a nice set of glass containers will probably do the trick. But if you’re looking for high-quality containers that you can stack easily in the cabinet, and throw in the microwave, freezer, oven, grill, or your bag without a second thought… these might be worth the investment (or add them to your holiday wishlist 😉).
If you’re microwaving them, check your wattage: they’re safe for up to 10 minutes at 1000W or 5 minutes at 1100W. And be careful taking them out—they can get hot!
The glass lid makes them heavier than you might expect—they feel about as heavy as a glass container.
The metal container is really easy to clean and doesn’t hold onto smells, but oils and fats can be a little harder to get out of the silicone lids (which I’ve found to be the case with our other containers, too).
I personally wish they came in wider, shallower sizes, but I know that wouldn’t work with the universal lids.
They label their product “6-piece” but the lids count as pieces… so you’re actually just getting 3 containers.
Misen is still testing whether they’re microwave-safe if the metal gets dented. Stay tuned!
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Here’s Misenware in Action:
This is such a high-quality, versatile little tool. It has some nice weight to it, and I love that the tsp and tbsp measurements are engraved right into the spoon. They’re especially handy when I’m making a sauce or marinade—I don’t have to dig out all my little plastic measuring spoons.
I also use it as a mini ladle for mixing and serving, and apparently it’s sturdy enough for my dad to use it to break up blocks of ice or scoop ice cream. 😆
Shop Measuring Chef Spoon and use KATRINASTACIE to save $
Not much to say except… I love this thing!
I cook eggs and/or salmon almost daily, and this has become my go-to tool for both. It’s lightweight, comfortable to hold, and makes flipping and grabbing food off the pan super easy. I also love that the holes let excess oil drip through.
I got the silicone version in case my dad wanted to use it with his Teflon pans, but so far, he hasn’t used it… which honestly makes me wish I had gotten the all-metal version instead 😂.
Shop Silicone Fish Spatula and use KATRINASTACIE to save $
My first big girl knife! 😂 The only knives I’ve really used are Kiwi brand knives… mostly because my dad has always been nervous about having too sharp or big of a knife in our kitchen. So I’ll be honest, I was a little intimidated and scared to use this thing at first. But it’s been awesome!
The 6" size feels perfect (for my small hands and our small cutting board), and the shape is more familiar to me than some of the other chef’s knives I’ve seen. I initially thought the pointed tip would be helpful for things like slitting a tomato (something I used to have to do with our old knife), but this blade is so sharp that I don’t even need to poke into the tomato before slicing. I also love how precise the cuts are—my green onions aren’t getting crushed and juicing all over the cutting board anymore! 😂
It has some nice weight to it, but still feels really comfortable in my hands.
Things to know:
This is very sharp, especially compared to the knives I was used to, so be careful!
I’d definitely recommend having a dedicated storage solution for your safety. I got Misen’s Modular Knife Storage - Large Piece to keep it in, which has been great.
Shop 6" Bunka Knife and use KATRINASTACIE to save $
Reviews on the following products are coming soon…
Bench Scraper
Kitchen Towels
If this blog post was helpful and you decide to shop Misen, I’d really appreciate you using my affiliate link. You can also use code KATRINASTACIE to save on your first order. 💛 I’ll update as I continue to use + try new products. Thanks so much!
