Mauviel Non-Copper Cookware: A Detailed Review

Mauviel is best known for their beautiful copper, but they also make 3 lines of clad stainless steel cookware, as well as nonstick aluminum and carbon steel skillets. Read on to learn about Mauviel's other cookware lines. We cover everything you need to know before you buy and make recommendations based on our testing.

Click here to read our Mauviel copper cookware review.

Mauviel Clad Stainless, Nonstick, and Carbon Steel Cookware at a Glance

Here's a quick look at Mauviel's lines of clad stainless, nonstick aluminum, and carbon steel.

Mauviel Clad Stainless

Mauviel Nonstick Aluminum and Carbon Steel

About Mauviel

Mauviel is a French cookware company founded in 1830 by Ernest Mauviel. The company is also called "Mauviel 1830" because this is the year of its founding. (In fact, most of their pans carry a "Mauviel 1830" stamp or logo.)

Mauviel is a family-owned business located in Normandy, France, in the town Villedieu-les-Poêles--which in English means "God's city of the pans." The town is primarily known for its copper and tin smiths, but Mauviel also makes their clad stainless, carbon steel, and nonstick cookware here, too. 

Today, Valerie Gilbert runs the company and has since 2006. She is the seventh generation of the Mauviel family to run the family business. 

With this background and a proud tradition of craftsmanship, Mauviel is considered one of the hight quality cookware makers in the world. 

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How Does Mauviel Clad Stainless Compare to All-Clad?

We compare the Mauviel lines to All-Clad D3 and D5 in great detail in the reviews below. Here is the upshot:

• Mauviel M'Steel is almost identical in configuration to All-Clad D3 and D5 and will have almost identical heating performance.
• Mauviel M'Elite is M'Steel with a hammered exterior and so is also almost identical in configuration to D3 and D5.
• Mauviel M'Urban is thinner than All-Clad D3 and contains about 25% less aluminum, so it will not perform like All-Clad and we do not recommend it.

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How Does Mauviel Aluminum Nonstick Compare to Other Brands?

The Mauviel anodized aluminum nonstick line, M'Stone, is very high quality nonstick. The aluminum base is 3.5mm thick, thicker than many other high-end lines, including two of our favorites, All-Clad HA1 and Anolon Nouvelle Copper, which run about 3mm thick. However, the prices of HA1 and Nouvelle Copper are considerably less than the M'Stone pans.

The Eclipse PTFE coating on M'Stone is extremely durable and should last for several years if cared for properly. 

Because of the heavy environmental burden of the PTFE cookware industry, we do not recommend buying nonstick cookware. But if you must have nonstick, the Mauviel M'Stone is an extremely high quality brand.

read our statement about teflon and ptfe cookware

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How Does Mauviel Carbon Steel Compare to Other Brands?

Carbon steel is pretty much the same no matter which brand you buy (unlike stainless steel, which has hundreds of variations and levels of quality). So the main aspect to be aware of--the one that affects cooking performance the most--is the thickness, or gauge, of the pans. 

Carbon steel pans are run from 1-3.5mm thick, with most pans around 2mm. The Mauviel M'Steel is 2mm ("14 gauge"), which is a good, versatile thickness that's give good heat retention but is still maneuverable.

A thicker gauge pan, like the Matfer-Bourgeat, at about 3.2mm will provide better heat retention but is heavier and harder to maneuver. 

You should go with the pan that best fits your cooking style. The Mauviel is a great pan, very high quality, but it also has a price tag higher than other carbon steel; even higher than other French carbon steel. So if it's in your budget, you will love the pan, but you can find other brands for less that are probably just as good (we discuss brands and have links in the review below). 

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What to Look for When Buying Cookware

When we review cookware, we look at these aspects:

• Heating properties: how fast and even does it heat, and how well does it hold onto heat?
• Durability: how well will the cookware hold up?
• Stability/Safety: Is the cookware safe? Will the cooking surface react with food or leach toxins?
• Design and Usability: Is the cookware easy to use and clean? Is it pretty?
• Value: Does the cookware fit my budget, and will it be a good investment?

We go into more detail on how to buy cookware in other articles, including:

Stainless Steel Cookware Sets: A Detailed Buying Guide (details about stainless steel, cladding, heating core, and cookware design)

The Best Induction Cookware: Get Out of the Kitchen Faster (cladding, stainless vs. cast iron, heating performance, design and usability, and more--geared to induction, but applies to all cookware)

The Best Stainless Cookware Set for Every Budget (cladding, steel quality, heating, stainless compared to other types of cookware including nonstick, copper, and coated cast iron).

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Review: Mauviel M'Cook

See M'Cook on Amazon

See M'Cook skillet on Amazon

See M'Cook at Mauviel

Basics

• 2.6mm thick 5-ply clad stainless (s-a-a-a-s)
• Polished stainless exterior
• Induction compatible
• Oversized cast stainless handles
• Some pieces avail. w/bronze (M'CookB) or cast iron handles (M'Cook Iron) on the Mauviel site 
• Grooved pouring rims on all pieces
• Full range of open stock and sets available
• Oven safe up to 680F
• Dishwasher safe
• Stainless lids, w/glass lids available
• Domed lids (extra lids are not domed)
• Limited lifetime warranty
• Made in France.

M'Cook is Mauviel's premium line of clad stainless cookware. It is 5-ply, with 3 internal layers of aluminum (makers use different aluminum alloys because some bond better to stainless steel, and others have better heat conductivity). 

At 2.6mm thick, the M'Cook has the same thickness as All-Clad D3. However, All-Clad D3 has a slightly thicker aluminum layer at 1.7mm (vs. 1.6mm in M'Cook). This is a small difference, but the slightly thicker stainless steel walls of the M'Cook alter its heating performance a little bit; if you're more concerned about responsiveness, the extra steel impairs performance; if you're more concerned about heat retention, then the stainless steel enhances performance.

In fact, the slightly thicker stainless layers make the M'Cook almost identical in performance to All-Clad D5, which has an internal layer of stainless that slows responsiveness and, says All-Clad, makes the cookware more "forgiving" for novice cooks and those using lightning-fast induction cooktops. (A statement we don't necessarily agree with--see our article All-Clad D5 Vs. Demeyere Industry 5: Which Is Better? for a detailed discussion of D5 performance.) 

In any case, the difference is extremely small. It is probably not noticeable by most cooks. 

What this means is that M'Cook will heat slightly more slowly than D3, and possibly slightly more evenly; so slight that you won't notice a difference.

The upshot is that if you like All-Clad D3 (or D5), you will also like the Mauviel M'Cook. Prices are similar across the lines (though they can vary for individual pieces), so our recommendation is to buy the line that you find the best deal on or think is the prettiest.

Sets

M'Cook comes in several set options as well as open stock; if you want bronze or cast iron handles, you will have to buy from the Mauviel website. 

All the pieces have domed lids, unless you buy lids separately; separate lids are flat and available in stainless and glass.

The 5-piece set on Amazon (about $330) includes: 9.5-in. skillet, 1.9-qt. sauce pan w/lid, 3.4-qt sauté pan w/lid.

The 8-piece set on Amazon (about $700) includes: 8-in. nonstick skillet, 10-in. stainless steel skillet, 2-qt. sauce pan w/lid, 3.5-qt. saucepan with lid, 3.5-qt. sauté pan w/lid.

The Mauviel site has the stainless handle set in 5, 9, and 12-piece (pictured above, about $1000). It also has a 5-piece and a 9-piece M'CookB (bronze handles) for about $400 and $660 respectively.

Iron Handles: We haven't found any sets with iron handles, but check the Mauviel site if you're interested, as this may change. There are some open stock pieces available.

It's hard to list exact set configurations because it depends on where you buy. You will find the most options at the Mauviel site.

Using the Cookware

M'Cook heating performance is, as we said, very similar to All-Clad tri-ply or 5-ply. That is, it heats quickly and evenly and retains heat fairly well (though we recommend using cast iron or heavy carbon steel for searing steaks). For daily use, this is excellent, versatile cookware, as is any good quality clad stainless.

Also like other stainless, the surface can be a little sticky and require a bit of elbow grease when cleaning up. However, we don't count that as a drawback (for most uses) because those sticky bits in the pan make a great sauce with a little wine or broth added. (If you're not doing this after searing your proteins, you definitely should give it a try.) After you deglaze with the liquid of your choice, the result is two-fold: a tasty sauce, and easier clean-up. Win-win.

The skillet has an excellent shape, with a lot of flat cooking surface. The grooved rims on all the pieces are a nice feature that you don't always see (All-Clad D3 saucepans don't have them). 

M'Cook is light and handles easily. The one thing that may take some getting used to is the handle: it's longer than on most clad stainless, and it has a thin, flat shape:

This isn't a huge drawback, especially since so many people hate the All-Clad handle (we like it). But some people may find this handle a little hard to stabilize the pan. (If you have small hands, you will probably love this handle.) The cast stainless has a little roughness that helps with grip--it's much less slippery than it looks here.

We did not put the pans in the dishwasher and recommend hand washing for all your quality cookware. However, if you want to, you can, because all M'Cook is dishwasher safe, including the nonstick skillet. 

Overall, these were nice, high quality clad stainless pans. They are slightly heavier than All-Clad D3, probably due to the longer handle and slightly more stainless steel--but as with performance, the difference isn't really noticeable. 

Pros and Cons

Recommendation for Mauviel M'Cook Clad Stainless Steel Cookware

The Mauviel M'Cook is high quality cookware that is nearly identical in configuration and performance to All-Clad D3 or D5. Prices are similar, as well, with some M'Cook pieces/sets being less and some being more than All-Clad D3. 

Our recommendation for M'Cook is: if you prefer it to All-Clad D3 or D5, buy it. If you prefer All-Clad, then buy it. The performance and build quality are so similar that you can't go wrong with either brand. 

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Review: Mauviel M'Elite Stainless Cookware

See M'Elite on Amazon

see M'Elite at Mauviel

Basics

• 2.6mm thick 5-ply s-a-a-a-s layers
• Hammered stainless steel exterior 
• Cast stainless handles
• Domed stainless lids
• Induction compatible
• Splayed sauté (sauciér), cocottes, paella, and rondeaus only
• Oven safe to 680F
• Limited lifetime warranty
• Made in France.

The M'Elite line is essentially the M'Cook line with a fancy hammered finish. The configuration is exactly the same, but available in sauciérs (Mauviel calls them "splayed sauté pans"), cocottes, paella pans, and rondeaus (all pictured above).

These are specialty pieces with no sets available. The best way to think about the M'Elite line is as add-on pieces to your existing set of M'Cook (or other clad stainless line). 

We don't know why Mauviel decided to change the design (and the name) of a few of the M'Cook specialty pieces. But the lines do look nice together:

Using the Cookware

As we said above about the M'Cook line--which is identical to the M'Elite except for the hammered finish--these pans performed almost identically to All-Clad D3 or D5. That is, they heat quickly and evenly and make great everyday cookware.

All the M'Elite pieces have short handles, which is standard for these types of pans. The handles are large, roomy, and comfortable. 

The M'Elite pieces are beautiful, but with their specialty design, you probably shouldn't buy them unless you know you have a use for them. The exception would be if you prefer two short handles to one long one: in that case, you can get the splayed sauté pan instead of the M'Cook sauciér. (Note that the large splayed sauté pan, 9.4-in., holds 3 quarts; the small one holds 1.5 quarts. These are standard sizes for a sauciér or saucepan, but on the small side for anything else.)

And speaking of sizing, this is something to be aware of: Mauviel gives every pot size in inches diameter, while Americans typically only size skillets that way, and other pans by volume, either quarts or liters. So read carefully and be sure you're buying the size you want: for example, 6.3-inches is not 6.3 quarts, it is just 1.7 liters (which is tiny). Some of the Amazon pages list volume as well as diameter, but the Mauviel site does not.

M'Elite is expensive, too. For example, the 7.9-in. (3.2L) cocotte goes for about $265; at these prices, you can get a Le Creuset Dutch oven (which is better for braising).

But it is beautiful cookware, so if you fall in love with it, you won't regret buying it. 

Pros and Cons

Recommendation

Mauviel M'Elite is a beautiful addition to the M'Cook line. It is available only on specialty pieces--sauciér, cocotte, rondeau, and paella pan--and does not come in full sets. As with the M'Cook, performance is similar (almost identical) to All-Clad D3 or D5, which means fast, even heating. 

If you love the look, you won't regret buying the M'Elite. It's durable as well as beautiful and should serve you well for many decades.

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Review: Mauviel M'Urban Tri-Ply Stainless Cookware

See M'Urban on Amazon

See M'Urban at Mauviel

Basics

• Tri-ply clad stainless (s-a-s)
• 2mm thick; 64% aluminum, 36% stainless steel (1.3mm aluminum, 0.7mm stainless steel)
• Brushed stainless exterior
• Induction compatible
• Stainless lids (flat)
• Cast stainless handles
• Oven safe to 680F
• Grooved lip
• Limited lifetime warranty
• Made in France.

M'Urban is Mauviel's tri-ply line of clad stainless. Its configuration is considerably different from the M'Cook. At only 2mm thick, with a 1.3mm layer of aluminum, it has--if our math is correct--about 25% less aluminum than M'Cook (or All-Clad D3). 

This is a significant difference. 

So, although M'Urban is beautiful and well-made cookware, it is not just a brushed version of M'Cook: it is thinner, with less aluminum, and the performance suffers for it.

Furthermore, you would think this budget configuration would result in a lower prices, but the M'Urban prices are high for what you get, running about 5-10% less than the M'Cook. If the line was priced as it should be, we could recommend you buy, say, an M'Urban stock pot because you don't need great heating in this piece. However, the line costs almost as much as M'Cook. You would be better off buying a budget brand of clad stainless like Tramontina or Cuisinart (links below).

Using the Cookware

Overall, there's not a lot to say about using the cookware: it has all the advantages of durable stainless steel, but its aluminum layer is too thin to provide even heating. It heats quickly because it's so thin (i.e., not a lot to heat), but that heat is uneven, and it also loses heat quickly because there isn't enough mass to provide decent heat retention.

The M'Urban is lightweight, so it's maneuverable and easy to work with. Unfortunately, it doesn't contain enough aluminum to provide even heating. The skillet had hot spots that didn't even out with time, so you had to stir food frequently to avoid burnt spots. 

The stainless exterior is durable and stable, it won't react with foods, and it is dishwasher safe. 

The handles are like the M'Cook handles, thin and flat--we prefer rounder handles for a more stable grip, but people with small hands may really like these.

M'Urban is beautiful, well made cookware, and it feels expensive in your hands (probably why it's gotten so many positive reviews). But it won't perform like it should for these prices.

Pros and Cons

Recommendation

We do not recommend M'Urban cookware. The configuration won't provide the performance of M'Cook, M'Elite, or any of the All-Clad lines. Just as bad, the prices are close to M'Cook prices.

M'Urban performs like budget clad stainless but is priced closer to high-end brands. You will get better performance from a brand like Tramontina or Cuisinart--both with lifetime warranties, too--for a much smaller investment.

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Review: Mauviel M'Stone Anodized Nonstick Skillets

See M'Stone on Amazon

See M'Stone 9.5-in. skillet

See M'Stone 11.8-in. skillet on Amazon

See M'Stone at Mauviel

Basics

• 3.5mm anodized aluminum base 
• Eclipse (PTFE) nonstick coating (3 layers)
• Induction compatible 
• Available only as skillets and crepe pans
• Cast stainless handle
• Oven safe to 500F
• Limited lifetime warranty
• Made in France.

The M'Stone is a well-made pan. Its 3.5mm layer of anodized aluminum offers exceptionally even heating and a good amount of heat retention. While you see some higher-end nonstick pans at 3mm thick, 3.5mm is rarer, and that extra aluminum really does improve the heating performance.

You may read in some write-ups that these pans are PTFE-free, but that isn't true, and can possibly be attributed to the language barrier (these are French pans). Eclipse is the brand name of a type of PTFE (we linked above so you can check it out for yourself). Eclipse is known for its durability and is considered one of the most long lasting nonstick coatings on the market.

M'Stone is expensive, with the 9.5-in. pan going for about $76 on Amazon; the 8-in. is about a dollar less, so the 9.5-in. is the best deal. Even so, if you've priced nonstick cookware, then you know this is high. The pans get great reviews and users love the heavy, expensive feel and nonstick performance. If you want a high quality nonstick pan, M'Stone is certainly a contender.

We've seen sites that carry M'Stone pots and pans, such as this British site. But these pieces don't seem to be available in the US, or on Mauviel's American website. This may change, though, so be sure to check the Mauviel site to see if they expand the line if you're interested.

NOTE: If you've read any of our other articles, you know we aren't big fans of nonstick, especially PTFE nonstick, and suggest using carbon steel or cast iron instead; even clad stainless can be fairly nonstick when used correctly. So we include the M'Stone because it's part of Mauviel's lineup, but we strongly recommend going with the M'Steel carbon steel for your "nonstick" skillet (reviewed below). The PTFE cookware industry has contaminated the planet with "forever" chemicals that are terrible for the planet and us. You can find out more in our article What Is PFOA?.

Using the Cookware

Though we are not fans of nonstick cookware, we have to admit that M'Stone is great stuff (if you're into this sort of thing). It heats quickly and evenly and also retains heat well due to its thick layer of aluminum. It's one of the best nonstick pans we've ever used, definitely living up to Mauviel's reputation for high quality.

The pan is lightweight despite its thick base. It feels durable and well-balanced in your hand. The handle is a little thin (like all the Mauviel handles), but on this light pan, it works; the cast stainless handle also looks great with the anodized aluminum.

The magnetic stainless base makes this pan usable on induction and also balances out the pan against the heavy-ish stainless handle. 

If you're looking for good quality nonstick, it's hard to imagine a better pan than this one. The Eclipse coating is one of the most durable PTFE coatings on the market. We don't know what that means for longevity, as no PTFE has a great reputation for lasting. But if you take good care of it--e.g., low heat, no metal utensils, and hand wash--the pan could last for several years. 

Pros and Cons

Recommendation

Mauviel M'Stone is top quality nonstick cookware, with a price tag to match. We aren't fans of nonstick cookware because of the environmental hazards the industry has created (with no end in sight, as "PFOA-free" means very little), but if you want nonstick, this is some of the best out there. 

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Review: Mauviel M'Steel Carbon Steel Skillets

See M'Steel on Amazon

See M'Steel at Mauviel

Basics

• 2mm thick carbon steel (14 gauge)
• Treated with beeswax to prevent rusting (must be removed before first use/seasoning)
• Must be seasoned before use
• Riveted stainless handle
• Oven safe to 680F
• Available in skillet, crepe pan, sauciér, paella pan, and wok (no sets)
• Limited lifetime warranty
• Made in France.

Mauviel M'Steel gets back to its French roots more than any other Mauviel line except, of course, their copper. The French have been using carbon steel pans--also called "black steel," "blue steel," "black carbon," and "black tin"--for hundreds of years. It makes excellent skillets, crepe pans, and woks because it holds heat well, and, like cast iron, becomes more and more nonstick with use: it develops a patina that some people swear is as slippery as Teflon. (It isn't, but it comes very, very close--so close that we recommend using carbon steel over nonstick because it doesn't have the environmental issues of PTFE.) 

Carbon steel is also extremely durable and inexpensive--so for a fairly small initial investment, you'll have a pan you can pass down to your children.

Carbon steel is closer in composition to cast iron than it is to stainless steel. We compare the two in our article Carbon Steel Vs. Stainless Steel: Which Is Better for Cookware?. Carbon steel is like thinner, lighter cast iron: it heats slowly and somewhat unevenly, but once hot, it hangs onto heat very well. It can also withstand very high temperatures, which makes it great for high-heat searing.

Many people prefer carbon steel to cast iron because it's lighter and easier to maneuver. 

All carbon steel pans provide roughly the same heating performance, because carbon steel is the same material no matter how much you pay for it. However, it comes in different thicknesses, or gauges, so weight and maneuverability can vary quite a bit from brand to brand. 

In general, carbon steel pans can range from 1-3.5mm thick. You should know the thickness before buying because it is the greatest factor affecting performance: thinner pans will be easier to maneuver but won't hold heat as well, while thicker pans are going to be heavier and harder to move, but will have better heat retention. 

There's no wrong answer as it depends on what you're looking for. The Mauviel M'Steel skillets are 2mm thick (14 gauge), which is a nice, middle-of-the-road pan and excellent for all-around tasks. Thickness of other M'Steel pans will vary--the wok will be thinner to keep it from being too heavy--but all will be close to 2mm.

M'Steel comes in skillets, crepe pans, sauciérs, paella pans, and woks.

Note also that the wok is only 11.8-in. diameter; standard wok diameter is 14-inches. The wok is also, at about $115, higher than other carbon steel woks we've seen. However, it is a nice size for a chef's pan/essential pan, so it's actually a versatile size (just small for a wok).

Using the Cookware

We tested the 11-inch skillet (about $80). The pan came covered in beeswax, which is typical for un-seasoned carbon steel to prevent rusting in transit. So before using, we had to remove the beeswax and then season the pan. The beeswax comes off by dipping the pan in several rinses of hot water, which probably shouldn't go down your drain. Then we seasoned it per the instructions, which said to cover the bottom of the pan with oil--we used avocado oil--and let it get hot and smoke for several minutes. We only did this once, then tried the pan out. 

Surprisingly, we were able to fry an egg in butter with no sticking; this means the pan was seasoned successfully. (Which was great, because many sources say you need to repeat the seasoning process several times before using the pan. Apparently, if you do it right the first time, you don't--Mauviel includes easy seasoning instructions with the pan.)

The pan made great eggs, great fried potatoes, and put a nice sear on steaks:

Overall, we thought the M'Steel skillet performed very well. The slippery surface wiped clean easily, too. (But it's good to know that you can use an abrasive cleaner like Barkeeper's Friend or scrubby pad if you need to, unlike a nonstick pan.)

At about 4 pounds, this 11-inch skillet weighs about a pound more than an All-Clad D3 12-inch skillet, but it is not hard to handle; it is much easier to handle than a cast iron pan of this size.

At $80, this skillet was higher priced than some other carbon steel brands we've tested; the Lodge 12-inch carbon steel pan, also 14 gauge (2mm), is about $45. This is a significant difference in price, and we don't know what you get with the Mauviel that you don't get from the Lodge; if you're not familiar with the brands, Lodge is made in the US and Mauviel is made in France. 

Another option is the Matfer-Bourgeat carbon steel pan, which also costs less than the Mauviel and has a welded handle--no rivets to clean around (which we love). The Matfer-Bourgeat is a thicker pan at about 3.2mm (10 gauge).

We really liked the M'Steel pan, but there are other equally good choices out there for less. The same is true for the wok, crepe, and paella pans, and we recommend getting a sauciér in something a little more heat responsive: ideally copper or good quality clad stainless. 

Pros and Cons

Recommendation

The Mauviel M'Steel is a great carbon steel pan, but so is the Lodge for about half the price. If you like the pan and have the budget for it, you won't regret buying it. If you want something thicker, go with the Matfer-Bourgeat pan (linked above).

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Final Thoughts

Mauviel makes a number of cookware lines and all are high quality. We like the M'Cook and M'Elite clad stainless lines but do not recommend the M'Urban line because it's too thin to provide great heating performance. We also like the M'Steel carbon steel, especially for a skillet, but the price is higher than other brands of comparable quality. And if you want top quality nonstick, the M'Stone is excellent, but also expensive, and terrible for the environment (we recommend going with carbon steel or cast iron instead and living with "semi-nontick" cookware).

Finally, Mauviel is best known for their beautiful copper cookware, which you can read about in our Mauviel Copper Cookware Review.

Thanks for reading!

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