Just like you can make delicious crepes with a recipe in hand, a fully explained buying guide will lessen your worries about choosing the right crepe maker. There are multiple products in the market, and they differ so much that making the right decision becomes too daunting and overwhelming. So, if you want to make the best out of your investment, go through the below-mentioned factors that can impact your choice.
How Is a Crepe Maker Different From Regular Flat Pans?
The traditional way to make a crepe is using a round flat base pan on the gas stove. There is no doubt that such a cooking process is challenging and daunting. That’s why having a crepe maker is ideal. If you are concerned about how a crepe maker is different from the pans, here are some differences that will clarify your confusion.
- For operating crepe makers, you will need electricity. But for cooking on regular pans, a gas stove or induction gas is needed.
- You will get a better cup or a spreader with the crepe makers but not with the pans.
- Crepe makers are small and compact. On the contrary, the regular pans can be pretty large.
- In a crepe maker, you will have the freedom to change the browning settings that won’t be there in pans.
What Key Factors Should You Bear In Mind For Choosing a Crepe Maker?
Surface size
The crepe makers have different-sized cooking surface areas where the diameter length varies from 8 inches to 13 inches. If you want to make standard-sized crepes only, go for a product with a cooking surface size of 8 inches. On the other hand, you should look for a 12-inch or 13-inch crepe maker to cook larger crepes, blitzes, or multiple food items at once.
Material
Most crepe makers have their exterior bodies made from high-quality plastic material. These products are light and can be carried anywhere easily. A few products have stainless steel housing as the material has higher durability and longevity. But these crepe makers are heavy, making transportation a bit difficult. Almost all the products have a cooking plate made from aluminum because it can conduct heat faster and in an even manner.
Non-stick coating
To prevent the batter or any other food item from sticking to the cooking surface, most crepe makers are reinforced with a non-stick coating material. This will allow you to flip or release crepes, pancakes, tortillas, and many more. While looking for a crepe maker, make sure its non-stick coating is free of BPA or PFOA plastic components as they are harmful.
Heating element
If your chosen crepe maker has a heating element, you have to check its power. A heating element can generate heat energy of a certain value, like 900 watts, once the current starts flowing through it. This heat energy maintains a consistent temperature of the cooking plate and helps the raw food items to get cooked completely. Therefore, a crepe maker reinforced with a powerful heating element will have less cooking time and vice versa.
Temperature control
Temperature control is one of the main factors you have to consider because it will impact the texture and taste of different dishes. Most crepe makers have a temperature control system that you can alter the heat level and cook your desired food to perfection. In some products, you will find a regulator knob that needs to be rotated for changing the temperature. On the contrary, you need to move a lever in the horizontal direction to achieve the desired temperature in some crepe makers. Apart from this, a few products can automatically change the temperature to produce the best results.
Browning levels
Some crepe makers come with different browning levels so that you can prepare crepes having different shades of brown. For example, if you like soft crepes that can be folded easily, you must set the browning at a low level. On the other hand, the regulator should be set at a high browning level to make the crepes crisper with a darker shade.
Indicator lights
Most crepe makers have two types of indicator lights made from LED. The red LED represents whether the electric supply to the appliance is on or off. A green indicator also alerts you once the cooking plate is heated to the desired temperature.
Portability
Crepe makers usually have a small and compact size that will help you carry them around to any place. However, you need to check the product’s weight because you will have to struggle a lot if it has a heavy construction. For transporting the crepe maker, make sure it isn’t super heavy so that you won’t have to put in any extra effort.
Stability
It would be best to choose a crepe maker with a base having rubber feet. This will help you cook without worrying about the appliance moving unexpectedly from its position.
What Are Some Breakfast Meal Ideas For Crepe Makers?
Using the crepe maker, you can cook many different food items. Some examples include paper-thin crepes with different brown shades, pancakes, fried omelets, bacon, toast, tortillas, and more. You can make taco bread, toasted muffins, chapatis, and other items provided the cooking plate can attain a high temperature.
