Whether you prefer your crepes stuffed, folded, or rolled, we bet you don’t like them broken, crumpled, or burned. Since there are a variety of crepe pans on the market, it’s important to know what to look for. If you’re not quite sure what makes a good crepe pan great, here’s a complete guide to choosing a quality crepe pan for your family's kitchen.
Crepe Pan vs. Frying Pan
With a good recipe, you could make crepes in any regular frying pan, but if it’s something you cook often (and want to perfect), you’ll want to add a crepe pan to your cookware collection. The main differentiating factor between a crepe pan and a regular frying pan is the height of the side rims. Regular pans have higher, slanted sides to accommodate sauces, stir-fries, pasta, and eggs without spilling. Crepe pans have very low to no rims. This makes getting your spatula under the crepe for flipping much easier. When buying a crepe pan, or any cookware for that matter, spending a little more on something of good quality is worth it. Quality pans can last you a lifetime, while cheaply manufactured items can be unsafe to use, peel, crack, or chip.
Construction Material
Crepe pans are available in a range of different materials. Some include a non-stick coating, while others require a little oil or cooking spray to prevent sticking. The material the pan is made of will affect its heat conduction and retention capability, weight, durability, and whether or not it's dishwasher-friendly.
Stainless steel
Stainless steel pans are made by blending chromium and nickel with steel. These pans are anti-corrosive, durable, and don’t react with acidic or alkaline foods. This means that they won’t discolor foods or impart a metallic flavor during cooking. Stainless steel also does not scratch easily, and it is dishwasher, oven, and broiler friendly. However, you will need to check what material the handle is made from before trying to use it in the oven. One downside to stainless steel is that it is a poor conductor of heat. This is remedied by bonding copper or aluminum (which are both highly conductive) to form clad stainless steel cookware.
Carbon steel
Carbon steel is inexpensive and durable. It is widely used for enameled cookware and is non-reactive. Raw carbon steel needs to be oiled to prevent rust. However, if this is done properly, it will develop a natural, non-stick interior over time. It can achieve a high temperature and holds heat well but it takes longer than other materials to heat. If you choose a carbon steel pan, opt for a slightly thicker model, as very thin pans can develop hot spots.
Aluminum
Aluminum is a great wallet-friendly option with good heat conduction properties. Since natural aluminum may react with certain foods, it is usually clad with stainless steel, lined with a non-stick coating, or anodized. This hardens the surface and generally gives the cookware a dark gray color. Anodized crepe pans also come in non-stick versions. The suitability of different cooktops, ovens, and dishwasher cleaning methods will vary from brand to brand. Check the manufacturer's guidelines to ensure it's compatible with the cooktop you have.
Cast-iron
There are both pros and cons to using cast-iron cookware. One reason it is loved by many is its extreme durability. If you have cast iron pans and take good care of them, they can last you a lifetime. Although it is slow to heat up, it is self-regulating, durable, and warp-resistant. Natural cast iron is less expensive than enameled cast iron; however, it needs to be seasoned to prevent rust. Seasoning will give your cast-iron cookware a non-stick interior. Some manufacturers now apply a seasoned layer to prevent rust so the user doesn’t have to do it themselves. Although more pricey, enameled cast iron is maintenance-free, non-reactive, and easy to clean. Regardless of the type of cast iron design, these pans are very heavy and may not be the best choice if you like flipping your crepes.
Other Factors to Consider
Pan size
Crepe pans should ideally be no smaller than 20cm (7.9 inches) in diameter and no larger than 26cm (10.2 inches). This will ensure even heating and make flipping a lot easier (and more successful).
Compatibility
Make sure the pan construction is suitable for where you want to use it. If you’re hoping to cook crepes over a fire while camping or put the pan in the oven to melt toppings, check that the construction material is safe for these uses.
