Sweet, fluffy, still hot pancakes with fruit, yoghurt, topped with maple syrup or a big dollop of whipped cream, covered in cinnamon or vanilla sugar... Do you feel that weekend morning comfort too? A proper pancake maker will make preparing this iconic breakfast a lot easier. How to choose the right pancake pan and why it should definitely not be missing from your kitchen arsenal? You won't go wrong with our guide.
1. Why a special pancake pan?
5 REASONS TO GET A PANCAKE MAKER
- The pancakes will be one like the other compared to preparing them in a conventional pan and you can easily prepare several at once.
- Thanks to the non-stick surface, you can always be sure of a perfect result without burning.
- Kulina selects brands for you that use health-safe materials to promote the ultimate taste experience and preserve great qualities for years to come.
- Versatile use: you don't just have to make pancakes on the pancake griddle, you can also use it for perfect oxtails, potato pancakes or even small omelettes.
- The smiles on your kids' faces will be even bigger with the smiley face pancakes.
Whether you have children or you want to reminisce about your carefree years, a pancake pan is a must-have in your kitchen. If you want to achieve perfection, instead of a regular frying panquality pancake maker guarantees the perfect appearance and taste of the prepared delicacies and also makes cooking much faster and easier.
WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING A FRYING PAN
- Type of hob - do you cook on gas, ceramic or induction? Make sure the pan will get along with your cooker.
- The materials used - a steel frying pan will last you for years, titanium is lightweight and almost maintenance-free and aluminium will be hot in no time.
- Non-stick - if you don't want to end up with chunks of torn dough instead of good-looking loaves, always choose a quality pan with a non-stick surface.
- Size - you can choose from a wide range of differently sized pans, which can easily prepare up to seven pancakes at once, with the specialty being the poffertjes pans, which allow you to prepare up to 30 mini pancakes at once.
The best pancake pans according to customer reviews
2. What material to choose?
Cast iron, titanium, steel or aluminium - it's not always easy to choose the right material to use.frying pan made. It is therefore worth knowing how the materials used differ in terms of their properties so that you are always as satisfied as possible with the result.
Steel pancake pans
Steel stands out mainly for its resistance and its ability to conduct heat quite evenly. With proper use and maintenance, it willsteel pancake pan your helper for life.
Burn the steel properly before the first use and know that with each subsequent use, the properties of the steel improve and the pan acquires a natural non-stick properties without added surface chemicals. Plus, it gives you another great reason to enjoy sinfully good fritters every day - you're helping your pan!
Advantages and disadvantages of steel pancake irons
Benefits
- High durability and strength
- Uniform heat conduction and retention
- Natural non-stick, which only gets better over time
- Also suitable for induction - steel can be used on any type of hob
- Long service life - a steel pan (like a good wine) does not age, but matures
Disadvantages
- Can only be washed by hand, the steel loop hurts
- In case of insufficient maintenance can rust
Aluminium pancake moulds
Solid aluminium pancake pans have great conductive properties, heat up quickly and conduct heat well exactly where you need it.
But because aluminium itself doesn't get along well with food, aluminium pans come with a non-stick top layer to ensure that flipping pancakes is not a nightmare. Aluminium pancake moulds are also light and easy to handle.
Advantages and disadvantages of aluminium pans
Benefits
- Low weight - comfort of handling
- Also suitable for induction - can be used on induction hob
- Uniform heat conduction over the entire area
- Shorter warm-up time - aluminium is ready for action at a moment's notice
- More affordable compared to other materials
Disadvantages
- More susceptibility to scratches non-adhesive layers
- Cheap models may become cheaper over time.deform and bend
Cast iron pancake pans
Cast iron cookware will become an immortal fixture in any good kitchen. It is heavy, solid and can withstand even really extreme conditions without any problems.
You can use the cast iron frying pan on gas, electricity and induction and you don't even have to worry about putting it on an open fire or grill. And if you accidentally overeat the pancakes one day (which we don't count on), you can even use the cast iron skillet in necessary self-defence or as a fitness tool.
Advantages and disadvantages of cast iron pancake pans
Benefits
- Will last for generations to come- cast iron is virtually indestructible
- Excellent thermal properties - the heat lasts a long time and thanks to the thick walls and bottom it conducts the heat perfectly evenly
- Partial non-stick - a small amount of fat is needed, but with use the non-stick increases slightly
Disadvantages
- Prone to rusting - cast iron is not a friend of water, so make sure to dry it thoroughly immediately and avoid washing it in the dishwasher
- Higher weight - hand on heart, it won't be like fiddling with a piece of paper
3. Main criteria for selecting a pancake maker
Okay, now you may have guessed that the pancake maker deserves a place in your kitchen. What are the golden rules to follow when choosing one?
3.1 Non-adhesion!
Torn pancakes and burnt bits of batter? Unacceptable! You buy a special frying pan just so that you can get the result
perfectly round, fluffy pancakes. Don't discount your requirements and look for a pan that won't spoil your cooking efforts.
- As we said above, a steel pan will develop a naturally non-stick surface after proper firing and each subsequent use.
- If you don't want to wait, you can reach for a quality pancake pan made of aluminium with a non-stick coating, which guarantees a scorch-free result but is more prone to scratches.
- A cast iron pan, on the other hand, will last for generations, but its non-stick properties often need to be boosted with a little fat.
Our tip:
"Thou shalt not scratch", or utensils for sensitive cooking
Kitchen utensils for all surfaces
Choose from a wide range of silicone, plastic and wooden cooking skillets, ladles, spatulas or spatulas that won't damage the surface of your new pan!
High-quality turners and spatulas
3.2 Size matters!
For example, you can prepare 3 larger pancakes, 7 smaller ones or even 30 miniature ones in the frying pan! It's up to you which size you prefer.
But what are we going to say, the consumption of dough per pan and the overall "richness" on the plate is plus or minus similar and it is more about aesthetic and purely subjective impression. And last but not least, it's about how many eager diners will enjoy their portion.
3.3 Do you cook with gas, electricity or induction? Make sure the fritter fits your hob!
- Not every pan is suitable for induction, so be cautious and choose pans made of ferromagnetic material - stainless steel, cast iron, steel, etc.
- Apart from induction hobs, you don't have to worry so much, most pancake makers can cope with gas, ceramic and electric hobs.
One good pancake is enough: bet on trusted brands
There are countless manufacturers of kitchen equipment on the market and many of them offer a frying pan. The different brands differ not only in price but also in quality. If you're looking for equipment that you'll be able to enjoy for years to come, then expect a slightly higher price tag, but the pancake pan will reward you with unrivalled durability. At Kulina, we choose the proven brands that we buy and use ourselves.
But!
Pancake pan or pancake griddle?
If you don't stick to the perfect pancake shape or if you prefer thin pancakes and only occasionally indulge in yeasted pancakes, try looking for a pancake griddle.
Special pancake pans do not have a split bottom, so they allow you to create large pancakes and omelettes. However, you can also make smaller pancakes on them, although you have to take into account that the shape will often not be regular and the batter may run off the pieces when making several pancakes at once.
Either way, neither of these special pans will be lost in the kitchen. Our detailed guide will help you buy a pancake griddle.
Our tip
Read also
Pancake griddle - expert advisor
If you want to try thin French pancakes alongside pancakes, you shouldn't miss a special pancake griddle in your kitchen. What to look for when choosing one?
A pancake is a thin, larger pancake made of a dough consisting of flour, milk and eggs. The pancake is smaller in diameter and fluffier than the pancake, which is due to the use of yeast or baking powder.
You can use both plain and semi-coarse flour, barley flour is also suitable. Dough made with plain and barley flour will spread better, while semi-coarse flour will be less lumpy.
Have you promised your loved ones pancakes for breakfast, but the Sunday alarm has failed and you have no time for yeast pancake batter? Never mind, use baking powder. It has that familiar yeasty aftertaste, but it's easily banished if you replace some of the milk in the batter with a fermented milk product - yoghurt or kefir, for example.
If the fritters stick to the bottom of the pan, you can try adding a little fat to the batter itself (butter or sunflower, canola or coconut oil work well). However, even the best batter won't do wonders unless you have a proper pancake pan with a non-stick surface and a perfectly flat bottom.
The right time to turn the fritters is when the surface of the dough looks a little bit puffy and small bubbles start to form.
Final summary
You can treat yourself or the whole family to pancakes (not only) in the morning.
- To ensure that this delicacy never disappoints and you don't have to do too much work, equip yourself with pancake pan, to which the dough will not stick. Choose pans made of aluminium, steel or cast iron.
- Don't forget about compatibility with your hob, especially if you cook with induction.
- As for the size, choose purely according to your preferences and the number of diners.
