Pancake day has crêped (!!) up on us once again, so it’s time to get our best pancake pan out of retirement. For most, that ends up being a tired frying pan that has clung with us from our student accommodation days right through ’til our first proper homes. But no more, we say. It’s time to upgrade our kitchenware collections with pans that’ll look straight out of The Bear – if you don’t know, get to know (it’s on Disney+) – and Shrove Tuesday seems a perfect occasion to kick off our cookware overhaul.
What type of pan is best for pancakes?
The optimal place to start: research. A handful of factors are at play when it comes to choosing the best pancake pan, with a non-stick functionality, a shallow rim and – if we were being picky – a cool touch handle being good places to begin your frying foray.
For beginners and those who aren’t renowned for their fryer/flipper/batter-making prowess, we’d recommend opting for a non-stick coating on your pan, as opposed to a pan that requires ‘seasoning’ (the process of repeatedly pressing oil into a pan to create your own non-stick layer). Pans with a non-stick coating are often made from aluminium and, these days, are generally PFOA free. PFOA is a man-made substance that resists sticking and was previously used in Teflon production; however, in recent years the chemical has been posed as a health risk, with the American Cancer Society finding that it “increases the risk of certain tumours.” Naturally, this means that most non-stick pans avoid PFOAs, but we’ve included a handy note on each of our chosen pans herein to flag which ones do/do not disclose the inclusion of PFOAs.
PFOAs aside, on the flipside ????, if you’re a time-earned chef or baker, then you might want to look to pan materials like cast-iron and carbon steel which, while requiring more know-how and upkeep, will offer more even heat distribution and long-lasting durability. Not to mention more versatility in terms of their use. Think: eggs, Spanish tortilla, bubble and squeak etc.
A shallow rim and flat diameter (as opposed to a gently curving pan base), will allow you to get into the middle of your pan with a pancake spreader for an even thinner and crispy crêpe. If you’re not familiar, a pancake spreader is a utensil – typically wooden – that’s shaped like a T-bar and is used to distribute your pancake batter thinly in an even circle around your pan.
Even if you don’t think you’re up to the task of big crêpes that warrant a crêpe spreader, a shallow rim will still ensure that you can lodge your spatula under your pancake easily, without tearing through its fragile membrane-like texture.
Think you’re up to speed? Let’s take a look at the best pans on the market for pancake day 2023 (February 21st, FYI).
Keep scrolling for our full edit of the best pancake and crêpe pans for fantastic flips this Shrove Tuesday.
1. Best pancake pan overall
Specifications:
- Pan material – Cast aluminium
- Handle material – Wood-effect soft-touch handle (removable for oven use)
- Suitable for – gas, electric and induction hobs, plus is oven safe
- Dishwasher safe? Yes
- Size – 28cm diameter
- PFOA? Free from
Pros:
- While the handle is made from a cool touch wood-effect, making it not oven-safe, that same handle is actually clipped on/off, thus making rendering the pan oven-safe after all.
- Free delivery for all buyers + free next day delivery for Amazon Prime members.
Cons:
- We can’t flaw it, it has nearly 400 five-star reviews.
Customers are saying:
A great non-stick pancake pan, said non-stick is very effective, you don’t need to use much oil and it’s just as much a top pick for French crepes as it is Indian-style dosas.
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