How to choose the best pancake pan?

Every housewife should have a pan designed specifically for baking pancakes. To make pancakes magnificent and tasty, and the cooking process does not take much time and effort, you need to know how to choose a pancake pan.

What should be a pan for pancakes

There are many pans for baking pancakes, differing from each other in shape, size, material and quality of coating. But all of them must satisfy the following requirements:

• low sides, thanks to which you can easily turn over or toss a pancake;
• a thickened bottom that can withstand a huge temperature difference;
• long, poorly heated handle.

A round frying pan is considered a classic version of this cookware. Although today there are square models, because wrapping the filling in such pancakes is much more convenient.

Depending on the material of manufacture, pans are divided into several types, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Non-stick pan

For those who are just starting to master the art of making pancakes, a pancake pan with a non-stick coating is perfect. It can be fried almost without oil, while the dough does not stick to the work surface and the product is easily turned over.

One of the advantages of such dishes is low cost, accessibility and ease of care. To start cooking pancakes in a pan with non-stick coating, just warm the surface to the desired temperature and grease once with oil.

Teflon cookware has slight flaws.

Important!

A Teflon-coated pan cannot be heated to temperatures above 220 ° C. Otherwise, the frying surface begins to release toxic substances.

Manufacturers provide modern models with special indicators to help control the heating temperature.

In addition, the pancake pan with non-stick coating does not tolerate careless handling. It can only be washed with a soft sponge using liquid detergents. To turn pancakes over, use exclusively wooden or plastic spatulas, protecting the surface from scratches and chips.

For cooking stuffed pancakes, you should choose a pan with a diameter of 25 cm. If you plan to cook small pancakes, you can purchase a model that has 15 cm in diameter.

Cast Iron Pancake Pan

Many experienced housewives prefer cast-iron pans for baking pancakes. The first pancake cast-iron skillet appeared in the III century BC. e. and still remains the most reliable and durable.

Pancakes made of cast iron have a significant weight, which sometimes reaches 3 kg. Before cooking, such dishes require pre-treatment.

1. The new cast-iron pan must be thoroughly washed in water with a detergent, wiped dry, covered with salt and put on fire.
2. For an hour, you should warm the dishes over high heat until the salt darkens. This procedure can be done two or three times. Salt will draw out the fumes and technical oils used in making dishes.
3. Continuing the preparation process, it is recommended to pour half a glass of vegetable oil into the pan and heat it to smoke. Warm the pan with oil for 20-30 minutes, then the dishes should be cooled and washed with cold water.After this treatment, a thin oil film forms on the frying surface, and the pan is ready for use.

Before choosing a pancake pan made of cast iron, it is necessary to carefully study the quality of the frying surface. It should be absolutely even, without potholes and sagging, with barely noticeable roughness. Over time, such dishes do not lose their properties and become only better.

The pancake cast-iron pan has sides 1-2 cm, and the buyer chooses the diameter to his liking. It must be remembered that the larger the frying surface, the heavier the dishes.

Starting to bake pancakes in a new cast-iron pan, you need to prepare for the fact that the first pancakes will be “lumpy". This is quite normal, and from the third or fourth time everything will work out, you just need to remember to add oil before each new pancake.

After completion of work, the pan should be cooled, washed in warm water and dried with a paper towel.

Important!

So that the cast-iron skillet does not lose its properties and does not become covered with rust, it must be stored absolutely dry.

Ceramic coated crepe maker

A new generation of cookware includes ceramic-coated pans. They are cast products made of cast iron, steel or aluminum, the frying surface of which is covered with a smooth layer of ceramic.

Unlike Teflon cookware, a ceramic skillet has several advantages:

• frying surface is more durable, resistant to destruction;
• pancakes in a ceramic pan do not burn, as the ceramic has high non-stick characteristics;
• the dishes are environmentally friendly, not afraid of high temperatures and do not emit toxins, because ceramics consist of natural materials - sand, stone, water.

Of the disadvantages of ceramic-coated pans, only the high cost, quite justified by the quality of the dishes, can be noted.

Before using the ceramic pan for the first time, it should be washed, wiped dry, heated over medium heat and, after pouring a little oil, calcine. Ceramic upholstery absorbs fat, after which it will be possible to cook pancakes without adding oil.

Store dishes with ceramics clean and dry. Pancake pans, which have been dirty for a long time after frying, will not last long. Despite the strength of the ceramic layer, it is recommended to use wooden or plastic spatulas to turn pancakes.

Marble-coated frying pans

An analogue of the ceramic component in the manufacture of utensils is a marble coating, which is made from crushed marble and granite. The pancake pan with a marble coating is made of cast aluminum, has a thick bottom and a non-stick layer of light color, incredibly scratch resistant.

Such dishes are not afraid of high temperatures, do not emit toxic substances, and pancakes in a pan with a marble coating never burn. This is ideal for novice housewives deciding which pan is best. Pancakes bake perfectly even without oil, in addition, before the first use, a frying pan with a marble coating does not need to be cooked. Simply put the dishes on the fire and start frying pancakes.

Dishes with a marble layer are quite expensive, but with good handling and last a very long time. The rules for caring for marble utensils are the same as for a ceramic coated pan.

Convenient and high-quality pancake pans will help to decorate the menu with golden pancakes, and the work of baking will bring real pleasure.