Whether you’re a crepe-making master or you’ve never made the paper-thin delicacies in your life, the best crepe pans can help you craft restaurant-level treats that won’t fall apart or burn — no matter how thin you like them.
But what makes one crepe pan better than another? All crepe pans and crepe makers tend to have shallower walls than traditional frying pans — but crepe pans with extra shallow walls are ideal for making super-thin crepes. That said, if you’re planning to flip your crepes like you would pancakes, then you might want to buy a pan with slightly higher walls.
Whatever design of crepe pan you choose, the materials it’s made of is probably the most important factor to consider. The material of the pan’s exterior will determine its durability, which surfaces it can be used on, how easy it is to clean, whether it’s dishwasher-safe or hand-wash only, and how evenly it distributes heat.
Cast aluminum is a common material for the exterior of crepe pans, and it’s great at evenly heating up your crepes. However, while it’s dishwasher-safe, you won’t be able to use it on an induction stove. Anodized aluminum is a solid exterior option as well, but it isn’t dishwasher-safe, so if hand-washing is a deal breaker for you, skip this option. Cast iron is another popular choice, because it’s super durable and it can be used on pretty much any surface, but cast iron is also hand-wash only.
The interior of your crepe pan is also very important, because it determines how nonstick your pan will be. QuanTanium, cast iron, and ceramic are great materials for the interiors of crepe pans, because they’re all nonstick and excellent at resisting abrasions. Just make sure you avoid any pans that are coated with harmful ingredients, like PFOA, since those can leak into your food and potentially pose a health risk.
Take a look at the best crepe pans below. All of them are $40 or less and highly rated on Amazon.