
How we pick our products
In today’s article we will talk about a product ideal for preparing pancakes and crepes with perfection and practicality: the pancake maker. Also available in electric and inverted versions, the pancake maker can be the utensil that was missing for you to hit the nail on the head when preparing your recipes.
Follow us in this reading and check everything you need to know to choose the perfect pancake maker for your kitchen.
Contents
Summary
- Practical and versatile, the pancake maker can be found in traditional, electric and inverted versions, in various brands, models and colours.
- Diameter, coatings, colours and materials are some of the features to pay attention to when buying.
- The prices of the pancake ovens vary, depending on the brand and model chosen.
The Best Pancake Maker: Our Picks
Having a well-equipped kitchen is synonymous with more practicality when cooking and varying the family menu. And for those who like pancakes, crepes and tapiocas, having a pancake machine is essential. Check out our selection with some of the best products on the market and get inspired to choose your pancake machine.
Buying guide: everything you need to know about the best pancake maker
Check out our Buying Guide to learn all about this utensil and know how to choose the perfect model to compose your collection of accessories for the kitchen, making it more practical and functional.
What is the pancake maker and what is it used for?
All models have in common the fact that they are non-stick, which makes it easier to prepare and flip your pancakes. The product’s differentiated design is ideal for the preparation of all kinds of thin batter, making the flipping process easier to brown on both sides. Check out the advantages of the product:
Electric or stove-top: Which version of the pancake maker is best?
Moreover, the model may end up limiting the use for producing new recipes, depending on your skill level in the kitchen. Traditional pancake bowls, on the other hand, are available in various price ranges and materials.
Besides, the design allows it to be used as a conventional pan for the preparation of several recipes, especially thin batters, since the low edges facilitate the task of turning the batter without breaking it. Compare in the table the two models of pancake machine and consider which one best suits your needs.
How to use the pancake maker?
For electric pancake makers:
- Preheat: let the product heat for about 3 minutes before using it;
- Attention to time: 3 seconds is enough time to dip the electric pancake machine into the raw batter. 50 seconds is the time that the dough should bake on the first side, and 15 is the period that it should remain in the pan after being turned;
- Don’t lose the point: if the dough overcooks, it runs the risk of breaking when folded or rolled;
- Eye on health: This type of pancake is anti-smelling and does not need oil, butter or any other source of fat to prepare the dough;
- Diversify: The electric pancake machine can also be used to prepare tapiocas, crepes and crepe pancakes.
For inverted pancake makers:
- Prepare: Place the raw pancake batter in a large, deep pan with a diameter larger than that of your pancake machine;
- Heat: The model is inverted, so the concave part, where we normally put the food, is the one that will stay over the flame.
- Grease: Apply a thin layer of olive oil, oil or butter with the pancake pan already hot;
- Hand in the dough: lean the convex part of the hot and greased pancake in the raw dough. As the utensil will be hot, the dough will stick to the surface – but only the exact amount for a very thin pancake.
- Find the ready: Return the pancake pan to the heat with the dough side facing up until golden brown;
- Turn: Arrange the dough on a plate, and then return to the pancake pan with the other side down to brown. After that, just assemble the pancake.
Avoid letting the pancake batter toast too much, because it can become dry and brittle
Purchase criteria: How to compare different types of pancake batter
We have reached the final section of this article, where we will present some more tips for you to make the best choice of Brinox pancake maker to prepare your recipes and snacks in general. Check out the list of features you should pay attention to when comparing the product models:
Below we will explain each of these topics in detail.
Diameter and depth
The main feature of the pancake pan is to be a wide and shallow pan, to facilitate the task of spreading and turning the pancake batter. Although this is a premise of this type of utensil, it is important to keep an eye on the measures of diameter and depth.
If the model is too deep, it is difficult to remove the dough, and even more complicated to turn it, increasing the risk of tearing and damaging your pancakes. Already small models are not recommended because they will reflect in the size of your recipe. The smaller the pancake maker the smaller the pancake that it will be able to prepare and, consequently, more difficult to fill and close.
Material
More and more the market has been innovating on materials and compositions when manufacturing kitchen utensils. The classic aluminum is losing space to stainless steel and ceramic in the manufacture of pancake bowls. Know the characteristics of some of the most popular models of pancake bowls:
- Stainless Steel: With cheaper prices, they are light and resistant. They heat quickly and can come with variations, such as colored coatings or triple bottom;
- Enameled: Made of steel, stainless steel, carbon steel or aluminum, the enameled versions are coated with enamel, which makes them easy to clean and very resistant. It has the advantage of coming in various colours;
- Iron: Classic and charming, they are heavier than models made in other materials, so they conserve heat quite well. They do not release toxins into the food, and even provide iron supplementation for the organism;
- Ceramic: resistant to thermal shock, can be used in microwave ovens. They conserve heat well and are non-toxic;
Details
The pancake bowls are available in several colour options, patterns and prints, so that you can choose the one you like the most or the one that best matches your kitchen decor and other utensils.
However, light colours are more susceptible to stains and to presenting signs of natural wear and tear caused by use. Therefore, if you want your pancake maker to stay looking like new for longer, give preference to the darker versions.
Coatings
The coating is the layer that covers the sheet of the pancake pan. All electric pancake griddle plates have a non-stick coating. In traditional versions, the coating can be only internal or internal and external depending on the brand and model of pancake pan chosen.
Prefer models with coating, as they do not require you to add any source of fat when preparing your pancake to prevent it from sticking. The use of butter, oil or olive oil to grease the pancake can alter the taste of the recipe.
The non-stick coating on the pancake mix can be of the type:
- Teflon: The most common and cheapest type of non-stick coating. It does not require the use of fat for most recipes. However, when damaged, the material poses health risks;
- Ceramic: More expensive compared to Teflon, but has greater non-stick potential. Material is non-toxic, and does not pose health risks even when the coating is damaged.
(Featured image source: Petr Štěpánek/ 123rf.com)