There are multiple ways to cook pancakes and by looking for the best pans for pancakes we’re going to cover them all.
Some people might only want a pan to cook pancakes in.
A few of us might want a pan that can cook a variety of dishes and one of those dishes will be pancakes.
In that case, the pans we’ll talk about will be frying pans.
Like, when I wrote my reviews for the best pans for risotto, those pans can absolutely be used for cooking so many other dishes, not only risotto. The same goes here.
For most of us, when we’re talking about pancakes, we’re talking about breakfast foods. Maybe you’re the type who wants your pancakes served with eggs, some delicious bacon, and hash browns.
In that case, you might be interested in buying a griddle.
Furthermore, I’ll take the liberty of also recommending a pancake maker, even if we’re here looking for the best pans for pancakes. It might be the case that a pancake maker might suit you better.
Last but not least, we might have people who might consider buying a crepe pan or a crepe maker because it will also work nicely for pancakes, as well. But it is primarily designed for crepe lovers.
As I’ve told you, there are multiple options to consider. It’s up to you to decide which cookware or appliance would be the perfect fit for your household.
If you’re interested in another delicious food, check out my reviews for the best waffle makers with removable plates.
Table of Contents
Best Pans For Pancakes Reviews
If you’re looking for something cheap that cooks pancakes fast and you cook them in a nice round shape every time, then you should check out the Dash Mini Maker Electric Round Griddle.
For those who want to cook multiple pancakes at the same time, an electric griddle like the Dash Deluxe Everyday Electric Griddle might be the perfect fit for their households.
When it comes to finding the classic, best pans for pancakes, we get to choose between non-stick pans or cast iron griddles or skillets.
The Lodge Cast Iron Skillet remains one of my favorite cookware. If I have a cast iron skillet and a good chef’s knife, I’m a truly happy person.
Those who are only into non-stick cookware, might prefer the OXO Good Grips Pro Nonstick Frying Pan Skillet. It’s quite amazing, the quality is top-notch, and the price is among the most affordable you’ll come across.
The Cainfy Pancake Pan Maker is an affordable and interesting pan with molds for perfectly round pancakes. It’s also PTFE and PFOA-free, which is awesome.
Last but not least, we have a crepe pan. Le Creuset Toughened Nonstick Pro Crepe Pan with Rateau is an interesting choice but much too expensive for my preferences. It’s nice to look at but I wouldn’t necessarily want to own one.
1. Dash Mini Maker Electric Round Griddle: Best Pancake Maker
I’m not saying that the Dash Mini Maker Electric Round Griddle is going to be the perfect choice for everyone. Some of you might prefer using a frying pan as one of the best pans for pancakes and I’m going to review a few of those just below.
The advantage of using a frying pan over the Dash Mini Maker Electric Round Griddle is that we can cook more pancakes in a faster time in a pan.
The Dash Mini Maker Electric Round Griddle might be exactly what some people are looking for. Especially if you’re looking for perfectly shaped pancakes every time you make them.
Plus, even most pans won’t have enough space for us to cook more than 3 small pancakes at a time.
You might move a bit faster in a frying pan but this Dash can also move pretty fast because it sandwiches the batter between two non-stick plates and cooks them relatively quickly.
However, I definitely wouldn’t consider this mini appliance perfect for people with bigger families. It can be nice for 1 or 2 people.
The fact that it’s quite quick and efficient is what makes this Dash appliance so popular and so handy to have around.
We must also consider the price. If your budget is well below $20, the Dash Mini Maker Electric Round Griddle might be exactly what you want to use in your household.
It’s an incredibly cheap appliance that offers good value for money. I like it a lot so let’s discover everything that it offers.
By the way, Dash has an entire line of mini appliances: this mini griddle that we’re talking about, mini waffle maker, mini grill, and mini shapes. They’re all very interesting mini appliances.
Features
With the Dash Mini Maker Electric Round Griddle we can male easy pancakes, eggs, grilled cheese sandwiches, and more. It’s a really nice, mini appliance. And that cheap price is unbeatable.
The 4 inch non stick cooking surfaces are a pretty good size. They’re perfect for pancakes.
The two coking plates heat evenly and release cleanly.
There’s no temperature to control. We plug in the appliance and that’s it. The Indicator Light will illuminate, which shows us that it’s heating up. When the light shuts off, we can cook.
We are also instructed to spray both cooking surfaces with a small amount of cooking spray.
Plus, only use heat-resistant nylon or silicone cooking utensils.
We also get a recipe guide. It includes recipes for: classic homemade pancake that need to be cooked for 5 minutes until golden brown, chocolate brownie pancakes, sausage egg & cheese breakfast sandwich, potato pancakes hash browns.
2. Dash Deluxe Everyday Electric Griddle: One of the Best Pans for Pancakes
The thing is that if we’re using an electric griddle, we won’t need to use any oil. It will have a nonstick surface and you absolutely don’t have to use oil or butter to make perfect, fluffy, delicious pancakes.
On the other hand, if we’re frying them in a skillet or frying pan, most of the time we’ll have to use some oil or some butter or, my favorite, clarified butter. That might be awesome for some of you if you prefer your pancakes fried in more than a bit of butter.
However, I prefer the griddle method of not using any oil or butter for some of my dishes.
I also enjoy how much cooking space a griddle offers. When it comes to available cooking space, no skillet or frying pan compares.
I know that we’re here to look for the best pans for pancakes but I must admit that an electric griddle is one of my favorite appliances for making this particular dish and many others.
I also love the versatility that an electric griddle offers. And how easy it is to use. Plus, it can be awesome for people who don’t want to use their stovetops all the time. I know that we can use stovetop griddles but electric griddles are my favorite.
Now, let’s see what the Dash Deluxe Everyday Electric Griddle offers for a price around $50. It’s not the cheapest electric griddle we could buy but it’s not the most expensive either. I think the price is just right.
Features
The description for the Dash Deluxe Everyday Electric Griddle informs us that it’s perfect for pancakes, quesadillas, burgers, eggs, and more. It can also be used as one of the best indoor grills for chicken breast.
It’s a versatile appliance that can help us prepare our favorite meals quite easily.
I love the PFOA-free nonstick surface. You can make pancakes without any oil. Although, you can also oil the surface a bit if that’s what you want.
The 19.75 x 9.5 inch surface is just such a great size for cooking large quantities at the same time.
It has a drip tray underneath, which is great for cooking meats, bacon, and burgers.
We get a control probe dial on the right side. There are 6 heat levels from warm all the way up to level 5.
It has a max temp of 400 degrees F. The lowest temp (level 1) is 200 degrees F.
It also comes with a recipe guide. It includes recipes for Challah French toast, blueberry yogurt pancakes that are cooked on temperature dial setting 3 (300 degrees F), breakfast scramble, classic cheeseburger, chicken quesadillas, rosemary steaks, beef fajitas.
3. Lodge Cast Iron Skillet: The Best Pan for Pancakes
Cast iron skillets or griddles can be amazing for making pancakes. They truly are some of the best pans for pancakes.
While griddles are fantastic, I actually prefer skillets. Cast iron skillets are incredibly versatile and I’ll always choose a cast iron skillet over a cast iron griddle.
There are certain conditions that a pan must meet if we want to make delicious, fluffy pancakes without ever burning them.
The pan must be heavy-bottom. If the bottom of the pan is thin, we can easily burn our batter instead of transforming it into delicious fluffiness.
Of course, a no sloped surface is a must.
The pan must also offer enough space so that we have enough room to flip them properly.
Now, let’s quickly cover another important thing.
If we’re using cast iron cookware, we must use oil or butter.
However, I want to introduce you to the third option that is even better than oil and butter for frying pancakes. That’s clarified butter.
Clarified butter won’t burn when exposed to high heat, no matter how many rounds of pancakes we must fry. It’s amazing, the smell is divine, and the flavor is on point.
If you want even more options, check out my reviews for the best 14 inch frying pan.
Features
What I really love about the Lodge Cast Iron Skillet, besides the possibility of lasting a lifetime is the fact that we have a lot of sizes to choose from.
We can choose from these following sizes: 3.5 inch, 6.5 inch, 8 inch, 9 inch, 10.25 inch, 13.25 inch, and 15 inch.
If you’re on a budget, go with the 10.25 inch.
If you care about cooking in a large skillet, absolutely choose the 15 inch skillet, which will cost around $50 or something like that.
The skillets from Lodge is pre-seasoned with 100% natural vegetable oil.
All in all, the versatility of a cast iron skillet is hard to beat.
And if you truly want it to be one of the best pans for pancakes, I recommend frying your batter in clarified oil. It’s so much better than oil or butter.
Just keep in mind that cast iron is slow to heat up but retains heat longer. It’s truly perfect.
Besides durability and top-notch heat retention, cast iron is also an amazing choice because it is compatible with any kitchen cooktop, oven, grill, and open flame. It’s perfect for camping.
Lodge also makes my favorite deep skillet that I reviewed as my top recommendation for the best tempura fryer. It’s a versatile manufacturer of cast iron cookware.
4. OXO Good Grips Pro Nonstick Frying Pan Skillet: The Best Nonstick Pan for Pancakes
For those who are not fans of cast iron cookware, there’s an alternative.
Non-stick frying pans are going to be cookware that people imagine buying when they’re shopping for the best pans for pancakes.
I definitely love non-stick cookware, they’re effortless to use and clean, and frying in them is totally easy and amazing.
However, you must also understand that non-stick coatings have a pretty limited shelf life. If we’re very lucky, we’re going to get 3-5 years until we need another non-stick pan.
Just remember: don’t use metal utensils on non-stick even if the manufacturer boasts that their non-stick coating is tough enough to withstand the use of metal utensils. Just don’t.
Also, wash it gently, like you would wash the most fragile thing ever.
Features
In order to review the OXO Good Grips Pro Nonstick Frying Pan Skillet we must cover the sizes and packages they offer. There are quite a few intriguing options we can choose from.
The most affordable option is the 10 inch frying pan skillet. The price is under $50 so that’s good. While the size is not the biggest, it is big enough for about 3 pancakes at the same time.
The second option consists of a set: an 8 inch and 10 inch frying pans sold together.
Last but not least, we get a set of 3 nonstick frying pans that cover a nice array of sizes: 8 inch, 10 inch, and 12 inch. It’s a great set if you own no nonstick frying pan at the moment and it can be great for people who want to cook in 3 pans at the same time. That can be good for feeding big families quickly.
What all these pans from OXO lack is a lid. Just cover them with aluminum foil as a makeshift lid.
The OXO Good Grips Pro Nonstick Frying Pan Skillet has a durable, hard-anodized body. It delivers excellent heat conduction.
Moreover, this pan from OXO comes with a three-layer, German-engineered non-stick coating. It promises years of performance using less oil.
It also has a comfortable stainless steel handle. Overall, it definitely looks nice.
Unfortunately, it’s not induction compatible. But it is oven safe up to 430 degrees F.
5. Le Creuset Toughened Nonstick Pro Crepe Pan with Rateau
Full disclosure: I don’t entirely see the appeal of buying and using a crepe pan. I just prefer getting a non-stick frying pan and using that.
The only thing that it brings to the table is the rateau.
If you’re not fascinated by that rateau, then stick to using your frying pan for making crepes. And pancakes and a whole array of dishes from eggs to omelets to stakes and the rest.
The only thing is that if you’re using a frying pan to make crepes, it needs to be non-stick. And it needs to be greased just a tiny bit.
You’ll have to spread that thin batter all over the bottom by picking the pan up and rotating it in different directions until the thin batter is all spread out as uniformly as you can get it. That also means that the bottom of the pan must not be too hot and you have to move quickly when you spread out the batter.
Frying pancakes absolutely sounds easier. Bothe crepes and pancakes are both delicious and quite easy to make.
Well, if somehow you end up wanting a crepe pan that can also be used for making pancakes and some other dishes, then let’s talk about one.
Features
The Le Creuset Toughened Nonstick Pro Crepe Pan with Rateau is 2 times more expensive than the Dash Deluxe Everyday Electric Griddle that I reviewed above so it’s really expensive.
It has a triple-reinforced surface that is very strong.
The textured interior promotes browning and searing for exceptional flavor.
The stay-cool ergonomic handle is nice.
Another thing that I like is that it’s compatible with all cooktops and it’s oven-safe up to 500 degrees F.
What I would say is that the Le Creuset Toughened Nonstick Pro Crepe Pan with Rateau makes perfect crepes and pancakes but the price is just too high for what it offers.
6. Cainfy Pancake Pan Maker
If you would like to use a pan with molds, the Cainfy Pancake Pan Maker can be quite nice. I like it but I don’t love it because the presence of those molds limits its versatility.
So I would pick a nonstick pan or a cast iron skillet over the Cainfy Pancake Pan Maker but it can still be a good option for some people.
Features
There are 2 options to choose from. The pan in both cases measures 10.5 inches and has the same features but the difference is made by the number of molds that is compartmentalized into.
We get to choose the pan with 4 molds, which means that we can make slightly bigger pancakes. Each mold measures 4 inches.
But if you want to make some tiny, mini pancakes then you can pick the pan with 7 molds. Although, 7 molds in a 10.5 pan will lead to very small pancakes so you should keep that in mind. Each mold has a 3.3 inch diameter.
The Cainfy Pancake Pan Maker has a 10.5 inch diameter with ½ inches height.
If we add the bakelite handle, it has a 19 inches length.
The pan is made of die cast aluminum. It is described as being durable and lightweight.
I like the 3-layer thickened bottom. It means that we’re not in danger of burning our food. It also ensures maximum heat transfer and the bottom heats evenly.
Another thing that I really like about the Cainfy Pancake Pan Maker is that it’s PTFE and PFOA-free. I love that we get a non-stick coating that is PTFE and PFOA-free, those are always my favorite.
It can be used on a variety of stovetops: gas stove, induction hob and electric stove, halogen, ceramic cooktops, stove grill compatible. It is also oven safe.
Best Pans For Pancakes Buying Guide
Since there are so many different options that we could buy, let’s further discuss some things so that you might have an easier time to make your choice.
Pancake maker, frying pan, crepe pan or griddle?
The 4 main options that I focused on in my recommendations are: pancake maker, frying pan/cast iron skillet, electric griddle, and crepe pan.
Well, I guess we could also make pancakes in an air fryer but that’s a discussion for another time. Check out my reviews for the best air fryer grill combo if you’re interested in discovering the world of air fryers.
Pancake maker
A pancake maker like the Dash Mini Maker Electric Round Griddle is perfect if you want to cook perfectly shaped pancakes every time.
It’s also pretty much the cheapest choice we can make. If your budget is under $20, I don’t think you can find a better pan.
It’s not limited to only making pancakes. We can also cook eggs, make breakfast sandwiches, make grilled cheese, burgers, and even cookies.
We aren’t limited in our cooking. It can be perfect for small kitchens, for people with small families that need to prepare delicious and fast breakfasts or for students. And maybe even children can use it under your supervision.
Electric griddle
While I love stovetop griddles, I believe that electric griddles are better and easier to use. Plus, they’re also great for people who don’t want to use their stovetop to cook some quick foods.
When we’re using a pancake maker we need to cooking plates with some oil. On the other hand, when cooking on an electric griddle, we don’t necessarily have to use butter or oil. Their non-stick surface allows us to cook without oil or butter and we’ll fry some fluffy and delicious pancakes.
I will also admit that using an electric griddle is one of my favorite recommendations for the best pans for pancakes.
I think that we can cook some of the most delicious foods on a griddle.
Plus, their large surface is the only option that allows us to cook a lot of pancakes at the same time in a very fast and efficient way.
If you have a pretty big family that is crazy about eating stacks of pancakes whenever you make them, an electric griddle can be the perfect option for you.
It’s also a good choice for single people or people with small families who want to serve a variety of foods at breakfast cooked very quickly: bacon, hash browns, eggs. And you have to serve all that with a fruit juice or smoothie or tea.
I also love using an electric griddle to make burgers indoors. It’s the perfect alternative to using an indoor grill.
Frying pan/cast iron skillet
There are two main categories if we’re choosing frying pans as some of the best pans for pancakes: non-stick or cast iron skillets/griddles.
Frankly, they’re both amazing. And I absolutely think that any kitchen should have one of each.
A cast iron skillet is just as important as a very good chef’s knife.
A cast iron skillet is one of the most versatile cookware that you’ll ever own. In my opinion, it’s only matched in versatility and usefulness by a Dutch oven, which is also made of cast iron. And both will last just as long, a lifetime or more.
On the other hand, a non-stick frying pan will only last a few years and that’s if we take good care of it.
However, even if non-stick pans don’t last a lifetime, they certainly have their uses. And they’re indeed some of the best pans for pancakes.
While I can certainly make pancakes in a cast iron skillet, I actually prefer the non-stick pan between the two.
Plus, I can also use my non-stick for making crepes so that’s a big plus. We love crepes almost as much as pancakes. It’s hard to pick a favorite.
Whether you’re using a non-stick pan or a cast iron skillet or griddle, you’ll have to use oil or butter.
Personally, I prefer oil but I also know of people who are using clarified butter. Clarified butter won’t burn and it can give you that buttery flavor at the same time.
Here is an article that discusses the advantages of using clarified butter. And it also features some other secrets for making amazing pancakes every single time.
Crepe pan
Last but not least, we have crepe pans or crepe makers. I decided to recommend a crepe pan because I’m not the biggest fan of crepe makers.
While the Dash Mini Maker Electric Round Griddle is cheap and very small, crepe makers tend to be not so cheap, very big, and they’re also not very good appliances in general. There might be some that are worth it but a crepe pan can be better.
If you are interested in making some changes, you might consider making spelt flour pancakes.
By the way, you can totally make crepes and pancakes and a long list of dishes in a frying pan, whether it’s a cast iron skillet or a non-stick frying pan. I guess I don’t see the appeal of a crepe pan as one of the best pans for pancakes and that’s why that was my last and least favorite recommendation.
Best pans for pancakes FAQs
Let’s answer some nice questions related to looking for the best pans for pancakes.
1. Should I make pancakes in cast iron or stainless steel?
Cast iron skillets are definitely the favorite cookware for pancakes for most of us. The pancakes cooked in cast iron are simply some of the most delicious you’ll ever enjoy. And cast iron is fantastic if you want to cook a large batch quickly because it has an amazing ability to hold its heat.
2. Is non-stick or cast iron better for pancakes?
While I definitely see the appeal of using a nonstick pan, especially for people who don’t enjoy thinking about seasoning and who want a pan that requires minimal maintenance, I would like to add that cast iron skillets cook the most delicious pancakes. You get the perfect texture and golden brown color. However, those who want ease of use, might enjoy nonstick pans more.
3. Should you cook pancakes in butter or oil?
Oil is great, butter is better but clarified butter is my top recommendation for cooking pancakes.
4. What type of pan is best for pancakes?
There is a wide variety of cookware we can choose as the best pans for pancakes: a cast-iron deep skillet is excellent if you want an affordable pan that will last a lifetime and more and that cooks some of the most delicious pancakes you’ve ever had, a pancake maker is a nice, cheap appliance that will take care of cooking fluffy desserts for us, an electric griddle is amazing for feeding multiple people quickly and for cooking a complete breakfast, a nonstick frying pan is nice if you enjoy pans that require minimal cleaning but you must also keep in mind that nonstick coatings will only last a few years and then we have to buy a new pan.
