TL;DR: The flat cooking surface and low rim of crepe pans are ideal for not only crepes but also pancakes, eggs, and other foods that need to be flipped. When picking out a crepe pan, consider what it’s made out of, how much it costs, and if it has a nonstick coating.

I’ve been cooking since I was old enough to be trusted in the kitchen. I grew up learning from my mom, and I’ve been a dedicated hobbyist for most of my life. Of the various types of cookware, cast iron is my favorite because of its heat retention and how evenly browned everything I cook with it ends up.

I own Lodge’s cast iron griddle, which, while not called a crepe pan, has all the qualities of one. It’s excellent for tortillas, grilled cheese, omelets, and pancakes, not to mention crepes. These pans are highly useful, and it’s one that I go back to several times a week.

Looking for a new pan? Curated has a guarantee that you’ll love what you buy from us. If you have any questions or concerns or are looking for recommendations, start a chat with a Curated Kitchen Expert! This free service allows you to get in touch with someone highly knowledgeable about kitchen equipment so that they can help you choose the perfect pan for your needs.

What Is a Crepe Pan?

To make homemade crepes on the stove, you want a crepe pan. These pans are designed specifically for the purpose — they have a large, flat surface (usually 8 inches or 10 inches, depending on what size crepes you’re making) and a low rim around the outside. That low edge is extremely important, as it makes it easy to get under the crepe and flip it without breaking it.

So, you may be wondering, what is a crepe? Crepes, or crêpes, are French pancakes that can have either sweet or savory fillings. Most crepes encountered in the USA will be sweet crepes, stuffed with fruit, whipped cream, or chocolate. They’re thin, light in color, and typically made from white wheat flour, though other types of flour can be used.

What to Consider When Buying a Crepe Pan

Crepe pans are like frying pans in that they can be used for a lot of different recipes. Their low sides make them work well for anything that you have to flip, ranging from pancakes, homemade tortillas, eggs, and French toast. When picking out the right crepe pan for you, think about what you plan to use it for and ask yourself these questions.

What’s It Made From?

The material that a pan is made out of can have a big impact on its performance and longevity. Ultimately, what’s important is what material works best for you, depending on whether you prefer durability, ease of cleanup, or economy. Here are the most common materials for crepe pans.

• Stainless steel: Stainless steel is a versatile material used for a lot of different types of cookware. It’s less common for crepe pans, and most of them will have a non-stick coating on them.
• Hard anodized aluminum: This metal is known for its heat distribution and reactivity, ensuring an evenly cooked crepe. The process of anodizing aluminum chemically bonds its oxidation, resulting in an aluminum that’s scratch resistant, nonreactive to acids, and nonstick. That being said, as aluminum isn’t ferromagnetic, it won't work on an induction stove.
• Cast iron: Cast iron is a traditional material for cookware, and it’s still used today because of its excellent heat retention and the fact that it can last for generations. It comes in two types:
  • Seasoned: Seasoned cast iron has a thin layer of oil baked into a protective layer, called seasoning or a patina. This layer prevents the metal from rusting and grants it nonstock properties that get better the more you use it. But you need to make sure to dry it right away to prevent rust and keep adding coats of oil to protect the metal and enhance the seasoning.
  • Enameled: Enameled cast iron has a layer of enamel or ceramic baked onto it at an extremely high temperature. This coating prevents rust and adds nonstick properties. It doesn't require seasoning, nor is it vulnerable to acid (acidic foods can remove seasoning). Its weakness is that enamel can chip and isn’t safe for uneven temperatures (like glass). Most enamels are also only able to go up to 500°F.
• Carbon steel: Carbon steel pans have a lot of the same properties as cast iron, such as being vulnerable to rust, requiring seasoning, and being incredibly durable. However, it’s a much harder metal, allowing it to be a lot thinner, and therefore lighter, than cast iron.

How Much Do I Want to Spend?

Most basic crepe pans are going to be in the $30-$60 range, depending on the brand and material. You can get a well-made crepe pan for $40-$50, but if you’re looking for a brand name or something premium — like enameled cast iron — you can easily spend $100.

A lot of the price of an expensive crepe pan will be paying for a brand name, but they will have additional benefits like being crafted by well-paid artisans or options for the color of the enamel. Le Creuset’s pan also comes with a rateau (wooden batter spreader).

Do I Want a Nonstick Pan?

Many crepe pans will have a nonstick surface — having your crepe stick can ruin it. That’s why it’s important to always put some oil or butter on the pan before adding your crepe batter, especially if you plan to make thin crepes. These pans are also great for quick cleanup, even for sticky foods like eggs.

Many nonstick coatings don’t hold up over time, so the pan may only be good for a few years before the coating begins to come off. They also aren’t safe for metal utensils, meaning you have to be sure to have a silicone or wooden spatula handy.

It also should be noted that seasoned carbon steel and cast iron are nonstick as well, though not as much as synthetically coated nonstick pans. Over time, though, and with some oil, carbon steel and cast iron pans can develop a highly nonstick coating, and they last for decades.

Features to Look For

While a lot of crepe pans have similar construction, certain features make them more useful or ergonomic. When picking out your next pan, look for these features.

Low Rim Around the Edge

It’s important to have a low rim on the edge to make it easy to flip the crepes. This can either look like a short, flared skillet rim or a rounded edge.

Benefits:

• Makes it easy to get a spatula under what you're cooking
• Less material makes it lighter, which is important for cast iron

Be aware:

• Limits the pan’s versatility, as batter or grease can spill over
• Not good for fatty foods, like bacon, or liquid dishes

Oven-Safe Handle

Handles can be made out of a variety of materials, including metal, plastic, and wood. Oven-safe handles will be made out of various types of metal, usually the same as the pan. Some nonstick or carbon steel pans will have a stainless steel handle.

Benefits:

• Increases the usefulness of the pan, as it can be used to bake or broil
• Metal handles are very durable

Be aware:

• Stainless steel handles can be more expensive
• Metal handles can get hot on the stovetop, particularly cast iron or carbon steel

How to Pick the Best Crepe Pan for You

Finding just the right pan can be time consuming. To make the task quicker and easier, I’m going to narrow down the choices by describing three different people and which pan I’d recommend to them.

Melody: Foodie Who Loves Breakfast

Breakfast is Melody’s favorite meal of the day, and she loves making pancakes, eggs, French toast, and crepes. She’d like a pan specifically for making crepe recipes but also one that could be used to make other breakfast foods if necessary. She’d also like to be able to use it in the oven or broiler for omelets and toasting.

Features to look for:

• A metal handle so it’s oven safe
• A silicone sleeve or raised handle so that it won’t get hot on the burner

Recommended products: Anolon Advanced Home Hard-Anodized Nonstick Crepe Pan, OXO Obsidian Carbon Steel Crepe Pan with Silicone Sleeve

Chrissy: Eco-Conscious Cooking Hobbyist

Cooking and baking have been hobbies of Chrissy’s for years, and she’s looking to expand her cookware repertoire. She’d like to get some crepe pans for making crepes, pancakes, and homemade tortillas. But she’s very conscious of her carbon footprint, so she’d like something that’s made in the USA to reduce shipping distance.

Features to look for:

• American companies that have factories in the US
• “Made in the USA” badge on packaging

Recommended products: Nordic Ware Traditional French Steel Crepe Pan, Lodge 10.5-Inch Cast Iron Griddle

Matt: Cookware Aficionado Looking for a Specialty Pan

Matt has a collection of high-end cookware, and he’s looking to add a crepe pan that’ll match the aesthetic. He owns pans and pots from a number of premium cookware manufacturers, and he’d like the new pan to be the same. He prefers the quality, lifetime warranty, and attention to detail that come with top-of-the-line cookware.

Features to look for:

• Well-known brands that make their cookware in the US or Europe
• Lifetime warranties

Recommended products: Le Creuset Toughened Nonstick Pro Crepe Pan With Rateau, Le Cruset Traditional Crepe Pan

Find the Right Crepe Pan for You

While crepe pans are specialty items, they can be used for quite a few different cooking purposes besides crepes. That means that it’s important that the pan meets your needs, whether you’re making crepes or if you plan to also whip up omelets and grilled cheese sandwiches. Starting a chat with a Curated Kitchen Expert will ensure that you get all the information you need to make an informed buying decision and, best of all, the service is free!