Best pancake pans: non-stick, electric and griddle pans for perfect pancakes and crepes

Pancakes are a crowd-pleasing breakfast all year round, and having a special pan or gadget designed for the job makes all the difference.

Sure, you can knock up a stack of pancakes using a standard frying pan, but if you’re looking for great results every time (yes, even that difficult first pancake), a pancake pan is what you need. It features a shallow lip and a tough-but-thin base, giving you even heat distribution to make it easier to show off your flipping skills.

Any speciality kitchen purchase is an investment, so we’ve scoured the Mumsnet forums to find out which pancake pans, griddles and electric pancake makers are worth the outlay.

Here are the best pancake pans to buy.

1. Best overall pancake pan: Tefal Non-Stick Thermal Crepe Pan

Price: £24 | Buy now from Amazon

"I have a Tefal frying pan which is excellent for pancakes and omelettes" - PandoraHadABox

"I've just learnt the art of pancake making, it starts with a decent pancake pan, very hot and a good batter mix. I recommend Mary Berry's" - TaliZorahVasNormandy

Combining functionality with value for money, this non-stick crepe pan from Tefal is our pick for the best pancake pan. Its textured surface and even heat distribution make it perfect for making crepes or smaller, thicker pancakes. The thermal symbol in the middle turns red to let you know when the pan is ready for your batter, and the non-stick surface only requires a tiny bit of oil.

Key specs

• Material: Aluminium

• Suitable for induction hobs: No

• Dishwasher safe: Yes

2. Best budget pancake pan: Premier Cookware Essentials Pancake Pan

Price: £11 | Buy now from Amazon

If you're an infrequent pancake flipper, consider this budget buy from the Premier Cookware range. It features an all-important non-stick coating and is suitable for all hob types, including induction hobs. And you can bung it in the dishwasher after whipping up your stack of pancakes. The best bit? There's a pancake recipe printed on the base of the pan for faff-free flipping.

Key specs

• Material: Aluminium

• Suitable for induction hobs: Yes

• Dishwasher safe: Yes

3. Best traditional crepe maker: Breville Traditional Crepe Maker

Price: £34 | Buy now from Amazon

"Best gadget ever bought . I could never make pancakes . Now I am a legend with the kids' friends lol. They all want to come over for pancakes" - FoodieToo

"Had it for years and it’s still like brand new. It’s the best kitchen purchase I’ve ever made. Used frequently for pancakes but also for things like quesadillas. Never use oil, not needed, not even in the batter mix. Easy to clean with a quick wipe. Doesn’t take up much room in the cupboard but to be honest is used so much, it’s out on the side most of the time" - sadie9

For crepes that wouldn’t be out of place in a French town square, this Breville crepe maker is flipping amazing. At 12 inches, it doesn’t take up that much more cupboard space than a wok or a casserole dish, and Mumsnetters say they use it much more than they’d expected. Making crepes and pancakes a breeze rather than a chore, go for the Breville if you want to make pancakes a regular event in your house.

Key specs

• Material: Aluminium

• Suitable for induction hobs: n/a

• Dishwasher safe: No

4. Best frying pan for pancakes: Regis Stone Frying Pan

Price: £20 | Buy now from JML Direct

"6 months in and daily use and it still looks brand new. Better than my cast iron crepe pan for pancakes. Nothing sticks to it, even if you cook without oil. Wipes clean too. 110% can recommend" - RockinHippy

Regis Stone pans have a stone coating which means they heat up faster than other types of pan, cook your food quicker and require no oil whatsoever - making them ideal for pancakes. The depth of the pan makes it more of a challenge to flip a pancake compared to other models, but if you’re a pancake pro on the lookout for something more versatile than a speciality pancake pan, this one will serve you well for any number of dishes.

Key specs

• Material: Aluminium

• Suitable for induction hobs: Yes

• Dishwasher safe: No

5. Best pancake pan for induction hobs: Le Creuset Crepe Pan

Price: £92 | Buy now from Amazon

"I'd never go back to gas. I have a Neff hob and a Le Creuset pancake pan. Perfect pancakes every time" - Ismellphantoms

Lots of Mumsnetters swear by their induction hobs - they heat up in a jiffy, are easy to clean and don’t burn your hands. The only drawback is, not every pan is compatible… enter the Le Creuset crepe pan. Our induction evangelists love this pan for its sturdiness, its sleek look and its perfect results. Whether you’re making fluffy scotch pancakes or thin crepes, you can rely on this pan, whatever type of hob you have.

Key specs

• Material: Aluminium

• Suitable for induction hobs: Yes

• Dishwasher safe: Yes

6. Best pan for American pancakes: NordicWare Silver Dollar Pancake Pan

Price: £52 | Buy now from Amazon

For perfectly circular, fluffy and evenly cooked American pancakes, a silver dollar pancake pan is the ultimate kitchen tool. This one by NordicWare has seven spaces so you can knock up a tower of dinky pancakes for one very hungry person or for the whole family to share. Reviewers say it just needs a tiny spritz of oil for perfect non-sticky pancakes, and it’s made from cast aluminium so it’s not too heavy.

Key specs

• Material: Aluminium

• Suitable for induction hobs: No

• Dishwasher safe: No

7. Best griddle pan for pancakes: Circulon Double Burner Griddle Pan

Price: £62 | Buy now from Amazon

"They are fantastic. The only thing is don't put them in dishwasher and just clean under running water and wipe dry" - BoreofWhabylon

If you’re feeding a crowd, this huge griddle pan from Circulon will give you perfect pancakes en masse. At 56 x 26cm, it fits over two hobs, but the anodised aluminium construction will give you even heat distribution, and the non-stick coating makes it really easy to clean afterwards.

Key specs

• Material: Aluminium

• Suitable for induction hobs: No

• Dishwasher safe: Yes

8. Best pancake pan for crepes: GreenPan Ceramic Pancake Pan

Price: £36 | Buy now from Amazon

This ceramic coated crepe pan is super easy to use and its shallow, slanted lip prevents any drips of batter from escaping (giving you a good chance of a successful flip in the process). It can be used on all hobs, even induction ones, and the non-stick coating is enhanced with actual diamonds to provide a reliable, easy clean surface.

Key specs

• Material: Aluminium

• Suitable for induction hobs: Yes

• Dishwasher safe: Yes

9. Best electric pancake pan: Domo Pancake Maker

Price: £46 | Buy now from Amazon

"We have one (Xmas pressie from in-laws). We use it for American style pancakes. That's it. We don't have them that often. It's great when we do but rest of time it takes up storage space. Not at all minimalist. Great to have a few times a year" - VioletStar

If you’ve room to spare in your kitchen, an electric pancake maker like this one from Domo is a brilliant bit of kit to bring out for a showstopping breakfast. It’s mains operated so it can be set up away from the kitchen, and it makes lovely thick pancakes.

Key specs

• Material: Plastic

• Suitable for induction hobs: n/a

• Dishwasher safe: No

Which type of pan is best for pancakes?

A specially-designed pancake pan is thinner and with a shallower lip than a standard frying pan, ensuring even heat distribution and giving you the best chance at a successful flip. You’ll also want to look for a good non-stick coating, so you don’t have to use too much oil.

Are pancake pans worth it?

If you’re a pancake fan, or pancakes are your go-to special occasion breakfast, a pancake pan will help you cook perfect ones every time.

What is the best pancake pan to buy?

The Tefal Nonstick Thermal Crepe Pan is practical, good value and produces a great stack of pancakes, making it our pick for the best pancake pan.

How we chose our recommendations

Most of our recommendations for pancake pans came from Mumsnet users themselves. We searched the Mumsnet forums for posts about which pans Mumsnetters really rated. We also researched various review sites to find out which slow cookers performed well across the board.

Why you should trust us

We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.