The Best Crepe Pans: Non-Stick, Carbon Steel, Cast Iron or Electric

A good crepe pan is flat, has very low sides and heats evenly, so the batter spreads thin and the crepe slides out without a fight. Beyond that, the right one depends on your stove, how often you make crepes and how much care you want to give a pan. Here are the best crepe pans by type, from an easy non-stick pan to carbon steel, cast iron and electric crepe makers.

You don’t strictly need a crepe pan: a flat non-stick skillet works fine (see How to Make Crepes Without a Crepe Pan). A dedicated pan’s low rim just makes spreading and flipping easier, which adds up once you make crepes often.

How to choose a crepe pan

Size. A 10-inch pan is the usual home size and makes crepes that fold neatly onto a dinner plate. Go up to 11 or 12 inches for thinner, French-style crepes once you’re comfortable spreading the batter. An 8-inch pan is handy for small crepes and blintzes.

Induction. Induction only works with a magnetic base. Carbon steel and cast iron always work. Aluminum pans only work if they have a steel plate in the base, so check the listing for “induction compatible.”

Material and care.

• Non-stick (PTFE): the easiest start. Crepes release with almost no butter. Keep the heat at low to medium, never heat the pan empty, and replace it when the coating wears.
• Ceramic non-stick: PTFE-free and just as easy at first, but the coating tends to lose its slickness sooner. Low to medium heat and a little butter help it last.
• Carbon steel: the classic crêperie pan. It needs seasoning and a quick wipe instead of soaking, and it gets more non-stick with use.
• Cast iron: heavy and very even. It needs seasoning like carbon steel. Enameled cast iron needs no seasoning but should be buttered well.
• Electric: a large plate at a steady temperature, good for crowds. It needs counter space and a spreader.

Whatever you choose, crepes stick most when the pan isn’t hot enough or the batter is too thick. Why Are My Crepes Sticking, Rubbery or Tearing? covers the fixes.

Best non-stick crepe pan

SENSARTE 10-inch non-stick crepe pan

A light aluminum crepe pan with a gray granite-style non-stick coating, a very low rim and a stainless steel base, so it works on gas, electric and induction stoves. Crepes release easily, it’s light enough to tilt and swirl with one hand, and it comes with a small wooden T-shaped spreader. The handle is heat-resistant plastic with a wood-grain finish, so keep it on the stovetop rather than in a hot oven. It’s the easiest pan for beginners and the one most home cooks need.

See the SENSARTE crepe pan

Best PTFE-free non-stick crepe pan

AVACRAFT 11-inch ceramic non-stick crepe pan

For a non-stick pan without PTFE, this ceramic crepe pan has a stainless steel body, so it also works on induction. At 11 inches it makes a slightly larger crepe than the usual 10-inch pan. Like all ceramic coatings it lasts longest with low to medium heat, a little butter and wooden or silicone tools. A good fit for anyone who wants a non-stick pan without PTFE, or who cooks on induction.

See the ceramic crepe pan

Best carbon steel crepe pan

de Buyer Mineral B 10.25-inch carbon steel crepe pan

The pan French crêperies have used for generations, made in France. The de Buyer Mineral B is uncoated carbon steel that heats fast and browns crepes beautifully, and it works on every stove, including induction. It needs seasoning before first use, and a dark patina builds as you cook, which is what makes it non-stick. Wipe it clean rather than soaking it, and dry it on the stove. With that care it lasts for decades. Best for anyone who makes crepes every week.

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Best cast iron crepe pans

Lodge 10.5-inch round cast iron griddle

Lodge doesn’t make a pan sold as a crepe pan, but its round cast iron griddle has the same flat surface and low rim, and it comes pre-seasoned. Cast iron heats slowly and holds heat very evenly, so the tenth crepe cooks like the first, and it works on induction. It’s heavy, so most cooks spread the batter with a T-shaped spreader instead of swirling. An inexpensive, nearly indestructible choice.

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Le Creuset 10.25-inch enameled cast iron crepe pan

The Le Creuset crepe pan is cast iron with a black satin enamel cooking surface, so it needs no seasoning and won’t rust. It comes with a wooden rateau (spreader) and spatula and works on induction. It costs much more than plain cast iron and needs a good film of butter for crepes to release, but it’s a pan that lasts a lifetime and makes a lovely gift.

See the Le Creuset crepe pan

Best electric crepe makers

NutriChef 12-inch electric crepe maker

An electric crepe maker with a 12-inch non-stick plate and adjustable temperature, like a crêperie griddle in miniature. The large, steady plate makes big, thin crepes, and it can sit right on the table for a crepe party. It comes with a spreader and spatula, and the spreader takes a few crepes to get the hang of.

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CucinaPro cordless dip crepe maker

A different kind of crepe maker: you dip the hot, domed 7.5-inch plate into a shallow dish of batter, then flip it back over to cook. The CucinaPro dip crepe maker lifts off its plug-in base, so there’s no cord in the way while you dip. The crepes are small and thin, and there’s nothing to spread or swirl, which makes it a fun option for making crepes with kids. The batter needs to be fairly thin for the dip to coat evenly.

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The tool to go with your pan

Wooden crepe spreader and spatula

Whichever pan you choose, a T-shaped wooden spreader and long crepe spatula make the job easier. The spreader pushes batter into a thin, even round, which is essential on an electric plate or heavy cast iron, and the long spatula slides under the whole crepe to turn it without tearing. Wood won’t scratch non-stick or ceramic coatings.

See the spreader set

Quick picks

• For beginners: the SENSARTE non-stick pan.
• PTFE-free and induction: the AVACRAFT ceramic pan or the de Buyer carbon steel pan.
• For a lifetime pan: de Buyer carbon steel, or Le Creuset if you’d rather not season.
• On a budget, built to last: the Lodge cast iron griddle.
• For parties and big crepes: the NutriChef electric crepe maker.

For what else is worth having in the kitchen, see The Importance of Using Quality Crepe Making Tools. Once your pan is ready, start with Classic French Crepes or get the proportions right with the crepe batter ratio.