Are pancakes your favourite breakfast? Or maybe you want to add them to the menu of your restaurant? If so, then a pancake maker will be ideal, letting you prepare perfect pancakes every time, fluffy but also thin and crispy around the edges. Read on and find out which pancake maker to choose.
Are pancakes your favourite breakfast? Or maybe you want to add them to the menu of your restaurant? If so, then a pancake maker will be ideal, letting you prepare perfect pancakes every time, fluffy but also thin and crispy around the edges. Read on and find out which pancake maker to choose.
Types of pancake makers
Do you love pancakes? Do you know how to make pancakes without a mixer, and know the perfect recipe for both classic and American-style pancakes? Then it’s time to go to the next level – buying a pancake maker, thanks to which each pancake turn out exactly as desired! Searching for the perfect pancake maker might seem a tricky task. There are many different types available, most of them intended for commercial use. What are the different types most commonly on offer?
Commercial pancake makers
A professional pancake maker, in other words a pancake maker for commercial use, is primarily intended for use in restaurants, breakfast bars and confectioneries. You will find both electric and gas pancake makers on the market.
Although intended for professional use, you can also use them at home, although many of the features will not prove necessary in this case, and you will need to expect to pay significantly more. If you only plan to use the equipment at home, a less powerful pancake maker for home use will be a better idea.
Automatic pancake makers
Automatic pancake makers are intended for industrial use. They are not generally used in commercial kitchens, but rather in factories for producing semi-finished product. It is good to know about their existence, although the target group for such equipment is pretty narrow.
Gas pancake makers
Gas pancake makers require connecting to the gas supply. They operate in a way that resembles heating plates – a burner heats up the pancake maker to high temperatures, allowing for quick and effective pancake preparation. However, such a solution is impractical at home, as the necessity to connect the device to your gas installation may turn out to be troublesome. In commercial kitchens, on the other hand, such equipment is much more popular – it is an ideal solution, for example, for serving food at festivals. You only need a gas cylinder, no electric connection is required!
Electric pancake makers
This is the most popular type, due to its numerous advantages – you will find models ideal for home use, as well as more advanced, professional pancake makers for use in commercial kitchens. Just plug them in and turn them on to fry perfect pancakes on large, hot plates. This electric Crepe Maker with Two Heating Plates from Royal Catering is perfect for restaurants, cafés, or home kitchens. If you’re looking for a Crepe Maker with one heating plate then this 400 mm 3000 W crepe maker is also a perfect choice.
What should you pay attention to when choosing a pancake maker?
Is there a perfect pancake maker? The definition of the perfect pancake maker will vary depending on your needs and expectations. However, when choosing which one to buy, it is worth paying attention to the following parameters:
- Plate material – cast iron or aluminium? The plates on pancake makers can be made of various materials, but it is important that they are finished with a non-stick coating, so you don’t have to grease them during frying, and can prepare lower calorie pancakes.
- The casing – this material should be resistant to mechanical damage and thermally insulated, lowering the risk of burns when preparing pancakes.
- Cooking power – will you use it at home? Anything above around 900W should do. However, if you are looking for a commercial pancake maker, you will need a bit more. For efficient use in a commercial kitchen look for approx. 3000W!
- Diameter – do you plan to fry large or small pancakes? It is safest to go for a model with a plate of at least 30cm in diameter, although you will also find many larger models.
- Temperature regulation – pay attention to the available temperature range. The wider the range, the more possibilities you will have. Set the heat to the desired level and fry not only pancakes, but also tortillas or blinis!
- Accessories – a special T-shaped spatula should come with the pancake maker, which will make it much easier to spread the mixture.
The best pancake makers for commercial use
Which pancake maker is best for commercial use? First of all look for models with a large plate diameter – 40cm will be optimal in this case. Models equipped with two plates will allow you to make more pancakes in a shorter time, which could be a good solution in busy restaurants or at large events.
This will also come in very handy during breakfast and or at times when your venue is full. In such situations more powerful models, with around 3000W, will also be a good idea, as they will heat up more quickly and let you fry one pancake after another.
Gas or electric pancake makers? This depends on your needs, as well as possibilities. An advantage of electric models is they are quicker to use and more versatile, although gas ones will help reduce your electricity costs, as gas is a much cheaper energy source.
Also pay attention to the casing – pancake makers with plastic casing are suitable for home use. For commercial use, steel will be much better, as it will not get damaged during everyday use.
Which pancake maker should you choose – summary
Choosing all the necessary equipment for your restaurant can be challenging. There are many things to remember and pay attention to in order to be able to serve your guests with high-quality dishes. Which waffle maker will be best for serving breakfast, and which ice cream machine should you choose for preparing desserts? Choosing the best pancake maker is yet another task to add to the list, but thanks to the above tips, you should be able to find one that suits your needs.
However, bear in mind the conditions in which the pancake maker will be used when making your choice. Choosing an electric pancake maker for home use is somewhat easier. Such equipment will be used more moderately, so the exact parameters are not so important.
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