Review: Swiss Diamond Crepiere Crepe Pan

Sure, you don't actually need a special crepe pan to make crepes; you could just use an everyday skillet. But if you plan to make crepes or omelets regularly, Swiss Diamond's Crepiere Crepe Pan is a worthwhile investment. With a durable and safe nonstick coating, a study construction and a design that helps flipping, this pan can be used not only for crepes, but also for pancakes, omelets and griddled foods.

Swiss Diamond's Crepiere Crepe Pan is made of the same heavy-duty cast aluminum that the rest of the company's cookware is made of (read a review of the entire Swiss Diamond line). The company is known for its namesake PFOA-free nonstick finish, made of diamond crystals and is designed to not crack or peel, and the company even claims you can use metal utensils on it, though I wouldn't recommend that. The molded handle is heat-safe so you can use the pan in the oven up to 500˚F temperatures.

The pan is designed with a flared lip on the handle side and opposite the handle to help with flipping and folding foods.

I've tested the Crepiere's aptitude in making not only crepes, but also in other tasks. Because Swiss Diamond cookware is made of a thick, cast aluminum body, it does take awhile for this pan to heat up. Once it's at the right temperature, it retains heat very well, but does not quickly respond to temperature changes as thinner, more traditional crepe pans do. This was good in that it yielded consistent, evenly browned crepes, but it took some time for temperature adjustments to occur.

I thought the nonstick coating worked admirably well; when making crepes or pancakes, I brushed the surface lightly with vegetable oil but it didn't seem necessary. The crepes slipped off the pan easily, and even the very first one was evenly browned (In my experience, the first crepe is a "test" batch that usually has to be discarded). The pan is also handy for heating tortillas or cooking quesadillas; its size accommodates even larger tortillas, and the even heat distribution nicely melts the cheese and toasts the exterior of a tortilla.

The best part was the wide lip of the pan, positioned across from the handle, which allows the cook to better slide a crepe or an omelet off the pan and onto the plate, while folding it around the filling. The lip made this task easier, although it might have been more comfortable to maneuver if it was to the side of, rather than across from, the handle.

One drawback: The thick body of the pan is somewhat of a detriment when making delicate foods like crepes, that require a lot of pan movements. The pan is quite heavy, about 2 3/4 pounds, plus the weight of the food in the pan, which can put a strain on your wrist as you're maneuvering the pan on and off the burner.

Pros:

• Sloped side helps faciliate flipping.
• Oven-safe up to 500˚F.
• Nonstick coating is safer than some other chemical coatings.

Cons:

• Heavy
• Expensive
• Not compatible with induction cooktops

Details:

• 26 centimeter diameter (about 10 inches)
• Cast-aluminum body
• PFOA-free nonstick coating made with diamond crystals
• Stay-cool, ovenproof handle
• Limited Lifetime Warranty

Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.