Best Aebleskivers Pans: How To Choose The Right One

Aebleskiver pans are a specialised cooking tool that are commonly used to make Danish aebleskivers, a type of pancake ball. The pans are often made from cast iron and feature hemispherical divots that give the aebleskivers their distinctive shape. While the pans are single-purpose, they can be used to make a variety of dishes from different cultures, such as Japanese takoyaki, Dutch poffertjes, and Indonesian kue cubit. When choosing an aebleskiver pan, it is important to consider the design and material, as some cheaper options may not have the skirted design required for even heating.

Cast-iron pans are traditional

Cast-iron aebleskiver pans are often sold with accessories like bamboo skewers, a silicone handle, and an oven mitt. The more you cook with a cast-iron pan, the better it gets. It is recommended to use a little extra oil, butter, or shortening the first few times you use a new pan.

There are many different types of cast-iron aebleskiver pans available. For example, the KUHA cast-iron pan is non-stick and electric stove-top compatible. It comes with bamboo skewers, a removable silicone handle, and an oven mitt. The Norpro Deluxe Munk pan is another cast-iron option, while the Norpro non-stick pan is also available.

Non-stick coatings make for easier cleaning

A non-stick coating is engineered to reduce the ability of other materials to stick to it. In the context of cookware, non-stick coatings allow food to brown without sticking to the pan. This makes non-stick pans easier to clean, as food residue does not stick to the surface.

Non-stick coatings, such as Teflon, are applied to kitchen and household products to prevent food from sticking and to facilitate subsequent cleaning. The non-stick effect is achieved through physical and chemical mechanisms that affect two fundamental properties of adhesion: surface energy and adhesion forces.

Surface energy is the attractive or repulsive force that a surface exerts against another product. The higher the surface energy, the greater the attractive force on the surface. Conversely, the lower the surface energy, the lower the attractive forces. Therefore, a non-stick coating aims to minimise the surface energy of the material on which it is deposited, thereby reducing the adhesion forces between the materials.

In recent years, new non-stick technologies have emerged, mostly based on silicon ceramics and silicone. For example, Cuisinart's Ceramica is a non-stick ceramic coating that does not contain PTFE or PFOA. Another ceramic non-stick coating is Thermolon, which is composed mostly of silicon and oxygen. It is applied as a single layer over the metal of the pan and then followed by a protective or decorative top coat. Tramontina's Eco-friendly Cookware line uses an NP² non-stick technology, which is silicone-based and PTFE-free.

When choosing a non-stick pan, it is important to consider the quality of the coating. Better-quality coatings are more durable and less likely to peel and flake, and they retain their non-stick properties for longer. Additionally, it is recommended to use non-metallic utensils (such as plastic or wood) with non-stick pans to prevent scratching the coating.

Aebleskiver pans are also good for Dutch poffertjes

Aebleskiver pans are also good for making Dutch poffertjes. The pans are similar, but not identical. Aebleskiver pans have deeper wells, resulting in puffier, more spherical poffertjes. The pans are also typically a different shape, with Aebleskiver pans being round and poffertjes pans being square.

Aebleskiver pans are also usually made from cast iron, while poffertjes pans are often made from carbon steel. This means that Aebleskiver pans are heavier and take longer to heat up. However, cast iron is more durable and will last longer.

The batters for Aebleskiver and poffertjes are also different. Aebleskiver batter uses baking powder, while poffertjes batter uses yeast. This means that Aebleskiver batter is fluffier and lighter, while poffertjes batter is denser and more disk-shaped.

Despite these differences, Aebleskiver pans can be used to make poffertjes. The main advantage of using an Aebleskiver pan is that it creates puffier, more spherical poffertjes. However, the denser batter used for poffertjes may not rise as much as Aebleskiver batter, resulting in flatter, less round poffertjes.

Overall, Aebleskiver pans can be used to make Dutch poffertjes, but the results may vary depending on the batter and cooking technique used.

You can use a knitting needle or bamboo skewer to turn the aebleskivers

Aebleskivers are sphere-shaped Danish pancakes. They are cooked in a special pan that is usually cast iron, with hemispherical divots. The traditional method of making aebleskivers involves slowly turning the dough around in a well-greased divot using a knitting needle or bamboo skewer. The knitting needle or skewer is inserted near the side of the aebleskiver to turn it a quarter turn. This process is repeated until the aebleskiver is cooked through, with the original side facing up. It is important to be patient when turning the aebleskivers, as attempting to do so too early will result in a doughy mess. The browner the dough becomes, the easier it will be to turn.

Aebleskivers can be served sweet, with powdered sugar or a glaze, or savoury, with pancake syrup or fruit syrup such as lingonberry. They can also be stuffed with various fillings, such as apple, chocolate chips, cheese, or even octopus. The possibilities are endless!

In addition to aebleskivers, the specialised pan can be used to cook a variety of other dishes from around the world, including Japanese takoyaki, Dutch poffertjes, Indonesian kue cubit, and Indian paddu. These dishes all have similar spherical shapes but differ in their ingredients and flavours.

Aebleskivers are traditionally served with glogg

Aebleskivers are a type of pancake cooked in a special pan with half-spherical moulds. The centre is soft and fluffy, and the exterior is crisp and browned. They are traditionally plated in threes, dusted with powdered sugar, and topped or filled with jam. They are often served with whipped cream, butter, maple syrup, and fruit preserves.

Aebleskivers are a symbol of community and hospitality in Denmark, and they are very popular at Scandinavian charity and open-air events. They are usually served during the Christmas season and are commonly sold at Christmas markets, charity markets, and open-air events. They are also a treat for children's birthday parties due to their popularity and easy preparation.

Frequently asked questions