Viking is a Cookware manufacturer with a main focus on the commercial industry. They manufacturer a wide assortment of cookware related product such as gas range, ventilation, cookware, refrigeration, etc… In their early day, they made a very interesting product, the Viking Crepe Pan. While I cannot confirm this, it seems to be made during the early days of the company. The packaging on the product leads me to believe that this was initially designed for the consumer market. Either way, the construction and design of it is not what you will find in a traditional crepe pan. This review will take a closer look at how its designed and go in depth about its ergonomics and functionality.

Viking Crepe Pan Japan Quick Summary

What is Crepe

In almost every country, there seems to exist a local version of the pancake. Vietnam has the Banh Xeo, South East Asia has the Roti Canai, America have the pancake and the French has the Crepe. Unlike American Pancakes, crepes are very thin and light in texture. Usually fruits are folded inside the crepe into a cone like shape. Then various confectioneries are garnished on top. The end result is a very pretty desert. You can find a full list of the different Pancakes at Wikipedia.

It became quite the sensation during the early 2000. The Japanese brought the desert into their cartoon show and the Otaku in America loved it. Crepe shop started popping up all across the Asian enclaves. Although the popularity of the dish have died out, it is still a very important dish in French Culture. For more information about Crepe, I recommend that you read the Wikipedia Article on the Subject.

Viking Crepe Pan Design

Unlike other crepe pans, you do not pour the batter into the pan. But rather, you dip the pre heated pan into the batter. There are various aspect about this pan that makes it unique. This section will go through the different aspect of the Crepe Pan.

Handle

The handle is made out of wood to prevent the transfer of heat. While heating on the stove top, it is unlikely that this pan will get hot. Near the end of the handle, there is a metal knob with a loop for hanging. Another benefit of the wooden handle is that it is porous. If your hand is greasy or wet, it will give you a better grip then lets say a metal handle. For this reason, a wooden handle is the best choice.

However, the issue with this handle is that it is not at all balanced. Because of the relatively lightness of the handle, the pan feels heavier than it really is. All the weight of the pan is located at the pan itself. The Balance Point of the pan is actually near the mid point of the pan. Usually you want the balance point in the center of the handle so it feels light.
Holding this Crepe pan near the end, or even the center of the handle, puts a lot of strain and leverage on your wrist.

How to Use Viking Crepe Pan

The shape of this pan is what makes it so unique. The crepe pan that most people are use to resembles that of a traditional skillet. However, Viking Crepe Pan dome like shape is designed to be dipped into the batter. To use this pan, what you would do is heat up the pan on a stove top. Once its brought up to temperature. You will dip the pan upside down into a plate of batter. After one second, flip the pan up right. Finish cooking the crepe on the stove if necessary.

This is a very interesting and novel way of doing it, I wonder why it isn’t as popular. It certainty takes less skills and effort than the traditional way of making it. You dont have to worry about swirling the batter through the pan. Nor would you have to use that Wooden Spreader to spread it.

The bottom of the pan is also quite interesting. It has the letter Viking Crepe Pan Japan engraved on it. And it also seems like it was raised on purpose. It is around 2 inch away from a stove top fire. I wonder if they did this to prevent it from overheating the pan.

Aluminum for Heat Conductivity

The pan is mostly made out of Aluminum. It has a very high thermal conductivity relative to other metal like cast iron or stainless steel. It also provides an even and quick heat throughout the pan. If you compare the prices to other metal like copper, it is no wonder that manufacturer like using aluminum. The problem with it is that it is reactive with acidic food and give off a metallic taste. Today manufacturers will often use lining such as stainless steel or teflon to get around this. On Viking Crepe Pan, it is unlined bare polished aluminum. Since the purpose is to make crepes, the chances of it reacting with the food is low.

Fit and Finish

While this pan is well made and looks good, the finish on it is horrible. Pitting is everywhere on the pan. On the surface to the side, it is not smooth. Looking at the base of the handle there are knicks gouges and gapes everywhere. The only thing that look consistent is the texture appearance on the bottom of the pan. The dome is also not perfectly smooth. In certain light, there is a ripple affect to it.

While Japan is now known for their superior products. During the early 1950’s Japan was known to be a manufacturer of shoddy product. Much like how China is today. However, as times goes on, their reliable production of automobiles changed public perception of Japanese Products. This pan might have been made during this transitional period. Quite frankly, I amazed at how horrible the finish is.

Viking Crepe Pan Specs:

Note:These measurement are done by me with the tools that I have on hand. The manufacturers have their own measurement guidelines and that should be assumed to be accurate. What I find on this review can vary widely due to several factors, such as ambient temperature, location, water, tool calibration, stove btu, etc..and should only be considered as my opinion.
Weight: 1025 g 2.26 lb
Rim Width:Around 8 inch
Height: Around 1.2 inch

Viking Crepe Pan Thoughts

If you like Crepes and plan to make a lot of it, this pan is the way to go. You might be limited by the size of the crepe, but it takes little effort and skills to make. The main issue that I have with this pan is simple the craftsmanship of it. Luckily for you, it is no longer in production, so I just wasted your time. Unfortunately, these types of pans are reduced to only cheap electronic pans like this one. It does have a non stick finish so cooking on it should be easy. If you want the Viking Crepe Pan, you should be able to find it at Ebay. The are going for an affordable price.

I hope you found this Viking Crepe Pan Review to be informative, If you would like to see more, please visit our Pots and Pans Review page.