Pancake ball pan

In the ethnographic collection of the National Museum in Szczecin, there is a pan with 8 round indentations. It was used for preparing pancakes, but eggs could also be fried in it. Pans with indentations are often associated with æbleskiver pans, used for frying the popular Danish pancakes, especially enjoyed during the Christmas season. These pancakes resemble doughnuts in appearance. The batter was poured into the pre-greased indentations, and once the bottom was fried, they were turned to brown evenly on the other side. The pan is made entirely of copper, a material that conducts heat very well, ensuring quick and even frying. However, copper has the drawback of producing harmful substances when it comes into contact with certain food products. To avoid this, the interiors of copper utensils were lined with tin. Copper utensils, not only pans but also saucepans, roasting pans, cake moulds, jugs, and kettles, were valued not only for their functionality but also for their aesthetic appeal. They were considered true kitchen decorations, but due to their high price, not everyone could afford them. This fact is reflected in the museum collections today, as relatively few copper utensils from the past have survived in Western Pomerania. Agnieszka Słowińska