Have you ever tasted a dosa? With its origin in the Indian subcontinent, dosa are crepe-like pancakes that come in different types. Some are crispy while others are spicy, soft, and healthy among other variants. Whether you are a seasoned chef or are just trying out your hand in preparing dosa, you will need the best dosa pan.
How do you choose the right dosa tawa? Ournumber one pick for the best dona pan is the Hawkins/ Futura Non-stick Tava. This 13-inch pan is arguably the best choice for preparing and cooking your dosas. The pan is specially designed to meet the needs of all cooks; professional Indian cooks and beginners alike.
Best Dosa Pan: Quick Summary
Table could not be displayed.Top 5 Best Dosa Pan
#1, Hawkins/ Futura Non-stick Tava- Best Overall
The Futura Non-stick Dova Tava is arguably one of the best non stick tawa in the market. The pan is designed with the right thickness and curvature to give you the best results when you are making dosa. The flange in this tava that attaches the handle using strong and solid stainless steel rivets is designed such that it does not interfere with the pan’s cooking surface. This in turn maximizes the cooking area thereby allowing you to prepare a large dosa or several cutlets or uttapam at once.
Heavy-gauge construction
This dosa tava by Futura features a heavy-gauge construction of hard-ionized aluminum. This construction allows for even heat distribution across the plan thereby providing for uniformity and evenness in your dosa. Additionally, the anodized aluminum is resistant to corrosion, and also conducts heat perfectly. The 4.88mm extra-thick aluminum in this pan retains heat well thereby making the tawa ideal for use with radiant electric cooktops and domestic gas.
The dosa pan has a 0.19-inch thick stay cool handle not only guarantees your safety but also ensures that it provides you with the best cooking experience. Since the handle is solid and sturdy, you never have to worry about it bending or breaking.
Non-stick pan
The best thing about this Futura flat tava is that it has a non-stick surface. As such, you can comfortably prepare your dosa with little or no butter or oil at all. The non-stick coating in the pan is expertly engraved into the pan’s base for the best durability and reliability. The coating does not peel off throughout the life of the pan. This non-stick feature is crucial in that it comes in handy as it guarantees that your dosa never sticks onto the pan. This makes it easy to clean the pan after use.
With a 13-inch diameter, this pan is sufficiently large for preparing family size dosas. You can make up to 4 pancakes at a time when using this pan. This dosa tava is a breeze to clean as you can easily clean it using dish soap and a soft towel. It is advisable not to put the pan in a dishwasher as the non-stick coating can easily get scratched.
#2, Hawkins Futura Non-Stick Flat Dosa Tava Griddle, 11-inch- Best for even heat distribution
Futura is a brand that is dedicated to designing and making the best dosa plans. The Non-Stick Flat Dosa Tava Griddle by Hawkins Futura is one of the best pans that you can use for preparing dosa. Like other Hawkins products, this dosa tava features excellent craftsmanship. As such, the pan is not only durable but also delivers the best dosa cooking experience.
Sturdy and solid design
This 11-inch Hawkins Futura dosa tawa is has a sturdy and solid design. The heavy-gauge pan has a 4.88mm thickness that provides for the unlimited durability of the pan. The anodized aluminum pan diffuses heat fast, uniformly and evenly. Therefore, your dosa will cook evenly without any likelihood of burning or undercooking on any side. What is more amazing about the pan is that the fast heat distribution of the pan makes it energy efficient.
Balanced handle
This non-stick tawa by Hawkins Futura comes with a well-balanced pan-handle combination that is reinforced by sturdy rivets. The most fantastic thing about the handle is that it has a stay-cool feature. With this pan, the handle never gets uncomfortably hot like in substandard dosa pans. The well balanced feel of the pan makes it easy to hold the pan even for long durations.
The non-stick coating reinforced on the protective hard anodizing on the pan does not tarnish, crack, pit, corrode or chip. This in turn enhances the durability and overall resistance to wear and tear of the pan. The pan comes with a cookbook that provides you with ideas on the dosa recipes you can consider trying.
#3, Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Griddle with Easy-Grip-Handle, 10.5-inch- Best for all cooking surfaces
If you are in the market for a ready-to-use dosa tawa, then the Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Griddle is the best choice for you. The pan delivers heavy-duty performance, thereby making it a great choice for both home and commercial use. In addition to this, the dosa pan is perfect for use on a wide variety of cooking surfaces including campfire, oven and stovetop.
Brutally tough and hard
Cast iron is a hard metal. As such, this Lodge Pre-Seasoned pan is brutally tough and equally hard to provide decades of cooking. With this pan, you should expect to get years of endless performance and reliability. This Lodge dosa tava boasts of unmatched durability and versatility.
This cast iron pan is easy to care for and maintain. This is because you only need to wash it by hand with or without soap. You can then use a paper towel or a lint-free cloth to dry it promptly. After washing it, it is recommendable you rub it gently with a light vegetable oil layer. Always store or hang the pan in a dry place.
Seasoned pan
This dosa tawa is pre-seasoned thereby providing it with a natural finish that not only allows for easy cooking but also enhances the appearance of the pan. The best thing about this finish is that it improves with regular use. This makes the pan ideal for a variety of cooking practices including frying, searing, sautéing, broiling, braising, and baking. Ideally, this is an all-round pan that you can use for all your cooking needs.
Another amazing feature about this dosa pan is that it features even heating and excellent heat retention. This goes a long way in saving you fuel as well as in considerably reducing the cooking time. The lower side walls and wide cooking surface combination in the pan provide the best dosa making experience.
#4, FUTURA DT-30 Dosa Tava Nonstick Indian, 12-inch – Best for domestic gas cookers
Futura is arguably one of the top brands when it comes to kitchen cutlery and utensils. The 12- inch DT Indian Nonstick Dosa Tava is a high quality tawa that is specially designed for cookig the best and tastiest dosa and roti among other Indian recipes. The patented process used in the manufacture of this tawa ensures that it gives you the best value for your hard-earned cash.
Non-stick surface
In the present times, having a dosa tawa with a non-stick surface is a great advantage. This is because such a tava allows you to prepare delicious dosa and roti without having to use cooking oil or butter. Additionally, the non-stick surface in this Futura dosi makes it easy to prepare your meals and clean the pan after use.
If you are looking to make crispy and healthy dosas, then this is the ideal pan for you. The non-stick surface does not peel or get scratched, thereby ensuring that it remains in a pristine condition throughout the life of the pan.
Ideal for beginners and experts
If you are new to preparing dosa, then this nonstick tawa is the best choice for you. This is because the large cooking surface area and flat bottom of the pan provide the best dosa cooking experience. What is more unique about the dosa pan is that it is also perfect for experts and seasoned dosa chefs.
The sturdy and stable handle in the pan adds on to the overall durability of the pan. This handle, has a stay cool feature that provides protection from burns and scarring caused by excessively hot handles. Overall, the pan boasts of long-lasting resilience and suitability for preparing dosa.
#5, IMUSA USA 12” NONSTICK SOFT TOUCH COMAL/ GRIDDLE WITH SOFT TOUCH HANDLE- BEST FOR FAST DOSA COOKING
Pans made using cast aluminum are unique when it comes to heat retention. As such, the IMUSA USA 12 inch Nonstick Soft Touch Comal Griddle prides itself in excellent heat retention. In addition to this, the pan also diffuses heat evenly quite fast thereby allowing you to cook your dosa almost instantly. The flat design of the pan enhances its versatility thereby making it ideal for use on different cookers.
Nonstick surface
The nostick surface in this dosa tava just like in other pans makes clean-up easy and quick. However, the greatest benefit of the nonstick coating is that it allows you to use as little oil as you wish when preparing your delicacies. What is better about the coating is that it is scratch-resistant and prevents corrosion and rusting.
This IMUSA tava is promises to give you an exciting cooking experience as it bends authenticity and a traditional design. You can use the pan for a variety of foods including dosa, roti, and tortillas. What is more amazing about the pan is that you can also use it for toasting.
Flat surface design
The flat surface design of this IMUSA dosa pan comes in handy in ensuring even and uniform heat distribution throughout the pan. Therefore, with this pan, your dosa cooks evenly without any likelihood of undercooking, overcooking, or burning. Since aluminum is a good heat conductor, the pan heats up quickly.
The pan has a soft touch handle that remains cool while cooking thereby enhancing the comfort and safety of using the pan. The ergonomically designed handle also makes it easy and comfortable to carry the pan around.
What to look for in the best dosa pan
Whether you are new to buying dosa pans or have bought these tavas in the past, finding the right pan to buy can be quite complex and confusing. This is because these pans come in a wide variety of designs, sizes, and materials. For instance, there are tawas made from cast iron, and others from cast aluminum. So, what should you look for in the dosa pan of choice? Here are a few considerations worth making.
Shape
Having a dosa pan without a lip is a great investment. This is because for pans with high sidewalls, flipping dosa and roti can be quite challenging. Therefore, pans without any lip are usually the best when preparing dosa. However, pans with a small sidewall such as a few millimeters is a great choice for beginners as it will make it easy for them to spread the ingredients on the cooking surface without spilling.
Size
Usually, dosas are massive in size. As such, it is advisable that the dosa tava of preference should have a large cooking surface. It is recommendable to get a pan that is at least 12 inches. A larger pan is a better choice but small pans can be quite inconveniencing to use. If you are looking for a pan for your family’s dosa cooking needs, then you do not necessarily have to invest in an extremely large pan.
Material
There are three main types of materials used for making dosa pans. These materials include cast iron, cast aluminum and carbon steel. Carbon steel is the best choice as it is usually harder than the other two and has excellent heat retention. Also carbon steel is considerably lighter than the other two materials. Cast iron and cast aluminum have comparable weight and heat retention. They are also good heat conductors and thus they provide for quick heating. Either of these materials is good and therefore, the choice of the most ideal pan is purely a matter of personal preference.
Regardless of the material you choose, it is necessary that your pan of choice should have a nonstick surface. This surface comes in handy in making cooking easy and healthy as you can cook your dosas with little or none at all. In addition to this, this surface makes it easy to clean after cooking. However, you should take proper care of this coating as it tends to peel off easily with time. Avoid scratching on the surface of this coating to prevent scratching.
Handle
While most people presume that the handle of a dosa tava is not an important aspect, this is ideally not the case. The handle comes in handy when you are flipping your dosa or moving the pan from the cooker after cleaning. The best pan to settle for should have a stay-cool feature that ensures that it does not get hot even after long cooking sessions. Additionally, the best handle should be ergonomically designed so that it is comfortable and convenient to hold.
Brand
Brand is also an important consideration when you are in the market for the best dosa pan. There are tons of brands that make these pans with some brands being durable and reliable while others are not. Consider settling for top brands that are reputable and widely known for their superior quality, durability, and performance. Avoid brands that are poorly designed as such brands tend to fall apart within no time. As such, they do not give you the best value for your money.
Budget
Unless money is not a problem to you, it is necessary that you have a budget when it comes to shopping for the best dosa pan. This is because these pans are priced differently. There are brands that cost a few dollars while others cost hundreds of dollars. With a budget, you not only get the chance to identify the most affordable brands depending on your financial capability but also get the best value for your money. It is worth noting that you do not need to spend hundreds of dollars on buying a dosa tava. This is because there are numerous brands that cost under $100 and have the best quality pans.
Use and care of dosa pans
The durability of a dosa pan is hugely determined by the care and attention that you accord your pan. Even with the best quality pan, unless you are able to take good care of it, it is likely that it might not last for long.
For starters, you should only use these pans on low/medium heat. Avoid using high heat on these pans. Secondly, avoid fragmenting or scratching your nonstick pans using metallic spatulas or scrubbing with steel wool. Instead, use silicone or wood spatulas as they are gentle on the nonstick coating on the pans. Always replace your pan immediately you notice that it is dented, smashed or chipped for whatever reason.
Additionally, always clean your pan after every use. This comes in handy when ensuring that the pan remains in a pristine condition and that it lasts for long. Store your pan in a dry place preferably by hanging it using the handle.
Never wash your dosa tava in a dishwasher. The collision with other utensils can easily peel off the nonstick coating on the pan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to do if your dosa sticks on to the tawa?
If your tawa does not have a nonstick coating, it is likely that the dosa will stick. For iron-coated tawas, nonstick properties develop gradually with time. However, if you notice that your dosa is getting stuck onto the pan, you should sprinkle some water on the pan while on a medium flame and let the water evaporate before you start cooking. This will provide non-stick properties on the surface of the pan.
Is an anodized tava harmful to your health?
No. an anodized pan prevents your food from coming into direct contact with the metal in the pan. Anodized cookware does not pose any health concern to users neither does it add any foreign taste or flavor to your food.
Is granite a good choice for making dosa tawas?
Yes. Tawas coated with granite do not emit any toxic fumes and thus are generally safe and convenient for all your cooking needs.
What else can I use my dosa tawa for?
Tavas come with a variety of uses in addition to cooking dosas. These pans are ideal for preparing flatbreads like Chapatti, Paratha, and Cheela. You can also use these pans for stir-frying vegetables.
Conclusion
Dosa tawas are perfect for making a variety of South Indian dishes. These pans are quite easy to use, care for and maintain. Whichever brand you settle for, it is advisable that you only settle for a pan that will provide you with reliable service throughout its life. Also, take good care of your pan for it to last for long. With the best tawa, making your favorite dosa or roti will become an exciting experience.
I am Paula D. Gonzales. As a Product Designer, I have worked with companies like AMC Culinary Cookware, counting over 6 years of professional experience in the cookwares field.
In this blog, I will review various cookware products such as cookware benefits, non-stick safety, healthy cookware, taste, durability, PFOA free, and induction cookware. My goal is to build a rigorous evaluation of various cookware products so that you and I can better understand the differences in the products and their relative benefits.