Discover the Best Lefse Griddle Kit for Making Perfect Lefse at Home

Lefse is a traditional Norwegian flatbread that is beloved for its delicate texture and versatile flavor. Making Lefse at home can be a bit of a challenge, but with the right tools and equipment, it’s easy to achieve delicious results.

The best Lefse griddle kits include everything you need to make perfect Lefse in your own kitchen, including a large, flat griddle, a rolling pin, a turning stick, and a pastry board.

In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the best Lefse griddle kits available on the market, and help you choose the one that’s right for you.

What is a Lefse Griddle?

A lefse griddle is a specialized cooking surface designed specifically for baking the traditional Norwegian flatbread known as lefse. It features a large, flat, round surface with no edges and a slightly raised rim. 

This design allows for easy rolling of the lefse during cooking with a specialized lefse stick. Lefse griddles are typically operated at temperatures ranging from 475 to 500 F and used without grease. 

Traditionally, lefse griddles were stovetop models or designed for use in hearths, but now electric models are more common. These electric models often feature aluminum or nonstick surfaces, short legs, wooden handles, and a thermostat controller. 

Best Lefse Griddle

Check out the top lefse griddles below:

Bethany Housewares 760 Lefse Starter Kit

This lefse griddle kit from Bethany Housewares, a leading provider of high-quality Scandinavian kitchenware, includes everything you need to make authentic Norwegian lefse in the comfort of your own home. 

The kit features a 16″ aluminum lefse griddle, a lefse turning stick, a corrugated rolling pin with cover, a pastry board, and cloth set, and two packages of lefse mix. 

The included Bethany Housewares Heritage Grill is perfect for creating traditional sweet or savory lefse, but it’s large 16″ flat surface also makes it great for grilling steaks and burgers, cooking pizzas, frying eggs and bacon, and more. 

The deep outer rim of the grill helps to contain excess dough, oil, and batter from spilling over the edge. The grill plate is made of aluminum with a satiny luster and has a wide temperature range, from simple warming applications to 500°F for proper lefse grilling.

Addis Griddle 16-inch Digital Electric Griddle

The Addis digital electric griddle is a versatile cooking accessory that allows you to create a variety of delicious dough-based dishes. Its nonstick surface and 360-degree no-spill edge make it perfect for cooking traditional flatbreads like lefse, chapati, bread, tortilla, and Ethiopian injera.

The digital heat controller enables energy-saving cooking and a pre-set warm feature and auto shut-off function when not in use. This not only allows you to create delicious flatbread but also helps you save on energy costs.

The Addis digital electric griddle ensures even heat distribution for optimal cooking results. The ergonomic design of the griddle makes it easy to use, with heat-resistant handles and legs. Plus, it is PFOA and PFOS-free, so that you can cook with peace of mind.

Proctor Silex Electric Crepe Maker, 13 Inch Griddle & Spatula

The 13″ nonstick Proctor Silex Crepe Maker is the perfect kitchen accessory for creating restaurant-quality crepes at home. With its 8 heat levels, you have the control to achieve a perfect golden finish or go for a darker crepe. 

The included batter cup and spreader make it easy to achieve that signature paper-thin consistency, while the extra-large spatula is designed to make flipping and folding crepes a breeze. In addition, the nonstick surface makes it easy to clean after use.

With this easy-to-use Crepe maker, you can have a delicious crepe in minutes; just pour the batter, spread, and flip.

Crepe Maker and Nonstick 12″ Griddle

The 12-inch diameter surface is perfect for traditional French crepes, and the nonstick aluminum plate ensures that your crepes will cook quickly and easily. 

The griddle features 5 different temperature settings, giving you precise control for perfect results every time. In addition to crepes, the aluminum plate is also great for use as a griddle for pancakes, bacon, and other morning foods.

The On/Off ready light lets you know when the plate is hot enough, and rubber feet on the bottom provide extra stability. The package includes recipes for basic crepe batter, fresh mushroom crepes, and blueberry blintzes.

Elite Gourmet ECP-126 Electric Crepe Maker

The Elite Cuisine Easy Crepe Maker is the perfect tool for making delicious, light, and fluffy crepes with ease. The 12-inch nonstick griddle plate gives you plenty of room to play, and the 5 temperature settings and batter spreader give you the precise control to make perfect crepes every time. 

The nonstick cooking surface can also be used as a griddle, making it perfect for making eggs, bacon, pancakes, blintzes, and a wide variety of breakfast foods.

The power indicator lights let you know when the hot plate has reached optimal temperature and is ready for cooking. The non-slip rubber feet provide added countertop stability to prevent the crepe maker from moving or shifting while in use.

How To Buy the Best Lefse Griddle

When buying a lefse griddle, there are a few key factors to consider:

Size

Look for a griddle that is big enough to accommodate the size of the lefse you want to make. Most Lefse griddles are around 40 cm wide (16 inches), but some may be larger or smaller.

Material

Lefse griddles can be made from a variety of materials, including aluminum and nonstick surfaces. Aluminum griddles are more durable and heat evenly, but nonstick surfaces may be easier to clean.

Temperature control

A temperature control gauge is important for achieving the right heat level for frying lefse. Look for a griddle that can heat up to at least 450°F to 500°F.

Design

Lefse griddles typically have a flat, round surface with no sides, making it easier to turn the lefse during cooking. Some models may have a slightly raised rim or an overflow spout for draining grease.

Safety

Safety features such as heat-resistant legs and hardwood handles are important when buying a lefse griddle.

Brand

Look for a well-known brand with a good reputation for producing quality products. Read reviews from other customers to find out their experiences with the product.

Cost

While a higher price tag doesn’t always mean better quality, getting a griddle that fits your budget and meets your needs is important.

What is Lefse?

Lefse is a traditional Norwegian flatbread made from potatoes, flour, butter, and milk or cream. It is often served as a side dish with meals or as a dessert and can be filled with sweet or savory ingredients such as cinnamon sugar, butter, or lutefisk. 

It is typically cooked on a large, flat griddle called a lefse grill and is often enjoyed during special occasions such as Christmas.

Lefse Equipment

Lefse Rolling Pin

The Lefse Rolling Pin is designed to make rolling out the dough easier for traditional Norwegian lefse. It features corrugated edges that help push out air bubbles and make the dough flatter. 

The decreased surface area of the rolling pin also helps to prevent sticking. However, flouring the rolling pin before use is still important to get the best results.

Cleaning the Lefse Rolling Pin can be a bit of a chore, but using a stiff brush will make quick work of it. The flour should easily come off when it is dry. 

To maintain the rolling pin, it is recommended to hand wash it with soap and water and air dry it. Additionally, it’s important to oil the rolling pin with mineral oil from time to time to prevent it from drying out.

Lefse Turning Stick

The turning stick is a specialized tool used to help flip and turn the large, thin lefse during cooking. It is larger than a traditional utensil, such as a spatula. 

A wooden turning stick is recommended as it reduces the chance of tearing the delicate lefse. The turning stick typically ranges from 3/4 inch to 1 1/2 inches wide and is about 24 inches long. 

It features a thin tapered edge that makes it easy to slide under the lefse for lifting and flipping during cooking. If a traditional Lefse turning stick is not available, a utensil such as a pancake turner can be used.

Pastry Board

The 19-inch hardboard circular pastry board and cloth set from Bethany Housewares is a handy tool for making lefse, holiday cookies, pies, and pizza crusts. The hardboard circle comes with 6 nonskid plastic feet, creating a stable working surface.

The cloth comes with convenient measurements printed on it, making it easy to create precise designs. This set is part of the Bethany Housewares collection of Scandinavian/Norwegian cookware, which also includes other items sold separately. It is imported and made of pre-shrunk cotton.

Lefse Grill

It is a large, flat, round surface with no sides, which makes it easy to turn the lefse during cooking. These grills are usually made of aluminum, but some models may come with nonstick surfaces. 

However, it’s important to note that nonstick surfaces may make it more difficult to handle the lefse as it will have a tendency to slip around more. The grill has a temperature control gauge that allows the unit to heat up to 500°F.

How Lefse is made?

Lefse is typically made by first boiling and mashing potatoes and then mixing them with flour, butter, and milk or cream to form a dough. The dough is then chilled for several hours or overnight.

Next, small dough balls are rolled out into thin rounds using a rolling pin, often a specialized one for lefse making called a Lefse rolling pin. These rounds are then cooked on a large, flat griddle called a lefse grill. 

The grill is traditionally heated by using wood or charcoal, but electric lefse grills are also common. The lefse is cooked quickly on one side and then flipped using a specialized lefse stick, and cooked on the other side until it is slightly golden brown.

Once the lefse is cooked, it can be enjoyed with a variety of sweet or savory toppings such as butter, cinnamon sugar, or lutefisk. Some variations of lefse include adding other ingredients to the dough, such as cream cheese or sour cream.

Conclusion

In conclusion, lefse is a traditional Norwegian flatbread that requires specialized tools to make it properly. A Lefse griddle is a large, flat, round cooking surface designed specifically for baking lefse. 

A Lefse rolling pin and turning stick are also necessary tools for making lefse. A crepe pan can also be used to make lefse, but it’s important to note that lefse is usually made on very large griddles. 

If you’re new to making lefse, a kit by Bethany Housewares may be a good option as it includes all the necessary tools.