Happy Sales , Cast Iron Takoyaki Pan, 8" L x 7-3/8 D x 1-1/8 H, Black

The pan works well for me. I have made 4 batches of takoyaki with them, and except the very first time, I've had no issues with the pan.I pre-coated the pan with oil and heated it for an hour in the over before use. I'm not sure the seasoning step is necessary because the pan looks pre-seasoned. I also coat the pan with oil before pouring my takoyaki batter. The trick to not having the takoyaki stick is to use to correct temperature setting. Too hot or too cold, the balls get hard to turn. Ideal for me has been a 4 on my 10-notch electric stove (yes, it works with electric stoves). An electric version won't have this problem since it's pre-set in the machine. I like this cast iron version because 1. cast iron is cool! 2. it's tiny, so I can bring it around 3. I can bring it internationally since I don't have to worry about the electric settings.There are people complaining about the handle being loose, but it's not a problem for me. When I use cast iron, I tend to just leave it on the stove to heat/cool, before handling it. I find that I don't use the handle at all, so I unscrewed it (I think it's safer that the handle doesn't stick out).The pan is just nice for 2-3 people, but for larger parties, I may consider getting a second pan to cook larger batches simultaneously.

The pan works well, but the connection between the handle and the pan is a little worrying. There was a little rust on the threading of the handle that connects to the pan. I wouldn't complain about the weight of the pan since it is a cast-iron pan, nor would i expect the iron to be completely smooth. This pan can produce beautiful takoyaki, but it probably isn't the best pan you will find. I would do some more research to find a better one if you actually want to make takoyaki on the regular.

I have wanted a takoyaki pan so badly for about 2 years, but never purchased it because I was always reading conflicting opinions about the possibility of using it with an electric stove. Well, as you can see from my photos not only this pan works with electric stoves, but it works PERFECTLY! Just be careful to cook your takoyaki only over medium/low heat if you use the electric stove instead of the gas one, because the pan is made with real cast iron (it’s also very heavy and sturdy) and will become extremely hot, with the risk of burning your food. It was the first time for me and I wasn’t fast enough to flip my takoyaki, so they came out a bit too crispy on the outside. The inside was soft and they were delicious, so it was a success! Also, don’t forget to use plenty of oil: it will make it easier for you to flip the takoyaki and to clean the pan afterwards. Couldn’t be happier with my purchase! :)

This is NOT cast iron. There is some sort of black coating (not typical cast iron pre-seasoning) that comes off even when using a wooden turner. Is it food safe? Some sort of chemical coating? No way to know. The handle is shoddy and does not support the weight of the pan. Don't waste your money on this one.

This was such as cool product to buy. I had even used this to make food in the back of a warehouse at a sporting good store! I loved it so much until it got stolen from me.Anyway, about the unit itself. It is cast iron so it heats up effectively. The handle was set into the cast iron in a form fit method so it did feel that eventually it would fall off with many uses which I never got. It came seasoned already to go. In prepping the pan using enough oil to grease the cups leads to a better product when it comes time to rotate the takoyaki.I would recommend getting some sort of base to put over the stove when using this product to hold the pan flat and or direct the heat evenly to each cup. it was an issue of it laying at odd angles on my gas stove since it is a relatively large square pan with odd cups all over its base. I did not ever get to test this on an electric range or a glass cooktop but I wouldn't think it would work any better if not cook worse. I never stuck this in the oven as the handle is wood nor would it in practice be practical to cook this in an oven, but now I wish I tried that.People sure love how odd it looks to cook with this and if you find a good takoyaki recipe they will fall in love with it too. It was great to bring it to a party.