Argh! Failed Pancakes again...
Posted by Stratgtar565 on Mar 20, 2010 · Member since Dec 2009 · 22 posts
I cannot, for the life of me, flip pancakes right! Every time I try, the top batter either goes flying everywhere or completely off the pancake, or it falls apart as I try to flip it, sometimes even getting onto the other pancake I am trying to cook at the same time (I use a griddle, so I have TONS of space for more than just one mere pancake)! What do you all suggest? Even when I try to do it one at a time, I mess up. I can't flip very fast, because the top then goes flying everywhere when it lands! I've tried picking it up slowly, then flipping it, simply doing a quick flick of the wrist, nothing. How do you do this RIGHT?
Do you usually have a thinner, or thicker batter? I like to work with thinner batters, keep my heat on medium (lowish end), shake my pan so that the batter evenly spreads, and wait until all the bubbles form. Smaller pancakes mean easier turning. Have them a size so that you can fit your spatula underneath. You don't have to flip quickly, just wait until the bottom is completely cooked/golden, top is bubbling, then insert spatula under, pick up, and carefully flip over. I still get some batter that sometimes spreads to the edges, but I just push that back in.
I agree with AC. I used to have trouble making pancakes and always made waffles instead. Now I make both. The trick is to start with small pancakes, cook over medium heat, and allow them to cook quite a bit before flipping. I don't flip them until the whole surface is covered with bubbles and the batter on top looks slightly dry. I think the lower heat is the trick. If you use too high of heat you can't get them cooked enough in the middle before turning with burning the first side.
I agree with the previous two suggestions. I have a really tough time making pancakes and have resigned to only making silver dollar sized ones because they cook quickly and very rarely fail me.
;)b You'll get the hang of it! Definitely go with a lower heat, and make sure your batter isn't too thick. My favorite pancake tip is wait to flip until there are bubbles about 1/3 way in toward the middle that pop and fill back in really slowly. Oh, and no matter how non-stick your pan or griddle is, spray, spray, spray!
Source: El Hubbito should turn into a pancake, he asks for them as often as he thinks the traffic will bear, ie, whenever I won't growl at him about pancakes AGAIN??!! ;D
Yezzz bubbles + not enormous pancakes + medium/high-ish heat = Easy Peasy Pancakes for Sheezy...
I use a non-stick pan too and usually don't need any cooking spray though it wouldn't hurt anything
After you poured your batter in to make your pancake wait like a min or two. Keep an eye on it when you see alot of bubbles forming take your spatula slide it under make sure you have the pancake on the spatula well and then flip.
Don't try to flip it before you see the bubbles.
Lightly oil or butter your pan every two pancakes. Use your own discretion.