First pancake problems

February 4, 2020 by
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Breakfast for dinner is one of my favorite meals, and if I’m making it then chances are good that pancakes will appear on the menu. Both decadent and comforting, pancakes make any day feel like a special occasion. I have a favorite recipe, developed over the years, that always gets rave reviews. There is just one problem: the first pancake is almost always a flop compared to the ones that come after. It turns out I’m not alone in my first pancake misery.

Not even the experts have figured out the mystery behind this phenomenon, although there are some pointers for minimizing this effect. Some chefs say that the batter must be allowed to rest properly, which is why pancakes seem to get better over the time it takes to cook them all – a short rest will do the trick. Others think that the consistency of the batter is the important parameter.

Another tip offered by the experts is to properly heat and grease the pan to avoid a first pancake flop. You do not want too much oil or butter or the pancake will soak up the fat and you’ll be left with a greasy, soggy pancake. Too little oil, on the other hand, can cause sticking or tearing.

I’ve found that erring on the side of hardly any fat works for my well-seasoned cast iron pan and thick batter, although the first pancake is never quite as good as the second or third. I’ll just enjoy eating that ‘mistake’ while I make the perfect follow-up cakes.

Category: Cooking Tips

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6 Comments

  • sir_ken_g  on  February 5, 2020

    Happens with waffles too.

  • Execchef1225  on  February 5, 2020

    I’m so disappointed. I thought you were going to share some ancient secret ☹️

  • hillsboroks  on  February 5, 2020

    I feel much better now. I thought it was just me with first pancake and first waffle flops. Maybe someone in our community will have the answer to this.

  • Rinshin  on  February 5, 2020

    I don’t have this problem. I use large rectangular electric griddle without any oil to make 6 pancakes all at once. Also don’t have problems with waffles using waffle maker. For waffles, the batter is kept fridge for 30 min – not sure why but my favorite waffle recipe has that.

  • MarciK  on  February 5, 2020

    Seems so basic, but I haven’t mastered pancakes at all. Every one of mine are in the “could be better” rating. But I rarely cook them, so I haven’t had the experience to know what works.

  • pokarekare  on  February 5, 2020

    I’ve been making pancakes for more than 60 years and I’ve never had a perfect first one. I feel much better now – it isn’t just me!

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