Pancakes

[ziggy]

So I've spent my whole life pancake cursed!

See i LOVE pancakes.....eat them for any meal given the chance. Love all variations....

But I seem to be incapable of making a decent pancake myself. I've tried from scratch and from mix, all kinds of pans, all kinds of ehat and have yet to find that magic formula for a light, fluffy and scrumptious pancake. ( my sister swears it's because i refuse to buy an electric griddle but i'm not buying into her argument...there's gotta be a way to make a decent pancake on my stovetop without having to store a griddle right???)

Just had another lousy Sunday pancake breakfast at home...someone please...save me from IHOP!!

[ShawtyCat]

Im trying to figure out what exactly are you doing wrong... I use a lightly oiled/buttered nonstick pan, on med heat and turn my pancakes when the bottom is nicely golden and the top has bubbled and is not really runny. Box or scratch doesn't seem to matter. You have to remember to adjust your heat so the pan doesnt get too hot. I also don't whip out all my air like Ive seen some people do. How do they expect it to fluff up?

What kind of pan are you using? I had a huge cast iron pan.....glorious pan but it disappeared after my mom visited. Made the best pancakes. ~sigh~

I agree with you about IHOP...I get sick after eating there all the time. Guess that's why I don't go anymore.

Id like to confess that I have actually took one of my baking sheets and used it to make pancakes. Put it right on top of the range. So I don't think its any special pan you need. I tried a few hundred different ways until I settled on this one. Maybe its just practice?

Give more info on what you are doing....Im starting to feel like Im flapping in the wind here.

[panini]

The problem is in the wording. If you say "I love paninicakes" your pancakes will turn out great. Try it! it works for my 11 yr old.

[Pete]

Ziggy, I am in the same boat as you. I am pancaked cursed. I can't make a good pancake to save my life. Even at work when I was doing breakfast. One day I would make them and the next, one of the other cooks. Same recipe, same griddle,yet his were great and mine sucked. I have just come to terms with the fact that if I want good pancakes we either go out for breakfast or my wife makes them!!!

[ziggy]

Thanks, Pete...you make me feel better! Glad i'm not alone!

ShawtyCat, I've tried everything....been trying to get these right since i was 8 years old probably! :lol I've tried non-stick and regular, cast iron, saute pans and griddle pans, electric coils and flat tops, gas cook tops.....

Right now I'm using a Calphalon non-stick saute pan. I still get flat rubber pancakes. I've tried lowering the heat, raising the heat....mixing more mixing less...I'm ready to call that Food 911 guy on the Food TV to come and show me how!

But first I'm going to try again calling them paninicakes....!

[panini]

Ziggy,
have you tried one of those pans you flip with the two sides? They say they are fool proof...oh sorry All you need to do is buy four so you can get them done in the same time.
Really though, my son uses a griddle that we put directly over the burners. He uses good ole aunt J with added pure vanilla, cinnamon. we have also found that corn oil works the best.
His motto is don't flip em till all the bubbles have popped. and of course I love paninicakes. BTW the first batch always go to the beagles, don't know why but the second batch and then on are great.
keep trying!

[Anneke]

I prefer using my crêpe pan, but I only have one so pankakes could take all day; so I whip out my other 2 regular frypans. I like using clarified butter bc I don't like the taste of corn oil on something light/sweet. Besides, who can argue against butter?

The trick I think is to make sure your baking powder isn't expired. Otherwise it won't do the job. Also important: use low heat. That way it won't be burnt on the bottom when it's time to flip. Only flip when the bubbles have come up and popped, as stated above. It should be almost cooked through when you're ready to flip.

Good luck!

Panini, I think the first batch are usually inferior because they soak up so much butter/margarine/oil. But you're right...they improve after that.

I don't have a problem making rising pancakes, but I can't seem to recreate my Grandmother's German pancakes (aka Swedish pancakes). If anyone has a tried and true recipe/method for cooking these please share!

Ziggy, why not try making baked, fruit-topped pancakes if the stove-top method continues to disappoint you. They're nice for desserts as well as breakfast.

Rhea
Ever noticed that rainy Sundays are the perfect time to make brownies?

[ShawtyCat]

I loved my old cast iron pan since it was always well seasoned. But anyway, I use either veggie oil or butter, not a lot just enough so that they don't stick. And LOW HEAT is definately the way to go. You can look at it this way. When you cook other food the first side that hits the pan is the side that's gonna be served up right? So when that side has a nice golden color to it and all the bubbles are gone flip it and da da dum. Finished.

Has anyone seen those infomercials for the fool proof pancake pans? Looks like its only bad cooking to me. Those people are really exaggerating aren't they....no body cooks pancakes and eggs in THAT much oil! I dont even cook my eggs in oil period. Butter or I cant believe its not butter. (My mom hates that stuff, have no idea why)

Jodi

[chiffonade]

Originally posted by ziggy
So I've spent my whole life pancake cursed!

I'm rice cursed, so I know what you mean.

Re: Pancakes...I've made them several different ways and the way I think you ought to try includes whipping the egg whites separately and folding them into the batter. This will definitely yield a fluffy pancake. Try sifting the flour with the powder/soda to lighten it. You don't need an electric griddle to make great 'cakes. Also, if it's light and fluffy you're after, do a search on the Cooking Light website. http://www.cookinglight.com. They have quite a few recipes lightened by whipped egg whites.

[jbuder]

yes, i have seen those pancake pans. they show people eating an 8-stack of pancakes, but since they cook one at a time, i think it would take 20 minutes of cooking time to feed one person.

i am SURE this won't be of any help, but i just made THE BEST pancakes. the trick is that you have to spend two weeks making nancy silverton's sourdough starter. after that, you have to feed the starter three times a day with flour and water in order to maintain it. BUT, in addition to great bread, you can make these great sourdough pancakes by just adding a little maple syrup, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and eggs to some of the starter. of course, it is like having a perpetual toddler in the house, but it sure does make fabulous pancakes.

[Risa]

I've made those sourdough pancakes several times because I hate throwing out any of my starter. They're very good and not too sour. However, I think I still prefer regular buttermilk pancakes. I used to make pancakes quite often because my ex and his dog (aka Theo) liked my pancakes and he (the ex not the dog) was a fussy eater. I've done the beaten egg whites and that does lighten up the pancakes. However, I like a more substantial pancake and can't be bothered with that extra step most days.

One thing I do that I haven't seen mentioned yet is to mix the flour into the wet ingredients until just incorporated. I use a very light hand with the whisk or rubber spatula.

[ShawtyCat]

Hey! I did say not to beat the batter into submission.

[Jock]

I use the "buttermilk, fold the flour into the dry ingredients, whisk egg whites separately and fold in last" method. As Risa says and ShawtyCat alludes to, gently does it. It's OK if there are a few specks of raw flour showing in the batter.
I have one of those Magnalite 2 sided griddles (flat top on one side and ridged on the other) that I use for pancakes because you an do 4 good sized cakes at once. It's always a bit tricky getting the heat just right so the first batch usually goes to the cook
I used to use whole butter on the griddle (for obvoius reasons ) but the milk fat solids would burn and brown the pancakes before they were ready to flip. Then I used PAM spray oil. It took care of the burning problem but didn't do much for the taste. I like the clarified butter idea. I think I will try that next time.
You know how in some recipes they say to mix the egg yolks and buttermilk then add melted butter? I don't like the little globules of butter that are created when it partly solidifies in the cold liquid. So I whisk the melted butter into the egg yolks (like a holladaise) then add the buttermilk. It may be my imagination but I believe it produces a smoother textured pancake.

Jock

[ziggy]

thanks for all the input! lots of thiings here that might help....

for whatever reason, though i ALWAYS whip the egg whites separately and add last when I make waffles, I've never done this for pancakes....big light bulb moment...i'll try that. makes darn good waffles so imagine the same for pancakes(duh).

i do mix wet and dry separately, usually(have tried other ways to try and get different results, though).

i like the clarified butter idea as well...i have the same problem as Jock with whole butter burning...don't use Pam in my pans...so clarified butter seems like a good solution! ( and yet another duh...)

was all set to try a batch for dinner tonight and discovered hubby used the last of the milk and eggs yesterday...so we'll try tomorrow night and see what results!

thanks again for the input!