Crafting flawless pancakes: Top tips for perfect frying every time
Even if you manage to prepare the perfect pancake batter, issues can arise during frying. When pancakes stick to the pan and are hard to flip, it's clear they won't hold their shape and might end up torn. Luckily, there is a way to avoid this.
Pancakes are often associated with the best homemade meals. Fresh from the pan, with your favourite toppings, they taste exquisite. Although this seems like a simple dish, it doesn't always turn out perfect. Do you want to fry soft, elastic, and thin pancakes, but they tear during frying and are tough to flip? Here are some tips on how to avoid this and what to pay attention to, so the pancakes don't stick to the pan.
Ensure the batter has the right consistency
Pancake batter must have the right consistency. If it's too thick, it will likely stick. Therefore, it's worth spending a moment to prepare it properly and take all the necessary ingredients out of the fridge ahead of time. It's a good idea to beat the eggs first, then add the milk and flour.
Fortunately, too thick batter is not a big problem. If you notice it doesn't spread smoothly over the pan and then sticks, just thin it with milk or water.
Pan temperature matters
To fry pancakes perfectly, the pan must be adequately heated. Afraid to set the burner too high because the pancakes might burn? That's a mistake. First, heat the pan very well, then you can reduce the burner power. It's also important that the heat spreads evenly over the surface — that's why pancakes are best fried on stovetops with flat surfaces; on gas stoves, choose a larger burner.
On a pan that's too cold, pancakes will certainly stick. The pan itself is also important. It's worth using one with a non-stick coating, but remember that such pans need to be replaced regularly. A worn coating doesn't do its job, and the pancakes will stick to it.
Fry pancakes with or without fat?
When you add fat to the batter, you don't need to apply it additionally to the pan. However, if you prefer to fry pancakes in butter or oil, you should spread it evenly. In that case, it's enough to grease the pan every 2-3 pancakes. It's good to do this with a cooking brush, preferably silicone. Then the entire surface is covered with a thin layer of fat, and the pancakes fry perfectly without sticking.
The right moment to flip
Frying pancakes requires some skill and patience. You need to precisely sense the moment when you can flip them to the other side. They have to be practically cooked; then you can do it without any trouble. If you attempt it too early, the pancake will still stick to the pan and will likely tear.
Use the salt trick
There's another trick that helps you fry the perfect pancakes. It's worth sprinkling a pinch of salt onto a dry and heated pan and then heating it for a while on low burner power. When the crystals start jumping, pour them out and wipe the pan. Then just spread some oil or butter on it and start frying pancakes. Even the thinnest ones won't stick this way.
