Pancakes are probably one of the most popular and favorite breakfast items across the country. They are easy to make and taste absolutely delicious every time. We often tend to make them on griddles as they give us the best output. The plain surface and the even heating gives the pancake batter the best condition for cooking.
What temperature do you cook pancakes at on a griddle is very important in order to make the perfect pancakes. Or else you will be left with some very sad looking pancakes which are either undercooked or burnt.
Different Temperature for Different Types of Griddles
You will notice that different materials do not conduct heat the same way. Some get hot very fast, but also lose the heat very quickly, while there are others that take a very long time to heat but are able to retain it for a long time.
- Cast Iron
Most of the time, we tend to make steaks on outcast iron pans, but they are just as effective when you’re making pancakes. They heat up evenly, so you get great pancakes every time, even though it takes a little while to warm up, so in a hurry, this might be a bad idea.
- Steel
This the probably the most common type of griddle you will find, and that is mostly because it is the most inexpensive. The pancakes on this will become out perfect each and every time. However, they tend to get hot very fast, so you need to keep an eye on it, so there is no sticking or burning.
Reasons Why Pancake Sticks to the Griddle
Here are some reasons why pancakes might stick to the griddle.
- Griddle Is Too Hot
One of the main reasons why the pancakes stick to the griddle is because it was too hot, so the bottom of the pancake burns and sticks to the surface. You will have to really scrape it off, or otherwise, the mixture will just keep burning.
- Flipped before the Bottom Is Cooked
Another reason why the pancakes might stick is if you flip it before the bottom part is cooked properly. When you flip the undercooked top, there isn’t enough butter on the surface to stop it from sticking. All of it butter you used to grease the surface has already been absorbed. So wait till you see the bubble and then flip.
- Lack of Grease
The most common reason for pancakes to get stuck to the griddle is the lack of grease. You have to make sure the oil or butter is spread evenly all over the griddle. If you miss a spot of don’t put enough in, then the chances of the pancake getting stuck are very high.
That is what usually happens when you want to fry something without enough oil. And the last reason I’m going to add to this section is that you might not have seasoned the griddle well enough. This isn’t as common, but you should properly season your pots and pans before you start cooking with them.
Pancake Mix
The chances are you already know how to make a pancake, but I am going to go ahead and assume you’re new to making them and therefore am going to give you my most favorite recipe.
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 2 tbsp of butter/cooking oil
- 1 1/2 cup milk
- 2 cup flour (of your choice)
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
Pancake Making Process
Here’s the pancake making process with the right temperature.
Step 1: Mixing the Batter
Crack the eggs in a bowl and separate the yolks and the white. Take a mixer and beat the white until they are fluffy and have soft peaks.
In a separate bowl, mix in the oil, sugar, and yolks together. Add in the milk, salt, baking powder, and the flour and mix until the batter looks smooth. Fold in the beaten egg whites with the rest of the mixture. Be gentle. You don’t want to lose all the air you beat into the eggs. This will make them soft and fluffy.
Use a big spoon to scoop the batter and pour it onto your greased griddle. It doesn’t have to be a perfect circle. If the batter is the right consistency, they will have a shape close to a circle.
You will know the pancake batter is made correctly when you see bubbles start to form on the surface of the pancakes. The pancakes itself will let you know if you are cooking with the right temperature or if you need to increase it, so keep at eye on it.
Step 2: Pre-Heating the Griddle
When we cook in our ovens, we have to pre-heat it, so the temperature is the required number right from the start. This contributes to the way our food is cooked and how much time it requires to be prepared. Just like you would with an oven, you are to do the same with the griddle.
Don’t start off at the temperature you want to cook at, because chances are you might burn it. Around 280-310 degrees should be fine. Let the griddle slowly warm up and sprinkle some water on it as you mix up your pancake batter.
And when you see all the water from the griddle has mostly evaporated, you will know what it’s time to pour in the batter.
This shouldn’t take a lot of time. Just remember that if you are tight on time, you should start heating your griddle the moment you start mixing your batter. You don’t want to wait around too long after you’re done mixing.
Step 3: Cooking
While cooking the pancakes, you have to make sure the griddle doesn’t get too hot. Keeping at 370-380 degrees will give you the best result. If the griddle does get too hot, then the oil or butter you used for cooking might get burnt, and that will lead to the pancake sticking to the griddle.
You might also see some burnt bits caused by the burnt oil/butter. So always keep an eye on the temperature. You can lower it down a bit if you see that pancakes have started to bubbles on top too fast. The bottom side could burn before you get a chance to flip it.
Each batch of the pancake shouldn’t take you more than 5 or so minutes to cook. Once you’re done, you could place this in a warm oven to prevent the pancakes from cooling and becoming droopy.
Tips That You Can Follow
There are just a couple of things you need to be mindful of when using a griddle for making pancakes.
- Keep an Eye on the Temperature
The first things are to keep an eye on the temperature. Before you start pouring the batter on the surface, sprinkle some water to test id it evaporates instantly or not. If it does, then you need to lower the temperature down.
- Grease the Surface in the Right Way
The next thing is to properly grease the surface. This can cause a lot of burning if not done correctly. Spread the butter or oil out evenly throughout the area you will be cooking on. When the oil has heated up enough, you should be ready to pour the batter in.
Conclusion
Making pancakes on a griddle is no rocket science. Just follow the tips and tricks I added, and you should be good to go. Also, remember, what temperature do you cook pancakes at on a griddle is essential. So, make sure to get the temperature right.