How to make perfect pancakes

I make pancakes every weekend, and on an occasional weekday if the kids beg hard. Sometimes I make my own batter, but most of the time I use Aunt Jemima Complete mix – just add water!

I’ve learned a few useful things over the years:

• Whether you’re using an electric griddle or a pan, let it preheat for a long time. You want the heat evenly distributed across the whole surface, and you don’t want the temperature to change while you’re in the middle of cooking.
• Don’t mix your batter too much, just enough to get everything incorporated and most of the lumps gone.
• After mixing, let the batter sit for at least ten minutes. Bubbles should form on the top.
• Use vegetable oil to grease the pan. Butter will burn, and olive oil will taste funny.
• Serve the pancakes immediately. You can keep them warm for a short period of time in a 200 degree oven, but they’re best if eaten right away.
• Take the syrup out as soon as possible so that it can come to room temperature. Don’t warm it up – it gets too runny.

And now, how to make perfect pancakes!

UPDATE: I’ve had a lot of questions over on YouTube about which griddle I was using. Unfortunately, I haven’t had that griddle for a long time and don’t remember! But I do remember that I paid about $25 or $30 for it, probably 20 years ago (2000-ish). So you definitely don’t need an expensive griddle to get great results!!

Prices have gone up a bit, but this electric griddle is affordable and has similar features to my old one, and is a brand I trust. 

I now have this griddle, which is more expensive but also a lot more versatile:  (there’s also a newer version).

But my kids are older now, I’m on Weight Watchers, and I’m no longer making huge pancake breakfasts on weekends. Usually, it’s just my son wanting a few, and that’s hardly worth pulling out the griddle. So, I use a pan. I have this 2-piece set; the larger pan can make a good-sized pancake.

I make sure to keep the temperature right around 400 degrees F using a laser thermometer.

I’ve also used pans like these, and as long as I have my laser thermometer and let them preheat for at least 10 minutes to make sure the temperature is stable, they work great!

Round griddle 

Square griddle

Double-burner griddle