Secrets to perfect pancakes: Tips to avoid them sticking
Even if you manage to prepare the perfect pancake batter, problems can arise during frying. When pancakes stick to the pan and are difficult to flip to the other side, it's clear they won't keep their shape and will end up torn. Fortunately, there is a way to avoid this.
Pancakes are often associated with the best homemade meals. Straight from the pan with your favorite toppings, they taste exquisite. Although it seems like a simple dish, it doesn't always turn out perfectly. Do you want to fry soft, elastic, and thin pancakes, but they tear during frying and are difficult to flip? I have 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. When it's too thick, it will likely stick. Therefore, it's worth spending a moment preparing it properly and taking all the necessary ingredients out of the fridge beforehand. It's good to beat the eggs first, then add the milk and flour.
Fortunately, batter that's too thick isn't a big problem. When you notice it doesn't spread smoothly over the pan and then sticks to it, just thin it with milk or water.
Pan temperature matters
To fry pancakes perfectly, the pan must be adequately heated. Afraid of setting the burner too high for fear the pancakes will 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 surely 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?
If 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; you can only do it without any trouble. If you attempt it too early, the pancake will still stick to the pan and will surely tear.
Use the salt trick
There's another trick that helps you fry perfect pancakes. It's worth sprinkling a pinch of salt onto a dry and heated pan and 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.
