Resting Pancake Batter Will Do Wonders For Your Breakfast
Is there anything more classic and nostalgic than waking up on Sunday morning to some fresh, homemade pancakes? Spanning back to the Stone Age, as far as 30,000 years ago (via National Today), pancakes have stood against the test of time, taking up memories in millions of people's minds of being greeted on a late morning of sleeping in with warm aromas of the savory and sweet dish to wake you up proper. Whether you enjoy classic, fluffy pancakes or maybe a little more jazzed-up options like apple-cinnamon buttermilk pancakes, it's hard to beat the popular breakfast dish.
But let's not be too narrow-minded here. If there's anything we've learned over the years, it's that pancakes aren't just for breakfast. Treating yourself to a good ol' "breakfast for dinner" with the main dish as pancakes is another fun food tactic, where even trading in the maple syrup for more "dinner appropriate" options of potato, cheese, and bean ingredients can be a tasty swap.
No matter how or when you decide to consume pancakes, one thing is for sure — we're all aiming for that fluffy consistency. In our latest findings, resting the pancake batter will do wonders for the overall quality and fluffiness of your pancakes.
Why resting the batter is important
You may have thought you've mastered the art of pancake making, but there are always some new tips and tricks that can help you continuously upgrade your recipe. According to The Little Pancake Company, allowing the pancake batter to rest for as long as 30 minutes will result in a fluffier, lighter pancake. So, your dreams of waking up and whipping up some homemade pancakes in a matter of minutes may be thwarted if you want your pancakes light and fluffy.
Culinary Scientist Jessica Gavin says when you let the pancake batter rest at least 10 minutes, it allows the gluten in the flour to absorb more of the liquid elements of the recipe (per YouTube). This results in a more airy and light consistency once it is put on a hot skillet. Let's also not forget to combine this with the number one pancake making rule — mix the batter as lightly as possible! Over-stirring of pancake batter can speed up the process of baking soda and acid combining together as well as release more carbon dioxide. This will make the batter less airy (with less bubbles), making some sad and flat pancakes (via Cook's Illustrated).
For best results, mix that batter lightly where you can still see some chunks and then simply let it sit and rest for about 30 to 45 minutes.
Other reasons to let your pancake batter sit
If you're still not convinced that letting the pancake batter rest is worth the time, some folks over at Quora might change your mind. One notes that letting the batter rest has resulted in "greater success with pancake recipes that are not mixed to that point. No whisk necessary; once the wet ingredients go into the dry ingredients, a few brisk folds with a spoon or spatula to just combine will suffice." Less whisking does sound like a win. Another agrees, stating that "Letting the batter rest in the refrigerator will help form gluten," and adds that the mix should be blended as little as possible.
One pancake lover suggests "You should let it rest at least 5/10 minutes. This gives you the opportunity to make coffee," and coffee is certainly something to be enjoyed with pancakes. While you wait for the batter to rest, you can also throw on some music and start prepping your favorite add-ins like bananas, chocolate chips, apples, blueberries, syrup, or whatever else floats your boat.
Per Cook's Illustrated, the batter within an hour after its resting time will also give you the best results as batter left out for two or three hours will spread out more, resulting in thinner pancakes.
Now you can use these tips for any and all pancake recipes you can ever dream of, always having them come out with the lightest and fluffiest texture.