Conventional wisdom around homemade pancake batter has always been that you need to use it the day you make it, otherwise your flapjacks will suffer. But is that actually true?
Cooking Tips
Got Leftover Pancake Batter? Here's How to Save It
You can save pancake batter in the refrigerator or turn it into frozen pancakes for breakfasts to come.
By Published Sept. 12, 2022.
Our tests show that there’s no need to toss leftover pancake batter down the sink. Learn about our two favorite ways to save the batter and make it even easier to enjoy fluffy, golden brown flapjacks any day of the week.
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Can You Save Pancake Batter?
Yes, it’s absolutely fine to save pancake batter in the refrigerator for future batches.
Here’s how we know: We mixed up two kinds of pancakes—our Easy Pancakes and our Best Buttermilk Pancakes. We cooked each style 10 minutes after mixing the batter alongside another batch made from batter that we refrigerated overnight.
In both cases, the two samples were remarkably comparable.
Those made from overnight batter were a tad thinner and less airy, but still a treat.
Pancake recipes typically call for both baking soda and baking powder. But the baking soda is mainly there to help flavor the pancakes and boost browning. Baking powder is the real leavening force. Because baking powder reacts twice, first with moisture and then with heat, it still has plenty of oomph left to leaven pancakes that you cook the next day.
Recipe
Easy Pancakes
Put down the box mix. You've got everything you need to make tall, fluffy pancakes in minutes. No special ingredients or equipment required.Get the Recipe
How to Store Pancake Batter
Feel free to leave your batter in the large mixing bowl or measuring cup you mixed it in, covered with plastic wrap.
But what if you’re not up for a pancake breakfast two days in a row? Then you might want to take a different course of action: Cooking off the rest of the batter and storing the cakes to reheat another day.
Can You Freeze Pancakes?
Yes, homemade pancakes take surprisingly well to freezing, as long as you store them properly. (The key is to separate them with paper or foil to prevent them from fusing together.)
They are as quick to reheat as commercial frozen waffles and pancakes, but their texture and buttery flavor are far superior.
And if you freeze your leftovers from the weekend, you can enjoy these golden brown treats any morning of the week.
How to Freeze Pancakes
1. Place cooled pancakes in a zipper-lock bag, separating them with pieces of waxed paper, parchment paper, or aluminum foil.
2. Press on bag to eliminate air pockets before sealing.
3. Freeze for up to 2 weeks.
How to Reheat Pancakes
Place frozen pancakes on a rimmed baking sheet and heat in 325-degree toaster oven (or conventional oven) until warmed through, about 6 minutes.
