How Long Should You Cook Pancakes Before Flipping?

Pancakes have a special place in the hearts of many Americans. Pancakes are popular because they’re tasty, easy to prepare, and a crowd pleaser. Even in this day and age, pancakes remain an undeniable breakfast staple, something that nearly everyone enjoys and that we should all learn how to make. You can’t go wrong with their salty-sweet-salty-salty combination. This is not to say that your pancakes have always been perfect, but with practice and a well-mixed batter, you can achieve pancake perfection.

We’ve all been there. The pancakes are either burned on one side or gummy after you make the batter and start cooking them. How can you tell when to flip pancakes so that they don’t burn when they’re fully cooked on the inside?

Consider purchasing a perfect flip pancake maker. Manufacturers of pancake flippers are swamping the market with their wares. You can cook your pancakes without any butter or oil thanks to the nonstick surface of this pancake maker. In addition, you don’t have to worry about flipping your pancakes correctly and on time with this method. The best pancake you’ve ever had can be found here.

Making Pancakes Step by Step

Pancakes

Let’s talk about making a good batter before we start cooking the actual pancakes. A thin, non-runny batter is a sign of a good pancake batter. Waffles are best made with a runny batter, as the heat comes from both the top and bottom.

This is why pancakes are so simple to make. You’ll learn how to do it and when to do it here:

  1. The flour, baking powder and salt should be sifted into a large bowl, along with the sugar. Make a well in the center, add the butter, milk, and egg. Fork or whisk into a homogeneous mixture.
  2. In a medium-sized pan, heat a non-stick griddle or large pan over medium-high heat.
  3. For each pancake, pour or scoop ¼ of a cup of batter.
  4. Some air pockets or bubbles will form when the pancake’s edges start to solidify and the middle no longer looks like a runny batter. 
  5. Gently lift the pancake with a thin spatula to check the bottom is golden brown and not burnt. Add another minute to the cooking time to make sure the pancake is golden brown on the second side.
  6. Serve immediately after removing from the griddle. You can do this with all of the remaining pancakes.

When to Flip Pancakes

So, when should you flip those pancakes? You can tell by looking at the pancakes.

1. The batter has bubbles, but not yet.

As the pancakes cook, bubbles will appear in the batter, but don’t flip them yet.

Bubbles pop.

When the bubbles have burst and the batter has holes, it’s time to flip. This takes about 4 minutes for most pancakes.

2. Pancakes shouldn’t stick.

Another way to tell if the pancake is ready to flip is if it doesn’t stick to the pan. Put your spatula gently under one side of a pancake. If it lifts up easily, it’s done. If it isn’t done, cook it longer.

3. Put the food away.

Cook the other side for about 2 to 3 minutes, or until it has a nice golden brown color.

Pancake Flipping Techniques

The following is a step-by-step guide on how to properly flip a pancake:

Grab a spoon. Flat plastic spatulas are best for nonstick cookware, and pancakes won’t stick to them because they’re made from plastic.

Underneath the side of the pan, slide the spatula. Make sure the pancake doesn’t stick to the pan by gently picking it up with the spatula. Wait a few more minutes and try again if it doesn’t let go.

Make use of the wrist. It’s time to slide that spatula under that pancake so it’s no longer stuck to the pan. Flip the pancakes by lifting them slightly off the pan and then rotating your wrist.

How long before flipping a pancake do you wait?

Cooking pancake

The exact amount of time it takes to cook a pancake on each side isn’t an exact science, but you can easily look for a telltale visual clue that indicates when the time is right. You can avoid undercooking or scorching your pancakes by keeping a close eye on them and employing the proper flipping technique.

First Side

Over medium-high heat, the average pancake cooks in two to three minutes on each side when using a lightly oiled pan. A general guideline is fine, but the best way to ensure an evenly cooked, fluffy pancake is to keep an eye on the pancake while cooking. After a few minutes of cooking, the exposed side of the pancake will begin to bubble, first on the edges and then in the center. Flip the pancake once it begins to bubble up in the center.

Second Side

Make use of the time it took you to cook your first side as a guide when cooking your second half. To check for doneness, gently lift the pancake with your spatula and look for the golden color of a finished pancake.

It is dependent on the ingredients on how long it takes to cook pancakes on each side. On the first side, cook them a little longer than on the second.

As a general rule, you should cook pancakes for 4 minutes on one side and 2 to 3 on the other.

Knowing When to Flip

After making the perfect pancake batter, flipping the pancake is one of the most important parts of making pancakes.

With so many different pancake recipes, it can be hard to know when to flip your pancake.

When you can see a clear edge around the pancake and the batter stays put, that’s the first sign that it’s almost time to flip it.

Watch out for these two things:

  1. Make sure the heat under the pan or on your large nonstick griddle isn’t too high.
  2. The batter has “set” on the pan and is not still raw.

When the bottom of the pancake is golden brown, the edges have formed, and there are a few bubbles on the top, it’s time to flip it.

How to Cook Pancakes at the Best Temperature

The best heat setting is medium heat. Set the electric stove to medium if you have one. If you have a gas flame, turn it to medium, where the flame lightly touches the pan. You can usually choose the degrees on an electric griddle to about 325°F.

Conclusion

The phrase “flip when bubbles begin to form” appears frequently in recipes. Your pancake base may burn before the bubbles have formed if the heat is too high. Burnt pancakes are the result of failing to flip pancakes in a timely manner.

For those who enjoy making pancakes, a perfect flip pancake maker is an excellent investment. If you’re looking for a pancake maker that heats evenly and consistently, this is a great option.