Pancakes are a real beauty in the morning, but you can have them for lunch or dinner just the same, provided you’ve made enough. So maybe you like them cold too, or maybe you only want them fresh and hot. Well, if you cook them in the morning and eat them in the evening they’re not that fresh, but you can definitely get them hot again.
And as we all know, pancakes can get real fussy with the perfect batter mix, and you can often end up with way more than you planned on. So can you reheat pancakes ? And how long can you keep them in the fridge ? Can you freeze them ? Let’s take a look.
Can you reheat pancakes ?
Yes, you an easily reheat pancakes in several ways, and you need medium-high heat and just a couple of minutes. The key here is how hot you want the pancakes to be. All they need is a brief round of heat on the outside to crisp back up again, and stay fluffy on the inside.
Of course, pancakes with more oats or thicker pancakes may heat up slower than thinner ones. We’re generally referring to half-inch thick pancakes that aren’t very dense in this post. Now let’s take a look at how to reheat the pancakes, since there are 4 great ways to do this.
1. Reheat pancakes in a non-stick frying pan
You’ve made them in a frying pan, you can reheat them in a frying pan. Bring the pan to heat, add in your pancakes, and put the lid on. You can do this without a lid, but you risk drying them out.
Read also: Pancakes VS Waffles
Give them about 2 minutes, then flip on the other side to get them a bit crispy. And there you go, they’re almost as good as new. If you don’t want them steaming hot, you can just leave them for one minute under the lid, and them flip them for about 30 seconds.
2. Lightly microwave pancakes for 30 seconds
You can also microwave the pancakes, but keep in mind this method makes them much softer and a little moist. Be sure to place a microwave-safe bowl on top, to trap heat and moisture. They don’t need a lot of heat, just 30 seconds should be enough for 3-4 pancakes.
Do not stack them in the microwave, because on the the top one will be hot, and the edges. Try to not overlap them too much.
3. Reheat pancakes in a toaster oven
Another option is to sue a toaster oven, or the big oven if you’re reheating for the whole family. This works great even if you’re just trying to keep several batches warm in the morning.
Arrange your pancakes on an oven-safe plate or tray, and set your oven to medium-low heat. If you set it to high heat the outside of the pancakes will be dry by the time the middle is soft and warm. About 5-10 minutes should be enough, but be sure to check on them anyway.
If you want to be extra-sure they don’t dry out, you can add aluminum foil on top, like a loose tent.
4. Reheat them in a panini press
You could also reheat the pancakes in a panini press, or a sandwich makes if you’ve got one. They will lose some fluffiness and turn crispier on the outside, but this could be a nice change from their usual texture.
Keep in mind these presses are fairly hot, so when the green light turns on, you’ll want to take them out. That’s usually 2 minutes, but your appliance may be different.
How long can you keep leftover pancakes ?
You can keep leftover pancakes in the fridge for up to 3 days, as long as they’re properly sealed in an airtight container. Or, if they’re on the plate you served them on, make sure they’re tightly wrapped in plastic wrap.
Read also: Continental VS American VS English Breakfast
If your leftover pancakes already have some butter, maple syrup, and jam on them, please note that one the microwave and oven will work to reheat them. No point in cleaning off burnt jam form a panini press, or a frying pan. And be sure to cover them when reheating.
Can you freeze pancakes ?
Yes, you can freeze pancakes and they can keep up to 3 months in the freezer. Be sure to let the pancakes get to room temperature before placing them in the freezer. Use freezer-safe bags, and add waxed paper sheets between each layer of the pancakes. If you don’t, you risk getting broken pancakes when you try to unstick them from one another.
Put a label on each bag with the type of pancakes and the date they were made.
And that’s pretty much it. You can reheat and enjoy your pancakes days later without a problem. If you freeze them you can even enjoy them all week long ! If your pancakes are fairly thin you can reheat them frozen, they’ll just take a little longer.
