You Should Be Cooking Pancakes At This Heat Level
Ever have the experience where you're making pancakes and the first few turn out perfectly only to be followed by a second few that aren't quite right? The issue might be the heat of your griddle or pan.
Pancakes have been around for a very long time. According to National Geographic they were enjoyed by the ancient Greeks who sweetened them with honey, around 600 B.C. Betty Crocker notes that around A.D. 1100 Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day) became a way for dairy products to be used up before lent. By the 1880's maple syrup became the topping of choice for pancakes and the breakfast food that we know and love today became mainstream.
Because pancake batter has baking powder in it, there's a bit of chemistry involved in the cooking of them. The baking powder acts as a leavening agent, so it's important to activate it the right way.
It's all about the heat
The perfect pancake is light brown on the outside but fluffy on the inside. However, achieving this can be tricky if your heat isn't consistent. If the heat is too high the outside of the pancake might brown too much or burn while the inside is cooking. If the heat is too low the pancakes will cook too much on the inside before the outside has a chance to brown, resulting in a gummy texture, per (Walton Gas.)
If you're using a griddle with temperature control, The Spruce Eats recommends that you pre-heat the griddle to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and then reduce it to between 360 and 370 degrees when you start cooking. If you don't have a griddle with temperature control, they recommend using a heavy-duty cast-iron skillet over medium heat.
Bonus tip: If you're looking for extra fluff with your pancakes, separate the egg yolks and egg whites when making your batter. Add the yolks to the wet ingredients but then beat your whites separately and then fold them into the batter right before cooking. (per The Spruce Eats).
Whether you're enjoying your pancakes topped with traditional maple syrup, or with honey like the ancient Greeks, use the correct temperature and you'll get that perfect pancake every time.