How To Cook Pancakes On A Griddle?

So, you just got your griddle, and you’re still experimenting with different recipes? And you’re probably wondering if it’s possible to cook pancakes on a griddle as well?

It is completely possible to cook pancakes with your griddle, and the whole pancake-making process isn’t much different from using a frying pan for pancakes. You can easily make perfect, tasty pancakes with your first try.

The griddle provides you with an evenly heated, flat, and non-stick cooking surface—improving your pancake cooking experience. And the cooking surface is spacious, so you can make more pancakes at a go compared to the standard pan!

In this guide, you’ll learn, step by step, how to cook pancakes on a griddle, the correct temperature to use, and how to know when it’s done. We’ll answer all your questions regarding using a gas or electric griddle for pancakes.

Do Pancakes Cook Better On A Gas Griddle?

Pancakes can cook on both an electric or a gas griddle. However, most people prefer using the gas griddle for cooking them. The gas models have major advantages over their electric counterparts, as explained below.

Gas Griddles Have Better Heat Control

One of the reasons to consider gas griddles for cooking pancakes is that they offer you better heat control than their electric models.

The gas Blackstone griddle or any other unit from other manufacturers tends to provide a steady flow of evenly distributed propane heat. It heats up evenly and throughout the entire surface, eliminating any hot or cold spots.

When using a gas griddle, you don’t have to worry about unevenly cooked pancakes.

Gas Griddles Offer A Larger Cooking Surface

Another reason a gas griddle is better for cooking pancakes is because it offers a larger cooking surface.

Electric griddles usually come with limited cooking space. This is because making models with spacious cooking surfaces means using bigger transistors. These will skyrocket your utility bills and most likely burst in flames.

If you want to griddle pancakes for a large family or a group of friends all at once, a gas griddle is a more ideal choice for you.

How Long Do I Cook Pancakes On A Griddle?

You should cook pancakes for about 3-5 minutes. However, the exact time it will take to cook pancakes on a griddle depends on the thickness of the batter you’re using.

If you follow our recommended recipe (below) and cook ¼ cup of batter on the griddle and let it spread naturally, let it cook for around 2 minutes before flipping to the other side.

However, be sure to check that the pancakes are ready before flipping to the other side (more info on how to know it’s time to flip coming up later in this post).

After you flip your pancakes, you should let the other side cook for an additional minute.

How To Cook Pancakes On A Griddle?

And now, the most important part of this guide is how to cook pancakes on your griddle.

Whether you’re using a gas or an electric griddle, the following steps will show you how to use it correctly to make pancakes for your family.

Ingredients:

• 2 medium-sized eggs
• 300 all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ cup skimmed milk
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Once you have the above ingredients ready, follow the steps below to start perfect griddle pancakes.

Step 1. Mix the ingredients

The best way to mix the ingredients is to start by adding the beaten eggs to a bowl, followed by milk. Whisk them thoroughly until they’re well mixed.

Now add all-purpose flour, salt, sugar, melted butter, and baking powder to the bowl. Continue whisking until you get an evenly thick paste.

You may want to let the batter rest for some period, or you can use it immediately.

Letting it settle for a few minutes will give starch enough time to be absorbed, giving you fluffier results.

If you let it settle for some time, be sure to beat it once more before cooking.

Step 2. Pre-heat the griddle

With your batter ready, you’ll now need to pre-heat your griddle to low temperature.

This part is crucial to ensure the entire griddle surface heats evenly for perfect cooking results. Let it heat slowly, and then switch the temperature setting to medium after approx. 15 minutes.

Put a splash of water on the cooking surface to test if the griddle is ready. If it runs or dances, this shows it’s ready to cook those pancakes.

If the water dissolves immediately it lands on the griddle, this means your skillet is too hot, and you need to bring down the temperature.

If the water settles on the surface without sizzling or evaporating, your griddle is yet to reach the ideal temperature.

Alternatively, you can just use a thermometer to tell you when the unit reaches 375 degrees F—the ideal griddle temp for pancakes.

Step 3. Grease the griddle

Put a drizzle of cooking oil on the griddle surface and allow it to heat momentarily.

However, whether to grease your griddle or not will depend on the type of skillet you’re using.

If you’re using a cast-iron skillet, you don’t need to grease because it already has a seasoning layer. Only grease the cast iron griddle if it’s new.

If the griddle you’re using is not made from non-stick materials, you’ll also need to grease to keep your pancakes from sticking.

For the greasing oil, we advise you to use butter or any other oils such as coconut oils. You can also use a cooking spray.

Just make sure you evenly spread the oil over the pan.

Step 4. Fry the pancakes

At this point, your griddle should be heated to the ideal temperatures, the surface is greased, and it’s ready to cook pancakes.

Pour equal quantities for each pancake onto the griddle (around ¼ cup of batter will do for each pancake).

Let the batter cook for approx. 3-4 minutes or until it starts to rise and shows bubbles. This means one side is done.

Flip the pancakes to allow the other sides to cook as well.

When bubbles start popping at the edges of the pancakes, it means the other side is done

 You can now get the pancakes off the griddle, add your favorite syrup or sauce, and the pancakes are ready for serving.

Additional Tips For Cooking Pancakes On The Griddle:

• Avoid overmixing your batter. This may lead to tough pancakes. Just mix until all the ingredients are combined and leave it at that.
• Let your batter stay for a few minutes (up to 15 minutes) before cooking. This period allows for starch absorption for fluffy pancakes. It also gives the batter time to hydrate and helps smoothen any lumps present.
• Don’t flip your pancakes more than once.
• Avoid pressing down the pancakes with a spatula. While most people think this will help them cook faster, it simply takes away their fluffiness and makes them feel too firm.
• Don’t overhear your griddle, or it’ll burn the pancakes and leave them undercooked on the inside. Contrary, don’t cook on an underheated skillet, as pancakes will get overcooked on the inside before they’re done.
• Never leave your pancakes unattended.
• If you decide to use butter in your list of ingredients, don’t use it in excess amounts.

Do You Need To Grease A Griddle For Pancakes?

You need to grease the griddle before you make pancakes. A light greasing helps prevent the pancakes from sticking on the griddle surface.

The oil you use for greasing, whether butter, coconut oil, etc., will also improve the pancakes’ taste.

If you’re using a non-stick griddle pancake cooking surface, you may not need to use the grease.

In case you’re using a cast iron griddle, you’ll need to make sure it’s well seasoned before you start cooking pancakes.

If the cast iron griddle is still new and has little or no seasoning layer on its surface, then it’s a good idea to grease it to avoid sticky situations.

Should You Use Butter Or Oil For Pancakes?

You can use either butter or oil for pancakes. It all boils down to your personal preferences.

Whether you go the butter or oil way, you need to be careful of the amount of each ingredient you use. You also want to be careful not to burn the butter as it will directly affect the flavor of your pancakes.

We recommend using about 2 tablespoons of butter or oil to the griddle cooking surface right before adding the batter.

How Do You Keep Pancakes From Sticking On A Griddle?

The surest way to keep pancakes from sticking on a griddle is greasing the surface before you pour the batter. You can use either butter or oil, as we’ve mentioned above.

And make sure you evenly coat the entire surface with a layer of this oil for a no-stick cooking experience.

That said, there are additional measures you can take to fully ensure your pancakes don’t stick to the griddle surface, as outlined below.

• Make sure your griddle surface is well seasoned before using it
• Let the batter sit for around 15-20 minutes before making pancakes with it.
• Only cook your pancakes at low to medium temperatures. If you set your griddle temperatures too high, you’ll most likely have to deal with sticky pancakes.
• Flip the pancakes on time. Don’t flip them too late. Generally, you should flip them when the batter forms and bubbles start popping off on the pancake top.
• Make sure your skillet is clean before using it. If there is any residual debris on its surface, it may lead to a sticky situation when baking pancakes.

How Do You Know When Pancakes Are Done?

You want to make sure you give your pancakes time to cook well, so they don’t come with one side burned or gummy on either side.

So, how do you know when they’re well cooked?

As we mentioned earlier, you know it’s time to flip when bubbles form. However, this can be misleading if your griddle is too hot, as your pancake base will start burning before the bubbles can form.

Besides the bubbles, another good sign that it’s time to flip your pancakes is when they form a defined edge around. And the batter is held in place on the griddle and not undercooked.

Checking whether the base has turned brown is another sign that it’s time to flip your pancakes. Simply slide your spatula below the bottom of the pancake. If it has turned to a medium golden-brown, flip it to allow the other side to cook.

When you slide the spatula, the pancake should release easily and not feel sticky if the bottom is done.

PRO TIP: What if you’re making thick pancakes and not sure whether they’re done? Expert chefs recommend inserting a toothpick into the thickest part of the pancake and then removing it after 2-3 seconds.

If you notice batter clinging to your toothpick, then your pancakes aren’t yet done and will need an additional 1-2 minutes. If the toothpick comes out clean, the pancake is done.

Final Words

Pancakes are a staple breakfast treat for almost every home. And cooking them over the open cooking space of a griddle is nothing short of pure bliss!

You can cook many pancakes on a gas griddle at a go and ensure everyone in your family gets fed at once.

Cooking pancakes on griddle is pretty easy and almost similar to using your stovetop. You just need to ensure you pre-heat your skillet in advance and use the correct pancake griddle temp setting.

Having gone through this guide, you now have everything you need to know about how to cook pancakes on a griddle from start to finish.

And you’re now fully prepared to cook the perfect pancakes on your griddle every time!