Quick Answer: Can You Freeze Pancake Batter?
Yes, you can freeze pancake batter with no hassles at all! The freezing process is considerably simple, requiring no special preparation or materials. No matter the recipe you use to make your pancake batter, the liquid batter freezes just fine. Even during the freezing, there is little to no separation of the ingredients, and whatever minor changes in texture that happen after thawing can be easily fixed to get back its original consistency.
This is a comprehensive guide put together with the aim to take you through, in detail, the steps of the methods to freeze pancake batter, along with all other tips, tricks and hacks you should know to successfully freeze pancake batter at the comfort and ease of your home.
Without further ado, let’s get right into the best way to freeze pancake batter!
Can You Freeze Pancake Batter Made from Beforehand in Serving Portions?
This method works best for when, say, you are making a rather sizeable batch of pancake batter from beforehand, to have for breakfast for over a week. In this case, assuming you have more than what you would have had it been leftover batter, it works much better to freeze the pancake batter in serving portions in small airtight freezer bags, instead of all in once bag or container. That way you can use just the amount you would need at a particular time, without having to touch the rest. It saves you time, space, effort, and the hassle that comes with re-freezing frozen foods.
Materials
- Small airtight Ziplock freezer bags
- Sturdy spoon
Tools
- No special tools needed
Instructions
- Allow your pancake batter to cool down completely – For freshly made batter, it is imperative that you allow it to cool down completely before freezing it.
Putting still hot (or even warm) pancake batter directly inside the freezer would cause spitting, and would not bring good results when freezing your batter. - Pour batter into small airtight freezer bags, based on serving portions – Once cooled completely, divide the pancake batter into serving portions (as in, roughly the amount you would need each time), and pour accordingly into small airtight freezer bags.
Do not fill to the brim, leave at least an inch to expand. - Seal and freeze – Before you seal the bags, squeeze out all the air from them possible. Then be sure to seal the bags very tightly and securely.
Label the bags, and pop them into your freezer. They are good to be frozen for up to three months!
Freezing the Entire Leftover Pancake Batter Together
Time Taken: 15-30 minutes
What You Need:
- Shallow container with airtight tight-fitting lid
Freezing pancake batter, as mentioned, is a ridiculously easy and simple process, that does not require much added preparation or materials.
However, do note that for your pancake batter to freeze with the best results, you need to follow these instructions very carefully.
This method works better if you are freezing leftover pancake batter, and do not have a lot.
In this case, you can simply pack all the leftover batter together in one, shallow airtight container.
Pour Leftover Pancake Batter into the Container
Once your shallow airtight container with a tight-fitting lid has been thoroughly cleaned, carefully pour the leftover pancake batter into it.
Be sure to not fill the container to the brim with the batter; leave at least an inch or two of headspace for it to expand while freezing.
Seal Securely, Label and Freeze
Once poured, cover the container with the lid, to make sure it is completely airtight and watertight.
Label the container with the storage date so that you do not miss it and keep it in the freezer for too long.
It is ready to be kept in the freezer!
Remember to use up your pancake batter within a maximum of three months from freezing.
The longer it is kept in freezer storage, the more its texture, consistency and eventually flavor and taste will fall apart.
How to Freeze Pancakes
Time Taken: 15-30 minutes
What You Need:
- Waxed paper
- Airtight freezer-friendly container/freezer bag
If you have a bunch of leftover pancakes that you are not sure what to do with, or say instead of storing pancake batter you have decided to go ahead and make lots of pancakes in advance to have for breakfast over a while, worry not.
Pancakes can also be frozen!
And just in case you are planning on making pancakes to freeze them, you can consult this guide just for a refresher:
After Cooling, Layer Pancakes Between Sheets of Waxed Paper Inside an Airtight Freezer Bag or Container
If you’re freezing the pancakes directly after cooking them, make sure that they are completely cool before you prep to freeze them.
Once cooled, layer the pancakes carefully between waxed paper sheets (you can also use parchment paper), in an airtight freezer bag or container.
Seal Carefully, Label and Freeze
Squeeze out all the air possible from the bag.
Make sure to seal the bag/container securely to make it as watertight and airtight as possible.
Label the bag or container, and it is ready to freeze!
You can keep your pancakes in freezer storage for up to 2 months.
Thawing and Reheating the Frozen Pancakes is also Quite Easy
You can use the oven, toaster, or the microwave – whichever you are most comfortable with.
How Long Can You Freeze Pancake Batter?
If frozen properly following the right method and technique, with all the steps having been followed properly, and if made sure that the bags or containers have been sealed carefully and made totally airtight and watertight, your pancake batter can be frozen for two to three months.
However, it bears mentioning that the longer the pancake batter sits if the freezer, the greater are its chances of a deteriorating consistency and texture, and even flavor.
So, it is a good idea to finish up your batter at the earliest since freezing.
How to Store Frozen Pancake Batter?
Pancake batter can be kept in freezer storage in airtight freezer bags (when divided into serving portions) or in airtight containers in case of leftovers, as has been discussed earlier.
Whichever method you go with, the sealing and freezing needs to be done very carefully; good quality airtight and watertight freezer bags or containers need to be used, and it needs to be ensured that the pancake batter is frozen in the same, consistent temperature in the freezer.
How to Defrost Frozen Pancake Batter?
To defrost your pancake batter, you can simply transfer the freezer bags or containers from the freezer to the fridge and leave them to thaw overnight, or at least for to 6 to 8 hours.
If you are in a hurry, you can also run cold (NEVER hot or lukewarm) water over your bag or container.
This method is not recommended over the refrigerator method, though, but if done, remember to change the water every 30 minutes, and cook pancakes immediately after.
Once your pancake batter has thawed, give it a good stir so that the ingredients all recombine and the batter regains as much of its original consistency as possible.
Once stirred back into perfection, your batter is perfect to be used for cooking into the most delicious pancakes!
Can You Re-freeze Frozen Pancake Batter?
While the answer technically depends on the ingredients you have used in your batter, it is usually not recommended to re-freeze pancake batter.
The reason being, to freeze and thaw it once would already take a toll on the batter’s consistency, texture and even flavor. After once, they can still be fixed.
But to repeat that whole process once more, might render the batter ruined beyond salvation.
This is the reason why we have advised you to divide and freeze the pancake batter according to serving portions, so you avoid re-freezing.
Try your best to use up the batter when thawed the first time around, and if there are leftovers still, it is best to discard them.
Does Pancake Batter Freeze Well?
Considering the negligible changes in texture and flavor of the pancake batter after freezing and thawing, it is safe to say that it actually freezes quite well, and even up to a period of three months!
However, do note that it is not advised at all to keep your pancake batter in freezer storage beyond that time period.
Other things to note and make sure so that the batter freezes well is that the freezer temperature stays consistent, and that the bags or containers used are of good quality, and sealed very tightly and securely before freezing.
FAQs
In this case, give it a good stir. Once stirred thoroughly, if the texture is still not to your satisfaction, you can simply add some water or milk. That should help fix the consistency as much as possible.
They are both quite good options. Spending a few extra minutes making pancakes from thawed batter might give you better-tasting pancakes, however, reheating already prepared and frozen pancakes in the microwave is also a faster, more secure bet without compromising on the taste.
So, in short, it depends on your situation. There are benefits to both freezing pancakes directly or freezing the pancake batter; give it a thought and it is ultimately your call to take based on which is more convenient and works better for you.
It is strongly advised to finish up your frozen pancake batter within a maximum of three months. If you are looking for longer storage options, you could try out pancake mix.
Nope! That is a huge benefit to freezing pancake better: the drop in quality is very slow and gradual, which means there is not much difference if pancake batter used three days after freezing as opposed to three months.
However, it is not a great idea to freeze it beyond that, as emphasized repeatedly.
No, avoid freezing pancake batter that has baking soda as an ingredient. Baking soda can be substituted with baking powder. Once the batter is frozen with baking soda in it, it will be difficult for the pancakes made with thawed batter to rise.
This is a very common worry. Yes, you can freeze pancake batter that has eggs in it.
If your pancake recipe needs you to blend in “whole eggs,” (as most recipes instruct), you should not face any issues with the quality of your pancakes after frozen and thawed, provided that the batter is used up within one to two months within freezing.
However, if your pancake recipe instructs you to beat egg whites and then to fold them into the batter, it is probably not a great idea to freeze this batter, owing to how the egg whites will deflate after being frozen and thawed, leading to flatter, thinner pancakes.
Bottom Line
We hope this comprehensive, step-by-step guide covering the best methods to freeze pancake batter, along with pancakes themselves successfully at the safety and ease of your home, as well as the tips, hacks and tricks described, has helped you!
For any further questions you may have regarding freezing pancake batter, please do let us know by reaching out to us, we would love to help you out!
If you have any other tips and tricks for freezing pancake batter you have discovered and would like other people to also know, feel free to reach out and let us know, we will add them to this guide so they can help more people!
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