Wednesday, February 14, 2018

The Not-So-Useful Pancake Flipper.

Comfortable, Even In Winter
    As many of you already know, I have been on a low-carb pancake kick for a while now. I can't help it, I like pancakes, they freeze well and with the discovery of Carbquik (a substitute for Bisquick or other pancake/dough mixes) I can finally have a few in the morning without feeling too much guilt! One of the things I don't like about making pancakes is the individual "flip" while cooking them. You know, wait for the bubbles on top and slightly brown edge and flip over. The top is still wet and the flip needs to be precise, especially in a small pan. Over and over. There has to be a better way and I believed I had found one. Well, not so much.

See The Small "Lips" To Hold In The Batter
With the amazing rising pancake recipe I had found a ring shaped mold allowed them to rise to even greater heights. Pretty amazing, but carrying around old bottom-cut-out tuna cans or ring-shaped molds wasn't practical so I went looking for something better. After some online research I stumbled across a silicone pancake mold designed to be placed in the bottom of a skillet that had handles to allow for easy flipping of 7 pancakes at once. Add this to the fact they were about the correct serving size and the edges came up high enough to "corral" the rising pancakes. And it was "squishable" silicone so storage wouldn't be a problem. Sounded like a win. Again, not so much.

Even In A Flat Griddle I Got Leaks
The idea was simple, put the round silicone device at the bottom of a non-stick skillet and add batter to each mold hole. First issue, the handles that overhang the pan prevented the mold from sitting flat against the bottom of the pan. To fix that I used a square, thin-lipped griddle pan, but even this had leakage issues. The batter flowed out from underneath the mold and I had seven pancakes on top and one gigantic one on the bottom. What a mess. I hate wasting food, especially when I want to eat it in the first place!

Next I attempted to flip the contraption over, figuring I could separate the pancakes from the now top. I gently tried to lift the silicone mold and saw immediately that more of the uncooked batter  was leaking into the pan and a flip was just going to make a mess. Perhaps I didn't let it cook long enough (at 350 degrees) so I waited a bit longer. Nope, raw insides, overcooked bottom. Finally, I just gave up. Nothing was going to make the small, round and beautiful pancakes of my imagination. At least the leftovers would taste good. Well, after they were cooked through, by themselves, on the griddle.

Most of the time I find stuff that actually works. Often to my complete surprise and delight. Not always. Thankfully more often than not. This was not one of those times. You are welcome to try your hand at this silicone mold. If you figure it out, let me know.

Be Seeing You...Down The Road,

Rich "The Wanderman"
www.thewanderman.com

21 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Unknown,
      Hmmm...Then what's the point of the "flipper" part? It may work as a multi-pancake mold at the point...

      Rich "The Wanderman"

      Delete
  2. Well, you tried...so we don't have to! Thanks, Rich the Wanderman!

    Laura, the Wandering Woman

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. moxadox,
      My pleasure! If I can save someone from some aggravation.. I will. It's neighborly, ya know?

      Rich "The Wanderman"

      Delete
  3. My first thought was that it looks like a pletta pan (swedish pancakes, similar to mini crepes). I need a replacement for my cast iron one, so I'm glad you warned us this doesn't work. Maybe you can look into pletta pans for your own usages.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wolfe,
      I have a pletta pan in cast iron..makes a great Swedish pancake AND a great bludgeon!

      Wonder if there is a lightweight alternative for RV use. Good tip, I will be looking into it.

      Thanks!

      Rich "The Wanderman"

      Delete
    2. True story...I take my cast iron pan to safety seminars and (discussing using whatever weapon is at hand) deliver the line "Great stopping power, and will not harm the finish in any way..."

      But really, Rich, you can park a huge RV on a dime and can't hit a pan with a spatula? Sheesh! ;)

      Delete
    3. Wolfe,
      It's all about quantity and efficiency, rapid pancake manufacturing without cumbersome assembly line mechanicals. The KISS rule...well...rules!

      Rich "The Wanderman"

      P.S. Not all that big at 23' 8"!

      Delete
  4. Your review seems in line with what Amazon purchasers felt. Your pictures reinforced your points and the problems. My wife suggested making fewer at a time or consider waffles.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kevin,
      What's all this about waffles?! I like them, but today i wanted easy to make pancakes! Don't be a pancake hater! ;)

      thanks,

      Rich "The Wanderman"

      Delete
    2. No civilized person makes pancakes when waffles are an option!

      #TeamBelgianWaffle

      Delete
    3. Wolfe,
      Perhaps a bit of clotted cream and Strawberry slices?

      :)

      Rich "The Wanderman"

      Delete
    4. You are a sick man...the word "clotted" shouldn't refer to anything you'd eat.

      23'8"... no wonder you don't have room for the *barest essentials*...
      My full-crew longbed/35'TT rig is almost 60', so if I'm going to drag a rolling house, I'm BRINGING my darn waffle iron (and generator, EPC, griddle, toaster, coffeemaker, deep fryer, flat top, wood fired brick pizza oven, Hawaiian hog pit, ...)! Pack it til the axles fold!

      Delete
    5. Wolfe,
      OK, yours IS bigger. ;)

      Rich "The Wanderman"

      Delete
  5. On a low carb diet and like fluffier pancakes? Mix in 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise for every cup of pancake mix. They're great.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hmmm. I wonder where I've read that before? --Diane at RVtravel.com

      Delete
    2. Diane,
      I know:
      http://www.thewanderman.com/2018/01/do-you-like-pancakes-how-would-you-like.html

      :)

      Rich "The Wanderman"

      Delete
  6. We had the same disappointing experience. Fortunately ours was only $5 clearance buy that is now in our donate pile.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. C February,
      Yup..donate bin it is!

      Rich "The Wanderman"

      Delete

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