How to Keep Pancakes from Drying Out
Pancakes are delicious, but why is it that they are so popular? What makes them so appealing? Is it because they are cheap, or perhaps because they are versatile?
Pancakes are a staple food around the globe. They are usually eaten for breakfast, but they also make great snacks. They are inexpensive, easy to cook, and can be enjoyed on any day.
In addition, they are often served with other foods, such as fruit, syrup, butter, jam, chocolate chips, bacon, etc.
But how do you cook them to prevent them from drying out? Guests always love to eat a soft and moist pancake, right? Thus, we will give you tips on how to do it below.
Why Are My Pancakes Dry and Hard?
The main reason your pancakes dry out is that you do not use enough oil when cooking them. When making pancakes, you need to add some oil to the pancake batter to keep them soft and moist.
If you do not have enough oil, the air inside the batter will evaporate quickly, which causes the pancakes to dry up. This problem can be easily solved by adding more oil to the mixture. Moreover, there are always other reasons that affect the texture of your fluffy pancakes. Here are some of them:

Too Much Flour Will Make Your Pancakes Dry
If you put too much flour in the batter, then the pancakes will not rise properly, resulting in flat pancakes. To avoid this problem, try using less flour when mixing the ingredients together.
Too much flour causes pancakes to be dry and tough. Overmixing results in a chewy pancake. Baking soda creates air bubbles in the batter, trapping them inside the pancake.
To fix this, stir some melted butter into your pancake mix. If you add an extra egg, you will end up with pancakes that are too wet. Overmixing them causes them to be too thick.

Too Much Baking Powder or Soda Will Make Pancakes Brittle
Baking powder and baking soda both create air bubbles in the batter. The result is a light, flaky pancake. However, if you overdo it, the pancakes may not rise well. Instead of adding baking powder or soda directly into the batter, try adding some powdered milk instead.
Too Little Egg or Butter Will Make Pancakes Hard and Taste Bad
When you are making pancakes, eggs and butter should be added gradually until the batter reaches the desired consistency. Too much egg or butter will cause the pancakes to be greasy. It can also get too dry if you mix in a small amount of egg or butter. Therefore, you need to start off slowly and work your way up to the ideal amount. It is best to add just the right amount of liquid to get the perfect balance between moisture and firmness.
How Do You Make Pancakes Light and Fluffy?
There are many ways to make pancakes light and fluffy. Some people like their pancakes very thin, while others prefer thicker ones. There are two methods you can use to achieve this effect. One method involves beating the batter before frying. The other method involves folding the batter after frying. Let us take a look at each one.
Beat the Batter – but Do Not Over Beat
To beat the batter, you first need to combine all ingredients. Then, start mixing the batter with a hand mixer or whisk. Once you have mixed everything, let the batter rest for about 10 minutes before pouring it onto the griddle. Beat the batter again so that the gluten strands form. This helps the pancakes rise better.
Folding the Batter Will Make Soft Pancakes
To fold the batter, pour half of the batter on top of another half. Fold the bottom half over the top half. Repeat this process until all of the batter has been used. After the pancakes have cooked, flip them over and cook the other side.
How Do You Make Pancakes Less Floury?
Pancakes made with whole wheat flour tend to be heavier than those made with white flour. Although they taste great, they are usually denser and chewier than regular pancakes. To make your pancakes lighter and fluffier, try replacing part of the white flour with whole wheat flour. Or, you could try adding more fat to the batter. For example, substitute 1/3 cup of white flour with 1/2 cup of vegetable oil.
How Do You Make Pancakes Less Floury?
If you want to make pancakes that are less dense and more tender, try using a combination of whole wheat flour and white flour. Whole wheat flour contains bran, which adds fiber and nutrients to the pancakes. White flour provides starch, which makes the pancakes puff up when they bake. If you do not want to use any whole wheat flour, you can always add a few tablespoons of oats to the batter. Oats contain protein and minerals that help to keep the pancakes soft and moist.
Can I Add Milk Instead of Water to Pancake Mix?
Yes! In fact, adding milk to pancake mix is an old trick that works well. Adding milk to the pancake mix creates a thinner batter that cooks faster. When you add milk to the pancake mix, you will have a slightly sweet pancake that tastes delicious. However, if you decide to use milk instead of water, remember to reduce the baking soda by half. Baking soda reacts with the acidity of the milk and produces carbon dioxide gas bubbles. These bubbles expand during cooking and create holes in the pancakes.
Why Are My Protein Pancakes so Dry?
When making protein pancakes, you must avoid using too much liquid. Too much liquid will cause the batter to become runny. Also, make sure that the eggs, milk, and butter are at room temperature. This will ensure that the proteins in these foods bind correctly.
What Does Oil Do in Pancakes?
Oil helps prevent the pancakes from sticking to the pan and prevents them from drying out. It also gives the pancakes a nice golden color. As long as you use enough oil, the pancakes will not dry out and stay soft.
Should You Use Butter or Oil for Pancakes?
Butter and oil both work equally well for pancakes. However, since butter melts at higher temperatures, it’s best to use it when frying pancakes. On the other hand, oil remains solid at lower temperatures and is perfect for baking pancakes.
What Does Milk Do in Pancakes?
Milk helps to thicken the batter and gives the pancakes a rich flavor. The thicker the batter, the longer the pancakes will take to cook. Therefore, if you are looking for fluffy pancakes, you should use a wide pancake mix.
What Makes Pancakes More Fluffy?
You need to beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form to get a fluffy pancake. Then, fold the beaten egg whites into the rest of the ingredients. First, eating the egg whites ensures that the air pockets remain intact after folding the batter.
Does Milk Make Pancakes Fluffy?
Adding milk to the pancake mix increases the volume of the batter. Because of this, the pancakes will rise higher and have larger holes. However, if you prefer smaller pancakes, you may want to omit the milk altogether.
Is Olive Oil Ok for Pancakes?
Olive oil has a high smoke point (the temperature at which oils start smoking) of 450 degrees Fahrenheit. That means that olive oil is safe to use in pancakes. However, because olive oil has a strong flavor, you may want to dilute it with some vegetable oil before using it in your pancakes.
Why Do Restaurant Pancakes Taste Better?
Restaurants usually use more expensive ingredients than home cooks. For example, restaurant chefs often use fresh cream cheese, real maple syrup, and organic flour. They also use special equipment such as electric griddles and fryers. All of these things can help restaurants produce better-tasting pancakes.
What Does Salt Do to Pancakes?
Salt makes pancakes taste good. If you do not like salt on your breakfast food, try sprinkling some on the pancakes just before serving.
What Makes Pancakes Gummy?
Pancakes can be gummy if they are not cooked thoroughly. Simply flip the pancakes over and continue cooking them to fix this problem.
What to Add to Pancakes to Make Them Better?
If you are looking for ways to improve pancakes, here are some suggestions:
- Add 1/2 cup of raisins to the batter. Raisins add sweetness and texture to the pancakes.
- Use whole wheat flour instead of white flour. Whole wheat flour adds fiber and nutrients to the pancakes.
- Sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top of the pancakes. Cinnamon and brown sugar make delicious toppings for pancakes.
- Top the pancakes with sliced bananas. Bananas go great with pancakes.
What Happens if You Add Egg to Pancake Mix?
A pancake mix with an egg can become tough and rubbery if you add too much egg. This happens because the eggs coagulate when heated. Therefore, adding an extra egg or two will not hurt anything. Adding one or two extra eggs can improve the texture of the pancakes.
What Can I Add to Pancake Mix to Make It Taste Better?
You can add any of the following items to your pancake mix:
- 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 cup chopped nuts
- 1/4 cup shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips