How to Freeze & Reheat Pancakes
Freezing pancakes might just be your new favorite superpower as a parent. And the best part is, it works with any kind of pancake! Learn how to freeze pancakes (and pancake batter!) and reheat pancakes for a quick homemade meal in minutes.
Can you Freeze Pancakes?
Heck yes! Excuse my enthusiasm, but freezing pancakes might just be one of the best hacks out there for a quick homemade meal. Buttermilk, whole wheat, banana, zucchini, pumpkin, spinach, you name it – freezing pancakes work equally well for any type!
Freezing pancakes not only saves you time in the kitchen, it’s also more cost-effective compared to buying frozen pancakes or waffles, AND you get to choose the ingredients you put into them.
Step-by-Step: How to Freeze Pancakes
- Let Cool: you will want to let your cooked pancakes cool on a wire rack until they are at room temperature. If they go into the freezer warm, they will release steam and become soggy, as well as develop more ice crystals.
- Layer: in a ziplock or stasher bag, place pancakes in a single layer with only a little of the pancake overlapping. To make another layer, add in a sheet of parchment paper or wax paper on top of the first layer of pancakes and then add another layer of pancakes on top.
- Press Out Air: starting at the bottom of the ziplock bag, gently press out any air, being careful not to break any pancakes. Close the ziplock bag all the way.
- Freeze: place the ziplock bag in the freezer and let them freeze for up to 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you actually can! Simply pour the batter into a freezer-safe bag. Rolling the bag into a cone shape helps to get out excess air. Lay the bag flat, seal it, and freeze it for up to a month. When you’re ready to use, thaw in warm water or overnight in the fridge. Then snip off a corner of the bag to pipe the pancakes directly onto a hot pan or griddle.
Pancakes usually freeze well for up to 3 months.
To prevent the pancakes from sticking, freeze them so they are not touching. This can be done by flash freezing them in a single layer on a baking sheet until frozen or by stacking them individually with a layer of parchment paper in between.
How to Reheat Pancakes
There are several different methods you can use to reheat pancakes. Your choice will depend on how many pancakes you need to reheat at a time (ie. a couple of people versus a crowd) and your personal preference.
Toaster
If you want the fastest way to reheat pancakes with the least amount of checking necessary (for a few people), place one pancake in each toaster slot and heat until warm. But make sure to watch your pancakes closely, so they don’t get too crispy. In addition, if your pancakes were made with fillings like chocolate chips or soft berries, you might want to avoid this method, as these could melt and drip a bit, making a bit of a mess and causing your toaster to smoke.
Microwave
Microwaving is also a quick way to reheat pancakes. Place a paper towel on a microwave-safe plate. Place pancakes in a single layer on the plate and put another layer of paper towel on top of them. Microwave pancakes on high for 15-30 seconds or until warm.
Oven
The best way to prepare pancakes for a crowd, as it’s the fastest way to reheat a lot of pancakes all at once. Preheat your oven to 350°F and place frozen pancakes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes or until warm.
Stove
To reheat pancakes on the stove, place in a skillet in a single layer. Turn the burner on low heat and heat pancakes until warmed through, about 3-4 minutes, while flipping intermittently.
Air Fryer
Air fryers are a great option for reheating food, including pancakes. Using an air fryer will be similar to reheating with a toaster, in that the pancakes will get a little crispy on the outside but nice and warm on the inside. Place the pancakes in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook at 350°F for 2-3 minutes.
Best Tips
- No need to defrost pancakes in the fridge overnight. You can take them straight out of the freezer and use your preferred reheating method.
- If your pancakes were made with chocolate chips or berries, you might want to avoid using a toaster to reheat to avoid any melting and mess in your toaster.
- To keep pancakes from becoming too dry in the oven, air fryer, or on the stovetop, brush a little melted butter over the pancakes before reheating.
- Microwaves vary greatly, so start with a lower power/shorter amount of time when reheating pancakes this way, so that the pancakes don’t get too chewy.
- Remember to freeze the pancakes plain, before adding any syrup, butter, or other toppings (add those after reheating!).
Favorite Pancake Recipes
Here are some of our favorite family-friendly pancake recipes!
3-Ingredient Banana Pancakes for Baby
15-Minute Fluffy Spinach Pancakes for Babies & Toddlers
Perfect Fluffy Pink Beet Pancakes (made with yogurt!)
Pumpkin Pancakes
Fluffy Zucchini Pancakes (super easy!)
Quick 15-Minute Greek Yogurt Pancakes (Kid Friendly!)
Get the recipe: How to Freeze & Reheat Pancakes (super easy!)
Ingredients
- 1+ pancakes
Instructions
- Let Cool: you will want to let your cooked pancakes cool on a wire rack until room temperature.
- Layer: in a ziplock or stasher bag, place pancakes in a single layer with only a little overlapping. To make another layer, add in a sheet of parchment paper or wax paper on top of the first layer of pancakes and then add another layer of pancakes.
- Press Out Air: starting at the bottom of the ziplock bag, gently press out any air. Close the ziplock bag all the way.
- Freeze: place the ziplock bag in the freezer and let freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: to reheat a pancake, take the desired number of pancakes you want and pop them right into a toaster or microwave.
Notes
- Pancakes will last for up to 4 months in the freezer.
- No need to defrost pancakes in the fridge overnight. You can take them straight out of the freezer and use your preferred reheating method.
- If your pancakes were made with chocolate chips or berries, you might want to avoid using a toaster to reheat to avoid any melting and mess in your toaster.
- To keep pancakes from becoming too dry in the oven, air fryer, or on the stovetop, brush a little melted butter over the pancakes before reheating.
- Microwaves vary greatly, so start with a lower power/shorter amount of time when reheating pancakes this way, so that the pancakes don’t get too chewy.
- Remember to freeze the pancakes plain, before adding any syrup, butter, or other toppings (add those after reheating!).
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