How to Keep Pancakes Warm Until You're Ready to Serve Them—and Other Must-Know Pancake Tips

It's no surprise that pancakes are a morning favorite, with their soft and cakey texture and sweet, decadent taste. But plating one serving at a time means that by the time everyone sits down for breakfast, they won't be warm enough to melt the all-important pat of butter. And if you cover the platter with foil, the pancakes will steam, becoming limp and losing their deliciously crisp edges. There is a foolproof solution to this problem, though, that will keep pancakes warm until you're ready to eat. Plus, we're sharing a few other tips and tricks to help you create the perfect stack of pancakes every single time.

Start With Fresh Ingredients

As with any other dish, fresh ingredients are a pivotal factor in producing tasty pancakes. While eggs and milk have a more obvious expiration date, be sure to check the freshness of your leavening agent, baking powder. A trick to ensure you're working with a fresh box: Spoon some baking powder into a small bowl of warm water—if the combination begins to bubble, then you know it's still good to use.

Make a Uniform Shape

One of the most difficult aspects of making pancakes is creating consistent circles. We recommend using an ice cream scoop to measure the batter and place it onto the hot griddle. This allows you to make rounds more easily, and it helps you pour a carefully proportioned amount of batter each time.

Never Press Down

While making your fluffy discs, it might be tempting to use your spatula to flatten the cake (we know, that sizzle is so satisfying). Pressing down gets rid of the natural air pockets, which are essential to producing a light and airy pancake.

How to Keep Pancakes Warm

While your first thought might be to pop them in the microwave, it's not the best method. Instead, you can keep pancakes warm by placing them on a baking sheet or oven-safe platter in a 200-degree oven until you're ready to serve. This temperature will keep the pancakes warm without continuing to cook them too much. Just be sure you don't leave them in the oven too long, so they still taste like they're hot off the griddle.