How to Reheat Pancakes: Easy Trick for Fluffy Flapjacks

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We’ll get out of bed for a stack of fluffy pancakes any day — especially if they’re leftover flapjacks from a weekend brunch. Reheating pancakes so they’re warm and soft again is surprisingly easy to do in the oven, microwave or stove with the help of a few chef’s tips. This allows you to satisfy your sweet and buttery pancake cravings in less time than it takes to whip up a fresh batch. With your now-reheated pancakes, you can dress them up with syrup, fruit caramel sauce or any topping that your taste buds desire. Keep reading to learn how to reheat pancakes to ensure they’re rich and tender to enjoy a second time around!

Chef’s #1 secret for delicious reheated pancakes

To reheat pancakes so they’re moist and flavorful again, professional baker Dan Langan brushes them with a little bit of milk. This keeps the interior soft without making it soggy, ensuring those crispy edges form during the reheating process. Langan suggests starting with ¼ cup of milk for brushing 3 to 4 pancakes, and increasing the amount for a bigger batch. For added sweetness, you can combine the milk with a tablespoon of sugar or a dash of liqueur. Once the milk is brushed over the pancakes, they’re ready to reheat.

Should frozen pancakes be thawed before reheating?

Pancakes can last up to 2 months in the freezer if you can’t finish the whole batch right away. Thawing them in the fridge overnight is ideal for reheating them in the microwave or oven without hassle. But, you can reheat them while they’re still frozen in a skillet — which helps defrost the inside and brown the outside. Just be aware that reheating them on the stove involves flipping them several times Overall, it’s best to pick the method that works with your schedule and the amount of pancakes you’re reheating.

For speedy results: reheat pancakes in the microwave

To reheat pancakes in a pinch, Langan says the microwave is your friend. “The key here is to make sure your ‘jacks’ have plenty of room on the plate, so they have space to heat evenly,” he notes. Here, Langan walks us through three easy steps for reheating pancakes in the microwave — you’ll want to serve them right away so the pancakes don’t become chewy as they cool down.  

  • Coat both sides of each pancake with milk.
  • Place 1 to 4 pancakes at a time on a microwave-safe plate between 2 sheets of paper towel.
  • Microwave on high for about 15 to 20 seconds for 1 pancake. If you’re heating up multiple pancakes, set your microwave on high for 45 seconds to 1 minute.

    • For a big batch: reheat pancakes in the oven

    If you’re feeding a large breakfast crowd, your best bet is reheating the pancakes in the oven. This ensures each flapjack gets fully heated and crisps up the exterior. Here, chef Claudia Sidoti shares how to reheat pancakes in the oven in five easy steps.

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F.
  • Evenly space the pancakes in a single layer on a nonstick baking sheet or tray lined with parchment paper.
  • Brush each pancake with milk.
  • Cover the sheet with aluminum foil and place in the oven.
  • Reheat for 5 to 10 minutes, or until heated all the way through.
  • Enjoy immediately with syrup or your desired topping.

    • For frozen flapjacks: reheat pancakes in a skillet

    Frozen pancakes to resemble their former texture, Langan suggests reheating them on the stove. “The frying pan will give you the crispy edge and soft center pancakes are known for, but be sure to coat your pan in butter to guarantee the cakes stay moist,” he explains. Here, Langan reveals his expert tips for reheating frozen pancakes.  

  • Heat a skillet over low heat and coat it with enough butter or nonstick spray to cover the surface.
  • Brush the pancakes with milk.
  • Place a single layer of pancakes on the warmed skillet and cook for 30 seconds before flipping. Repeat this process of flipping them every 30 seconds until they’re fully heated.
  • Transfer the pancakes to a plate and enjoy with toppings.

    • A pancake recipe worth reheating

    These tips will help you heat up any batch of pancakes including our test kitchen’s recipe for Maple Pancakes With Walnuts. Yum! (For more flapjack recipes, check out our stories on sheet pan pancakes and muffin mix pancakes.)

    Maple Pancakes With Walnuts

    Adding maple syrup to the pancake batter makes this breakfast staple extra rich.

    Ingredients:

    • 2 cups pancake mix
    • ⅔ cup milk
    • ⅓ cup maple syrup + additional
    • 2 eggs
    • ½ cup chopped walnuts, toasted

    Directions:

    • Active: 20 mins
    • Total time: 25 mins
    • Yield: 4 servings
  • Heat oven to 200°F.
  • In bowl, combine pancake mix, milk, ⅓ cup syrup and eggs. Coat nonstick skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium-low. In batches, drop in batter by ¼-cupfuls.
  • Cook until bubbles form, 2 minutes; flip. Cook until golden, 2 minutes. Transfer to baking sheet; keep warm in oven. Repeat with remaining batter.
  • Serve with walnuts and additional syrup.

    • Continue reading for more tips on reheating leftovers:

    Genius Trick Reheats Roasted Veggies So They’re as Crispy as When You Made Them

    How to Reheat Shrimp So They Stay Sweet and Succulent — Chef’s #1 Secret

    How to Reheat Burgers So They Taste Like They Just Came Off the Grill

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