Can You Freeze Pancake Batter?

Attention home cooks! Premade boxed pancake batter isn’t the only quick game in town. How about making extra pancake batter from scratch and then freezing it for later? Wait, can you freeze pancake batter? Why yes, my friends, you can freeze pancake batter successfully! Here’s what you need to know.

I’m sure we can all agree that pancakes are best served fresh off a hot griddle.

If you’re like me, you never know how many to make. One week, you won’t make enough, so the next week, you make more, only to find your family isn’t as hungry. So you have leftover pancakes or pancake batter, right?

After years of feeling disappointed I could never get it right, I decided no more. First, I started out by making a smaller number of pancakes and then cooking additional ones as needed. Next, I set out to make my even life easier and started by asking myself, “Does pancake batter freeze?”

I then began experimenting with freezing leftover pancake batter. Once I realized I could freeze pancake batter without a noticeable loss of quality, I no longer worried about having leftover batter and began making it from scratch more often.

These days, when making pancakes, I always make extra pancake batter. If my family wants more, I ask how many and then pop a few more on my trusty electric griddle.

Then, after they are done eating, I will either refrigerate or freeze any leftover pancake batter, depending on how much is left.

Because your success in storing pancake batter will partially depend on its ingredients, let’s take a minute to talk about some popular ingredients found in homemade pancake batter.

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How Do You Make Homemade Pancake Batter?

Basic homemade pancake batter is made by combining a “dry” pancake mix with “wet” ingredients.

Popular wet ingredients in pancake batter are milk or buttermilk, eggs, butter, and a flavoring extract like vanilla.

Dry pancake mix often contains flour (often all-purpose), sugar, salt, and a leavening agent like baking powder or baking soda.

Leavening Agents Explained

In a nutshell, baking soda and baking powder are used in baked goods and items like pancakes to create carbon dioxide. The bubbles you see in pancake batter are the carbon dioxide, which helps your pancakes be light and fluffy!!!

Here’s a quick rundown of their similarities and differences.

Baking Soda

This is a single ingredient also known as sodium bicarbonate. In a nutshell, it requires some type of acid, a liquid, and heat before it will create carbon dioxide.

In pancake batter recipes, baking soda is often used with buttermilk pancakes. Buttermilk is an acidic liquid that activates the baking soda, resulting in light, fluffy pancakes.

Baking Powder

Baking Powder is a combination of ingredients that includes baking soda. It contains sodium bicarbonate and some type of dry acid, like cream of tartar. It often contains cornstarch as well.

Unlike baking soda, baking powder already contains some type of acid so it only needs a liquid and heat to activate.

You’ll likely find pancake batter recipes using baking powder and milk. Since milk doesn’t have the acidity of buttermilk, you’ll need baking powder instead of baking soda.

Can You Freeze Pancake Batter?

Yes, you can successfully freeze pancake batter. However, the quality of pancakes made from previously frozen batter will depend on how long the batter was frozen, the ingredients you use, and how well you prevent freezer burn.

How Long Will Pancake Batter Last In The Freezer?

When pancake batter is constantly frozen at or below 0° F, it will be safe to eat indefinitely, but for the best quality, frozen pancakes should be used within 1 to 3 months.

Your leftover batter can last anywhere from one month to three months due to its ingredients and the type of container it is frozen in. Personally, I prefer to use frozen batter within one to two months.

How To Freeze Leftover Pancake Batter

The good news is that pancake batter doesn’t need special procedures or supplies to be frozen. Simply freeze your batter in airtight containers or freezer bags.

Step By Step Instructions

1. Grab your freezer bag or freezer-safe container.

This is my go-to brand of disposable bags! They are thicker than regular storage ones and sealed tightly to prevent the batter from leaking all over the freezer. Alternatively, these are my favorite storage containers for both the freezer and fridge.

2. Record the “use by” date on the disposable bag or freezer label.

Before you add your pancake batter to the bag or container, grab a black Sharpie and write a date two months from the date you’re freezing it. For example, if today is June 1, write “use by August 1, 2022. ” I use these freezer labels for non-disposable containers.

3. Add your pancake batter into the bag or container.

PRO TIP: Leave 1″ to 2″ of empty space in your container so your pancake batter has room to expand as it freezes. Trust me, you don’t want a busted bag or container of pancake batter all over your freezer!

4. If using a freezer bag, remove excess air by gently pushing the air out while you are sealing it shut.

Be sure not to get the batter into the grooves when sealing it shut. As it freezes and expands, the pancake batter may cause the seal to break open.

5. Lay flat and freeze.

How To Thaw Pancake Batter

In The Fridge Overnight

The safest and easiest way to thaw frozen pancake batter is to put it in the fridge overnight. While it isn’t the fastest method, it is by far the safest and easiest. 

As soon as you decide you want pancakes the next day, put the frozen pancake batter in the fridge immediately. And if you aren’t at home, set an alarm on your phone to remind you to put the batter in the fridge that evening.

Remember, pancake batter thawed in the fridge should be used within one to two days.

On The Counter In Cold Water

You could also thaw your pancake batter in a shallow container of cool water (never warm water), but this could pose a problem if your freezer zip-top bag leaks. 

A leaky bag could cause your batter to become watery, or worse, it could allow bacteria to get into your pancake batter. 

If you choose to thaw your batter in cold water, remember the following:

• Make sure your airtight container is leak-proof, or put it inside another freezer bag before placing it in the water to thaw. Remember, only use cold tap water. NEVER use warm or hot water.
• Change the water every 30 minutes.
• Cook your pancakes immediately after thawing if at all possible.

How To Prepare Pancakes With Thawed Batter

Once your batter has thawed, the consistency may be too thick so give it a good stir. 

After stirring, if your pancake batter is still too thick, add a small amount of water or milk until you reach your desired consistency.

Pro Tip: You can always add more liquid to the batter, but you can’t remove it, so try to add no more than ½ to 1 tsp of liquid at a time, then mix until you reach your desired consistency.

If your batter is in a bowl, it should be ready to use. However, if your batter was frozen in a zip-top bag, reseal the bag, then roll it into a cone shape and snip off the bottom corner. Your batter is now ready to pipe onto your griddle or pan.

Once your batter is on the griddle, add in chocolate chips or berries, if desired. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Freeze Pancake Batter With Eggs?

In case you’re wondering whether or not you can freeze pancake batter with eggs in it, the answer is yes.

If your pancake recipe instructs you to blend in “whole eggs”, you shouldn’t have any problem with the quality of your pancakes if used within one to three months from freezing. 

However, if your pancake recipe calls for you to beat egg whites and gently fold them into the batter, don’t freeze this batter. This is because the egg whites will deflate once frozen and thawed, resulting in flatter, thinner pancakes.

Can You Freeze Pancakes After You Make Them?

Yes, you can freeze cooked pancakes and reheat them in the microwave or oven.

Freezing Cooked Pancakes

1. Cook pancakes on a hot griddle and cool.
2. Once fully cooled, place the pancakes directly into a plastic bag separated by parchment paper, plastic wrap, or aluminum foil.
3. Gently squeeze out all the excess air and seal it tightly.
4. Using a black Sharpie, write the “use by” date up to a month in the future on a freezer label or the disposable bag.

For better-tasting pancakes, I recommend freezing pancake batter over freezing cooked pancakes every time. However, frozen pancakes can be wrapped in a damp paper towel and reheated in the microwave.

Can You Freeze Dry Pancake Mix?

You do not need to freeze the dry pancake mix ingredients. Instead, store your dry mix in an airtight container. Store the mix away from any moisture and in a cool, dry place.  

Final Thoughts From Cost-Effective Kitchen

When you want to whip up a super quick meal, nothing is faster than mixing water with store-bought instant pancake mix before plopping them onto an electric griddle where you can cook 6 to 8 pancakes at once. Right?

With five kids in the house, I did this often. But, when I wanted to step up my breakfast game, I opted for homemade pancakes with fewer preservatives.

While homemade pancakes were a great idea, I found the whole process of making homemade batter every time was too time-consuming.

But once I realized that batter freezes well and the freezing process was simple, I jumped on the made-from-scratch bandwagon and began making delicious pancakes from scratch on a regular basis.

Don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest!

Until next time…

Kim