How To Keep Pancakes Warm Before Breakfast

Eating cold pancakes may be a breakfast abomination. Ideally, pancakes are soft, fluffy, and so warm that they melt any maple syrup drizzles or pats of butter that may be gliding across their surface. And seeing as how those are the two most popular pancake toppings, with 58% of those surveyed in a YouGovAmerica poll preferring maple syrup, keeping pancakes warm is an essential skill. 

If you've ever been disgraced with cold, rubbery pancakes, you know the experience is just not the same. But if you're serving breakfast for a crowd, it can get tricky to plan the timing of each dish to ensure they're all served warm. After all, no one likes cold eggs, bacon, or potatoes either.

Yet keeping pancakes or any food warm can be a tricky business. You want to make sure to get the temperature and warming time right to avoid overcooking your pancakes, which can leave them dark and burnt. Luckily, there's an easy way to do so that requires minimal effort on your part.

When you're making breakfast for your whole family and have a million other things to worry about besides cold pancakes, here's a simple trick to keep them warm and out of the way. Place them on a baking tray, then pop them in the oven at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The oven temperature is so low that you won't have to worry too much about how long they sit in there — although, make sure to check on them periodically, so they don't overcook. Once you're ready to serve, your pancakes will still be piping hot.

If your pancakes have already gone cold and you need something quick to revive them, you can increase the oven temperature and decrease the time they spend re-heating. Try upping the temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and letting them sit in the oven for just a few minutes until warm. To prevent them from drying out, try covering your layer of pancakes with foil.

It is also technically possible to warm your pancakes in the microwave — but this method comes with a major caveat. Microwaves typically end up steaming pancakes, meaning they'll end up wetter and mushier than intended. To try to counter this, you can microwave yours at half power in 20-second increments per pancake, but if you see them start to get soggy, transfer them to the oven instead.