How Long to Cook Pancakes

Ever wondered how long to cook a pancake on each side? If you make this breakfast favorite as much as I do, this question has probably come up.

While there isn’t an exact time pancake needs to cook, I’m sharing tips to help you know when to flip and prevent burnt or soggy pancakes in this post.

How Long To Cook Pancakes on Each Side

How long it takes pancakes to cook depends on how thick the pancake batter is and the temperature of your cooking surface. Certain visual cues like defined edges and bubbles are telltale signs it’s time to give them a flip.

This could look like anywhere from 2-3 minutes on the first side and an additional minute once flipped. That being said, I don’t recommend cooking pancakes based on time. Instead, you’ll want to go by appearance.

Flipping Pancakes

Knowing when to flip a pancake makes the difference between an even golden-brown surface and burnt bottoms. In this video, I show you how and when to flip pancakes so they come out perfect every time.  

What Temperature to Cook Pancakes

A medium heat of 325F is the best temperature to cook pancakes, this will help the batter cook evenly without scorching the bottom. If the heat is too high, the pancake base will burn before it’s ready to flip.

Medium heat on an electric stove is at the 5 setting, and for a gas stove, the flame will lightly touch the pan. I use my trusted pancake griddle, which allows me to select the temperature in degrees.

When the pancakes are done, keep them warm on the side while you make the rest.

Why Pancakes Bubble

This is science in work and the reason your pancakes will turn out light and fluffy. As the batter cooks, the fresh baking powder is activated and produces air pockets. Steam builds up in the pockets and tries to escape through the thick proteins in the batter, creating bubbles. 

Bet you didn’t think pancake batter was doing all that, but it’s one more reason to use fresh baking powder. Fresh baking powder = fluffy pancakes.

Now that you know how long to cook pancakes, grab a pancake recipe here and get ready to make the best pancakes ever.