Why should you let pancake batter rest?
“Let the dough rest for 1 hour/2 hours…” Okay? What for ? Does this really affect the recipe? What if I’m in a hurry? Don’t worry, all the explanations are right here.
Read: How to make crepes?
What result if I let my pancake batter rest?
Between the time you stored the dough in the refrigerator and baking, the device seems to have changed texture, it seems heavier. Rest assured, your mind is not playing tricks on you, the dough has actually gained density. As is often the case in cooking, the explanation lies in chemistry. Flour contains starch, which, upon contact with a liquid (milk, alcohol, eggs, fat, etc.) relaxes to swell and form a glutinous network. As a result, the dough is more flexible and spreads easily in the crepe maker.
Please note, this chemical reaction is specific to pancake batter. Conversely, we do not recommend letting waffle or pancake batter rest because they contain yeast. However, the latter acts immediately as a leavening agent and tends to lose effectiveness over time. It is therefore better to cook them as quickly as possible.
How long do you leave crepe batter to rest?
Unfortunately, there is no universal answer, as it all depends on the ingredients used. For a classic pancake batter (wheat flour, egg, milk, fat), allow between 30 minutes and 1 hour. If you used wholemeal flours, the waiting time is estimated at 2 hours. Finally, for those who love beer pancakes (the author of these lines pleads guilty), you will have to be patient. The gas contained in the drink must in fact have time to evacuate, which takes around 3 hours.
What result if I don’t let it rest?
It’s a catastrophe. There is no doubt that the Earth should stop rotating.
Rest assured, skipping this step is nothing so dramatic. However, the starch will not have had time to absorb the liquid, therefore, the dough will be more brittle and difficult to handle. However, when it comes to the taste or texture of the cooked pancakes, this makes no difference.
So can I skip this step?
Of course ! It’s a safe bet that no one will notice the difference. However, if you are new to mastering the crepe maker, a simple tip will allow you to cook crepes immediately. To speed up the work of the starch, simply use hot milk instead of cold milk, or mix the dough in a blender. The heat will tend to make the starch rise very quickly, while the mixer has the advantage of avoiding overworking the dough. However, a lightly worked dough is a dough whose gluten is relaxed, and therefore more effective.
Ready to fry the pancakes?
