Problem with Pan?

Question

I confess, I'm not the best cook in the world. In fact, my family has always begged me NOT to cook. lol

Lately, my boyfriend and I have tried to make pancakes. We live in a small apartment with limited kitchen space, so we only have one nonstick fry pan. When we try to make pancakes in this pan now (after spraying the pan with oil...), the pancakes are difficult to turn (we use a plastic spatula bc of the pan being nonstick) and then the pancakes have a light black film on them, so we just toss them. I've washed the pan a gazzillion times now and I don't see why we can't make the pancakes. Is something wrong with the pan? I know I can't cook, but I made pancakes a few weeks ago using the pan and they turned out great.

Answer 1

Is the film burnt pancake or is it from the pan? Or maybe is it the spray oil getting black and icky?

I know the first time I tried to make pancakes (in a situation very similar to yours!) I put the heat on too high. Put the heat on medium, and leave it there! Don't even have it higher to heat it up faster or anything.

Obligatory warning: be very careful with nonstick pans, they give off gasses that are toxic to pet birds at high temperatures (so I wouldn't imagine they'd be too great for us...).

For an alternative to making pancakes on the stove, try in the oven! That's the only way I make them!

Here's the recipe I use, it's really great:
2 cups pancake mix
1 1/2 cups milk
1 egg
2 tbsp oil
1/2 tsp cinnamon (or add as much as you like!)
1 tsp vanilla (or add as much as you like!)

Preheat oven to 425. Mix pancake mix, milk, egg, oil, cinnamon, and vanilla. Batter will have small lumps. Pour into greased 15 1/2" x 10 1/2" x 1" baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes or until done.

Just cut into squares however big you want them! We add extra cinnamon to it, and then top it with butter and maple syrup...very delicious, it tastes almost like a cinnamon roll! You could also add 1/2 cup of blueberries, 1/4 cup chocolate chips, or 2 tbsp bacon bits instead of the cinnamon (I've never tried any of those add-ins before though).

Good luck! Keep trying to cook, don't get discouraged! The more you do it, the better you get!

Answer 2

It occurs to me that the problem might be with the pan, as the previous answerer mentioned, or it might be the spatula melting onto the pancakes. Perhaps another utensil might do the trick.

And she's also right about the heat: pancakes will do much better if cooked on low heat.

Perhaps a previous cooking episode has damaged the coating on the pan permanently, in which case the best thing to do would be to get a new pan.

If you are putting oil or something on the pan, you should be able to make pancakes without a non-stick surface. That is, if you have another pan, you can try that one, and as long as you put something like oil or butter on it, you'll be fine.

Answer 3

Could be a couple of things. 1)You did not mention if there is a darkening or film on the pan. If so then the pam sprayed on the pan has baked/burn on in several layers on to pan. You can get this off by buying a degreaser spray which is stronger than dishsoap. Get degreaser and spray it on evenly and let it set to save scrubbing time. Then wash with hot water and rinse. If this is the problem it may take a few washings. 2) The othe problem may be that you have the heat up too high and it is burning the Pam spray. Suggest that you spray pan lightly with Pam and then make one throw away or doggie treat pancake. I make this first pancake after water sizzles on the pan. I make the pancake as usual and then move it over all of the pans surface to collect and puddled Pam spray which will darken as I continue making pancakes. Dog loves it and it keeps the Pam spray from darkening up and accumulating on the pan. Only other suggestion after that is consider that it is not a real teflon pan and save up to buy a new one. Hope it is something degreaser can get done for you. Oh, degreaser can be found in aisle where they sell cleaners in Home Depot, Sams. This would be industrial strength like used in restaurants. Can also be used for cleaning stove splaters.

Answer 4

I use a stainless steel skillet and a metal spatula. I now spray my pan with Crisco brand light olive oil (for it's many health benefits). They do not stick and brown beautifully. Good luck!

That pan coating flecks off and isn't very healthy. If you invest in a better skillet or griddle, you will be glad that you did. I've had mine for over 20 years, so it is a worthwhile investment.

God be with you.

Answer 5

Yes, go buy a pan that isn't non-stick! u will never have this problem again!