How to salvage your test pancake, what to do with excess batter and our favourite zero-waste toppings.Pancake Tips to Reduce Food Waste

Pancake Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday, was literally created to allow people to use up the food they were abstaining from during Lent. It's an anti food waste holiday so naturally, we're on board. With this in mind, we've rubbed our brain cells together to give you some pancake tips to reduce food waste... 

Avoid chucking your test pancake 

We all know that first pancake fresh from the pan can be a bit sad but would you believe there are things you can do that will make it just as delicious as the pancakes that will follow? 

Swipe off your oil 

An oil-logged pancake is a no-go, so make sure you do the classic oil swipe with a reusable cloth or kitchen towel before laying your batter. 

Get your heat right 

If your pancake is cooking too fast but not ready to flip, just remove it from the heat for a minute and go again. This may help your pancake to cook that bit slower and more evenly. 

Go smaller to start 

Start with tiny baby pancakes - easier to control leaving less room for error. 

Top it up 

There are few things in life that can't be redeemed by their toppings. Mop up any excess oil by gently placing absorbent cloth on your pancake and smother it in your favourites. 

Be realistic with your perishable toppings 

Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, apples... There are so many fruits that taste great on a pancake. Being realistic about how much you will actually use will help to prevent you from tossing mouldy berries in a few days time. Opt for a mixed berry punnet or go for jam for extra longevity. 

There are some amazing pancake toppings that will keep for yonks, if you want to avoid perishables all together: sugar, maple syrup, golden syrup, nuts, chocolate hazelnut spread, biscuit spread and caramel sauce.  

MAKE THE MOST OF WHAT YOU HAVE IN 

Got some yoghurt in the fridge you aren't planning on using? Add to a thicker batter for added fluffiness or top your pancakes with it. Extra egg in the carton? Make a savoury fried egg crepe. Wilting spinach? Add it into that delicious savoury pancake. Embrace the spirit of Pancake Tuesday.  

Some more ideas to pique your food saving interest: 

• Make a caramel by boiling a tin of condensed milk near its best before date 
• Use crushed, soft digestive biscuits for a delicious textural topping 
• Heat your soft fruit to a delicious compote to spread over your pancakes 
• Use browning bananas as a plant-based egg replacement in American style pancakes 
• Make apple fritters using old apples and pancake batter 

USE ALL YOUR PANCAKES 

If you leave sugar out of your batter, you've got a delicious batter that can be used for meals the following day, including... 

• A lunch crêpe with cheese, ham and spinach 
• Corn and jalapeño fritters (add more flour to your batter) 
• Crêpe cake (layer your crêpes with a thin coating of buttercream) 
• Onion rings using the batter and thick cut rings of onion 
• A dinner pizza crêpe using tomato paste, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, cheese and toppings of your choice (don't tell the French... Or the Italians).

Enjoy our tips for reducing food waste and your pancakes! 

Further reading: Our Top Pairings for Commonly Wasted Foods