Pancakes are a dish with ancient traditions that go back centuries. Every nation has its own version of this culinary product, but we are closer to the ruddy pancakes of classic Russian cuisine. They are especially often baked during Maslenitsa week, when Orthodox Christians celebrate the arrival of spring. But in order for baked goods to please us with their taste longer, while remaining just as soft and fresh, it is advisable to know how to store pancakes with different fillings.
Origin of pancakes
Pancakes have long been familiar to everyone in Rus'.
But no one knows exactly how this dish appeared. Therefore, there are very different versions. One of the dates for the appearance of pancakes in Rus' is considered to be 1005. According to some Russian historians, one of our ancestors was making oatmeal jelly and accidentally spilled it. The jelly began to fry, and thus the first pancakes appeared. But historian V. Pokhlebkin believes that this culinary product appeared before the 9th century. He connects the word “pancake” with the word “mlyn”, which comes from the word grind. Therefore, mlin is associated with flour products. Before the baptism of Rus' took place, pancakes were considered sacrificial bread. They were baked in Rus' all year long. And since the 19th century they have become the main dish for Maslenitsa. This may be due to the fact that the shape of the pancake resembles the sun, thanks to which life on earth occurs. Every family had its own recipes for making pancakes. It was customary to pass them on to subsequent generations. When Maslenitsa came, people could eat pancakes all day long. You could buy rich yeast pancakes right on the street in a tray. And if you wanted something special, you could look into the tavern. There this dish was served with sour cream, caviar, honey and even herring.
Some tips
- To improve the stickiness of the flour, it is recommended to heat the added water.
- After sifting the flour, wait a while for it to stand. This will only make the pancakes more beautiful and tastier.
- Too much sugar will make the pancakes hard, and too much salt will slow down the fermentation process. So add these two components strictly according to the recipe.
- If, according to the cooking conditions, the flour is diluted in water, then add salt to the liquid first. This will avoid the formation of lumps.
Pancake recipes and traditions
In the past times of Tsarist Russia, semolina, millet and buckwheat porridge were used to prepare pancakes. This dish could serve as a dessert for meat or be a dessert. Housewives of that time knew recipes with which they could prepare pancakes with seasoning. But now only a few remember this, since much has been forgotten. Previously, these pancakes were very popular. Vegetables, mushrooms, chopped eggs could be used as a baking dish. When the frying pan was heated, the dough was poured onto it, and then the bake was placed on top of it. It was then filled with dough again. The bake was between two pancakes. The product had to be turned over and fried. It could have been done differently. Pour the dough over the top of the bake. One of the most popular Russian spices is cottage cheese.
Interestingly, pancakes should only be eaten with your hands according to tradition. It is wrong to cut this dish with a knife or poke it with a fork.
Because you can cause trouble. This is due to the fact that the pancake represents the sun. A person who cut pancakes in Ancient Rus' could be beaten with sticks. Since those times, the tradition has been preserved according to which pancakes should be eaten only with your hands. They can be torn, twisted, but not cut. This is as important to know as the expiration date of pancakes.
In other countries, pancakes are prepared from the same products, but the traditions may differ. This affects the recipe. In England, malt flour and ale are added to pancake batter. American pancakes are more like pancakes. Products have a lighter color. Bacon, raisins, or cheese may also often be added to the dough. In Germany, pancakes come in both thin and thick varieties. In Latin America and Spain, corn flour is used to prepare this dish. Minced meat or vegetables can then be wrapped in these pancakes. The Chinese recipe calls for a stiff dough, which will include green and onions.
We can talk about pancakes for a very long time, as there are a lot of recipes now. The ingredients included in the dish or cooking methods may differ. But there are products that are a must have. This is flour, eggs and milk or water. Wheat flour is best suited for preparing this dish. This is worth knowing as well as the expiration date of pancakes. But, in principle, a completely different type of flour can be used. Housewives choose this product at their discretion, as well as other ingredients. It depends on them how high-calorie pancakes will be. And if the dish also includes filling, it will be even more high-calorie. Berries or fruits are often used as a filling for pancakes, and it can also be meat, mushrooms and even fish. There are so many things people can come up with to make pancakes tastier.
The benefits and harms of pancakes
The benefits of this dish are related to the products that it contains. Many housewives, in order to reduce the concentration of saturated fats, dilute full-fat milk with water. Eggs are always used to prepare this dish. They contain many vitamins and proteins, as well as unsaturated fats. They have a beneficial effect on the human body. It is impossible to cook this dish without flour. Thanks to it, the body is provided with fiber. To increase its quantity, you can add oatmeal. This makes the dish much healthier. This is worth knowing, just like the expiration date of pancakes.
When whipping the dough, it is worth adding a tablespoon of vegetable oil, as it contains essential fatty acids. Thanks to them, the body better digests all the fats that enter it with food. In addition, the immune system and blood vessels will be strengthened. Pancakes do not burn due to the presence of oil, so do not forget about it.
As for the harm of pancakes, they can affect your figure in the form of extra pounds. Sometimes it is difficult for a person to eat a portion smaller than he would like. This dish is harmful for those who are overweight. Pancakes in the form of semi-finished products are also not good for the human body. They are widely sold in stores and have a wide variety of fillings. The mixture that is sold for making pancakes differs in its usefulness from the recipe that you can make yourself. There are no natural products or flour there. Harmful additives, soy powder and flavorings may be found in this product. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to the composition of such a mixture. This is as important to know as the expiration date of pancakes. It is best to prepare this dish yourself. After all, now there are a lot of recipes, and the ingredients are completely accessible. It is enough to show your ingenuity and you can come up with a variety of components that will be included in the dish and make it healthier.
"Perfect Dough"
It is believed that a successful dough is obtained if you adhere to the proportional ratio of products. Let's consider this option, taking the planned test volume as one hundred percent.
We will need:
- flour – 260 g – (26%);
- milk (fat content must be selected at least 3.2%) – 0.65 l – (64%);
- eggs – 65 g – (7%);
- granulated sugar – 20 g – (2.4%);
- salt – from 3 to 5 g – (0.6%).
Let's get started:
- Beat the eggs into a deep container, add sugar and salt. Everything should be whipped until smooth. For convenience and speed, it is allowed to use the mixer at high speeds. The fluffiness of the beaten eggs and the percentage of air content in them will depend on your efforts.
- Now pour in the milk and continue stirring.
- To begin, add half the required amount of flour and turn the mixer to low speed. We work carefully so that drops of dough do not fly in all directions.
- Continuing to stir, gradually add the remaining amount of flour in small portions, stir well, and at the end increase the speed for a few minutes.
- It is recommended to pass the prepared pancake dough through a fine sieve, thus removing undissolved lumps from it.
It is necessary to keep the pancake mass at rest for about half an hour so that the gluten of the flour completely swells, forming the texture of the dough. The result should be a homogeneous mass with excellent fluidity.
Shelf life of pancakes
- Shelf life: 2 days
- Shelf life: 2 days
- Shelf life in the refrigerator: 2 days
- Freezer life: 30 days
Storage conditions:
In the refrigerator at a temperature of +4 to +8 ° C
How long do pancakes last?
| Storage | Shelf life |
| At room temperature | 24 hours (without filling), 12 hours (with filling) |
| In a refrigerator | about 2 days (without filling), no more than a day (with filling) |
| In the freezer | from 1 to 4 months (depending on filling) |
How to store pancakes
Pancakes are one of the oldest dishes of traditional Russian cuisine. Tasty, rosy and so appetizing - they are always welcome on any table and at any time. Pancakes acquire special significance when the Orthodox celebrate a special week - Maslenitsa. This dish is a symbol of the spring sun; it is with pancakes that the Orthodox people say goodbye to winter and welcome spring. The word “pancake” itself comes from the Old Slavonic “mlin”, which was interpreted as ground grain. And the quality of the grain in particular determines how long, where, in what, how to properly and how best to store pancakes so that they do not dry out and remain fresh and soft for as long as possible.
How to store homemade pancakes
Homemade in the refrigerator - up to 4 days
Homemade pancakes can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, provided they are covered with cling film on top.
Then the pancakes will begin to dry out and become thinner, tasting like paper. At room temperature - up to a day.
If you forget to put the pancakes in the refrigerator, then store them at room temperature for no more than a day, and if you still manage to put them in the refrigerator at least after a day - then 3 days.
In the freezer - up to 4 months
Frozen pancakes can be stored for up to four months at a temperature of -18 degrees.
- 1) The liquid should be added hot to the pancake batter to increase the stickiness of the flour.
- 2) To make the pancakes tasty and beautiful, let the sifted flour sit for a bit, do not use it immediately.
- 3) Salt and sugar should be added exactly according to the recipe. Over-salted dough does not ferment well, and the pancake turns out pale. Excess sugar makes the dough hard.
- 4) If pancake flour is diluted in salted water, there will be no lumps in the dough.
- 5) The frying pan for frying pancakes should first be sprinkled with salt, then wiped with a napkin, only after that add oil and dough.
- 6) It is convenient to fry pancakes in 2 frying pans when the third one is on low heat. You need to put pancakes in it and grease with heated butter. It is advisable to turn the stack over from time to time, then by the time the last pancake is ready, the first one will not have time to cool down.
- 7) If the pancake breaks when turning over, you need to add flour and an egg to the dough.
- 8) Pancakes freeze perfectly when stacked and then placed in freezer bags and plastic wrap.
- 9) To warm up the pancakes, cover the stack with foil and place in a preheated oven at 140 degrees. to the upper level for 10-15 minutes.
Very often it is not possible to eat all the baked pancakes at once. And the next day they are no longer so tasty and fresh. In order to give freshness to yesterday's pancakes, you need to sprinkle each pancake on one side (the inside) with a little sugar, roll it into four, place it on a lightly greased or baking tray (mold) covered with baking paper and leave for 4-5 minutes. into an oven preheated to high. Be careful not to burn. The result is delicious, crispy, caramel-like pancakes on your table! Even tastier than freshly baked. Try it!
How to store semi-finished pancakes
Ready-made semi-finished products at room temperature - up to 1 day At room temperature, ready-made pancakes with filling can be stored for no more than 24 hours, therefore, if you do not have a cool balcony or refrigerator, you should fry pancakes only for one time. Ready-made semi-finished pancakes with filling can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days. To do this, place the pancakes in a stack on a saucer, greasing each pancake with butter. Let them cool slightly and then cover them with cling film to prevent the edges from drying out. Once completely cooled, place the pancakes in the refrigerator.
The recipe is extremely important for proper storage of pancakes. If you fried pancakes with sour milk or kefir, such pancakes are very tender and it is better not to cook them for future use. If, in addition to this, the pancakes turn out to be slightly damp, keep in mind that the eggs included in such pancakes will make them hazardous to health after just a couple of days in the refrigerator. In all these cases, it is best to freeze the pancakes.
Unfortunately, or fortunately for some, pancake lovers do not need to know how to cook them, because you can buy ready-made pancakes in almost any store. If such a product was brought from the store in a frozen state, then you should immediately put it in the freezer.
The shelf life of semi-finished pancakes, according to SanPiN, at a temperature of -18° is 4 months. But, as a rule, depending on the composition of the product, the shelf life indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging may differ, but only slightly.
If ready-made pancakes from the store are not immediately frozen, they can be stored refrigerated for up to 72 hours. They are placed in the refrigerator in the packaging in which they were purchased. Before purchasing ready-made pancakes, it is important to ensure that the packaging is intact and that there are no signs of improper or repeated freezing. If this is a weight product, then you will need dishes with low sides into which you need to transfer the pancakes and cover them with cling film.
How to Use Pancake Mix for Lunch or Dinner
The most remarkable thing about this mixture is not even its long shelf life and ease of use. It can be used for much more than just baking up a batch of pancakes for breakfast. Here are some of our favorite ways to turn pancake mix into a complete lunch or dinner:
Pancakes with baked goods
Before baking, add a handful of finely chopped green onions and grated carrots to the dough. Drizzle the prepared pancakes with sesame oil and serve with shrimp, bean sprouts and cilantro.
In fact, there are thousands of variations of additives for hot pancakes! Spicy pork sausages like chorizo and boiled potatoes, corn kernels and hard cheese cut into small cubes, spinach and leeks...
Pancakes with seasoning, prepared from the prepared mixture
Pancakes like sandwiches
Since these pancakes themselves are savory, quite dense and fluffy, they can be used instead of bread when assembling a sandwich. Option we like: chicken + pesto + tomatoes
Pancakes like sandwiches made from a ready-made mixture
Pancake casserole
Pancakes can be stuffed with chicken, meat or vegetables, carefully rolled and placed in 1 or 2 layers in a small rectangular heat-resistant form. Then pour cream or tomato sauce, sprinkle with cheese and bake.
Pancake casserole with tomato sauce
Still on the fence about making pancake mix that you can store in the refrigerator and use as needed? To be honest, we were just hooked on it! And as a decisive argument we give almost macro photography of the resulting pancakes. They are amazingly good!
Pancakes made with a mixture that can be stored in the refrigerator
Conditions and shelf life of pancakes in the refrigerator and freezer
Pancakes are a dish with ancient traditions that go back centuries. Every nation has its own version of this culinary product, but we are closer to the ruddy pancakes of classic Russian cuisine. They are especially often baked during Maslenitsa week, when Orthodox Christians celebrate the arrival of spring. But in order for baked goods to please us with their taste longer, while remaining just as soft and fresh, it is advisable to know how to store pancakes with different fillings.
Shelf life of pancakes at room temperature
Storage conditions for pancakes require low temperatures, but sometimes this is not possible. In order not to be poisoned by such a product, you need to know how and for how long you can store it without refrigeration.
At room temperature, ready-made pancakes will be ready to eat within 24 hours.
They are placed in a stack on a dish and wrapped in cling film so that the edges do not dry out. However, if these are filled pancakes - especially with cottage cheese, mushrooms, meat or mushrooms, then it is better not to risk your health and not store them until tomorrow without refrigeration. Or at least leave them outside (on the balcony), if the temperature there is cool enough.
Freshly prepared pancakes can be stored at room temperature for no more than a day , especially in hot weather. It is advisable to consume pancakes with perishable fillings within 12 hours .
| Shelf life of pancakes in the refrigerator | 1-2 days |
| Shelf life of pancakes in the freezer | 1-4 months |
| Shelf life of pancakes at room temperature | 12-24 hours |
How to store pancakes in the refrigerator
No longer than 2 days at a temperature of 0-8°C - that’s how long you can store pancakes in the refrigerator.
The baked pancakes are placed hot in a stack on a dish, spreading each pancake with butter. They are not sent to the refrigerator while warm, but when the cooked pancakes have cooled, they are wrapped in cling film or the stack is covered with a lid or dish so that the edges are closed.
No longer than 2 days at a temperature of 0-8°C - that’s how long you can store pancakes in the refrigerator.
The baked pancakes are placed hot in a stack on a dish, spreading each pancake with butter. They are not sent to the refrigerator while warm, but when the cooked pancakes have cooled, they are wrapped in cling film or the stack is covered with a lid or dish so that the edges are closed.
Storing pancakes with cottage cheese
Pancakes with curd filling are stored in the refrigerator for the same period as meat pancakes. The period for their consumption ends no later than 12 hours of storage in the refrigerator at a temperature of 4-8°C. Pancakes will not lose their freshness within 24 hours if the temperature in the refrigerator is below +4°C. Like pancakes with meat, they must be stored in a tightly closed container. Pancakes with cottage cheese can be stored in the freezer for a month.
Storing pancakes stuffed with fish
Particular care must be taken when storing semi-finished fish pancakes. The shelf life of such a product is no more than a day, with a temperature range from +2°C to +6°C
Re-freezing of a defrosted product is not allowed. Pancakes with fish filling must not be stored without refrigeration.
So, to the question of where and how to store pancakes, the clear answer is in the refrigerator. Only then will they be preserved for the maximum possible time. You should eat pancakes only in limited quantities, with fillings that do not contain a large amount of fat. Then all the nutrients and necessary substances will be beneficial and provide gastronomic pleasure.
Storing pancakes with meat
The shelf life of meat pancakes in the refrigerator is 12 hours at a temperature of +4°C to +8°C. Meat pancakes that are not pre-frozen cannot be stored for several days. If the pancakes are frozen, they will be stored for about a month at a temperature of -18°C.
How to store pancakes in the freezer
Storing pancakes in the freezer at -18°C is very convenient and does not affect their freshness in any way for 1 month.
For yeast stuffed pancakes, you need to prepare a plastic container, and pancakes without filling can be wrapped in cling film and placed on a plastic or wooden cutting board. Frozen pancakes can be defrosted in the microwave or in the oven by greasing the pan with oil and covering with foil.
The shelf life of pancakes in the freezer is up to 1 month. Pancakes are frozen, semi-finished products can be stored for no more than 4 months at a temperature of -18.
How to freeze pancakes without filling: features of their defrosting
Many housewives are interested in the question “Is it possible to freeze ready-made pancakes at home?” After all, we all see frozen pancakes with various fillings on sale in supermarkets. It's convenient and very simple. Prepare a quantity of pancakes when you have time and freeze them in portions. It is enough to knead the dough once, heat the pan, bake and freeze the pancakes so that they last for 3 months. And if necessary, remove them from the refrigerator and reheat by placing the pancakes in a hot oven, microwave or in a frying pan with butter. In just a few minutes, a delicious breakfast or dinner for the whole family will be ready. Before heating pancakes, there is no need to defrost them additionally, with the exception of cooking in the microwave and multicooker.
Today we will make a useful preparation with our own hands. When freezing, it is important to remember that pancakes will stick together, so they need to be prepared correctly. There are several rules for this. For example, freeze them individually. To do this, first freeze them by placing them on a board in one row. Then wrap each pancake individually in cling film and place in a container. Or you can freeze in portions of 2-4 pieces. for one meal per eater. To do this, immediately wrap several pancakes in cling film and put them in the freezer.
- Calorie content per 100 g - 100 kcal.
- Number of servings - any quantity
- Cooking time - 10 minutes of active work, not counting the time for baking pancakes, plus time for freezing
Dough in a blender
An easy and quick way to prepare pancake dough.
Components:
- wheat flour – 1 glass and 1 heaped spoon;
- milk – 0.5 l (2 cups);
- salt - a pinch;
- sugar – 1 – 2 tablespoons;
- butter – 3 large spoons;
- eggs – 4 pcs;
- vanillin or cinnamon.
Cooking quickly:
- Place the indicated ingredients in the blender, set the switch to maximum speed, and begin blending.
- The finished dough, if you do not intend to use it all at once, can be stored in the refrigerator directly in the blender, for no longer than one day.
It is best to use baked milk - the pancakes turn out incredibly tasty.
How to refresh slightly dry pancakes
The edges of pancakes dry out very quickly, which makes them less appetizing. If you store them correctly in the refrigerator or at room temperature, this will not happen. But if suddenly this happens, then the pancakes can be “reanimated”. To do this, just pour boiling water into a metal basin, place a dish with pancakes on top and cover them with a lid. You can also put the pancakes with a glass of water in the microwave for a couple of minutes, this will also give them a fresh and appetizing look.
Thin pancakes dry out even faster. If, before storing pancakes until the morning, they are tightly wrapped in cling film, then nothing should happen to them. Whether pancakes need to be refreshed also depends on how many days they have been in the refrigerator. And this method will help them regain their former freshness: sprinkle each pancake on one side with sugar and wrap it four times, then place it on a baking sheet (greased or lined with paper) and place it in a preheated oven for about 5 minutes. It will be easier for those who have a pancake maker or microwave – it’s much more convenient to heat pancakes there.
Features of storing pancakes with meat
How long pancakes are stored in the refrigerator with milk or water also depends on what filling is in them.
The shelf life of pancakes with meat is 12 hours at a temperature of 4-8°C. Therefore, if they were not immediately frozen, they cannot be stored for several days. It is advisable to finish pancakes with meat the evening before the next day.
You can freeze empanadas and store them at -18°C for 4 weeks. This is significantly longer than the shelf life of pancakes in the refrigerator. Before freezing, place the pancakes in a sealed food bag, and you can defrost them in the microwave or in an oven preheated to low.
Features of storing pancakes with cottage cheese
Pancakes with cottage cheese last in the refrigerator for the same amount of time as pancakes with meat. This filling is also perishable, so the shelf life of pancakes in the refrigerator will be shorter than without cottage cheese.
After no more than 12 hours at a temperature of 4-8°C, pancakes with cottage cheese can be eaten. If the temperature is 0-4°C, they will not lose freshness for up to 24 hours.
At the same time, the method for keeping pancakes fresh until tomorrow remains the same: they must be placed in a container and tightly closed with a lid or covered with plastic.
The question often arises about whether it is possible to freeze pancakes with cottage cheese. In fact, pancakes filled with cottage cheese are as easy to freeze as any other pancakes. They can be stored in a ziplock plastic bag in the freezer for up to 1 month.
