See your complete guide on how to store pancake batter, written by a former restaurant manager. Learn how to extend your mixture’s life and quality in the fridge or freezer, as well as containers to use, duration, and for travel. Also, this is listed in our Food Guides, Breakfast, Breads, & Bakery categories.

How To Save Pancake Batter

This is how to save pancake batter properly. It involves storage containers, temperature control,, duration, and for travel. So, keep reading to understand these details better.

Pancake Batter Storage Containers

You can put extra pancake batter in food storage bags or food storage containers, whether plastic, glass, or ceramic. Here’s a list of good ideas to follow.

All containers should be rated as “food grade”.
Common metal containers are discouraged due to potential interactions with its dairy ingredients.
They can be clear or opaque; light is not a significant factor for impact.
It’s very important to have a solid, tight fitting lid or covering.
Food plastic bags should offer a good seal to prevent leakage.

TIP: To reduce air (oxygen), some will place a simple layer of plastic food wrap on the top of the mixture, and then putting the container lid on.

How long can I keep pancake batter out?

While the USDA indicates about 2 hours max, that doesn’t account for saving it for another day. So, with my past restaurant food safety training, I never go past 45-60 minutes. This allows some saving time in a fridge or freezer.

Can you store pancake batter overnight?

Yes; you can store pancake batter overnight in the fridge. But, it should have a great tight covering with little air as a gap. Consider to lay some plastic food wrap across, contacting the batter’s surface.

Keeping Pancake Batter in the fridge

Keeping pancake batter in the fridge is the most popular method for saving this leftover breakfast mixture. Ensure it’s a food grade container with a good covering. Also, avoid placing any hot or warm foods next to it.

Freezing Pancake Batter

Freezing pancake batter is the secondary choice, compared to simple refrigeration. Ensure it’s little to no air on top. Also, be sure to use a food grade freezer container/bag. Be aware that some of the nutritional values will be destroyed when freezing.

The reasons for freezing pancake batter over refrigerating it are several. Here are some of them:

You need to have a longer shelf life than what the refrigerator can provide
You’re going to use this batter later on but, not for pancakes.
Breakfast guests cancelled and it’s way too much to throw out.

Storing Pancake Batter for Travel or Camping

When getting ready to go camping or other traveling, it’s so much easier to just make the pancake batter before you go. So, one method is to pack it well in a solid food container and ensure it’s surrounded by ice packs in the ice chest. Overall, treat it like you’re travelling with milk & raw, cracked eggs. Another idea is to freeze it and use it as its own ice pack.

Expert Camping Pancake Batter Hacks

For those who make their own homemade pancake mix, opt to leave out the baking powder. Then, make your batter and store the baking powder measured amount in a small food plastic bag. When ready to cook at your destination, stir the baking powder into your batter real well and let it sit out for 15 minutes minimum to rise. Cook to perfection with high rise pancakes during travel!
Some will travel with 2 containers, one for the dry mix and one for the liquid ingredients already measured and mixed up. So, you’ll only need to keep the liquid mixture cooled, leaving more space in the ice chest. Also, your pancakes will be fully 100% fresh and high risers!

storing pancake batter for camping is to store premixed wet ingredients separately — Storing pancake batter for camping is to store premixed wet ingredients separately

How Long Does Pancake Batter Last?

When asked how long does pancake batter last, the answer involves quality and health. So, keep reading about the shelf lives in the fridge and freezer. Also, here’s a real good European article on “Tips for Properly Storing Pancake Batter“.

How long can I keep pancake batter in the fridge?

Max time in the fridge for pancake batter is about 2 days for quality and about 3 days for health considerations, mainly due to the raw eggs. When ready to use, just stir up the batter, and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes before cooking to allow for possible rising.

How long can I save pancake batter in the freezer?

Pancake batter saved in the freezer is a last resort and keeps for about 1-2 months. As a tip, it should be on a regular freezer shelf and not on a freezer door. Also, thaw it out in the fridge overnight but it might take up to 24 hours there to fully thaw.

Expert Tip for Freezing Pancake Batter: If you place it in a gallon food storage bag, try to expel most of the air and flatten the bag; that’s for faster freezing and thawing. Here’s another good article on “How Long Does Pancake Batter Last“, which covers more freezing tips.

Pros & Cons of Storing Leftover Pancake Batter

Here are some of the pros and cons of how to store pancake batter when you’re done cooking.

Pros of Storing Leftover Pancake Batter

You’re saving food, good for the environment and finances.
You can use it for other recipes, like pastries or corn dogs.
You don’t have to make the batter again, saving time.

Cons of Saving Leftover Pancake Batter

The quality of flavors & texture are reduced.
If freezing, some of the nutritional values are destroyed.
If freezing, the thawing out process in the fridge can be long.
Pancakes will not rise nearly as much.

Better Solution Than Saving Pancake Batter

Cook more pancakes and store those instead, which will save as much better quality. However, if you’re going to use the batter for other recipe uses, then it’s better to store it as mentioned earlier.

Also, another alternate is to make your own homemade pancake mix and follow our recipe size adjuster. This will help on future adjustments to a proper amount of batter to make.

Conclusion of How To Store Pancake Batter

You’ve now seen how to store pancake batter in the fridge, freezer, and for travel. Also, you’ve read about proper food containers to use. In addition, you’ve learned how long does pancake batter last. Finally, you’ve seen the pros and cons of each, and the ending alternate, better solution.

How to Store Pancake Mix (dry)
How to Store Cooked Pancakes
Homemade Pancake Mix From Scratch
High rising Old Fashioned Buttermilk Pancakes
Breakfast category
Stovetop Recipes category

How To Store Pancake Batter