I’m sure you’re not the only one to wonder, why do my banana pancakes stick to the pan?
Banana pancakes are, without a doubt, one of the easiest and quickest ways to enjoy a healthier version of pancakes.
However, you typically find that whenever you cook them that your pancakes tend to stick to the pan.
There are a few reasons this may occur, and I shall reveal these now.
There are a number of reasons why your banana pancakes stick to the pan. Firstly, if you’re using sugars in your batter, e.g., honey, these will caramelize and therefore be extremely sticky. You should also add butter or oil prior to frying, even if you’re using a non-stick pan. Finally, your batter is likely to stick if the pan is too hot.
1. Are You Using Sugars in Your Banana Pancake Batter?
The ingredients that you’re using for your batter could be what’s causing your sticking problem.
Realistically, you can actually produce lovely, fluffy, wonderful-tasting pancakes with just two ingredients, namely bananas and eggs.
However, just for the sake of variety, as well as a different texture and taste, you may regularly add other ingredients.
I know I have personally used ingredients such as oatmeal, milk, flour, honey, or sugar.
But one thing I have always noticed is that whenever I add honey or sugar to my batter, my pancakes tend to stick to the pan.
The main reason this occurs is that these sugars seem to caramelize during the cooking process.
In effect, this leads to my pancakes becoming super sticky, and I end up having to scrape my pancakes away from the pan.
So, it’s advisable not to add any type of sugar to your batter, then cook your pancakes and add your sweet ingredients once cooked.
2. Should I Use Oil or Butter Even in a Non-Stick Pan?
I know that many people have exactly the same problem with sticky pancakes, even when using a non-stick pan.
And this even sometimes happens if you’re not adding any sugars to your batter.
Personally, I would always recommend adding some type of fat, irrespective of whether the pan is non-stick or not.
Simply adding either a dollop of butter or some oil will definitely help.
Plus, the addition of fats can also enhance the taste.
I would say that if your banana pancakes are for a sweet treat, then add butter.
Whereas a more savory pancake will work better with oil.
With that being said, the choice is entirely yours.
If you’re looking to keep your pancakes as healthy as possible, you can still add some oil without drastically affecting your overall calorie intake.
As an example, a coconut oil spray will add no more than around 10-20 calories with a few squirts.
3. Is Your Pan Too Hot?
Something else you should be wary of is how hot the pan is when you add your banana pancake batter.
You’ll generally want to have a hot pan and cold fat prior to adding your batter mix.
However, there is such a thing as having a pan that’s too hot.
You’ll want your pancakes to cook slowly and steadily for at least 2 minutes on either side.
But, an extremely hot pan will generally mean that your pancakes will immediately stick, as well as get burned very quickly.
So, place your pan on medium heat, but still allow it ample time to warm up.
If the pan starts to smoke when you add butter or oil, it is definitely too hot to add your batter.
So, simply remove it from the heat for a minute or two and allow it to cool down.
Once you place the pan back on the heat, you should be good to go.
Super Fluffy Banana Pancakes
Final Thoughts
So, as you can see, there could be any number of reasons why your banana pancakes stick to the pan.
Firstly, I would recommend not adding any sugars to your pancakes until after they are cooked.
Unfortunately, sugars within your batter will usually cause them to caramelize, so they end up sticking no matter what you do.
It’s also a good idea to add butter or oil prior to cooking, and this is true even if you use a non-stick pan.
Finally, ensure that the pan isn’t too hot, as not only will your pancake batter stick, but it will probably burn too.
One thing you may have noticed when preparing the fruit for your pancakes is that the bananas sometimes taste like alcohol, so let’s find out why.