Home Sign Up!
Browse Community Submit
All Art Craft Food Games Green Home Kids Life Music Offbeat Outdoors Pets Photo Ride Science Tech
Cancakes - Mini Pancake cooker
by tz1_1zt on May 13, 2007 Table of Contents Cancakes - Mini Pancake cooker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intro: Cancakes - Mini Pancake cooker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 1: Materials and tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 2: Construction of the mini cooker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 3: The Batter - English pancake recipe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 4: The heat source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 5: Cooking a Cancake mini pancake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 6: Serving your Cancake mini Pancake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 6 6
http://www.instructables.com/id/Cancakes---Mini-Pancake-cooker/
Intro: Cancakes - Mini Pancake cooker
The mini cooker is ideal for frying 3" versions of English, American or Scotch pancakes. We have used a 500g fruit tin, but any similar sized tin-can will do. The cooking heat is provided by two tea light candles.
Step 1: Materials and tools
Required bits; The cooker body is made from a 500g fruit tin. This can is 3 1/4" in diameter. Tin-snips, pliers and a skewer are required for construction of the cooker. The cooker is powered by two tea-lights/tea candles. Cooking a pancake requires nothing more than a spoon and slice.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Cancakes---Mini-Pancake-cooker/
Step 2: Construction of the mini cooker
Firstly take your empty fruit tin and wash it thoroughly with hot water to remove any labels and glue. Then create a ring of air-holes around the top of the cooker. These are vital, they allow air to flow upwards through the cooker. To make the holes simply pierce the tin with the skewer, taking care not to stab yourself, leave a 1/2" gap between each hole. Cut a square access hole in the front of the cooker. This allows air in for combustion, and also where you light the candles from. Use the tin-snips to cut a square from the open end of the tin. If you wish to make the access hole safer, you can use pliers to turn the edges over as shown in the picture. For best results, the candles should be no more than 4" from the cooking surface, so some cutting down of the can may be nessasary. Make sure that the cooker is stable before attempting to use it.
Step 3: The Batter - English pancake recipe
Ingredients: 1 medium egg 2 ounces of plain flour 150 ml (5/8 cup) milk 1/2 tea spoon salt For best results: Sieve the flour into a bowl and create a dip in the middle. Crack the egg into the dip and add the salt. Whisk the flour and egg while also adding milk until. Mix until smooth and lump free.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Cancakes---Mini-Pancake-cooker/
Step 4: The heat source
The cooker can be run using either two or three candles depending on how hot you want your cooking surface. Please note that the whole cooker will become much hotter with three candles, and you risk burning the butter and or fingers. Using two candles provides sufficient heat to fry pancakes, and leaves the cooker cool enough to hold at the base.
Step 5: Cooking a Cancake mini pancake
First, apply a small ammount of your favourite butter to the hot cooking surface. Then take one tablespoon of the batter mixture and pour it onto the cooking surface, making sure that the batter goes up to the edge but not over the edge. Cook until the batter has risen and no longer looks liquid. When one side is done it will be firm enough to flip over with the slice. Normally they will take 2 to 3 minutes on each side. A cooked pancake should be lightly browned on each side.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Cancakes---Mini-Pancake-cooker/
Step 6: Serving your Cancake mini Pancake
An english pancake should be served with a sprinkling of sugar and a squeeze of lemon juice. A gentlemanly way to enjoy your cancake mini pancake is with a nice cup of tea and a sit down.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Cancakes---Mini-Pancake-cooker/
Related Instructables
Emergency candle. by DenseJungle Tigerbalm tealight / lantern by horsebones Altoids Tin Emergency Candle by EaKLondon Cooking and baking on a woodstove by AlaskanTentLady Camping Pancakes by ziggy1982 The Perfectly cooked 1 1/2" x 6" Pancake Cake by Harvey_
Comments
50 comments Add Comment view all 141 comments
yousouf says:
I loved the idea but do you know what chemicals are in this metal just be careful
Mar 6, 2011. 9:26 AM REPLY
Biggsy says:
After spotting this when you posted it... we decided to make hobo pancakes thhis shrove tuesday with my scouts hehe ta for that ;)
Feb 7, 2011. 3:55 PM REPLY
tz1_1zt says:
Hope they worked out well
Feb 21, 2011. 5:08 PM REPLY
http://www.instructables.com/id/Cancakes---Mini-Pancake-cooker/
Biggsy says:
Mar 3, 2011. 3:07 PM REPLY Well we had 20 Scouts making them tonight... despite two of them almost setting a table on fire, and all of them forgttign the oil... they turned out okay... i'll post some pics when I get round to it Feb 21, 2011. 5:16 PM REPLY
tz1_1zt says:
Mentioned on the Alan Carr Show, BBC Radio2 Saturday 20th of February 2011 One of the listeners contacted the show to say she was making mini pancakes with her children. A very proud moment :-)
watermelon says:
The zinc on the can might kill this idea.
Jan 18, 2008. 5:43 PM REPLY
kage_no_akiri says:
Nov 25, 2010. 6:33 PM REPLY look up sites on plate armour and youll learn how to raise/dish sheet steel and make a pan with raised edges. you could probably make it an inch bigger on each side with this method. kenkou chou jumyou kage no akari (good health long life, kage no akari)
notker says:
when you put aluminum foil on it, then it shouldn'T be so bad...
Jan 23, 2008. 10:16 AM REPLY
watermelon says:
Jan 23, 2008. 11:48 AM REPLY ...yeah, notker, a thumbs up on your aluminum foil idea, except for any possible fumes coming from the heated metal, coatings or residue on the can.
chippy says:
Nov 2, 2010. 11:43 PM REPLY Great idea, I am dreaming of making can cakes in a snow cave http://www.flickr.com/photos/pablography/sets/72157604374163548/ this winter (with proper ventilation of course) NOTE: at least some cans are lined with a plastic coating contain BPA http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/04/bpa-danger-from-cans.php . So I think a warning to at least "burn the stink off" is in order. As far as the exterior, it is anyone's guess...if I were super health conscious I wouldn't use it at all but if you do at least first get the cooking surface so hot it changes color...outdoors of course, perhaps with an alcohol pepsi can stove or a propane torch.
tz1_1zt says:
Jan 23, 2008. 11:25 AM REPLY Hi. You mentioned this zinc thing first, and now someone else has. However, neither of you have provided any links or references to the use of zinc in food cans. As far as I'm aware, food cans are made from steel. There is nothing bad about them.
paddlesport says:
May 3, 2009. 10:51 AM REPLY Zinc will melt at around 900 F and vaporizes at around 1200 F. I don't think this would be an issue when using candles. Hope this helps. : )
watermelon says:
Jan 23, 2008. 11:33 AM REPLY Since this isn't the Wikipedia I did not think references would be needed. Besides you would have to ask the can company if there was anything else covering the steel besides the zinc like varnish. However, notker has provided a solution even if there is rat poison left over from where the grocery store warehouse extermination team sprayed it all over the cans and floor while it was there in the warehouse. With the aluminum foil idea all you have to worry about is cross contamination so be sure to wash your hands before and after handling the can ans the pancakes unless of course you do not care about any possible medical complications resulting from not having done so.
tz1_1zt says:
Jan 23, 2008. 12:39 PM REPLY You suggest that "zinc on the can might kill this idea", I'm just asking whether there are any facts to back up this idea. The rat poison claims are just unnecessary and hysterical, please delete the vapor post. Jan 23, 2008. 11:36 AM REPLY P.S. ...also be aware that when rat poison residue is heated up by the candles that it may turn to vapor and might cause some kind of reaction if inhaled or might enter the pancake if the AL foil is not used as a barrier. Good luck on this one.
watermelon says:
notker says:
Ehm.... OK... just don't do this foodproject if you think it could harm you.... but No Risk No Fun _
Jan 25, 2008. 12:43 PM REPLY
Puzzledd says:
Love this idea - quirky but practical, easy, well-presented and cute! Really inspiring, thanks!
Sep 3, 2010. 5:44 PM REPLY
http://www.instructables.com/id/Cancakes---Mini-Pancake-cooker/
jonnybo111 says:
awesome ive got a coffee can bit big but the bigger the better
Jun 30, 2010. 12:56 PM REPLY
zack247 says:
i am totally going to try this! i love pancakes and i can never get enough!
May 25, 2010. 7:14 PM REPLY
finnrambo says:
www.instructables.com/id/Cool-Little-Miniature-Stove!/ perhaps this is an alternative to candles?
May 24, 2010. 5:35 PM REPLY
Marble of Doom says:
Yum, yum, love pancakes! Really cool idea!
Aug 10, 2009. 10:06 AM REPLY
boblordofmonkeys says:
I am going to make one ASAP
Jul 2, 2009. 6:13 PM REPLY
szechuan53 says:
yum yum yum. bite sized pancakes. :v)
Jun 28, 2008. 8:31 AM REPLY
awang8 says:
More like pikelets!
Jan 11, 2009. 7:03 PM REPLY
Lance Mt. says:
Its alllll goooooood -Cheers, Chris
Jun 1, 2009. 4:44 AM REPLY
Lance Mt. says:
Jun 1, 2009. 4:43 AM REPLY Oh this is soooo awesome. We have so many 10packs of tea candles! I'll get back to you when i'm able to mass preduce 30 pancakes at once.. -Cheers, Chris P.S. Gentlemen...
mage says:
mmmm...cancakes
May 25, 2009. 9:59 PM REPLY
GEEK1 says:
nice thinking
May 2, 2009. 6:46 PM REPLY
Nikki213 says:
Awesome instructable!!
Apr 8, 2009. 11:04 PM REPLY
enixgoober says:
WOOHOO oh yeah! I used a very thick tin can, so I had to drill holes in it! Nonetheless delicious!
Mar 19, 2009. 5:06 PM REPLY
chuckr44 says:
A thicker cooking surface will spread out the heat more and prevent burning. I'm just sayin.
Jan 29, 2009. 9:54 AM REPLY
awang8 says:
Jan 9, 2009. 3:42 AM REPLY This is a really good idea! My only suggestion would to spread some oil of the top before cooking. Stops it from sticking, because for some read my pancake batter really likes sticking.
awang8 says:
Sorry, I didn't finish. Even when you put butter on it. The only way to stop it from sticking is oil.
Jan 11, 2009. 7:01 PM REPLY
http://www.instructables.com/id/Cancakes---Mini-Pancake-cooker/
I_am_Canadian says:
Oct 3, 2008. 5:41 PM REPLY I like this a lot. I made one a while back... It was cool. I just made another, but its really short. It has two openings to let in enough oxygen. Im yet to use it.
Ghost Wolf says:
Try a BIG tin try it BIGGER pancakes
Nov 27, 2008. 3:30 PM REPLY
tz1_1zt says:
Oct 4, 2008. 6:19 AM REPLY Nice work. Post the results if you find any improvements. The height might affect the temperature and spread of heat across the cooking area, you need to avoid small hot spots that burn the batter. It's easy to spot when the candles are starved of oxygen, either they go out or soot forms around the vent holes. I've always wanted a means of making clean round holes around the base without deforming and bending the metal. The side window on our cooker was sufficient to allow in air, but makes it less stable.
I_am_Canadian says:
Ok, here are a few pictures. 1: Cooking station 2: the cooker 3: Just the way I like them. Burnt!
Oct 4, 2008. 5:19 PM REPLY
jamez03 says:
Sweet pictures makes me wanna make 1 now
Jun 19, 2009. 4:59 PM REPLY
Nikki213 says:
COOl!!
Apr 8, 2009. 11:03 PM REPLY
tz1_1zt says:
Oct 6, 2008. 2:03 AM REPLY Thanks very much for posting photos. It's great to see people actually making mini-cookers. Your design seems to work work well with the two openings, how many candles have you got under there?
I_am_Canadian says:
Four. It gets really hot!
Oct 6, 2008. 10:01 AM REPLY
awang8 says:
That's why it got burnt!
Jan 9, 2009. 3:39 AM REPLY
I_am_Canadian says:
Oct 4, 2008. 2:36 PM REPLY Yeah. I tried with only one hole, but the candles burned out right away. It still had enough heat inside the can to keep all the wax in the candles melted :-p I shall get a picture soon.
Ghost Wolf says:
I love it's simple easy to make. What if you had a larger tin like from Costco how many candles would you need then?
Nov 27, 2008. 3:28 PM REPLY
sthealthraider says:
cool!
Nov 8, 2008. 12:39 PM REPLY
Thelonelysandwitch says:
if you use an alcohol fueled mini stove like this this, this this, or this this it will cook faster and hotter.
Sep 30, 2008. 5:48 PM REPLY
http://www.instructables.com/id/Cancakes---Mini-Pancake-cooker/
tz1_1zt says:
Oct 4, 2008. 6:12 AM REPLY When cooking pancakes, hotter and faster equates to burnt and dry. As we've described in this instructable, two tealights worked well and three cooked too quickly. There is not really any benefit to increasing the heat source when tiny candles are already sufficient.
CheesySnackMAN says:
andd u should call it the MaPooker !
Jul 23, 2008. 8:32 PM REPLY
CheesySnackMAN says:
Jul 23, 2008. 7:43 PM REPLY LMAO!! i lovee itt awhh i wish i found this when my stove ran out of gas lol this woulda been fun but im still going to make it when im out in the wild and all i need to have is some pancake batter and the cooker and my "cancakes" will be rdy in no time ? lol Jul 21, 2008. 3:14 PM REPLY
Eruaphadriel says:
I have 3 questions: 1:Will the tin can burn and cause a fire? 2:Can I use 1 candle instead of 2? 3:How do you flip the pancakes? Hehehe...I have a lot of questions...hope you answer them!-
view all 141 comments
http://www.instructables.com/id/Cancakes---Mini-Pancake-cooker/
