Celebrating Pancake Day safely ? CheckFire
  • Search for product or code

Celebrating Pancake Day safely

Shrove Tuesday marks the start of Lent – and as we continue to try to make the best of lockdown, for many, it brings an evening of delicious pancakes topped with a choice of sweet treats.

But with all that frying and flipping comes the added risk of accidental fire and a need to take precautions when it comes to fire safety. Here, we suggest ways in which you can make the evening as fun as possible (it’s a break from the norm after all), while protecting yourself and the family from fire risk.

How to make the perfect pancake

Pancakes are a firm family favourite – and because they’re so simple to make, they could even fall under the remit of your homeschooling duties. It’s a great opportunity to incorporate home economics into the homeschooling curriculum! Plus, don’t forget the great ‘toppings’ debate, which makes for lively conversation – and if you can’t decide, have them all! Why not challenge friends or family in another household to a ‘flip off’ over a video call to make the evening even more fun.

To create your pancakes, you’ll need the following ingredients*:

120g plain flour

2 eggs

210ml milk

90ml water

1 tbsp vegetable oil

Butter

A pinch of salt

Get the family involved and follow this step-by-step guide to create perfect pancakes:

1. Mix the flour and salt together in a bowl.

2. With your hands or a spoon, make a well in the centre and crack in the eggs.

3. Mix the milk and water together in a separate bowl.

4. Use a wooden spoon to beat the eggs into the flour. Gradually add in the milk and water and continue to beat until the mixture is smooth.

5. Stir in the oil and leave for 30 minutes.

6. Heat a non-stick frying pan until very hot and add a small amount of butter. Add a ladleful of your batter mixture and make sure the base of your pan is covered with the batter. Cook for at least 30 seconds, or until the base is lightly browned – then flip the pancake with the help of a palette knife and cook until lightly browned on the reverse!

7. Repeat the process with the remaining batter and enjoy the pancakes with your favourite toppings! What’ll it be? Chocolate and bananas? Lemon and sugar? Maple syrup or honey? Blueberries? Alternatively, you could try savoury accompaniments like bacon and egg!

The safety bit: Cooking with hot oil

Lift spirits with pancake cooking – but do remember that around 60% of accidental fires in the home start in the kitchen so it’s wise to stay alert. Follow our top tips for a fun and risk-free Pancake Day:

In the couple of weeks leading up to Pancake Day, test your smoke alarm to be sure it’s working properly. For added peace of mind, you could even test it just before you begin cooking your pancakes.

When you’re using a frying pan or cooking with hot oil, don’t ever leave it unattended. Make sure children and pets are supervised in the kitchen at all times. Pan handles should never be left sticking out over the edge of the cooker, as they’re more likely to be knocked off and cause injury.

Take care to keep all areas of your oven and hob – including the cooker hood – clean, as a build-up of fat and grease is more likely to lead to a fire starting. If the oil begins to give off smoke, don’t put the food in the pan.

Don’t leave tea towels, cloths or oven gloves near the hob and once you’ve finished cooking. Before you settle down to your scrumptious treats, make doubly sure the cooker and hob are switched off.

As we continue to stay at home and do little else, Pancake Day provides an opportunity to connect with friends and family, either with your household or via video call fun, and show off your cooking skills. Just remember to stay alert while cooking, eliminating any fire risks, and make sure the evening is memorable for all the right reasons.

*Ingredients and recipe taken from https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/pancakebatter_13556

The content of the CheckFire blog is for general information purposes only. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy at the time of publication, under no circumstances should it be considered professional advice. Any reliance you place on the information is at your own risk. Always seek the advice of a fire professional for your particular circumstances and requirements.

Become a Trade Customer

If you’re in the trade and want to learn more about how to become a CheckFire customer, visit our dedicated Trade Customer page for more information.