Pancake Tuesday, also known as Shrove Tuesday, is a moveable feast in the Christian calendar six weeks before Easter. Shrove Tuesday was the last opportunity to use up eggs and fats before embarking on the Lenten fast and pancakes are the perfect way of using up these ingredients.
Over the years a range of kitchen-tech has been invented to help achieve the perfect pancake, which can only mean there are pancake patent applications as well. In this Insight we explore some of the applications filed for pancake inventions.
The pancake bottle
If you like to plan ahead and prepare your pancake batter in advance or prefer to minimise the washing up, then US 10/687,088 describes a bit of tech that might appeal. Not only does the pancake bottle helpfully provide the pancake recipe on the outside, but it also indicates the amount of each ingredient required by the level of the mix with each addition. Once added, the pancake bottle includes two handles to shake the mix together producing a ready-to-cook batter.
A pancake production line
If you are after thin pancakes and lots of them, US 3349726 provides the perfect, if extremely complex, solution. Designed to utilise 10 frying pans at a time, the arrangement allows the frying pans to be placed in the inverted position and steadily move across gas flame jets as the device rotates.
Foot-pedal operated machine for crepes
This French Patent application No. 2782447 (pictured below) not only has a brilliant tag line of "twice the speed but with less fatigue" it also provides an alternative device for creating the classic thin pancakes - crepes. This device has a pan and 'squeegee' attached to a motor via a pulley and belt system operated by a foot pedal. The rotational force distributes the batter out across the pan at an even thickness. According to the description the device is easy to use and does not require any special skills.
Pre-formed pancakes
If you're feeling really adventurous and want to achieve the perfect shaped pancake, the application CN102007954 provides an alternative to the traditional pan and batter method. The application describes placing the pancake batter into a mould and then steaming to get the perfect shape stabilised before finishing the pancake in the pan.
Personal pancakes
If you want the ultimate in easy pancake-making, look no further than pending US patent 15/384,695. This application provides a dried pancake mix in a single-serving container. You simply add water and pop the container into the microwave to create your own pancake with minimal fuss. There's even a variation where the mix contains crystals of maple syrup to recreate the experiences of droplets of maple syrup on your pancakes. A pancake invention where you don't even have to worry about toppings!
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
