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.

Comments

[Lectric Wizard]

Realize this is older post but thought I'd throw in on the ZINC thing "Tin cans" are coated with TIN because they are designed to be used for food. So no problem there. Modern cans usually are coated with a plastic coating, to prevent rust on the outside. Just heat the can to a deep red with a propane torch , clean with steel wool til it shines & everything will be safe. GREAT IDEA , am sending to a couple of fishers I know.... mmm, pancakes ...

[watermelon]

The zinc on the can might kill this idea.

[spark master]

I didn't think they are zinc coated, but they sure are loaded with epoxy-ish coatings, just smell it as they cook. I have 5-6 can tops I burned off the coating so I can use them under my sauce pot when making large pots of termaterrr sauce . * 28 ounce cans several pound merat and then meatballs and sausage, then herbs and spices....mmmmmmmm..

errr but it is a real job to burn off the coatings cus when you don't as you ae making sauce the house will fill with plastic stink.

very good idea though. If outside lids aren't coated and you torch it with sticks / coal before making , then, this is really swift idea.

[notker]

when you put aluminum foil on it, then it shouldn'T be so bad...

[watermelon]

...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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[watermelon]

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.

[notker]

Ehm.... OK... just don't do this foodproject if you think it could harm you.... but No Risk No Fun ^_

[yousouf]

I loved the idea but do you know what chemicals are in this metal just be careful

[Biggsy]

After spotting this when you posted it... we decided to make hobo pancakes thhis shrove tuesday with my scouts hehe

ta for that ;)

[tz1_1zt]

Hope they worked out well

[Biggsy]

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

[tz1_1zt]

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 :-)

[Puzzledd]

Love this idea - quirky but practical, easy, well-presented and cute! Really inspiring, thanks!

[jonnybo111]

awesome ive got a coffee can bit big but the bigger the better

[zack247]

i am totally going to try this! i love pancakes and i can never get enough!

[finnrambo]

www.instructables.com/id/Cool-Little-Miniature-Stove!/perhaps this is an alternative to candles? 

[Marble of Doom]

Yum, yum, love pancakes! Really cool idea!

[boblordofmonkeys]

I am going to make one ASAP

[szechuan53]

yum yum yum. bite sized pancakes. :_v)

[awang8]

More like pikelets!

[Lance Mt.]

Its alllll goooooood -Cheers, Chris

[Lance Mt.]

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]

mmmm...cancakes

[GEEK1]

nice thinking

[Nikki213]

Awesome instructable!!

[enixgoober]

WOOHOO oh yeah! I used a very thick tin can, so I had to drill holes in it! Nonetheless delicious!

[chuckr44]

A thicker cooking surface will spread out the heat more and prevent burning. I'm just sayin.

[awang8]

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]

Sorry, I didn't finish. Even when you put butter on it. The only way to stop it from sticking is oil.

[I_am_Canadian]

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]

Try a BIG tin try it BIGGER pancakes

[tz1_1zt]

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]

Ok, here are a few pictures. 1: Cooking station 2: the cooker 3: Just the way I like them. Burnt!

[jamez03]

Sweet pictures makes me wanna make 1 now

[Nikki213]

COOl!!