# Waffles vs. Pancakes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 12, 2010, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waffles-vs-pancakes/556859 "2010-10-12T04:01:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waffles-vs-pancakes/556859/41 "2010-10-12T15:48:50Z")
:: shudders at the thought of actually eating anything as disgusting as a waffle :: ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waffles-vs-pancakes/556859/42 "2010-10-12T15:49:52Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > I’m going to throw a wrench in the works and say French Toast. Well, yeah, of course French toast is the greatest of Bailey’s gifts to us. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waffles-vs-pancakes/556859/43 "2010-10-12T16:14:43Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Ahh yes, but as the syrup and butter and fruit compote and whipped cream and … (sorry, got carried away there) softens the crust you get a perfect blend of soft & crunchy. And the dents are perfect reservoirs for extra syrup & the other liquid goodness. > > Pancakes on the other hand, turn to a mush resembling oatmeal. Yeccch! You’re not eating your pancakes fast enough. I like them both and French Toast, too. But pancakes are easier to make so I have them more often. When I make waffles I like to make a lot and freeze a bunch for later. I like waffles for their portability. But if I eat out I usually pick pancakes because they usually come with a breakfast combo meal and waffles usually are served by themselves. If I’m going to go all out on a breakfast, I want eggs and bacon, too. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waffles-vs-pancakes/556859/44 "2010-10-12T16:15:46Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Pancakes, but not the fluffy American kind. If I wanted bread, I’d have bread. > > Proper European crepe-style pancakes. :rolleyes: Waffles, but they’ve gotta be crispy. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waffles-vs-pancakes/556859/45 "2010-10-12T16:21:54Z")
Plus, _potato_ pancakes! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waffles-vs-pancakes/556859/46 "2010-10-12T17:13:33Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Ahh yes, but as the syrup and butter and fruit compote and whipped cream and … (sorry, got carried away there) softens the crust you get a perfect blend of soft & crunchy. And the dents are perfect reservoirs for extra syrup & the other liquid goodness. > > Pancakes on the other hand, turn to a mush resembling oatmeal. Yeccch! How the hell do you make pancakes? Oatmeal? Really? I fry my cakes in butter and they come out crispy on the edges and golden. Unless you’re drowning them in syrup, they shouldn’t turn to mush that easily. I like both, but usually make blueberry pancakes, just because they’re so freaking good. Adding baking spices to the batter makes it all taste like a blueberry pie. Best waffles I’ve had were at the Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood. They had these cool waffle irons that you rotate, and the batter was excellent. ---
**Author:** ![rayman5321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@rayman5321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayman5321)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waffles-vs-pancakes/556859/47 "2010-10-12T17:18:12Z")
Neither. However, French toast is OK. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waffles-vs-pancakes/556859/48 "2010-10-12T17:27:25Z")
Soggy boggy pancakes or crisp waffles with squares for capturing the syrup? I think I know my answer. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waffles-vs-pancakes/556859/49 "2010-10-12T17:31:25Z")
Oh…that’s a tough one. My lifetime pancake/waffle ratio is probably 5/1, so I have to go with the floppy breakfast discs. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waffles-vs-pancakes/556859/50 "2010-10-12T17:33:38Z")
I can’t have both? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waffles-vs-pancakes/556859/51 "2010-10-12T17:45:34Z")
Moving from IMHO to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waffles-vs-pancakes/556859/52 "2010-10-12T17:54:25Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > I picked pancakes, although **the best waffle beats the best pancake.** Exactly, which is why I picked waffles. But then, I’d rather have an ordinary pancake than an ordinary waffle, so, tough choice. Not all pancakes and waffles are created equal. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waffles-vs-pancakes/556859/53 "2010-10-12T18:13:30Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > Moving from IMHO to Cafe Society. Come on now – this is Great Debates material! Who cares about politics or religion when sweet breakfast foods are the issue? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waffles-vs-pancakes/556859/54 "2010-10-12T18:38:23Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Soggy boggy pancakes or crisp waffles with squares for capturing the syrup? I think I know my answer. The squares _do not_ capture syrup. They keep the syrup out, so it just runs off. Pancakes absorb and hold all sorts of toppings; if you think they’re “soggy boggy” you must be making them wrong. Waffles keep their toppings separate, with each forkful strangely segregated: waffle as well as some butter (most of which hasn’t even melted because the waffle got cold too fast) as well as what little syrup didn’t just run off onto the plate. Pancakes are about synthesis; each forkful is warm, buttery, syrupy goodness that is more than the sum of its parts. Topping variation (such as blueberry or chokecherry syrup instead of maple syrup) produces a new and exciting synthesis. This gastronomical alchemy is impossible with waffles, so pancakes are the clear winner. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waffles-vs-pancakes/556859/55 "2010-10-12T18:42:17Z")
Pancakes (if we’re allowed to include crepes into this). They can be sweet or savory, and I don’t much care for sweets. Even if we exclude crepes, I’ll still go pancakes. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waffles-vs-pancakes/556859/56 "2010-10-12T18:44:03Z")
> [@Max\_the\_Immortal](#): > > The squares _do not_ capture syrup. They keep the syrup out, so it just runs off. Pancakes absorb and hold all sorts of toppings; if you think they’re “soggy boggy” you must be making them wrong. > > Waffles keep their toppings separate, with each forkful strangely segregated: waffle as well as some butter (most of which hasn’t even melted because the waffle got cold too fast) as well as what little syrup didn’t just run off onto the plate. Pancakes are about synthesis; each forkful is warm, buttery, syrupy goodness that is more than the sum of its parts. Topping variation (such as blueberry or chokecherry syrup instead of maple syrup) produces a new and exciting synthesis. This gastronomical alchemy is impossible with waffles, so pancakes are the clear winner. Jelly beans, M&Ms and coffee beans stay put in waffles but roll right off pancakes. Case closed. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waffles-vs-pancakes/556859/57 "2010-10-12T18:53:17Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Jelly beans, M&Ms and coffee beans stay put in waffles but roll right off pancakes. Case closed. 😃 Do you consider all of those to be valid breakfast condiments? If so, why should we put any stock in your opinion? I suppose you could try incorporating coffee beans, but the best use would probably be in pancakes where you can put them _right in the batter_. Synthesis wins again. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waffles-vs-pancakes/556859/58 "2010-10-12T18:53:40Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > > [@Max\_the\_Immortal](#): > > > > The squares _do not_ capture syrup. They keep the syrup out, so it just runs off. Pancakes absorb and hold all sorts of toppings; if you think they’re “soggy boggy” you must be making them wrong. > > > > Waffles keep their toppings separate, with each forkful strangely segregated: waffle as well as some butter (most of which hasn’t even melted because the waffle got cold too fast) as well as what little syrup didn’t just run off onto the plate. Pancakes are about synthesis; each forkful is warm, buttery, syrupy goodness that is more than the sum of its parts. Topping variation (such as blueberry or chokecherry syrup instead of maple syrup) produces a new and exciting synthesis. This gastronomical alchemy is impossible with waffles, so pancakes are the clear winner. > > Jelly beans, M&Ms and coffee beans stay put in waffles but roll right off pancakes. Case closed. 😃 Bacon pancakes with maple syrup. Case re-opened. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waffles-vs-pancakes/556859/59 "2010-10-12T18:54:55Z")
I love waffles with deep pockets to hide butter and syrup in. Crispy on the outside and fluffy inside nothing can beat them. I enjoy a good pancake and some day would like to try a sourdough pancake. It depends on my mood and how hungry I am which one I order at restaurants because there is less food in a waffle then a similar diameter pancake but people look at you funny when you order more then one. Still voted Waffles. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waffles-vs-pancakes/556859/60 "2010-10-12T19:04:06Z")
I can haz pamcakez LOL! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waffles-vs-pancakes/556859.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waffles-vs-pancakes/556859.md?page=4)