Shrove Tuesday, more commonly known as Pancake Day, is a much-loved tradition in the UK that combines history, food and a very good excuse to enjoy pancakes. Celebrated the day before Lent begins, Pancake Day changes date each year and is marked by flipping, feasting and fun for the whole family. In this guide, we explain where Shrove Tuesday comes from, why pancakes became the star of the day, share a foolproof traditional recipe and highlight the kitchen essentials that will help you get perfect results at home.
Shrove Tuesday falls the day before Ash Wednesday and marks the final day before Lent begins. The date changes each year as it is linked to Easter. The word shrove comes from the old practice of “shriving”, meaning confession, when Christians would seek forgiveness before entering the Lenten period.
Traditionally, this was also the last opportunity to use up rich ingredients such as eggs, milk and butter before the 40 days of Lent, which is how pancakes became associated with the day. Similar traditions exist across Europe, including Mardi Gras in France, which translates to “Fat Tuesday” and reflects the same idea of enjoying indulgent foods before fasting.
To help you celebrate at home, we’ve shared a foolproof traditional pancake recipe below, along with some recommended kitchenware to help you achieve perfect results.
This traditional pancake recipe is simple, reliable and perfect for Pancake Day.
Once cold, you can layer the pancakes between baking parchment, then wrap in cling film and freeze for up to 2 months.
The key to perfect pancakes is a really good, non stick frying pan. Or, if you mean business you could invest in a purposely designed crepe or pancake pan.
To make Pancake Day stress-free, having the right equipment makes all the difference. From non-stick pans to reliable mixing tools, these essentials will help you achieve consistent, golden pancakes every time.
These superior shallow frying pans are must have for everyday cooking. Extremely versatile, each has a tough, PFOA-free non-stick surface inside and out, and a special hardened body to create a durable and long-lasting pan that can be used on any heat source. The easy release non-stick interior and exterior surfaces are easy to clean, and are tough enough to withstand use of metal utensils.
A good sturdy mixing bowl is must for pancake prep'. Pyrex offer a range of sizes from 1 litre upt o 5 litre capacities to match your needs. Dishwasher and microwave safe and scratch resistant, they are a great kitchen adition for Shrove Tuesday.
This hand mixer provides a quick and easy solution for mixing batters, cakes and more. Equipped with two stainless steel beaters and a wire whisk. It has 7 different speed settings to tackle any task you throw at it. The stainless steel turbo beaters are easy to clean, dishwasher safe and will provide optimal performance.
Available in a choice of fun colours, these non-scratch silicone whisks and heat, odour and stain resistant. They are safe to use with non-stick cookware and are perfect if you prefer to use a more traditional method for mixing your batter.
Making pancakes is still a much-loved tradition in the UK, so why not treat the whole family to a stack of delicious pancakes this Pancake Day. You can also treat yourself to quality cookware designed to make flipping, mixing and cooking effortless. You can browse our full Pancake Day Collection here and get ready to celebrate in style.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrove_Tuesday
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/easy-pancakes
https://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/food/pancake-day-when-is-shrove-tuesday-9178
