Good Mythical Morning Will It Pancake
The Good Mythical Morning (GMM) segment "Will It Pancake?" is a recurring series where hosts Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal, along with their crew, experiment with turning various unexpected food items into pancakes. The core premise involves blending unusual ingredients into a batter and attempting to cook them on a griddle, ultimately judging the resulting pancake's taste and texture. This article outlines the process involved in creating a "Will It Pancake?" experiment, providing a structured understanding of the methods employed and offering insights for culinary experimentation.
The "Will It Pancake?" Process: A Step-by-Step Guide
1. Ingredient Selection and Acquisition
The foundation of any "Will It Pancake?" episode is the selection of unconventional ingredients. These ingredients often range from sweet to savory, and sometimes venture into the bizarre. Examples include: entire meals such as pizza or sushi, snack foods like potato chips or candy bars, and even traditionally non-food items presented as a joke.
The selection process typically involves brainstorming and consideration of how well the chosen item will blend and cook. Factors like moisture content, fat content, and overall flavor profile are often implicitly considered, even if the goal is primarily comedic. Sourcing these ingredients is a crucial step. This may involve purchasing readily available items from grocery stores or specialty shops. In some instances, they might prepare specific dishes specifically for the pancake challenge.
2. Batter Preparation and Ingredient Integration
The standard pancake batter serves as the base for these experiments. A typical pancake batter consists of flour, a leavening agent (baking powder or baking soda), sugar (optional), salt, milk or buttermilk, eggs, and melted butter or oil. The specific ratios of these ingredients will vary slightly depending on the desired consistency and texture of the final product.
The chosen ingredient must then be integrated into this base batter. This usually involves blending the ingredient until it reaches a relatively smooth consistency. The blending process may require adding extra liquid (milk or water) to achieve a pourable consistency. The amount of liquid added depends largely on the original moisture content of the blended ingredient. For example, a dry ingredient like potato chips will require significantly more liquid than a moist ingredient like cooked beans.
Example: If the ingredient is a cheeseburger, the burger would be deconstructed, and each component (bun, patty, cheese, toppings) would be blended individually or in combination. The resulting mixture would then be added to the pancake batter, adjusting the liquid content as needed to achieve a smooth, pourable consistency.
3. Cooking and Observation
The cooking process is largely consistent with standard pancake preparation. The griddle is heated to a medium temperature, and lightly greased with butter or oil to prevent sticking. A measured amount of the batter is then poured onto the hot griddle, forming the pancake.
However, the "Will It Pancake?" process necessitates careful observation due to the unconventional nature of the batter. The cooking time and temperature might need to be adjusted to accommodate the specific ingredients. For example, a pancake made with sugary ingredients may burn more easily and require a lower cooking temperature. The presence of fats or oils in the incorporated ingredient may also influence the cooking time and texture of the pancake.
Throughout the cooking process, the team observes and documents the visual changes occurring in the pancake. They note factors like color, texture, rise, and the presence of any unusual reactions. This information is crucial for assessing the success (or failure) of the experiment.
4. Taste Testing and Evaluation
The final step is the taste testing and evaluation. Rhett and Link, along with other members of the GMM crew, sample the pancake and provide their honest reactions. This is typically the most entertaining part of the process, as the resulting pancakes can range from surprisingly palatable to utterly repulsive.
The evaluation considers several factors: taste, texture, appearance, and overall edibility. While the taste is obviously a primary concern, the texture and appearance also play a significant role in the overall judgment. A pancake that tastes acceptable but has an unpleasant texture (e.g., gummy, gritty) may still be deemed a failure. Likewise, a pancake that is visually unappetizing may be difficult to overcome, even if the taste is passable. Often, they use a subjective scale or rank the pancake relative to other attempts.
Example: In one episode, they attempted a "Will It Pizza Pancake?" While the taste was described as recognizably pizza-like, the texture was described as gummy and unpleasant. The overall verdict was that it was edible but not enjoyable.
5. Documentation and Presentation
Throughout the entire process, everything is documented through video recording. This documentation includes the preparation of the ingredients, the blending process, the cooking observations, and the taste test reactions. The footage is then edited into a cohesive and entertaining segment for the Good Mythical Morning show.
The presentation is a key aspect of the "Will It Pancake?" series. The humor and banter between Rhett and Link, coupled with the visual spectacle of the unusual pancakes, contribute significantly to the overall entertainment value. The editing, music, and graphics are all carefully crafted to enhance the comedic effect and engage the audience.
Practical Applications and Insights
While the "Will It Pancake?" series is primarily intended for entertainment, it also offers some valuable insights into cooking and food experimentation. The series demonstrates the surprising versatility of pancake batter as a base for incorporating a wide range of ingredients. It also highlights the importance of understanding the properties of different ingredients and how they will react when cooked.
For home cooks, the "Will It Pancake?" series can inspire creativity and encourage experimentation in the kitchen. While not every experiment will be a success, the process of trying new things and pushing culinary boundaries can be both fun and educational. Here are a few key takeaways:
- Don't be afraid to experiment: Cooking should be an enjoyable process, and experimenting with new ingredients and techniques can lead to exciting discoveries.
- Consider the properties of your ingredients: Understanding how different ingredients will react when cooked is crucial for success.
- Adjust your recipes accordingly: Don't be afraid to modify recipes to accommodate the specific ingredients you are using.
- Document your experiments: Keeping track of what you did and how it turned out can help you learn from your mistakes and improve your cooking skills.
Ultimately, the "Will It Pancake?" series serves as a reminder that cooking can be both a science and an art. By combining creativity, experimentation, and a healthy dose of humor, anyone can create their own unique culinary creations. Even if those creations are as unconventional – and sometimes unappetizing – as a cheeseburger pancake.
