Important reason you shouldn't throw leftover pancake batter down the sink

Did you make pancakes yesterday? Duh, of course you did.

But if you've got leftover batter nestling in the fridge then think twice before considering throwing any away today.

Yup, according to a plumbing expert, pouring leftover pancake batter down the sink could be a recipe for disaster.

Essentially, this is because pancakes - which are made of milk, flour, butter and eggs - contain just about everything that could be bad for your kitchen pipes.

Excess pancake batter? Not on out watch (Credit: Unsplash)

The fat, oil and grease in there carry risks of blocking your pipes, and mean you could end up having to call a plumber and fork out for a hefty bill.

Andy Simms, a plumbing expert from MyBuilder.com said to MetroUK: “Pancake mix is filled with oil, and as such is a disaster for sink pipes.

"Blockages are not only very inconvenient, but are pricey to fix.”

The issue is that pancake batter can harden when poured down the drain, which could then create bundles of fat that catch onto other debris.

Essentially, you might end up with a chunk of fat down your sink, which is gonna be a recipe for disaster.

READ MORE: Is The Rock’s cheat-day pancake recipe worth trying? 

Excess batter could spell a blocked drain if wrongly disposed of (Credit: Getty)

The plumber advises: “Never be tempted to pour it down the sink.

“Not only could it cost you money, it’s terrible for our sewers and can contribute to fatbergs.”

In case you weren’t aware what a fatberg was, it’s basically when fat and grease cling onto items like wet wipes and cotton buds and congeal. Delightful, huh?

Fatbergs stop water from flowing through drains as it should, so it can cause a real problem not only for you but for your neighbours, too.

In fact, South West Water said they shell out £4.5 million every single year clearing clogged up drains.

You could have to pay for expensive repairs (Credit: Getty)

READ MORE: Try Twisted’s Chocolate Chip Banana Pancakes

Instead of the sink, MyBuilder suggests tipping the batter in your compost bin.

There are several alternative methods of disposing of pancake batter, or keeping leftovers fresh.

1. Freeze your pancake batter: Freezing pancake batter isn’t only a great tip to avoid zero waste, but it also stops you tipping any down the sink. Batter keeps for up to three months, so even if you only have a small amount left, it’ll keep in an airtight container and make a good breakfast to enjoy in the future. You’ll need to completely defrost your batter before you unfreeze it, but then you’re good to go.
2. Turn it into Yorkshire puddings: You can make a Yorkshire pudding out of the same batter you made your pancakes with. Yes, really. Keep your batter fresh in the freezer (as above) and then whack it out on Sunday and impress your family with homemade Yorkies.
3. Fakeaways: You can also use your batter when deep frying. Fancy making your own fish and chips? This will do the trip nicely, and ensure your ingredients get used up.
4. Make another pancake: The simplest answer. Perhaps that leftover batter is a hint to eat some more? We’ll take it.

Featured image: Getty