Pancakes in a can (video); Thanksgiving at The Branch; Omnivore's supper sold out
October 06, 2009
OCT 06 09 - 6:45 AM -- Way, way back in January, you may recall I was atwitter in this blog about a new product where someone finally figured out how to stuff waffle/pancake batter into an aerosal can, which you spray on a hot frypan or waffle iron. It works just like ReddiWip.
At the time, I hadn't actually tested Batter Blaster because I couldn't find it in any Canadian store. But, hey, it's organic, so I didn't give up hope those who go ga-ga about such things might some day be satisfied north of the border.
The one with the pancakes in a can — no, really!
October 05, 2009
Attention marketers and PR types: even if you have a product that might not otherwise catch my attention, if you can contextualize your product as a fun blog post in my head, you’ve got my attention. A good product is fundamental, but you also have to catch my attention — and inspiring my sense of whimsy definitely helps.
That’s what happened today when I had my first — and, I can only imagine, my only — experience of drive-by pancaking. Pancakes from a can, no less. No, seriously!
The Batter Blaster people were in town this morning doing a media tour, and they canvassed a few local bloggers to see if anyone might be interested in having chef Anthony Elman drop by and make a pancake breakfast for the family. That’s not a pitch you get every day! They were pitching a new product called Batter Blaster, which is basically pancake batter in a can. Unfortunately for me, I was already at work by the time I got the e-mail. I ended up exchanging a few e-mails with the PR team, and they offered to drop off a free sample to me downtown and, intrigued, I said yes.
What you hear: Need help making a huge, unnecessary mess?
Get your brood involved sans hassle with Organic Batter Blaster Pancake and Waffle Mix.
Its point-and-shoot nozzle makes stacking flapjacks fun and easy. Kids can draw shapes, write their names, or stick with circles (boring but effective). A no-mix, no-mess spout means tots can play sous-chef without you having to play cleaning lady. (No wonder Brandweek magazine named it "Convenience Product of the Year.")
The organic batter produces fresh, hot breakfast treats that are low in fat and calories, high in yumminess. The canister, which uses ecosafe CO2 and yields 28 four-inch pancakes or eight American-style waffles, is fully recyclable. When finished, store it in the fridge for your next breakfast adventure.
We want pancakes, but we don't always have the time to make them. That's why we like the no-fuss Batter Blaster. It's a ready-to-use, all organic, pancake and waffle batter in an entirely eco-friendly canister. (No ozone-depleting CFCs here!) What could be better than a time-saving, environmentally sound, healthy, and delicious breakfast?
For organic lovers who want something more filling, San Francisco inventor Sean O'Connor's "Batter Blaster" is now on supermarket shelves. It's 18 ounces of organic pancake or waffle batter in an eco-friendly pressurized can made with no ozone-depleting CFCs and recyclable steel. Slogan: "Just point, blast and cook!"
The Ad Team is waiting for an organic Twinkie, but thanks to Wall-E, we know it's centuries away.
When I first read about Batter Blaster on our GardenWeb forum, I admit, I was skeptical. It’s pancake batter that comes in a pressurized can with a nozzle, like whipped cream, that you can just squirt onto your hot griddle and make pancakes instantly. I’m generally not a big fan of Cheese Whiz or pancakes in a bottle or Lunchables or any sort of gimmicky, pre-packaged food. But I tested Batter Blaster one morning when I had a friend staying with me, and we both were impressed. In about 3 minutes, we were feasting on hot, fresh pancakes; they were light and fluffy and had a hint of sweetness. Perhaps not quite the same as homemade, but great if you’re short on time. You can dress them up by adding berries, bananas or chocolate chips (we used blueberries). Best of all, you can make just a few pancakes, then cap the canister and put back in the fridge – perfect if you’re making breakfast for yourself or one other person (oh, and it’s organic, too!).
Batter Blaster on Live with Regis and Kelly
Press Release Download
BATTER BLASTER™ BRINGS EXCITEMENT TO THE TRADITIONAL BREAKFAST Ready-to-Use Organic Pancake and Waffle Batter Prepares for National Launch
April 30, 2008
San Francisco Chronicle Link
Inventor says he has a batter idea
Peter Hartlaub, Chronicle Pop Culture Critic
January 31, 2008
Getting the pancake batter into the whipped cream canister actually was the easy part. Batter Blaster creator Sean O'Connor says he managed to come up with something edible on the first try.
The real challenge was when the longtime San Francisco resident started telling other people about his plan to revolutionize breakfast, one aerosol can at a time. Even the companies that let O'Connor and his spray-can pancake batter in the door sent him away almost as quickly.
"The biggest challenge of the whole thing was going to raise money," O'Connor says, splurting out a Mickey Mouse-shaped flapjack during a pancake-making demonstration in his office near Potrero Hill. "Try telling someone, 'I have this idea. We're going to put pancakes in a can,' and not have them laugh you out of the room."
If you shop at one of the higher-end Bay Area grocery stores, the chances are good you've seen O'Connor's pancakes in a can. And beginning this week, it's being carried by Costco. Backed by "friends and family" financing, O'Connor found a food packer who could mass-produce the batter, bought some equipment and is hoping his stab at making an easy process even easier becomes the next Lunchables.
O'Connor, a jovial man with the build of a Raiders defensive tackle, recognizes the kitschy value of his product. Its closest food industry relative is arguably Easy Cheese, the processed-fromage-in-a-can from Kraft Foods that has sold millions but also has become something of a punch line - for proof, go to YouTube and search that product's name. The Batter Blaster Web site features a campy homemade commercial complete with a jingle that seems written specifically to become embedded in a consumer's skull for the rest of the month. ("Make a bet-ter breakfast faster ... Batter Blaster!")
But O'Connor also is very serious about his pancakes and waffles. Batter Blaster is USDA-certified organic, and he insists the product isn't inferior to the other store-bought options on the shelf. (Amateur drug users might be disappointed to learn that Batter Blaster is powered by the more ozone layer-friendly CO2, not the nitrous oxide propellant that can be found in whipped cream canisters.)
O'Connor, 36, came up with the idea during his years, from 2000 to 2004, as co-owner of Thee Parkside Cafe in San Francisco. After creating flavored cream by mixing Grand Marnier, vanilla and other fluids into whipped-cream chargers, O'Connor wondered if he could do the same thing with funnel cake or waffle batter. But the idea didn't get tested until a few years ago, when he started dating the woman he'd later marry, Mistine.
"She loves waffles," O'Connor said. "And when we started dating, it was like 'Oh yeah, baby, I'll make you waffles.' That's what got me back into mixing the batter."
O'Connor brought the idea to his friend Nate Steck, who had been in the food development and manufacturing business for more than a decade - producing, among other things, the Nate's line of meatless meatballs, chicken-style nuggets and rolled tacos. Steck said he would hear from people pitching food ideas three or four times per month, but O'Connor's idea was different.
"He told me, 'I have an idea. Don't steal it,' " Steck remembers. "I thought it was genius. I was wondering why no one had done it already."
Steck and O'Connor co-founded the company and looked for a food processing facility - but were turned down by everyone in the whipped cream sector. In the end, they built their own plant in Southern California.
The product launched in October, and Steck says Batter Blaster has already moved 400,000 units - well above expectations. Batter Blaster is distributed mostly in high-end grocery stores throughout California (including Whole Foods and Andronico's in the Bay Area) and a few markets in Arizona and the Pacific Northwest.
Batter Blaster is one of those products, like pre-shredded cheese, that invites ridicule for its contribution to laziness in American kitchens. But the biggest obstacle for worldwide success is probably the price. An 18-ounce can of the product, good for about 28 four-inch pancakes, retails for $4.99 to $5.99. (Costco will price packs of three for $10.) Thirty-two ounces of powdered pancake batter can be found for less than half that cost.
O'Connor has already thought this one out.
"Imagine if this was 15 years ago, and I said, 'I have a great idea. Give me 20 million bucks and I'm going to take heads of lettuce, wash them and put it in a bag and charge twice as much for them,' " O'Connor said. "Most investors would say, 'What -hole will buy heads of lettuce in a bag?' "
Whatever the cost of Batter Blaster, the product has already become a darling in the blogosphere. And O'Connor says the feedback has been fascinating.
Some of the e-mailers couldn't figure out why their pancakes were burning (Batter Blaster pancakes require no-stick spray), suggesting that a McDonald's/doughnut shop demographic that knows nothing about cooking is picking up the product. O'Connor said another unexpected market is empty nesters, who like pancakes but no longer need to make an entire batch. If the product continues to sell, O'Connor already has tested other recipes, including strawberry batter, blueberry batter and an aerosol-can brownie mix.
So how long until Wesley Snipes shows up on the hinterland cable channels selling Batter Blaster at 4 a.m.?
"I would love to do an infomercial, but we can't ship this stuff overnight," O'Connor said. "If we could, it would have made this a whole lot easier. We've had Internet requests from all over the world. But I think it costs us $45 to FedEx one can, so the value isn't really there."
ABC 15 Link
Let Daphne Try It - Organic Batter Blaster
Reported by: Daphne Munro
January 10, 2008
Do you like pancakes or waffles for breakfast, but hate the hassle of making the batter?
The Organic Batter Blaster has that batter already mad in a can and it only has organic products in it. It's sounds pretty good but is it really that easy and do they taste good?
We tested it out and just like the can says, "Just point, blast and cook" and the pancakes and waffles tasted pretty good too.
So if you were looking for a quick, healthy and easy fix for those pancake or waffles, I would try this product out.
You can purchase it at Costco, AJ's Fine Foods, Sunflower Markets and Smart and Final.
Datamonitor’s Productscan Online division has announced its 'products of the year' for 2007 from around the world. The company believes each item has benefits to change or shape consumer packaged goods markets around the world.
2. Organic Batter Blaster Pancake & Waffle Batter
Making pancakes and waffles from scratch can be a messy process. Batter Blaster offers a helping hand with pancake and waffle batter that is sprayable and is packaged in an aerosol can. The refrigerated product apparently makes organic, light and fluffy pancakes as well as light and crisp waffles in minutes. The aerosol can packaging greatly reduces cleanup and the product is fast and fun. The product is new in the US.
KitchenNut Link
Organic Batter Blaster... yay or nay?
January 9, 2008
When I first saw the Organic Batter Blaster, I really wanted to die. I mean, pancake batter in a jar? Yikes! Then I started researching it a little bit…I have to admit that I’m impressed that the entire container, lid and all, is recyclable and that there is neither corn syrup nor hydrogenated oils. I’d much rather spend five minutes throwing together my own mix of pancake batter (and save about $4), but when pitted against Bisquick or Eggos, I have to admit that the ingredient list is far better.
So, though I’d rather you make your own (most definitely!), given the competition, it’s the best one out there.
Great Inventions of 2007
By Chas Bowie
January 3, 2008
Meet Batter Blaster, the pancake in a can!
Not only is Batter Blaster organic, but according to its website, it’s available at several stores in the Portland area. Batter Blaster: One of the many things we can look back on as having done well in this crazy world.
Hey morning glory, want to be the hero in the morning with your kids? Whip pancakes in seconds without the mess. Make pancakes in a flash that will Aunt Jemima blush. Be the George Jetson of breakfast. With a swish and presto, Batter Blaster is the trick. Just spray the pancakes on the pan and you are ready to go. For all the accident prone dads out there, this is the perfect solution for you.
OK, so maybe Mom doesn't feel like making pancakes in then morning. Let her hit the snooze button and just spray a few shots of these pancakes in a can into the frying pan, and voilà! Breakfast is served.
Batter Blaster: Love It, or Hate It?
By Vanessa Doctor
December 6, 2007
A lot of talk has been going around about this new product that promises cooking novices an easier time with pancake making — the Organic Batter Blaster. With the birth of this instant pancake and waffle mix squirter, the hassle of having to whip up a flour and egg batter is no longer an issue. The instructions tell you to just point the can blaster into a heated pan or waffle maker and out comes the batter — no effort, no sweat.
People who are always on the go and in a hurry will see a goldmine in the Batter Blaster, especially as it reduces breakfast cooking time by more than half! Even kids can probably have an easy time with this little baby — just don’t let them overdo the squirting. Since the release of the batter into the pan or waffle maker is controlled by the blasting effect, getting the right amount of mix into your cookware still requires some art and technique at first. But it should be a breeze once you start getting used to it.
However, not everybody is pleased with the Batter Blaster, as some health conscious folks have questioned whether it is safe to rely on preserved pancake batter. But the product claims to be made of “organic” ingredients, so it has to be healthy at some level. The debate continues, though. And it’s really up to you to see its merits or demerits. Love it or hate it? You’ll never know unless you try, right?
Sweet Breakfast in Minutes
By Kate Ramos
November 30, 2007
I believe there are two types of people in this world: those who prefer a sweet breakfast, and those who yearn for the saltiness of bacon and eggs in the morning. My family fits into the former group: Buttermilk pancakes slathered in syrup get us going on a cold rainy day. But these are out of the question for my lactose-intolerant husband. So when a couple of cans of Organic Batter Blaster—pancake batter packaged in a spray can—were sent to CHOW’s test kitchen, I went straight to the ingredients list. There was no dairy in sight: The lactic acid is derived from beet sugar. I immediately made a batch of pancakes, and while I wouldn’t say they were the best I’ve ever eaten, they weren’t bad. And they literally took under five minutes to make: You just spray them right out of the can (much like whipped cream) and onto the griddle, perfect for emergency flapjack cravings or your next camping trip.
-Katy Ramos
Batter Blaster Blasts Away My Expectations
November 24, 2007
I was perusing the dairy section of my local Whole Foods Market when something caught my eye. There, on the top shelf, glinting like a jewel, was Organic Batter Blaster. At first I thought, WHAT??? WHY IS THIS HERE? I thought Batter Blaster would end up as one of those weird products — like HeadOn — that you hear about but never see. Then, once the shock wore off, I remembered that I was at Whole Foods, and that they have a pretty high standard when it comes to products they sell. So I did what every other foodie would have done: I picked up a can and put it in my cart. Let me say right now, this product is surprisingly good. I was highly skeptical, and a bit worried by it, however, in the end it won me over. The batter itself oozes out of the can — I was expecting more of a high-powered spray like whip cream — and is a little difficult to shape, but not impossible.
The flavor is like your standard fluffy pancake, only a tad sweeter. I've definitely had much, much worse at diners across America. Would I buy this product again? Probably not, however I could see where it would come in handy. In just a few short minutes, we were eating our fill of pancakes. If I were a hungover college student or a busy mom, and just wanted to have decent tasting pancakes for myself or my brood, then it would definitely make sense. The ingredient list didn't look too weird — the first two ingredients are filtered water and organic wheat flour — they were super simple to make, and as the checkout guy at Whole Foods said, "Hey, sometimes you just want one pancake." Have you seen Batter Blaster at your store? If so, will you end up trying it.
A Breakfast on the Go –
Batter Blaster: Pancakes in a Can
Why Make Your Own If it Comes in a Can?
By Aktiv8 F8
November 6, 2007
We all have those dreaded mornings when nothing seems to be running smoothly; the day that breakfast has to be down-graded to something frozen or pre-packaged. The other day as I was searching through the refrigerator aisles in the grocery store, I came across a wacky new product called "Batter Blaster". It is the fast and easy breakfast solution for those days that time is curbed and your appetite is not.
Batter Blaster is an organic product that basically can be described as batter in a can. It is a product that resembles the 1960-70's cooking products that were nothing but a gimmick. The company states on the can that the small can of batter manages to create perfect pancakes and waffles each time. It was compelling, so it was a must try.
This weird product comes in a yellow, red and white can that resembles the pressured spray whipping cream that has become popular in most stores around America. If looking for the can, be sure to look in the refrigerated section since it is perishable and must be chilled but not frozen. Not only is this an organic product but the container is also 100% recyclable. The lid and cap are made from recyclable plastic and the can is 100% recyclable steel. That means it is an organic and green product.
Following the instructions on the can, I placed my griddle at 375 degrees (medium-high for stove burners); the can suggested waiting five minutes for the griddle to warm however I took one minute since I was impatient. Next, I sprayed the griddle with olive oil spray from a can. Then, I took the can and flipped it upside down and pushed the tip slightly forward (similar to a whipping cream can). The batter came out smoothly without any clogging of the tip. After a few minutes the pancakes had created tiny bubbles on the top layer so I flipped them over. Another few minutes and the pancakes were completely finished. The pancakes tasted like homemade pancakes - kids will not notice the difference in texture or taste.
My review of this product is superb. It is easily stored in the refrigerator and takes less than ten minutes to make an entire plate of pancakes for the family. Each can contain at least 8 servings, so for a family of four - each batter blaster can will feed everyone twice. It is a product that makes one think - "why hasn't this been thought of before?"
A Girls' Guide to Gadgets Organic Batter Blaster: spray-on pancakes
November 5, 2007
Sometimes something comes along that, whilst not strictly speaking a gadget, has all the hallmarks of something that needs to be shared with the world, for the greater good. These Batter Blasters are a perfect example.
Making food is rewarding, but messy. Better for your health, but time consuming. Putting pancake batter in an aerosol can is therefore one of the smartest things I've ever seen, and goodness, it's got 'organic' plastered over it, so *must* be healthy. There's something quite 'they told us this is what the 21st century would look like back in 1975' about the whole process, as you can see from the video demonstration after the jump. From can, to frying pan, to mouth, in mere seconds.
Batter Blaster is liquid pancake
mix in a can!
October 27, 2007
Momma always said breakfast was the most important part of the day, so what do we do when she’s not around to cook it up for us? We pop some cardboard into the toaster and grab a coffee out of the microwave. Yuck. Not anymore…
Batter Blaster makes yummy breakfast almost as easy. Spray this pancake batter on to a hot skillet and within minutes you have a hot pancake.
Batter Blaster - Pancakes In A Can
By Andrew Liszewski
October 26, 2007
While it may not seem like Batter Blaster has any gadget appeal, I still feel it’s one of the more important innovations of the 21st century so far. It’s basically a pre-mixed, 100% organic pancake batter that’s been packaged into an aerosol can. So not only can you skip the usual ingredients list, you don’t even need to mess a bowl or spoon. You just shake the can and then ‘blast’ the contents directly onto your hot skillet or waffle iron.
Based on a handful of online reviews I’ve read, the pancakes produced by the Batter Blaster are actually quite good. Of course anyone who’s ever tried cheese-in-a-can will be a bit skeptical, and personally I don’t think I’d be able to enjoy pancakes-in-a-can without a side of bacon-in-a-can as well.
At the moment it looks like Batter Blaster is slowly being rolled across the west coast, and while I couldn’t find any online stores selling it, I’d love to know if any of our readers have tried it out.
It's about time:
'Batter Blaster' pancakes in a can
By Doug Aamoth
October 26, 2007
Oh hell yes. I loves me some pancakes but I hate all the preparation time and cleaning involved.
Pancake batter dispensed using a patent-pending process similar to how Cheez Whiz is dispensed from an aerosol can? Patent pending?! It’s gotta be good!
Batter Blaster is all organic and requires refrigeration, which I think is a good thing because it may have come off as a little weird to some people to have canned pancakes sitting in the cupboard. Nothing about refrigerated canned pancakes is weird at all, though.
This product is currently available around the San Francisco area and I’ll just DIE if it’s not available here in Boston soon. Has anybody tried this?
Batter Blaster is probably going to change the way pancake batter is sold.
This probably needs little explanation: just shake the can, point it to a hot griddle, and push on the nozzle. Not sure why this hasn't been thought of earlier. The nutrition label says each can contains 8 servings, and it's carries the USDA "Organic" stamp. The Batter Blaster website comes with a video showing you how to use this. It also has instructions on how to cook pancakes.
Batter Blaster: Pancakes in a can
By keithb
October 24, 2007
Experience has taught me that foods served via spray can are generally inferior versions of the real thing. Reddi-wip saves you some time and mess, and while tasty, doesn’t reallycompare to actual whipped cream. Easy Cheese only bears a slight resemblance to its namesake, mainly in it’s color.
So what was it that compelled me to reach for a three-pack of a new aerosol-propelled food product at my neighborhood Costco? The attractive packaging? The promise of quick and easy waffles and pancakes? Maybe I simply needed more stuff in the door of my refrigerator. In any case, I came home with over three pounds of Batter Blaster.
Let me tell you: This stuff is great. It’s real pancake batter–in a can. It’s not a simulation or an approximation. The resulting pancakes and waffles are light and tasty, and the only cleanup (besides the cooking implement) is rinsing off the tip of the can.
Blast Off
Batter Blaster Pancake Mix
October 22, 2007
The days of catching a buzz from a can are long gone. You can’t get away with making midnight runs to the 7-Eleven for whipped cream anymore.
Here’s a more mature way to get blasted: Batter Blaster, organic pancake mix in a pressurized can.
The fluffy, light-as-air pancakes give you an (almost) instant breakfast high. All you need to do is fire up the skillet or the waffle iron and use a little nonstick spray. The handy nozzle gives you total mastery over your flapjacks: Just point and shoot. Since the batter won’t splash, it’s kid proof, too. Go ahead, make those Mickey Mouse shapes.
Also genius: no sink of messy dishes to clean up.
Stash a can in the fridge for emergency johnnycake cravings. Just be sure to check the expiration date and make a big batch. They’ll go like hotcakes.
Chow The Grinder Batter Blaster: Your New Master
By Tracy Vogel
October 22, 2007
Pancakes-in-a-can? For reals? Pass the spray syrup, please.
Does it bode badly or well for a product when you can’t tell if the thing is a parody or not? The Batter Blaster, introduced to this writer via San Francisco DailyCandy, does indeed appear to be a real product. And if it isn’t, it needs to be: The concept is genius. Put simply, it’s pancake batter in a pressurized whipping-cream-style can. “Just point, blast and cook!” No measuring, no mixing, no splatters. To top it off, the batter is organic, and the packaging is recyclable (including the can’s plastic cap). I imagine the control you could get from the can’s nozzle might even allow for peace-symbol-shaped pancakes.
The Batter Blaster is obviously aimed toward noncooks, as the Frequently Asked Questions section of the website demonstrates. It seems like it would be great fun for kids. Aside from the crass consumer weirdness of batter-in-a-can, the Batter Blaster appears to be a handy, unobjectionable product. Why, then, does the commercial on the site (lower left-hand side) make me feel like I’m being conned?
The Scottsdale Times
Aerosol Pancakes!
Pancakes in an aerosol can? Yeah, that's what we thought. Talk about funky. But after downing an entire can's worth of hotcakes in one sitting (each 18-ounce can makes approximately 27 four-inch pancakes), and having some fun with the shapes, that bona-fide pancake goodness could not be denied.
I cursed myself for now coming up with the idea myself. Well Sean O'Connor of San Fran, you beat me to the finish line. And now I - and every mom, college student or basic degenerate out there looking for a shortcut - can find pancakes in an aerosol can.
Seriously, the pancakes have a fluffy texture to match their great taste. But there is a technique: Push lightly for crepes, or press hard against the nozzle for hearty, organic hot cakes.
Montreal Metro 
