How can you tell when a buttermilk pancake is ready to flip?

To determine when a buttermilk pancake is ready to flip, observing the edges and the formation of bubbles is key. When the pancake begins to cook, the edges will start to lose their shiny appearance and become dull. At the same time, small bubbles will form on the surface of the pancake. This is an indication that the batter is cooking through and that the bottom side has set enough to hold its shape. Once you see these signs, it's a reliable moment to flip the pancake, ensuring that it will have a nice, even browning on both sides.

Other choices may suggest different indicators of doneness, but they do not provide a clear visual cue as the combination of dull edges and bubbling does. For instance, smelling sweet or waiting for a golden brown color typically occurs after the flip, which does not ensure that the pancake is ready at the initial cooking stage. Similarly, pancakes shrinking can indicate a variety of cooking issues, none of which definitively confirm that they are ready to be flipped.