For a risen loaf, choose a bread mix, not a pancake mix: the bread mixes we looked at include instructions for making and proving bread dough, while the pancake mixes are intended for batter. Then choose between white and wholemeal according to the type of bread you want to bake, and check the ingredients, any additions required and the instructions for your oven or bread maker.
You’re looking for a mix to make a risen loaf in the oven or bread maker. So check that it’s intended for bread-making and includes proving instructions, rather than relying on the word ‘baking mix’ on the packaging.
You’re weighing up a familiar white loaf against wholemeal bread. The choice depends on what you want to bake and what your family likes to eat; one type of bread won’t necessarily suit everyone.
You’ll need the ingredients and allergen information for the specific mix. If you have a food allergy, also check the current label for warnings about the possible presence of allergens.
When choosing a mix for homemade bread, start by deciding what you want to bake. Then consider the type of bread and how practical it will be to make.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| The right type of mix | For a risen loaf, look for instructions on making and proving bread dough. Pancake mix is intended for pancake batter. | I want to bake a risen loaf, not buy a mix intended for pancakes; choosing the right type of mix is the top priority for around 44% of consumers. |
| White or wholemeal | Check the type of bread stated on the packaging. Compare fibre only when the figures are given on the same basis, for example per 100 g of prepared product. | In a family with fussy eaters, I want to weigh up a wholemeal loaf against a familiar white loaf; this is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Making it at home | Check what you need to add and whether the instructions suit your oven or bread maker; also allow for the proving time. | If I want to use my bread maker, I need to know whether the mix has instructions for it and what I’ll need to add; around 23% of consumers prioritise practical preparation. |
The Jumbo pancake mixes we looked at are described as being for pancakes, while the Koopmans bread mixes we looked at include instructions for making and proving bread. So you can’t tell what a mix is for from the word ‘mix’ alone.
Start with the result you want: for a risen loaf, choose a mix with instructions for making bread dough.
A wholemeal pancake mix is still a pancake mix. When comparing white and wholemeal bread mixes, the product category and the basis used for the nutritional values also matter.
First check that it’s a bread mix, then compare the fibre per 100 g where stated, using the same preparation basis.
Preparation instructions vary between mixes and methods. So you can’t tell what you’ll need to add at home just from the type of bread.
Read the instructions on your chosen pack before you start, and check that they suit your oven or bread maker.
The words white, wholemeal or multigrain don’t tell you everything about the ingredients or allergens listed for a particular mix.
If you have a food allergy, check the current ingredients list and allergen information, including any ‘may contain’ warnings.
The product range we looked at includes white and wholemeal bread mixes, as well as pancake mixes. If you’re making a risen loaf, the bread-mix preparation instructions are the ones to check.
The online bread-mix range offers different types of bread to compare, including the Koopmans variants we looked at.
The online range includes bread mixes and separate pancake mixes; that distinction is particularly important when choosing what to bake.
These options are a Waldcorn bread mix and a white bread mix for anyone who wants to bake bread at home. If you’re looking specifically for a wholemeal bread mix, check that the chosen pack is labelled as such; multigrain and wholemeal don’t mean the same thing.
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A bread mix for anyone considering a multigrain loaf. The pack contains 450 g; check the current preparation instructions for your oven or bread maker.
Don’t assume it’s a wholemeal bread mix based on the name. If you have a food allergy, check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack.
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For anyone who wants to bake a white loaf rather than pancakes. The pack contains 450 g; check the current instructions for any additions required and your chosen preparation method.
If you have a food allergy, check the ingredients and allergen information for the specific pack.
For that, choose a bread mix with instructions for making and proving bread dough. The pancake mixes we looked at are intended for pancake batter, so they don’t provide confirmed instructions for making a risen loaf.
Choose the type of bread you want to bake and that people at home will eat; you can’t tell what fussy eaters prefer from the product name. If fibre matters to you, compare the nutritional information on the same basis. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as much as possible.
Yes. If you have a food allergy, check the ingredients and allergen information for the specific mix before ordering, then check the label on the pack you receive. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre stresses the importance of allergen information; details can vary between products.
