If you have coeliac disease, start by choosing a mix that is clearly labelled gluten-free, and check the allergens and preparation instructions on the pack too. For a picnic in the park, you’ll also need to consider any ingredients you add yourself and how you transport the cooked pancakes: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises carrying foods that need to be kept chilled in a cool bag.
You’re looking for a mix clearly labelled gluten-free, and want to avoid contact with ordinary flour, crumbs and shared utensils while cooking. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends checking the gluten-free label on the packaging.
You want to know how many pancakes you can make, what else you need to add to the batter, and how to pack the cooked pancakes in sealed containers and keep them chilled.
You’re looking beyond the gluten-free label: you want to know what’s already in the dry mix and whether the preparation instructions allow for suitable substitutes.
Start with the ingredients and labelling you need. Then choose a pack that makes the number of pancakes you want to cook at home and suits your plans for transporting them.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling | Look for the words ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol on the pack. Check the label, and keep ordinary flour and crumbs separate during preparation. | If you have coeliac disease, you’ll want to choose a clearly labelled mix and avoid contact with gluten while cooking too. Gluten-free suitability is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Transporting food to the park | Compare the number of pancakes the pack makes with the number of people you’re serving. Use clean, sealable containers and a cool bag for anything that needs to be kept chilled. | If you’re cooking at home for a group, you’ll want to make enough pancakes without leaving them unrefrigerated for too long on the way. This preparation is the main concern for around 27% of consumers. |
| Milk and eggs | Read the ingredients list and the preparation instructions: milk or eggs may already be in the mix, or you may need to add them to the batter. | If you want to avoid milk or eggs, both the dry mix and any ingredients you add need to suit your needs. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this choice of ingredients. |
| Availability and pack size | Check your shop’s current range and choose a pack size that suits the number of pancakes you want to make. | If you’re having a smaller picnic, you won’t want to buy more mix than you need, and you’ll want to be able to find the pack before you set off. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this practical consideration. |
Rice, maize or buckwheat flour in the ingredients list is not, by itself, a substitute for a gluten-free label on the product. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that naturally gluten-free grains can come into contact with gluten during processing.
If you have coeliac disease, check the current packaging and avoid contact at home with ordinary flour, crumbs, shared utensils and toppings that aren’t suitable for your diet.
A gluten-free mix may contain other allergens. For example, PLUS lists egg powder as an ingredient in the Consenza Pancake Shaker and says that Koopmans mix may contain egg and milk.
Read both the ingredients and the batter instructions. Check the milk, plant-based drink or egg substitute you add yourself too.
Taking a dry mix with you is different from transporting pancakes cooked at home. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using a cool bag for chilled products and advises not leaving leftover pancakes out of the fridge for more than two hours.
Leave the pancakes to cool after cooking, pack them in clean, well-sealed containers and keep them cool on the way.
A product shown in a listing won’t necessarily be available at your local shop. Albert Heijn lists its own gluten-free mix as an in-store product; Jumbo no longer lists its own version in its online range.
Check your local range shortly before shopping and read the pack again when you buy it, even if you’ve bought the product before.
Albert Heijn’s gluten-free pancake mix is an option for cooking at home before heading to the park.
Koopmans gluten-free pancake mix is listed by PLUS in a 400 g pack and appears in Jumbo’s gluten-free mix range.
Peak's Free From makes a pancake mix with preparation instructions from the manufacturer for a version without milk or eggs.
Consenza makes a gluten-free Pancake Shaker in a 230 g pack, as listed by PLUS.
No, the types of flour alone aren’t enough. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing a product labelled gluten-free or bearing the Crossed Grain symbol. Check the current label too, and avoid contact with gluten-containing ingredients and utensils while cooking.
Yes, if both the ingredients and preparation instructions for the mix suit your needs. Albert Heijn lists a plant-based drink and an egg substitute as options for its gluten-free mix; Peak's Free From gives instructions for making it with an egg substitute and 600 ml of soya milk. According to PLUS, the Consenza Pancake Shaker already contains egg powder.
Leave them to cool, pack them in clean, well-sealed containers and use a cool bag if they need to be kept chilled. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises not leaving leftover pancakes out of the fridge for more than two hours.
No, check your own shop’s range shortly before you buy. Jumbo lists Koopmans in its gluten-free mix range, but no longer shows its own gluten-free pancake mix online; Albert Heijn lists its own mix as an in-store product.
