For a family meal, start by choosing a pancake mix whose organic status you can check on the packaging. Then compare the stated yield, the types of flour and what you need to add to the batter. A wheat, multigrain, buckwheat or spelt mix is only a good fit for your meal once you’ve checked the current ingredients and allergen information too.
Green packaging doesn’t mean a product has verifiable organic status. According to the European Commission, the EU organic logo may only be used on products certified as organic by an approved body. Check the logo and the related packaging information on the pack you buy.
The stated yield helps you work out how many packs you’ll need, but it doesn’t tell you what you already have in the kitchen cupboard. Koopmans says its Organic Multigrain mix makes 13 to 15 pancakes per pack; Jumbo lists 17 prepared portions for its organic mix. Also check how much milk, how many eggs and what cooking fat you’ll need.
Wheat, oats, spelt and buckwheat feature in different mixes. Check not only which flours the product contains, but also the allergen information, any warnings about traces and the ingredients you need to add yourself.
Start with the organic status and whether the ingredients are suitable for everyone at the table. Then compare the yield and your preferred type of grain.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Organic status | Check the EU organic logo, along with the control body and origin details on the packaging. | I want to check what the organic status is based on, rather than relying on the look of the pack. Around 36% of consumers put this check first. |
| Yield and preparation | Compare the stated number of pancakes or portions, and check which ingredients you need to add yourself. | When cooking for a full table, I want to know whether I can make enough batter and what else I need to buy. For around 29% of consumers, yield and preparation come first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list, allergen information and warnings about possible traces. Also take into account anything you add to the batter. | If someone at the table needs to avoid an ingredient, I want to be able to check what’s in the mix before buying it. Around 21% of consumers make checking the ingredients their top priority. |
| Type of grain | Check which flours the mix contains and, if a particular type of grain is essential, the stated proportion. | I want to make an informed choice between wheat, multigrain, buckwheat and spelt, for example. The choice of grain matters most to around 14% of consumers. |
The organic status doesn’t tell you whether a mix contains wheat, oats or spelt, or what possible traces are listed on the label.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack itself. Don’t choose based only on words such as organic, buckwheat or multigrain.
A dry pancake mix isn’t always enough to make the batter. The mixes described here require different amounts of milk and eggs.
Before you do your shopping, read the preparation instructions and the stated yield for the specific version you’re buying.
An online product listing doesn’t mean the same mix is available at your local shop. Albert Heijn marked the Koopmans Organic Multigrain and Leev Spelt versions described here as discontinued on its product pages.
Check availability at the shop where you plan to buy it. If you have the product in front of you, compare the online information with the packaging.
Jumbo lists a 400 g organic pancake mix on its product page.
Koopmans Organic Multigrain combines wheat, oats, maize and buckwheat, among other ingredients.
Smaakt offers an organic buckwheat pancake mix for shoppers looking for a specific type of flour.
According to Albert Heijn’s product page, the organic spelt mix from Leev described here contains 91% spelt flour, as well as buckwheat flour.
Check the packaging for the EU organic logo. According to the European Commission, this logo may only be used on products certified as organic by an approved body. Also check the control body’s code number and the origin details next to the logo.
No. Organic and gluten-free are two different things. The Jumbo mix described here contains wheat, Koopmans Organic Multigrain contains wheat and oats, and the Leev mix described here contains spelt. If you need to avoid gluten, don’t rely on the organic status or product name alone; check the current label.
It depends on the version, so check the preparation instructions on the pack before you shop. The Jumbo mix described here requires 1.000 ml of milk and 2 eggs; the product information for Koopmans Organic Multigrain lists 900 ml of milk, 4 eggs and butter or oil.
No. Albert Heijn’s product information for this Koopmans version says the batter isn’t intended to be eaten raw and must be heated thoroughly. Follow the preparation instructions on the packaging you’re using.
