Choose a complete pancake mix if you’d rather not keep milk and eggs in the house for making the batter: the complete mixes described by Albert Heijn and PLUS only require water to be added. If you’re looking for specific grains or a gluten-free option, check the additions required and the current label on each pack. Even with a complete mix, remember that you may need cooking fat for the pan.
Would you like to keep pancake mix in the cupboard without also having to plan for milk and eggs to make the batter? Check the preparation instructions for a complete mix. Albert Heijn and PLUS describe options that only need water; you may still need cooking fat.
If gluten, milk, eggs or a particular type of grain influences your choice, the name of the mix isn’t enough. Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack, including for products labelled gluten-free.
A plain mix leaves you free to choose your toppings, while wholemeal, multigrain and cinnamon varieties have a more specific grain or flavour profile. Check what additional ingredients you’ll need for each pack, too.
Start with what you want to keep in the house alongside the mix. Then compare storage requirements, the label and the grain or flavour option. Choosing a different mix doesn’t automatically change what you need to prepare it.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is it important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Additional ingredients | Check how much water, milk or how many eggs the recipe calls for, and whether you’ll need cooking fat. | If milk and eggs aren’t always in the house, I still want to be able to make the batter. For around 36% of shoppers, keeping additional fresh ingredients to a minimum is the top priority. |
| Storage and stock rotation | Check the best-before date and make sure the pack is intact; ensure you can seal an opened pack properly. | I want to use my packs rather than forget about them at the back of a damp cupboard. For around 29% of shoppers, managing their supplies comes first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list, allergen information and any details about the possible presence of allergens. | If I need to avoid an ingredient, the label must match what I can use. Around 21% of shoppers put this check ahead of the other considerations. |
| Grains and flavour | Compare the types of grain listed and check whether any added flavour suits how you plan to use the mix. | I want to be able to choose between a plain base and a specific grain or flavour option. For around 14% of shoppers, this preference matters most. |
Water may be all you need for the batter, but PLUS also recommends butter or oil for cooking its complete mix. The label ‘complete’ also says nothing by itself about allergens.
Read the preparation instructions and the label before counting the pack as a complete meal solution for your store cupboard.
The classic, wholemeal and gluten-free examples described call for milk and eggs. Without these, you can’t prepare them according to the instructions provided.
Make a note of what you need to add for each pack, and check you have those ingredients when you restock.
A large stock is of little use if the packs get damaged or opened mix isn’t sealed properly.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing pancake mix in a cool, dry, dark place in a well-sealed pack. Use older packs in good time, and check the packaging and best-before date.
If you’re choosing based on ingredients or allergens, you need information about the current product. Not every online shop page displays these details in full.
Use the product page to compare options, but check the ingredients and allergens on the pack itself before use.
These brands and supermarket own-label ranges offer different types of pancake mix. Compare a specific option with your plans for your store cupboard rather than choosing on brand name alone.
Options include a plain base, a mix made with water, a specific flavour and one labelled gluten-free.
A supermarket own-label range with plain, multigrain and wholemeal mixes in its online category.
A supermarket own-label range that includes a 400 g plain mix and a 200 g complete option.
A supermarket own-label range with 400 g complete and wholemeal pancake mixes.
A 400 g multigrain pancake mix in ALDI’s own-label range.
Lidl sells an original pancake mix under the Belbake brand.
These products highlight the choice between a complete mix made with water, a wholemeal or original mix, and a smaller milk-flavoured option. When choosing for your store cupboard, always check the label and any additional ingredients you’ll need.
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A complete mix to consider if you’d rather not add milk and eggs to the batter. Joybuy’s information for this pack specifies 350 ml of water; before cooking, check the label and make sure you have cooking fat if needed.
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An option to compare if the types of grain influence your choice. Check the pack to see which grains the mix contains and what else you’ll need alongside the 400 g pack.
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An original mix to consider if you’re looking for a plain base and can store the additional ingredients. Koopmans specifies milk, eggs and butter for its original mix; check the preparation instructions for this 400 g pack before planning your supplies.
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A 100 g milk-flavoured pack to compare if you’re looking for a smaller quantity of mix. Read the preparation instructions and nutritional information on the current pack; the product name alone doesn’t tell you how much calcium it contains or how many pancakes it makes.
Yes, if your main aim is to keep fewer additional ingredients for the batter. The complete mixes described by Albert Heijn and PLUS need water instead of added milk and eggs; PLUS also specifies butter or oil for the pan. Remember to check the allergen information, even for a complete mix.
Store the mix in a cool, dry, dark place in a well-sealed pack, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Also check the instructions and best-before date on the pack, and make sure the mix still looks and smells normal when you use it later.
Don’t use a mix if you notice or smell anything unusual, such as insects or a musty or rancid smell. Keep opened packs well sealed and avoid storing them somewhere damp.
Read the ingredients list on the current packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how the allergens that must be declared should be clearly identified on the labels of prepacked foods; also check for any information about the possible presence of allergens.
