For an Asian-themed evening with several people, a standard plain or wholemeal mix is an obvious choice if you already have milk and eggs at home. If you want to use fewer additional ingredients, choose a complete mix; for a small portion, a shaker bottle may be more practical. It’s the savoury filling and sauce that give the meal its Asian influence, not the mix itself.
If you want to make several pancakes, check how many each pack makes and what you need to add to the batter. A standard mix often requires milk and eggs; remember to factor in the ingredients for your savoury filling too.
A shaker bottle means less measuring and is handy for a smaller batch. Check whether you need to add milk or water, as this varies between products.
If you’re looking for wholemeal grains or need to take allergens into account, check the ingredients list for the specific product rather than relying on the type name alone. Also check what you’ll be adding to the batter yourself.
Start by considering how many pancakes you want to make and which ingredients you already have. Then compare the preparation instructions and, if relevant, the ingredients on the pack.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| What you need for a group | Check how many pancakes each pack makes and what milk, eggs and cooking fat you need to add. | If I’m cooking for several people, I want to know in advance whether I can make enough batter with what I have at home. This kind of planning comes first for around 36% of consumers. |
| Fewer additional ingredients | Check whether the mix only requires water or whether you need to add milk and eggs yourself. | When I’m also preparing fillings, I want to make the batter with as few extra ingredients as possible. This is the main priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Grains and allergens | Check the ingredients list, allergen information and any warnings about cross-contamination. | I want to know which grains and allergens are in the mix I’ve chosen, even if it’s labelled wholemeal or complete. This check is a priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Small portion | Compare the stated yield and check what you need to add to a shaker bottle. | If I’m only making a few pancakes, I don’t want to prepare more batter than I need. Portion size matters most to around 14% of consumers. |
A standard mix may require milk and eggs, while some complete mixes only need water. You may not realise you’re missing something for the batter until you start cooking.
Check the preparation instructions for the product you’ve chosen before you go shopping.
A shaker bottle is designed for a smaller batch, and the stated yield may differ from that of a standard pack.
Check how many pancakes the manufacturer says the bottle makes and whether you need to add milk or water.
The ingredients vary between products. Even a mix that only needs water may already contain milk or egg.
Always check the current label, including the allergen information and any warnings about possible cross-contamination.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns about the food safety risks of raw batter, particularly for young children, pregnant people, older adults and anyone with a weakened immune system.
Don’t taste the batter raw, and cook the pancakes thoroughly.
ALDI sells an Albona plain pancake mix.
PLUS sells plain, wholemeal and complete pancake mixes, each with different preparation instructions.
Koopmans sells a standard mix, a complete mix and shaker bottles, among other products. Preparation instructions vary by product.
Albert Heijn’s range includes plain, complete, multigrain and wholemeal pancake mixes.
Lidl lists a 400 g pack of Belbake Original Pancake Mix.
This selection includes standard mixes for making several pancakes, options for a smaller batch and a complete mix that only needs water. For a savoury Asian-themed evening, choose your filling and sauce separately; the product name alone doesn’t indicate a specific Asian flavour profile.
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A shaker bottle could be a good choice if you want to make a small portion and keep measuring to a minimum.
Before you start cooking, check which liquid you need to add and how many pancakes this product makes.
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This shaker bottle is handy for a smaller batch if you don’t want to add milk or eggs to the batter.
According to the product information, add 350 ml of water to make 4 to 6 pancakes. The mix already contains milk and egg; check the label if you need to take allergens into account.
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This mix is worth considering if you want to compare the grain content before cooking for several people.
Check the pack to see which grains it contains, what ingredients you need to add and how many pancakes you can make.
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A standard mix for making the batter yourself when you’re planning to cook several pancakes.
Koopmans says the original mix makes 11 to 13 pancakes. Have milk, eggs and cooking fat ready, as instructed on the pack.
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The 100 g pack could be a good choice if you want to make a small amount of batter.
Check the preparation instructions, yield and ingredients before pairing this mix with a savoury filling.
Choose a complete mix if you want to add as few extra ingredients to the batter as possible. PLUS says you only need to add water to PLUS Complete; its standard plain mix requires milk, eggs and cooking fat. Check the label of either product if allergens are important to you.
Yes, pancakes can be used as a base for a savoury filling, as described by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Choose a filling and sauce to create the flavour you want; don’t assume a standard pancake mix has an Asian flavour profile of its own.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack, including any warnings about cross-contamination. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be clearly stated on the labels of prepacked foods. Also check the milk or eggs you add yourself.
It’s best not to taste raw batter; cook the pancakes thoroughly. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns that raw batter can pose a risk, particularly to young children, pregnant people, older adults and anyone with a weakened immune system.
Pay particular attention to the ingredients, allergen information and preparation instructions for the specific mix. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says the label on a prepacked food must provide legible information about, among other things, its contents, how to use it and its best-before date.
