For a regular lunch with lots of portions, a 5 kg catering-size bag may be more practical than several smaller packs, provided the kitchen can store it and use it within its shelf life. Then consider how it is prepared: PLUS Complete mix, 400 g, requires water, while Koopmans Professioneel Pannenkoekmix Speciaal, 5 kg, requires milk and eggs. Always check the allergens listed on the exact pack, as well as those in anything you add to the batter.
You need to assess which ingredients will be served at lunch to each child. Check not only the mix, but also any added milk, eggs, cooking fat and toppings. If the mix contains a gluten-containing cereal, the specific cereal matters.
You want to open fewer small packs for regular lunch occasions. Koopmans Professioneel offers pancake mix in 5 kg bags, but this size needs enough storage space and a suitable rate of use.
If you want to measure out fewer ingredients separately, a complete mix could be a good fit. PLUS Complete mix, 400 g, is prepared with 700 ml of water. Check the allergens for this preparation method too.
Start with the ingredients children are allowed to eat. Then work out how much batter you need for each lunch, and only then choose between a large bag, smaller packs and the different preparation methods.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens | Compare the label on the exact pack and any ingredients you add yourself with each child’s individual requirements. Check which gluten-containing cereals are listed. | When I cook for children with different dietary requirements, I want to know which allergens will be served at lunch before I start preparing it. Around 42% of consumers put this check first. |
| Preparation | Check whether the mix needs water or also requires milk and eggs, and match the quantity to the kitchen’s available cooking capacity. | When preparing lunch for a group, I want a method the kitchen team can follow consistently. For around 33% of consumers, predictable preparation comes first. |
| Pack size | Compare 5 kg bags with smaller packs, taking planned portions, storage space and shelf life after opening into account. | When pancakes are a regular menu item, I don’t want to keep opening lots of small packs or storing a large surplus. Around 25% of consumers put this kind of stock management first. |
A larger pack means fewer individual packs, but it doesn’t necessarily make preparation easier. Koopmans Professioneel says that milk and eggs still need to be added to its 5 kg Pannenkoekmix Speciaal.
Choose a pack size to suit your planned portions, and check the preparation instructions for the exact product.
An opened large bag also needs suitable storage and a rate of use that fits your menu and its shelf life.
A complete mix makes preparation easier, but the instructions don’t tell you which allergens the mix contains.
Check the label and all other ingredients you use against your allergen protocol and each child’s individual requirements.
When a new delivery arrives, you need to know which ingredients and allergens apply to the prepared lunch. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority emphasises that any allergens present must be disclosed when unpackaged food is offered to consumers.
Check the pack you receive and update the kitchen information if the label or preparation method has changed.
Choosing a small or large pack doesn’t determine how varied your lunch menu is. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends variety in school lunches.
Plan pancakes as part of your own lunch menu, taking the setting’s food policy into account.
A foodservice range that includes pancake mix in 5 kg packs.
A supermarket own brand with complete, plain and wholemeal pancake mixes among its range.
ALDI’s own brand, which includes a 400 g plain pancake mix.
Lidl’s baking brand, with a 400 g original pancake mix.
When offering unpackaged food to consumers, you must provide information about any allergens present, according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. For gluten-containing cereals, the specific cereal must be identifiable on the label. Also check any added ingredients and the individual requirements for the children.
No: the PLUS plain version lists wheat flour, while the PLUS wholemeal version lists wholemeal wheat and oat flour. Check the current label for every mix you choose, as well as the requirements of the child who will be eating it.
A 5 kg bag may be a good fit if you regularly cook for a large group and can store and use the contents within their shelf life. Smaller packs may be more convenient for a small or occasional lunch. Work out how much you need based on your own attendance and portion sizes, and check what else needs to be added to the mix you choose.
No. ‘Complete’ refers to preparation, not suitability for every diet. PLUS Complete mix, 400 g, requires 700 ml of water; check the label separately, along with anything added during cooking and serving.
Plan a pancake lunch as part of a varied menu that reflects your setting’s food policy. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends variety in school lunches; choosing between 400 g and 5 kg packs does not, in itself, change the make-up of your menu.
