Who is this choice relevant to?

Consumers who care about different grains

If you’re looking for a distinctive pancake mix, compare wholemeal, multigrain and buckwheat varieties, and check the grains listed and the nutritional information.

Households that check ingredients

If you need to be mindful of allergens or ingredients to add, the information for the exact mix matters more than its name or where it sits on the shelf.

Home cooks who value convenience

If you want to keep preparation to a minimum, weigh up a complete mix or shaker bottle against a traditional mix that needs separate ingredients.

What should you look for?

Start by checking what the mix actually contains. Then compare the nutritional information and see what else you’ll need to add.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Grains and seeds Check which grains and any seeds are listed in the ingredients for the mix you’ve chosen. Don’t assume seeds have been added just because it’s called ‘multigrain’. I want to know which grains set the mix apart and whether it really contains seeds. For around 31% of consumers, this ingredient profile is the deciding factor.
Nutritional information Compare fibre, sugars and salt on the same basis, for example per 100 g of prepared product, and check the stated serving size. I want to assess a wholemeal variety by its nutritional value, not just the front of the pack. Nutritional information is the top priority for around 31% of consumers.
Allergens Check the allergens in the exact mix, as well as the ingredients you add yourself. According to Albert Heijn, its AH multigrain mix lists wheat, oats, barley and rye as cereals containing gluten. If I need to avoid certain allergens, I also want to know what’s added during preparation. Around 23% of consumers give this check top priority.
Preparation Check whether you’ll need water, milk, eggs or cooking fat, and how many pancakes the pack is said to make when prepared according to the instructions. I want to be able to cook quickly without having to get lots of separate ingredients ready first. For around 15% of consumers, ease of preparation matters most.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming multigrain means the mix contains seeds

    A name that refers to several grains doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether seeds have been added. As a result, a product description may suggest something that isn’t true of the variety you’ve chosen.

    Only mention seeds if they appear in the ingredients list or product description for that specific mix.

  • Comparing only the dry mix

    A traditional mix, a complete mix and a shaker bottle may require different additions and preparation steps. So don’t compare them based on the contents of the pack alone.

    Read the preparation instructions and check which ingredients and quantities you’ll need to add.

    If you don’t have milk, eggs or cooking fat at home, you’ll need to buy those too.

  • Assuming allergens based on the product category

    Varieties from the same brand can differ. For example, Albert Heijn lists several cereals containing gluten in its multigrain pancake mix; this doesn’t automatically apply to every other mix.

    Read the current allergen information for the exact variety and check what you’ll be adding yourself, too.

Brands to consider

These brands offer different types of pancake mix; ingredients and features vary between varieties.

Koopmans

Offers Original, Multigrain, Wholemeal and Complete varieties, as well as shaker bottle mixes.

  • According to Koopmans, Original contains wheat, oats and buckwheat. With Complete, the brand says you only need to add water to the mix.
  • Check each variety for listed seeds and see which ingredients you’ll need for cooking.

AH

Albert Heijn lists plain, wholemeal and multigrain pancake mixes under its AH own-label range.

  • The product information for AH Multigrain names the cereals containing gluten; the wholemeal variety gives nutritional values for the prepared product.
  • Only compare nutritional values on the same preparation basis, and check allergens for each variety.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists a complete own-label mix and a Smaakt Organic Buckwheat Pancake Mix.

  • These product types let you choose between a complete mix and one sold as an organic buckwheat mix.
  • Check the ingredients and preparation instructions on the pack you choose; the product names don’t tell you which allergens either mix contains.

Belbake

Lidl lists Original and Multigrain pancake mixes under the Belbake brand.

  • The two names distinguish between an original and a multigrain variety.
  • Check the information on the specific pack for ingredients, seeds and allergens.

Albona

ALDI lists plain and multigrain pancake mixes under the Albona brand.

  • The varieties offer a choice between plain and multigrain.
  • The name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t confirm that seeds have been added, so check the ingredients list for the mix you choose.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does a multigrain pancake mix automatically contain seeds?

No. ‘Multigrain’ doesn’t mean seeds have been added. Check the ingredients list for the exact mix before describing it as a mix with seeds.

Which allergens should I check in pancake mix?

Check the allergens on the pack of the mix you’ve chosen, and also look at any ingredients you add yourself. Albert Heijn lists wheat, oats, barley and rye as cereals containing gluten in its multigrain mix. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be clearly stated on the label.

Which needs fewer extra ingredients: a traditional mix, a complete mix or a shaker bottle?

According to Koopmans, its Complete mix only needs water for the batter, while the recipe for Koopmans Original uses milk and eggs, and suggests butter or oil for cooking. For the PLUS shaker bottle mentioned, you add milk and leave the batter to stand for 2–3 minutes, according to PLUS. For every variety, check what else you’ll need for cooking.