Who should consider what?

Budget-conscious weekly shopper

Wants to know how many people one pack will serve and what other ingredients are needed. The pack size and preparation instructions make it easier to plan the shopping for the whole meal.

Family looking to try a different grain option

Wants pancakes the household will enjoy, but would also like to understand the difference between wholemeal and multigrain. The ingredients list shows which flours are in the mix.

Home cook who wants less measuring

Would rather use water for the batter than add milk and eggs separately. With a complete mix, it’s still important to check what you’ll need for cooking.

What should you look for when choosing?

Before doing your weekly shop, decide which requirement matters most to your household. Then compare the pack size, ingredients and preparation instructions of the mixes that fit the bill.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Servings for the week Check the pack size, the stated number of pancakes and what else you’ll need to add. If I’m cooking for several people, I want to know whether one pack will be enough and which ingredients I’ll need to have at home. Around 36% of consumers prioritise planning their weekly shop this way.
Wholemeal or multigrain Read the product name and ingredients list, and check which flour is listed first. If I have fussy eaters, I look for a grain option the household will enjoy, without confusing multigrain with wholemeal. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this consideration.
Ease of preparation Check whether the mix calls for water, milk or eggs, and whether you’ll need cooking fat. If I want to keep measuring to a minimum, I’d rather choose a batter that only needs water. This is the most important requirement for around 21% of consumers.
Dietary requirements and allergens Read the current ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ statement on the packaging. If my household needs to avoid an ingredient, I don’t want to rely on the product name alone. This check takes priority for around 14% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Looking only at the pack size

    A 300 g pack and a 400 g pack won’t necessarily make the same number of pancakes. A standard dry mix may also need milk, eggs and cooking fat.

    Check how many pancakes the pack makes and read the preparation instructions before deciding how many packs and extra ingredients you’ll need.

  • Assuming multigrain means fully wholemeal

    ‘Multigrain’ doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour the mix contains. For example, Albert Heijn’s multigrain mix lists 74% wheat flour, as well as wholemeal barley and oats.

    If you specifically want wholemeal, choose a product labelled as such and check the ingredients list.

  • Relying only on a claim on the front of the pack

    A gluten-free claim doesn’t answer questions about other allergens. A complete mix may also contain ingredients that are relevant to your household.

    Check the current label every time you buy, including the allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statement.

  • Tasting uncooked batter

    According to the Voedingscentrum, harmful bacteria can also be present in flour.

    So don’t taste uncooked batter. Wash your hands after preparing it and cook the pancakes thoroughly.

Brands to consider

Koopmans

Koopmans offers several types of pancake mix, including Original, Compleet, wholemeal and multigrain.

  • According to Albert Heijn, you only need to add water to the batter when using Koopmans Compleet.
  • Check the ingredients and allergens on the pack for each variety; the preparation method differs.

Albert Heijn

The own-brand range includes wholemeal and multigrain mixes, so you can compare the two.

  • The wholemeal mix lists wholemeal wheat flour as its main ingredient.
  • The multigrain mix contains 74% wheat flour, so it isn’t the same as the wholemeal variety.

PLUS

The own-brand range includes both a complete and a wholemeal pancake mix.

  • PLUS says to use 700 ml of water for the batter when making PLUS Complete.
  • For PLUS Wholemeal, PLUS specifies 1,000 ml of milk and four eggs, so check which variety you’re choosing.

Albona

ALDI sells plain and multigrain pancake baking mixes under the Albona name.

  • The two varieties give you the choice of plain or multigrain.
  • Check the pack in store for the ingredients, allergens and anything else you’ll need for your chosen mix.

Belbake

Lidl lists an original Belbake pancake mix as well as a multigrain variety.

  • Lidl states that the original mix makes around 12 pancakes.
  • Check the ingredients and preparation instructions on your chosen pack before completing your shop.

Pancake mixes on Joybuy

These two Koopmans mixes give you an Original and a Wholegrains option to consider for your weekly shop. In particular, check the flours used and what you need to add during preparation.

Koopmans Wholegrains pancake mix 400 g

Koopmans Wholegrains pancake mix 400 g

An option to consider if the choice of grains matters to your household.

Check the pack to see which flours it contains and what you’ll need for the batter and cooking; the name alone doesn’t tell you enough.

View on Joybuy
Koopmans Original pancake mix 400 g

Koopmans Original pancake mix 400 g

An Original variety for anyone looking for a standard dry pancake mix for their weekly shop.

According to the Joybuy product information, add 850 ml of milk and two eggs; you’ll also need butter or oil for cooking.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is multigrain the same as wholemeal?

No, a multigrain mix isn’t automatically fully wholemeal. According to the ingredients list, Albert Heijn’s multigrain mix contains 74% wheat flour, as well as wholemeal barley and oats. If wholemeal is what you’re looking for, choose a product explicitly labelled as such and read the ingredients.

Which mix doesn’t need milk and eggs for the batter?

For the PLUS Complete and Koopmans Compleet mixes mentioned above, you add water to the batter instead of adding milk and eggs separately. Check the specific pack to see how much water you need and which cooking fat to use.

Where can I check the allergens in pancake mix?

Before buying, read the ingredients list and allergen information on the current packaging, even if the front carries a specific dietary claim. Also look for any ‘may contain’ statement about other allergens.

Can I taste uncooked pancake batter?

It’s best not to taste uncooked batter. The Voedingscentrum points out that flour can contain harmful bacteria, so make sure you cook the pancakes thoroughly.