Choose a wholemeal pancake mix if the type of grain and the stated fibre content are your priorities. Choose a complete mix if you’d rather just add water late at night. ‘Multigrain’ doesn’t mean a mix contains seeds, and a complete mix isn’t automatically free from milk or egg. So check the ingredients, allergens and preparation instructions on the pack you choose.
If you’re looking for a wholemeal base, compare the grains and fibre content in the nutritional information. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the front of the pack isn’t enough: check the ingredients too, as well as what you add to your pancake.
If you’d rather use fewer extra ingredients, compare a complete mix with a regular mix that requires milk and eggs. Don’t just check what you need to add; look at what’s already in the powder too.
If you’re comparing different packs, check the pack weight and the number of pancakes stated by the manufacturer. Also make sure that particular variant contains the grains or seeds you want.
Start with the ingredients you want in your pancake, then check what else you need to add. Finally, read the allergen information for the mix you’ve chosen.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Grains, fibre and seeds | Check which types of flour and any seeds are listed in the ingredients. Only compare fibre content on a like-for-like basis, such as per 100 g of prepared product. | If I’m looking for wholemeal flour or seeds in my late-night pancake, I want to see those ingredients listed on the pack. For around 42% of consumers, this choice of ingredients comes first. |
| Additional ingredients required | Check the instructions for your chosen variant to see whether you’ll need water, milk, eggs and cooking fat. | If I get home late, I want to be able to make pancakes with what I have in the cupboard. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this simple preparation. |
| Allergens | Check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statements on the current pack. Even a mix made with water may contain milk or egg ingredients. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what’s already in the dry mix. For around 25% of consumers, this check matters most. |
A name that includes ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you which grains have been used, and it doesn’t necessarily mean seeds have been added. You could end up with a different texture from the one you wanted.
Check the ingredients list to see whether the seeds you want are included. If you plan to add them yourself, make sure they’re suitable for your allergen requirements.
PLUS says its Complete mix is made with water, but it contains whey powder and egg powder. So the preparation method doesn’t tell you everything about what’s in the powder.
Read both the preparation instructions and the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variant.
A product name or Nutri-Score is no substitute for the ingredients list and nutritional information. The preparation method and toppings also affect what ends up on your plate.
Compare nutritional values on a like-for-like basis, such as per 100 g of prepared product, and consider the portion you’ll actually make.
Koopmans offers a wholemeal pancake mix, among other products, for anyone specifically looking for wholemeal flour.
AH Wholemeal Pancake Mix is an option to compare with other wholemeal mixes based on their ingredients.
Jumbo offers several pancake mixes, including a 400 g wholemeal own-brand option.
At PLUS, the main differences between the wholemeal mix and the complete mix are their ingredients and what you need to add.
Belbake offers an original pancake mix and a separate multigrain variant.
At ALDI, Albona offers both a plain and a multigrain pancake mix.
No, you can’t tell from the name alone. A multigrain mix may contain different types of grain. Check the ingredients list on the exact pack to see whether it includes the seeds you’re looking for.
A complete mix can be handy if you don’t want to measure out milk and eggs: according to PLUS, its Complete mix needs water and butter for frying or oil. However, it contains whey powder and egg powder, so the convenience of the preparation method doesn’t mean the dry mix is free from these ingredients.
No, you need to check each product and how it’s prepared. Albert Heijn provides a plant-based preparation option for its wholemeal mix; ingredients and ‘may contain’ statements can vary between other mixes. Also check what you add to the batter yourself.
Before use, read the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack. Koopmans lists oats and wheat in its wholemeal mix; the PLUS wholemeal mix contains wheat and oats and may also contain egg and milk, among other allergens. Don’t rely on words such as ‘wholemeal’, ‘multigrain’ or ‘complete’ in the product name alone.
