Choose a wholemeal pancake mix if wholegrains and fibre are your priorities for lunch. If you’re mainly after small, thicker pancakes, look for an American pancake mix. For less preparation, consider a complete shaker bottle mix or ready-made wholemeal pancakes. Always compare the nutritional information for the prepared product, including anything you add yourself.
You’re looking for a wholemeal base for your lunchtime pancakes and want to compare the nutritional information for the prepared product. For the filling, you could also consider vegetables and a source of protein, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests for a pancake lunch.
By thick pancakes, you mean small, fluffier ones rather than one large, thin pancake. An American pancake mix suits this preference for a different shape; check the ingredients of your chosen variety separately.
You want to choose between pancakes that only need warming up and a complete mix that you make with water and then cook.
First, decide whether wholegrains, thickness or preparation time matters most to you. Then check the ingredients, nutritional information and preparation instructions for each product.
Choose this if: you want a wholemeal grain base and have time to make the batter and cook the pancakes.
Bear in mind: the ingredients you need to add yourself, as listed on the pack, and your choice of filling.
Choose this if: small, thicker pancakes matter more to you than the shape of a traditional pancake.
Bear in mind: the shape alone tells you nothing about nutritional value; check the label of the specific mix.
Choose this if: you’d rather heat up pancakes than make the batter and cook them yourself.
Bear in mind: the storage and reheating instructions for the product you choose.
Choose this if: you want to use fewer separate ingredients; Albert Heijn says you only need to add water to Koopmans Schudfles Pannenkoeken Compleet.
Bear in mind: you still need to cook the pancakes, and the mix has a different composition from a wholemeal mix.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal base and fibre | Check which types of flour are listed in the ingredients and compare fibre per 100 g of prepared product. | If I’m using pancakes as the basis of my lunch, I want to know how much fibre the prepared wholemeal version contains. For around 42% of consumers, a wholemeal base is the main priority. |
| Thickness and texture | Check whether the mix is intended for American pancakes and follow the batter instructions. | I’d rather have small, thicker pancakes than one large, thin pancake. This texture is the main priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Preparation time | Compare what you need to add and whether the product still needs cooking or only reheating. | When I’m short on time to make lunch, what matters most is how many steps are still involved; around 25% of consumers prioritise convenience. |
A mix containing several types of grain doesn’t automatically tell you how much wholemeal flour it contains. That distinction matters if the grain base is your main reason for buying it.
Read the product name and ingredients list together, then compare the fibre content on the same basis.
The nutritional information for dry mix and prepared pancakes is based on different quantities. The milk, eggs or other ingredients you add, as instructed on the pack, also affect what you end up making.
Where the information is available, compare products per 100 g of prepared product and check the preparation instructions.
Making pancakes from scratch also means adding the ingredients listed on the pack you choose.
The shape of an American pancake doesn’t tell you how much fibre, sugar or salt is in your chosen mix or filling.
Choose a mix for the texture you want, but assess the ingredients and nutritional information separately.
Jumbo’s listing for Dr. Oetker American Pancakes Volkoren states that this exact variety is no longer in its online range. A similar product name doesn’t automatically mean the ingredients or nutritional values are the same.
Before buying, check which variety is actually available and read the label on that pack.
Offers a wholemeal mix, ready-made wholemeal pancakes and a complete shaker bottle mix, among other products.
Offers its own AH Mix voor pannenkoeken volkoren and also lists Koopmans Schudfles Pannenkoeken Compleet.
Lists its own 400 g Mix voor Pannenkoeken Volkoren and Dr. Oetker American Pancakes Volkoren.
Offers its own wholemeal pancake mix and also lists a Koopmans multigrain mix.
ALDI lists Albona pancake mixes, including a plain variety.
Lidl lists Belbake Mix voor pannenkoeken meergranen in a 120 g pack.
No, the mix only provides the base for the pancakes. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that wholegrain products contain more fibre than products made with white flour, and suggests adding vegetables and, for example, pulses, eggs or fish to pancakes.
It may depend on the preparation instructions for the mix you choose. Koopmans says that adding extra milk makes the batter for its wholemeal pancakes thinner, so check whether the instructions allow you to make a thicker batter. If you specifically want small, fluffy pancakes, an American pancake mix is a more suitable choice.
Read the label on the exact mix and check which ingredients you need to add yourself. Koopmans Pannenkoeken Volkoren lists oats and wheat; depending on the instructions, you may also need milk and eggs to prepare it. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens must be clearly listed on the labels of pre-packed foods.
For opened pancakes, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping them for two days in the fridge or three months in the freezer. If you have a packaged, ready-made product, also follow the storage instructions on the pack.
