If you’re looking for seeded bread at lunchtime for its texture, choose a loaf whose ingredients list includes the seeds you want. Multigrain or wholemeal pancake mix won’t automatically give you the same thing. If you’d rather make pancakes, check the grains used, what you need to add to the batter and the allergen information on the pack.
You want to make pancakes for lunch and are keeping an eye on the flour they contain. If what you really want is seeded bread, treat that as a separate requirement: using several types of grain doesn’t automatically mean a mix contains seeds.
You want to make batter without having to go out for milk and eggs first, or you’d prefer to mix a small amount in a shaker bottle. Check what you’ll need for your chosen mix and for cooking the pancakes.
Your choice depends on the ingredients and allergen information for the specific product. Terms such as multigrain, wholemeal and complete don’t tell you this on their own.
First decide whether you want seeded bread or pancakes for lunch. If you choose pancake mix, these questions can help you work out what matters most to you.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Grains and seeds | Check which flours and any seeds are listed in the ingredients; for wholemeal flour, look for the stated proportion. | If I’m making pancakes for lunch, I want to know which grains are in the mix and whether it really includes the seeds I’m looking for. Around 43% of consumers put this composition first. |
| Ease of preparation | Check what you need to add to the batter and whether you’ll need a bowl, shaker bottle and cooking fat. | For a quick lunch, I want to be able to make batter with what I already have at home. Easy preparation is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Check the latest ingredients and allergen information for the mix, and check the ingredients you add yourself too. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the composition of the pack I choose matters more than convenience or the grains used. This is the top priority for around 28% of consumers. |
Koopmans lists several types of grain in its Multigrain pancake mix, while PLUS specifies wholemeal wheat and oat flour in its wholemeal mix. Neither product description automatically meets the need for seeded bread.
Check for seeds as a separate ingredient. If seeded bread is what you want for lunch, choose a bread product whose ingredients list includes the seeds you’re looking for.
For the complete mixes mentioned from Koopmans, Jumbo and PLUS, you only need water to make the batter, but you may still need oil, butter or margarine for cooking. ‘Complete’ also doesn’t mean that a mix is allergen-free.
Read both the preparation instructions and the allergen information on the pack you buy.
The instructions for the PLUS plain shaker bottle say that batter mixed with milk should be used straight away. So a bottle designed for mixing isn’t automatically suitable for storing batter.
Make only as much as you want to cook straight away, and follow the instructions for use and storage on your bottle.
Koopmans offers products including Multigrain and Complete pancake mixes, as well as a pancake shaker bottle.
The AH own-brand range includes plain, wholemeal and multigrain varieties. Albert Heijn also has a separate category for gluten-free pancake mix.
Jumbo offers products including a complete pancake mix in a bottle and an organic mix in a pack.
Lidl lists a 400 g pack of Belbake Original pancake mix.
ALDI lists an Albona multigrain pancake mix and a separate plain variety.
PLUS offers products including wholemeal and complete pancake mixes, as well as a plain shaker bottle.
No. Multigrain means that several types of grain are used; it doesn’t necessarily mean seeds have been added. Koopmans lists wheat, rye, oats, barley and buckwheat in its Multigrain mix, among other ingredients. Check the ingredients list if seeds are important to you.
A complete mix may suit you if you don’t want to add milk or eggs to the batter: according to Koopmans and PLUS, the complete mixes mentioned are made with water. Check the instructions on your pack and remember you may need cooking fat for the pan.
Follow the instructions for the specific bottle; don’t assume that prepared batter can be stored. For its plain shaker bottle, PLUS says to use batter mixed with milk straight away.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the latest pack of mix, and check anything you add to the batter yourself too. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the need for allergens to be clearly listed on the labels of pre-packed foods; terms such as ‘complete’ or ‘multigrain’ are no substitute for checking.
