Organisers short on preparation time
They want to take as few separate ingredients as possible. Even with a mix that only needs water, they’ll still need time and a suitable place to cook the pancakes.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Lunch planners who consider the type of grain
They compare wholemeal or multigrain mixes with standard mixes, checking the ingredients and nutritional information on the pack they choose.
Lunch planners with strict allergen requirements
They need to check the current label on the mix, as well as the ingredients they add themselves. A gluten-free label alone doesn’t tell you whether other allergens are present.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, check that you can cook at work. Then compare the ingredients required, type of grain and allergen information for each mix.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Minimal preparation | Check what you need to add to the mix and whether you’ll need a pan and cooking fat. | If I can only bring a few ingredients, I want to be able to make the batter easily without forgetting that the pancakes still need cooking. Minimal preparation is the top priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Wholemeal or multigrain | Compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g on the label of the mix you’re considering. | I like to choose which grains go into the batter, even if I still need to add milk or eggs. The choice of grain is the top priority for roughly 30% of consumers. |
| Allergens and gluten-free options | Check the current label, any cross-contamination warnings and the ingredients you plan to add. | If someone needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know that both the mix and any additions are suitable. This requirement matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
| Cost of the packs | Compare pack sizes and anything else you’ll need to buy for preparation. | For a lunch with several people, I want to be able to weigh up the packs and extra ingredients needed together. Cost is the priority for around 10% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a complete mix is a ready-to-eat lunch
With complete mixes from brands such as Koopmans and PLUS, you add water, but you still need to prepare the batter and cook the pancakes.
Check in advance that you have a suitable place to cook, the right equipment and enough time. Without cooking facilities, an uncooked mix isn’t suitable for this lunch.
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Comparing packs by price alone
A mix that needs milk and eggs calls for different shopping from one that only needs water.
Read the preparation instructions for the exact product and work out how many packs and additional ingredients your group will need.
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Relying on the brand name for allergen information
Ingredients can vary between products. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens must be listed on the labels of prepacked foods.
Read the current label on the pack you’ve chosen and check the ingredients you’ll be adding to the batter yourself, too.
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Using slice thickness to assess pancake mix
‘Medium sliced’ describes the thickness of sliced bread, not a feature you can use to compare pancake mixes.
For this lunch, search by type of mix and compare the preparation instructions, ingredients and pack size.
Brands to consider
Koopmans
Offers a range that includes complete, wholemeal, multigrain and gluten-free pancake mixes, as well as a shaker version.
- Koopmans says you add water to Pannenkoeken Compleet.
- Preparation and ingredients vary by product, so check the pack you choose.
AH
Albert Heijn offers its own plain, multigrain and wholemeal mixes alongside other brands.
- You can compare different types of mix within the range.
- Check which ingredients you need to add for each product.
Jumbo
Its range includes its own plain, complete, wholemeal and organic pancake mixes.
- The preparation instructions help you compare products by the extra ingredients they need.
- For Jumbo Biologisch Pannenkoekenmix 400 g, Jumbo specifies 1,000 ml milk and 2 eggs. Organic doesn’t mean you only need to add water.
PLUS
Offers its own complete, plain and wholemeal mixes, as well as Koopmans products.
- For PLUS Complete mix voor pannenkoeken 400 g, PLUS specifies 700 ml water.
- PLUS also recommends butter or oil for cooking, so check the current pack.
Albona
ALDI lists a 400 g Albona multigrain pancake mix.
- A multigrain option to compare with other types of mix.
- Check the current pack and preparation instructions in store.
Belbake
Lidl lists a 400 g Belbake original pancake mix.
- Lidl estimates that it makes around 12 pancakes.
- Refer to the current pack of this product for ingredients and allergen information.
Pancake mixes at Joybuy
These mixes are designed for making pancakes from scratch. For an office lunch, check the pack, ingredients required and cooking facilities available for each product.
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Koopmans Pancakes Complete 210 g
An option for a small office lunch if you want to bring fewer separate ingredients and can cook the pancakes on site.
Check the preparation instructions and current label, especially if anyone needs to avoid certain ingredients.
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Koopmans Wholegrains Pancake Mix 400 g
For an office lunch where the type of grain is an important consideration and you can make the batter and cook the pancakes yourself.
Compare the ingredients and nutritional information on the pack, and check what else you need to add for preparation.
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Koopmans Original Pancake Mix 400 g
A standard pancake mix to consider if you can prepare the lunch yourself.
Check how much batter you’ll need and what ingredients and cooking equipment the instructions call for.
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Koopmans Shaker Pancakes 175 g
The shaker version is a good fit for a small lunch if you’d rather not use a separate mixing bowl, provided you can cook the pancakes.
Before buying, check which liquid you need to add and how many pancakes you want to make for the group.
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Xiaoyeqingzhu High-Calcium Pancake Mix with Milk Flavor 100 g
A small pack to consider if you want to make the batter yourself and can cook the pancakes at work.
Use the nutritional information on the pack to assess the calcium claim, and check the preparation instructions, yield and allergens before buying for a group.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a complete pancake mix without a kitchen at work?
Not if you still need to cook the pancakes there. A complete mix can reduce the number of ingredients you need to add, but you’ll still need suitable cooking facilities, equipment and time to prepare it.
What’s the difference between a wholemeal mix and a standard pancake mix?
One difference is the type of grain used. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that wholegrain products contain more fibre than white grain products made with flour. To make your choice, compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g of the specific mix.
How can I check allergens for a shared pancake lunch?
Read the current label on every mix you choose, and check the milk, eggs and other ingredients you add yourself, too. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be listed on the labels of prepacked foods.
How should I store perishable toppings during lunch?
Keep toppings that spoil quickly chilled. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises not leaving food that spoils quickly out of the fridge for more than two hours. This advice doesn’t apply to unopened, dry pancake mix.
What should I do if information about a mix differs from the pack?
Before preparing the mix, check the information on the current pack, particularly the ingredients, allergens and instructions for use. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says the label on prepacked foods must clearly state what they contain and how to use them.