Choose a pancake mix based on what matters most to your household: wholemeal ingredients and fibre, less preparation or a mix explicitly labelled gluten-free. Whatever you choose, check the ingredients, allergens and any additions required on the current packaging. If you want a mix with seeds, check that seeds are actually listed in the ingredients; wholemeal and multigrain do not mean the same as containing seeds.
For anyone who wants to take the types of flour and fibre content into account when choosing pancakes for a meal. The Voedingscentrum highlights fibre-rich foods as something to consider in the diets of older people; the rest of the meal matters too.
For anyone who would rather not measure out milk and eggs for the batter. A mix that only needs water can save you that step, although you’ll still need to cook the pancakes.
For anyone who needs a product explicitly labelled gluten-free. Even then, it’s worth checking the current ingredients, warnings about milk and eggs, and the preparation instructions.
First, decide which feature matters most for this purchase. Then check the packaging of the mix you’re considering: the words wholemeal, complete, gluten-free and with seeds answer different questions.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check the types of flour in the ingredients list and compare fibre per 100 g of prepared product or per a similar serving. | I want to know how much wholemeal flour the mix contains and what fibre content applies to the cooked pancakes. For around 28% of consumers, this nutritional information is a top priority when choosing. |
| Less preparation | Check what needs to be added to the batter and what you’ll still need for cooking. | When I’m cooking for someone else, I want to measure out as few separate batter ingredients as possible. For around 27% of consumers, ease of preparation matters most. |
| Gluten-free and allergens | Look for an explicit gluten-free label, and also read the ingredients and allergen warnings on the pack. | If I need to eat gluten-free, I must be able to check the label on the packaging; milk and eggs need to be checked separately. Around 18% of consumers put this label check first. |
| Seeds and texture | Look for seeds as a specific ingredient; consider the texture you want in the finished dish separately. | I’m specifically looking for pancake mix with seeds and don’t want to rely on the word multigrain alone. For around 27% of consumers, this particular composition is the main priority. |
A multigrain mix may contain mainly wheat flour. The types of flour and fibre content vary between specific multigrain and wholemeal mixes; neither label confirms that the mix contains seeds.
Read the ingredients list for the exact product and compare the nutritional information on the same basis. If you want seeds, look for the seeds themselves in that list.
Needing to add only water tells you about the batter, not the ingredients. According to Koopmans, Koopmans Pannenkoeken Compleet contains wheat, milk products, egg and rye, among other ingredients.
Check the ingredients and allergens before buying, even if the preparation instructions seem simple.
The Voedingscentrum notes that chewing, swallowing and eating can be difficult for some older people. Wanting seeds or a different texture doesn’t, by itself, tell you what is suitable for a particular person.
Choose with the person who’ll be eating in mind. If they have difficulty chewing or swallowing, or follow a medical diet, ask a healthcare professional involved in their care or a dietitian for personal advice.
A title isn’t enough to confirm that the version on offer has the same ingredients as the product you’re looking for.
Compare the full product name, weight, ingredients and allergen information with the current packaging.
Offers separate options for wholemeal, a batter mix that only needs water, and gluten-free use.
Jumbo’s organic pancake mix is one option to compare for ingredients and nutritional information.
Albert Heijn offers plain, wholemeal and multigrain mixes under its own brand.
Albona is the brand of the multigrain pancake mix that ALDI lists in a 400 g pack.
Read the ingredients and compare the fibre content of the prepared product. According to Koopmans, Pannenkoeken Volkoren contains 60% wholemeal oat flour and 35% wholemeal wheat flour; the stated 3 g of fibre is per cooked pancake weighing 100 g. Check the current packaging and compare servings on the same basis.
No, the word multigrain doesn’t confirm that a mix contains seeds. If seeds are important to your choice, check the ingredients list for the specific product.
According to Koopmans, you only need to add water to the batter for Koopmans Pannenkoeken Compleet. The preparation instructions also call for butter or oil for cooking; check how much water the pack requires too.
Don’t rely on those descriptions if you need to eat gluten-free. Choose a mix explicitly labelled gluten-free, and check the current packaging for other relevant ingredients and allergens, including milk and eggs.
Check the ingredients list and any allergen warnings on the current packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that 14 allergens must be listed on food labels; a product name such as complete or gluten-free is no substitute for checking the label.
