A 1 kg bag of pancake mix is a good choice if you’re cooking for a large group or planning several fakeaway nights, and can store the opened mix properly. If you’re making pancakes just once or want to keep preparation simple, consider a smaller pack or a complete mix that only needs water, according to the packaging. Check the instructions and allergen information for each product separately; the pack size won’t tell you anything about these.
How much you plan to make, how much preparation you want to do on the night and any dietary requirements will all help determine which mix is right for you.
Are you making pancakes for family or guests, or planning several pancake nights? You can use a 1 kg bag over several cooking sessions, as long as you can store the remainder somewhere dry in a well-sealed container.
If you want to keep preparation to a minimum, it makes a difference whether your chosen mix only needs water or also calls for milk, eggs and butter or oil. Check what you’ll need before you shop.
A large pack is only suitable if its ingredients, allergen information and preparation method meet your requirements. Check the exact product and any warnings about traces or cross-contamination on the packaging.
First, decide how many cooking sessions you want the mix to cover. Then check which ingredients you’ll need, what kind of recipe you prefer and whether there are any allergen requirements to consider.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and storage | Compare the net weight and portion instructions. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing opened mix in a cool, dry, dark place in a well-sealed container. | If I’m making pancakes on several nights, I want enough mix without having to open a new pack each time. This need to keep a supply in stock matters most to around 31% of consumers. |
| Preparation | Check whether the exact mix only needs water or also requires milk, eggs and butter or oil. | On a busy evening, I want to be able to start cooking without having to get extra ingredients first. Around 31% of consumers prioritise simple preparation like this. |
| Recipe | Check the type of mix, the ingredients list and the nutritional information for your chosen product if its composition or nutritional value will influence your choice. | I want to know which grains are in the mix and what I’ll need to add myself. Around 23% of consumers prioritise a particular recipe like this. |
| Allergens and dietary requirements | Check the ingredients, listed allergens and any warnings about traces on the current packaging. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the exact mix must also be suitable for the way I prepare it. For around 15% of consumers, suitability is the first thing they look for. |
According to Koopmans, Pannenkoeken Compleet only needs water, while Pannenkoeken Origineel requires milk, eggs and butter. PLUS also lists milk and eggs for its Naturel mix.
Read the instructions on the pack you’ve chosen and make sure your shopping list covers the quantity you plan to make.
If your mix isn’t a complete one, you’ll also need the extra ingredients listed.
You may have some mix left after one pancake night. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing opened pancake mix in a cool, dry, dark place in a well-sealed container.
Check how much mix the recipe uses each time and whether you can store the remainder that way.
An easy preparation method tells you nothing about the allergens in the mix. For example, the product information for Maison Niels de Veye’s mix that only needs water lists wheat, milk and egg.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging, even if you don’t need to add milk or eggs to the batter.
The listed ingredients and allergen summary in the online information for G'woon Pannenkoekenmix Compleet contradict each other.
Compare the full ingredients list with the label on the packaging. If the information is unclear or contradictory, don’t rely on the online summary alone.
Always compare the exact product within a brand: pack size, ingredients needed and allergens can all vary.
Koopmans offers Original, Complete, wholemeal varieties and a professional gluten-free vegan mix, among other products.
ALBONA is ALDI’s own brand, with plain and multigrain pancake mixes among its range.
The PLUS own-brand range includes plain, wholemeal and complete pancake mixes.
Belbake is a Lidl baking brand with a multigrain pancake mix among its range.
Molen de Hoop offers a 1 kg pancake mix that you can portion out for several cooking sessions.
It depends on the recipe on the exact pack. For Molen de Hoop, Baktotaal lists 6 to 7 pancakes per 250 g of mix. For that recipe, you can divide a 1 kg bag into four 250 g portions.
Yes, as long as you store the leftover mix properly. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing opened pancake mix in a cool, dry, dark place in a well-sealed container. Check the storage and use-by information on your pack too.
No, it varies by product. According to Koopmans, Pannenkoeken Compleet only needs water, while Pannenkoeken Origineel requires milk, eggs and butter. So check the ingredients needed for the mix you’re buying.
Check the allergen information on the label of the exact product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says this information must appear on pre-packed foods. Check the ingredients and any warnings about traces too, especially if the online information is unclear.
Don’t leave leftovers out of the fridge for more than two hours, and store them in a well-sealed container. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says pancakes can be kept for two days in the fridge or three months in the freezer.
