Choose a plain mix for a larger batch if you already have the milk, eggs and cooking fat you need. A complete mix can mean fewer separate ingredients on your shopping list, but check what else you need to add. For a small baking session, a shaker bottle could be a good fit. Check the instructions and current label for each variety.
If you’re cooking for several people and already have milk, eggs and cooking fat, you could consider a box of plain mix. Check the instructions before deciding what else you need to add to your shopping list.
A complete mix could suit you if you’d rather not add milk or eggs separately. Check what the specific mix requires, though: according to PLUS, its 400 g Complete mix needs water and cooking fat.
Check the ingredients, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warning on the exact pack. The words ‘plain’ and ‘complete’ don’t tell you whether a mix is suitable for your needs.
Decide how many pancakes you want to make and which ingredients you already have. Then compare the preparation instructions and allergen information for the options that suit you.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Enough for a large batch | Check how much mix you need and which milk, eggs and cooking fat the pack says to add. | If I’m cooking for several people, I want to use ingredients I already have at home. This would be the main consideration for around 42% of consumers. |
| Fewer separate ingredients | Read the instructions for the complete mix or shaker bottle; the ingredients you need to add vary by product. | When my cupboard is nearly empty, I don’t want to have to gather lots of baking ingredients first. For around 25% of consumers, simplicity when preparing would come first. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Check the ingredients list, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ wording on the exact pack. | I need to be able to check whether a mix is suitable for my dietary needs; the product name isn’t enough. For around 17% of consumers, checking the label would be the most important consideration. |
| Portion size and availability | Check the pack weight, stated yield and availability when you plan to shop. | For a small baking session, I don’t want to choose a pack that’s aimed at making a large batch, and I want to be able to pick it up with my weekly shop. This would be the first consideration for around 16% of consumers. |
The PLUS Complete mix reviewed contains wheat, milk and egg. Not needing to add milk or eggs during preparation doesn’t tell you anything about the ingredients in the mix itself.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the pack you’re buying, including any ‘may contain’ warning.
According to Lidl, the Belbake mix reviewed is only available in store. Availability can matter if it’s on your weekly shopping list.
Check availability shortly before buying at the shop or through the delivery service you plan to use.
ALDI own-brand plain mix in a 400 g box.
PLUS offers both plain and complete mixes in 400 g packs.
Jumbo offers 400 g packs of plain and complete pancake mix.
The AH own-brand range includes a shaker bottle containing 200 g of plain mix.
Koopmans offers several pancake mixes, including original, complete and shaker bottle varieties.
Lidl lists a 400 g pack of Belbake Original Pancake Mix.
These Koopmans varieties include two 400 g packs for a larger batch and a smaller complete mix. Choose based on how many pancakes you plan to make, what you need to add and the label on the exact pack.
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A plain mix to consider for a larger batch if you already have the ingredients needed to prepare it.
400 g pack. Check the pack to see what you need to add, and read the current label if you have an allergy.
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An option to consider if you’re specifically looking for a multigrain mix for a larger batch.
400 g pack. ‘Wholegrains’ doesn’t mean the mix is gluten-free; check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack.
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A smaller complete mix to consider if you want to use fewer separate ingredients for a small baking session.
210 g pack. Check the preparation instructions and current label; ‘complete’ doesn’t mean the mix is free from milk or egg.
It depends on the specific mix. According to PLUS, its 400 g Complete mix needs water and cooking fat, but no milk or eggs added. However, the mix itself contains milk and egg, so check the ingredients on the pack if you have an allergy.
Read the current ingredients list and allergen information on the exact pack, including any ‘may contain’ warning. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how the allergens that must be declared are listed on the labels of pre-packed foods.
No, those descriptions don’t mean a mix is gluten-free. Check the ingredients, allergen information and any gluten-free claim on the pack for the specific variety.
First check whether the variety you want is available when you plan to shop, and whether the delivery or collection option fits your schedule. A product listing alone doesn’t confirm this.
