Savoury breakfast fans looking for wholegrains
You want to know which grains are in the batter, so you compare the proportion of wholemeal flour and the nutritional information rather than relying on a name such as ‘multigrain’.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Morning cooks short on preparation time
You want to make batter quickly for a savoury topping. A complete mix or shaker bottle can be handy if you want to add fewer separate ingredients, but preparation instructions vary by variant.
Shoppers who need to check allergens
Before using a mix, you want to know whether it contains ingredients or may contain traces that you need to avoid. Even when a product is labelled gluten-free, other allergens still matter.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide what matters most for your savoury breakfast: the grain base, preparation or ingredients you need to avoid. Check for seeds separately in the ingredients list; wholegrain and multigrain do not mean the same as a mix containing seeds.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholegrain base | Check which types of flour and what proportion of wholemeal flour are listed. Only compare fibre content on the same basis, such as per 100 g of prepared product. | If I mainly want a wholegrain base, I look beyond the name ‘multigrain’. An estimated 40% of consumers give this criterion top priority. |
| Minimal preparation | Check whether you need to add water, milk or eggs, and which cooking fat is required. | On a busy morning, I want to make the batter with as few separate ingredients as possible; for around 40% of consumers, convenience comes first. |
| Gluten and other allergens | Check the ingredients, allergen information and any relevant warnings on the packaging of the variant you choose. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, suitable allergen information matters more than ease of preparation. This is estimated to be the main concern for 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming wholegrain or multigrain means a mix contains seeds
A mix can contain different grains without listing seeds or kernels as ingredients. PLUS lists wholemeal wheat, wholegrain oats and buckwheat among the ingredients in its wholegrain pancake mix.
If you want seeds for added texture, look for the seeds or kernels you want in the current ingredients list.
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Assuming a mix that only needs water is allergen-free
The preparation method doesn’t tell you which ingredients are already in the powder. The complete mixes described by Koopmans and PLUS contain, among other things, milk and egg ingredients.
With a complete mix, check the ingredients and allergen information before choosing it for convenience.
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Overlooking other allergens when choosing gluten-free
The Consenza Pancake Mix described by Albert Heijn is labelled gluten-free and wheat-free, but also lists egg, milk and lupin, as well as warnings about possible traces of other allergens.
Check every ingredient and any trace warnings that are relevant to you on the current packaging.
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Treating an online ingredients list as definitive
Ingredients and packaging information can change. That means a product description you viewed earlier isn’t enough when ingredients or allergens are crucial to your purchase.
Compare your options in advance, but also read the packaging of the mix you actually use.
Brands to consider
Koopmans
The range includes original and complete pancake mixes, as well as a shaker bottle. Koopmans suggests bacon and cheese as savoury topping combinations.
- For the complete mix described, you only need to add water to make the batter.
- The complete variant contains, among other things, wheat, milk and egg; check the allergen information for each product.
Albert Heijn
The AH own-brand range includes plain, wholegrain, multigrain and spelt mixes.
- The plain mix described lists wheat flour, buckwheat flour and wholegrain oat flour.
- The standard preparation requires eggs and milk; assess the ingredients and preparation method separately.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s own-brand range includes plain and organic pancake mixes.
- The plain variant described lists wheat flour, buckwheat flour and wholegrain oat flour.
- Organic doesn’t mean a product contains seeds: the ingredients described for the organic variant list no seeds or kernels.
PLUS
The PLUS own-brand range includes a wholegrain mix, a complete mix and a bottle variant.
- PLUS states that its wholegrain mix contains 75% wholemeal wheat flour and 20% wholegrain oat flour.
- The bottle variant described must be used straight after mixing with milk; follow the instructions on the packaging you choose.
Albona (ALDI)
ALDI describes a 400 g Albona multigrain pancake mix.
- This variant is described as a multigrain option.
- Check the packaging if the presence of seeds or specific allergens will affect your choice.
Belbake (Lidl)
Lidl describes Belbake Original Pancake Mix as a 400 g in-store product.
- The pack size is clearly stated for this variant.
- Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging before deciding whether this mix suits your needs.
Pancake mixes on Joybuy
These mixes offer different starting points for a savoury breakfast: a complete mix, a shaker bottle, a multigrain mix and an original base. Check what you need to add yourself for each variant; if seeds or allergens are important to you, check the packaging.
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Koopmans Pancakes Complete 210 g
A complete mix to consider if you want to add fewer separate ingredients for a savoury breakfast.
210 g pack. Check the preparation instructions and the listing of wheat, milk and egg on the current packaging.
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Koopmans Shaker Pancakes 175 g
A shaker bottle to consider if you want to prepare a small amount of batter for savoury pancakes.
175 g pack. Check how much milk to add and read the allergen information.
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Koopmans Wholegrains Pancake Mix 400 g
A multigrain mix to compare if the grain base of your savoury pancakes matters to you.
400 g pack. Compare the ingredients and the proportion of wholemeal flour; the name doesn’t confirm that the mix contains seeds. Also check which ingredients you need to add to make the batter.
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Koopmans Original Pancake Mix 400 g
An original pancake base to serve with a savoury topping.
400 g pack. Allow for milk, eggs and cooking fat when preparing; check the current instructions and allergen information on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Is multigrain pancake mix the same as a mix containing seeds?
No, the name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t confirm that seeds are an ingredient. Look for the seeds or kernels you want in the ingredients list for the exact mix.
Can I use a regular pancake mix for a savoury breakfast?
Yes, you can serve a plain pancake base with savoury toppings. Koopmans suggests combinations such as bacon and cheese; choose a mix based on the ingredients and preparation method that suit you.
Is a complete pancake mix free from milk or egg?
Not necessarily: only needing to add water tells you about the preparation, not what’s in the mix. The complete variants described by Koopmans and PLUS contain milk and egg ingredients; if you have an allergy, always read the current packaging.
Can I keep prepared batter from a shaker bottle?
Follow the instructions for the bottle variant you choose. PLUS states that batter made with its plain bottle mix must be used straight after mixing with milk and must not be stored.