For one or two people, a small pack or shaker bottle is a sensible choice if the stated yield is right for one batch. For more people, a larger pack may be a better fit. If you don’t want to keep milk and eggs in the house for making the batter, look for a mix that the packaging says can be made with water. Also check what you’ll need for cooking, which allergens are listed and how to store the mix.
If you usually cook for one or two people, compare the yield on the packaging with the number of pancakes you want to make. According to the product information from Albert Heijn, a 200 g pack of Koopmans Origineel makes around 5 to 6 pancakes; Koopmans says its shaker bottle makes about 5.
If you don’t want to keep milk and eggs specifically for the batter, a complete mix could be a convenient option. According to their product information, the complete mixes from Koopmans and PLUS included in our research are made with water. Check what else you’ll need for cooking, though.
If you need to avoid an allergen, the information on the specific pack matters more than its size or product name. Check the ingredients and allergen information every time you buy, even if the mix is labelled gluten-free. Also check for any information about traces of allergens.
Start with the yield per pack and the ingredients you’ll need to add. Then consider whether easy storage or a particular dietary or allergen requirement further narrows down your choice.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size | Compare the net weight and stated number of pancakes with what you’ll need for one batch. | If I’m cooking for one or two people, I don’t want to make more batter than I need; an estimated 33% of consumers say portion size comes first. |
| Ingredients you’ll need | Check whether you need to add water, milk or eggs, and what you’ll need for cooking. | If you don’t want to keep milk and eggs specifically for the batter, look for a mix made with water; an estimated 27% of consumers put this convenient storage option first. |
| Dietary requirements and allergens | Read the current ingredients list, allergen information and any information about traces. | If I need to avoid an allergen, I want to know what’s in this particular mix; an estimated 20% of consumers say checking the label is their top priority. |
| Larger packs and storage | Consider whether you’ll use up a larger pack and how to store any opened dry mix. | If I’m cooking for more people or making pancakes more often, I want a pack I can use up and seal properly; an estimated 20% of consumers choose a larger size first and foremost. |
A small pack or shaker bottle makes a smaller amount of batter, but you may still need milk, eggs or cooking fat. The mix alone may not be enough for the batch you’re planning.
Read the full preparation instructions before stocking up. If not having to plan for milk and eggs for the batter is important, choose a mix that can be made with water.
The pack size and preparation method don’t tell you which allergens a mix contains. Even with a variety labelled gluten-free, other ingredients or trace warnings may be relevant.
Check the current label on your chosen variety every time you buy, including the ingredients list and allergen information.
Once opened, a pack needs to be sealed properly. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing pancake mix in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container.
Seal the pack carefully or use an airtight storage container, and follow the storage instructions on the pack.
A best-before date relates to quality. Whether dry mix is still suitable to use afterwards depends, among other things, on its packaging, storage and condition.
Check the storage advice and inspect the pack and mix. Don’t use mix that smells musty or rancid, or shows signs of deterioration.
Size and preparation method vary between products from these brands. Compare the specific pack you’re thinking of buying, rather than relying on the brand name alone.
The range included in our research features a small pack, a shaker bottle, a complete mix and a variety labelled gluten-free.
The PLUS own-brand range featured in the product information we reviewed includes a 400 g complete mix and a 200 g bottle mix.
Albona is ALDI’s own brand for the 400 g pancake mixes included in our research, which feature a multigrain variety.
These Joybuy products come in packs ranging from 100 to 210 g. When choosing what to keep in your cupboard, compare not just the pack size but also the yield and what you’ll need to add.
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A shaker bottle to consider for a small batch. The pack contains 210 g of mix; check the preparation instructions and allergens before stocking up.
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A shaker bottle for anyone who wants to store a smaller amount of dry mix. The pack contains 175 g; remember to allow for the milk you’ll need when planning your cupboard supplies, and check the current preparation instructions.
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A 100 g pack for anyone who wants to store only a small amount of dry mix at a time. Check how many pancakes the pack makes and which ingredients you need to add before choosing it for a batch.
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A 200 g pack to compare if you want to keep a smaller amount in the cupboard. Check the yield, what you need to add and the ingredients on the pack; don’t rely on the word Complete alone.
It can be, if the stated yield is right for the number of pancakes you want to make at once. According to the product information from Albert Heijn, 200 g of Koopmans Origineel makes around 5 to 6 pancakes. Check the yield again if you choose a different mix of the same weight.
Look for a complete mix that the packaging says can be made with water. This applies to the complete mixes from Koopmans and PLUS included in our research; also check what you’ll need for cooking and read the allergen information.
Store the dry mix in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Use an airtight storage container if needed, and follow the instructions on the packaging.
Not necessarily: a best-before date relates to quality. Check the pack and mix against the storage advice, and don’t use the product if it smells musty or rancid, or shows signs of deterioration.
Read the ingredients list and clearly stated allergens on the specific pack, along with any information about traces. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains allergen labelling on pre-packed foods; checking the product name alone isn’t enough.
