To bake sourdough bread, choose flour and an active starter rather than pancake mix: the pancake mixes described here are made for batter cooked in a frying pan. Bread mix is a better option if you mainly want to bake your own bread with less preparation, but check separately whether it’s intended for sourdough.
You want to bake bread with an active starter and can set aside time for the dough to rise. Choose flour and a starter, not a pancake batter mix. Albert Heijn Allerhande’s sourdough recipe uses a starter that has visibly increased in volume and is full of bubbles.
You want to bake your own bread without building a starter from scratch. Bread mix is a more suitable product type than pancake mix. Koopmans describes its bread mixes as suitable for use in an oven or bread maker. If you specifically want to make sourdough, check the ingredients and instructions for the mix you choose.
You’re looking for a mix to make batter for cooking in a frying pan, not fermented bread dough. Check the pack to see which ingredients you need to add and which allergens are listed: the mixes described by Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS have different ingredients.
First decide whether you want to make sourdough bread, simpler homemade bread or pancakes. Then you can work out whether a starter, bread mix or pancake mix is right for you.
Choose this when: you want to make bread using a recipe with an active sourdough starter, such as Albert Heijn Allerhande’s recipe.
Bear in mind: you’ll need time for the starter and dough. Jumbo says it takes 3 to 6 days to build a new sourdough starter.
Choose this when: you mainly want to bake your own bread using a mix, rather than weighing out individual ingredients.
Bear in mind: a standard bread mix isn’t automatically intended for sourdough.
Choose this when: you want to make pancake batter and cook your pancakes in a frying pan.
Bear in mind: this product type can’t replace an active starter and bread dough for sourdough.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Making sourdough bread | Choose flour for bread dough and make sure you have an active starter. If you’re using a mix, check that the instructions suit the sourdough process you have in mind. | I want to bake with an active starter and can allow time for the dough to rise. For around 50% of consumers, this sourdough process is the priority. |
| Baking bread more easily | Check that the product is a bread mix and follow the instructions for the oven or bread maker you plan to use. | If I want to bake bread without making my own starter, I’m looking for a mix with suitable instructions. Convenience is the main priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Making pancakes | Read which ingredients you need to add to the pancake mix and check the allergens on the pack. | I want to make batter for a frying pan, not leave bread dough to rise. That’s why around 20% of consumers prioritise a suitable pancake mix. |
The pancake mixes described here are made for batter cooked in a frying pan. By contrast, Albert Heijn Allerhande’s sourdough recipe uses an active starter and bread dough.
Start with what you want to bake: use a starter and flour for that sourdough recipe, a suitable bread mix for homemade bread, or pancake mix for pancakes.
A description of the grains used doesn’t mean that a mix contains an active sourdough starter. ALDI describes its Albona multigrain mix as pancake mix.
If you specifically want to bake with sourdough, read the product name, ingredients and instructions.
Pancake mixes can have different ingredients. For example, PLUS lists wheat flour, whey powder and egg powder in its complete mix.
Before buying and using a mix, check the allergen information on the current packaging.
Moisture can affect the quality of a dry mix. The Voedingscentrum also says to look out for a musty or rancid smell and insects.
Store an opened pack of pancake mix tightly sealed in a cool, dry, dark place.
Koopmans offers separate bread mixes and pancake mixes.
Albert Heijn sells a pancake mix and publishes a sourdough bread recipe through Allerhande.
Jumbo describes both a pancake mix and how to make your own sourdough starter.
PLUS offers plain and complete versions of its pancake mix.
Lidl distinguishes Belbake bread mixes from pancake mixes in its baking range.
ALDI sells Albona pancake mix and Albona bread mix as separate products.
Not as a substitute for an active starter and bread dough. The pancake mixes described here are made for batter cooked in a frying pan; Albert Heijn Allerhande’s sourdough recipe uses an active starter with flour, water and salt.
According to Albert Heijn Allerhande, use the starter once it has grown substantially in volume and is full of bubbles. If you still need to build a starter, Jumbo says this takes 3 to 6 days.
Bread mix can be a good option if you want to bake your own bread without building a starter, but it isn’t automatically a sourdough mix. If the sourdough process is important to you, read the ingredients and instructions for the specific product.
Check the current packaging of the baking mix. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, prepacked products must show allergen information on the label. Don’t rely on the product name alone or on a version you bought previously.
Store opened pancake mix tightly sealed in a cool, dry, dark place, as advised by the Voedingscentrum. Before using it, check for signs of spoilage such as a musty or rancid smell, or insects.
