Working from home and looking to avoid extra shopping
If you already have milk, eggs and cooking fat at home, a plain mix could be a good option. Just check how much you need to add for the pack you choose.
Which mix is right for you?
Making lunch with little time to prepare
A complete mix could be right for you if you don’t want to get milk and eggs ready. A shaker bottle is another option if you’d rather not use a separate mixing bowl; check what liquid your chosen version needs.
Carefully checking the label
Compare the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens for each version. If you have an allergy, it’s important to check the information on the packaging you buy.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, think about what you already have at home for lunch and how much preparation time you can spare between work meetings. Then compare the ingredients and nutritional information of the options you’re considering.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Additional ingredients | Check what you need to add yourself; the plain mixes we looked at need milk, eggs and cooking fat. | If I want to make lunch with what I already have at home, I don’t want to buy several extra ingredients just for one pack. Around 40% of consumers put avoiding extra shopping first. |
| Preparation time and washing up | Check whether you need to add water or milk, and whether you mix the batter in a bowl or in the packaging. | Between meetings, I want to be able to make the batter in just a few steps. For around 30% of consumers, preparation is the main consideration. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list and allergen information, even if the mix is labelled gluten-free. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the right recipe matters more than convenience. This is the main priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Nutritional information | Compare the grain ingredients and nutritional values on the same basis, for example per 100 g of prepared product. | I want to see which grains are in my lunch and how the nutritional information is presented. Around 10% of consumers start with this information when choosing. |
Common mistakes
-
Looking only at the pack
A plain mix isn’t the same as ready-to-cook batter. According to the product pages for Albert Heijn and PLUS, their plain mixes we looked at also need milk, eggs and cooking fat.
Before you choose, read the preparation instructions and check whether you already have the ingredients you’ll need.
-
Assuming every shaker bottle only needs water
According to PLUS, the 175 g Koopmans Original shaker bottle actually needs milk. A shaker bottle and a complete mix don’t automatically solve the same preparation needs.
Check which liquid you need to add for each version, and how many pancakes the pack makes.
-
Assuming gluten-free means free from other allergens too
PLUS says that Koopmans Gluten-Free may contain egg and milk. The gluten-free label doesn’t mean that these allergens are absent.
If you have an allergy, check the current allergen information on the packaging you buy.
-
Relying on an old test for current label information
The Consumentenbond’s pancake mix test dates from November 2020; the Consumentenbond warns that its results may now be out of date.
For the current recipe, check the ingredients list and nutritional information on the pack.
Brands to consider
Koopmans
Koopmans offers Original, Complete, shaker bottle and gluten-free versions, among others. The ingredients you need to add vary from pack to pack.
- PLUS says that a 400 g pack of Koopmans Original makes 11 to 13 pancakes.
- According to PLUS, that Original version needs milk, eggs and cooking fat; check the instructions for other versions.
AH
AH’s own-brand Plain Mix is a packet mix for anyone who wants to add the other ingredients themselves.
- Albert Heijn says that the 400 g pack makes around 12 pancakes.
- According to Albert Heijn, you need to add 3 eggs, 800 ml semi-skimmed milk and cooking fat.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers a 400 g Plain Mix, as well as a Complete version.
- Jumbo says that the Plain Mix we looked at makes around 12 portions.
- Check the ingredients and what you need to add for each version.
PLUS
PLUS offers both a Plain Mix and a Complete Mix, with different ingredients needed for the batter.
- PLUS says its Complete Mix needs water and cooking fat.
- According to its product page, PLUS Plain Mix needs milk, eggs and cooking fat; the Complete Mix contains wheat, milk and egg, among other ingredients.
Albona
Albona is ALDI’s own brand, with a 400 g plain pancake mix listed among its products.
- The plain version is worth comparing with other dry packet mixes.
- In store, check the packaging to see which ingredients you need to add and which allergens are listed.
Belbake
Lidl lists Belbake Original Pancake Mix, 400 g, as an in-store product.
- Lidl says it makes around 12 pancakes.
- Check the packaging for ingredients, allergens and anything you need to add.
Pancake mixes at Joybuy
This selection includes packet mixes and a Shaker version for making pancakes during a work-from-home lunch. For each product, check the version, pack size and what you need to add to the batter.
Image unavailable
Koopmans Shaker Pancakes 175 g
This 175 g Shaker version is worth considering if you’d rather make the batter without a separate mixing bowl. Check the packaging to see which liquid you need and which allergens are listed.
Image unavailable
Koopmans Pancakes Complete 210 g
This 210 g Complete version is worth a look if you’d like to get fewer separate ingredients ready. Read the instructions on this pack to see what you need to add; don’t assume it needs the same ingredients as a different pack size.
Image unavailable
Koopmans Wholegrains Pancake Mix 400 g
If you’re paying close attention to the grain ingredients, compare the ingredients list and nutritional information for this 400 g Wholegrains version with other packet mixes. Check the preparation instructions too, before planning your lunch.
Image unavailable
Koopmans Original Pancake Mix 400 g
This 400 g packet mix is a good fit if you have milk, eggs and cooking fat for the batter. PLUS says that a pack of Koopmans Original makes 11 to 13 pancakes; follow the instructions on the packaging you buy for the quantities.
Image unavailable
Xiaoyeqingzhu milk-flavoured pancake mix 100 g
This 100 g milk-flavoured mix is a different type of product from the Dutch plain packet mixes above. Read the preparation instructions and nutritional information to decide whether the preparation and portion size suit your lunch.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to add to a plain mix?
It varies by product. For the AH and PLUS plain mixes we looked at, the product pages list milk, eggs and cooking fat; follow the quantities on the packaging you use.
When is a complete mix a better fit for my work break?
A complete mix is a good choice if you don’t want to add milk and eggs separately. According to the product pages, the PLUS Complete and Koopmans Complete mixes we looked at need water and cooking fat; check the instructions for the version you choose.
Can I eat Koopmans Complete batter raw?
No. For the Koopmans Complete mix we looked at, Albert Heijn says the batter isn’t intended to be eaten raw and must be heated all the way through. Follow the preparation instructions on the packaging.
Is gluten-free pancake mix also free from milk and egg?
Not necessarily. PLUS says that Koopmans Gluten-Free may contain egg and milk. If you have an allergy, check the current allergen information on the packaging you buy.