For a budget shop, a plain mix is a sensible choice if you already have milk, eggs and cooking fat at home. A complete mix usually means you need to add fewer ingredients, but check whether you still need cooking fat. If you’re looking for a particular type of grain or need to avoid allergens, let the current label guide your choice.
If you already have milk, eggs and butter or oil at home, you can focus on the amount of dry mix in each pack when choosing a plain mix. Be sure to check the preparation instructions for the variety you choose.
A complete mix or shaker bottle could be a good fit if you want to measure out fewer ingredients. Check exactly what you need to add: a shaker bottle may still require milk, for example, while a complete mix may need cooking fat.
Are you looking for wholegrain or gluten-free, or do you need to avoid wheat, eggs or milk? Check the ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack. A grain description doesn’t tell you which other allergens a mix contains or may contain.
Start with the ingredients you already have at home. Then decide how much preparation you’re happy to do and whether a particular composition limits your choice.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size and basic ingredients | Compare the pack weight and check whether you need to add milk, eggs and cooking fat. | If I want to keep my shopping list short, I don’t want to buy ingredients twice. For around 50% of consumers, this is the top priority. |
| Ease of preparation | Check whether the mix calls for water or milk, and whether you make the batter in a bowl or a shaker bottle. | I want to do less measuring when I make pancakes; around 30% of consumers put this convenience first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the grain types, ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statements on the current label. | The specific pack needs to suit my grain preference or allergy. Around 20% of consumers prioritise the ingredients. |
The Koopmans gluten-free mix examined states that it may contain eggs and milk. So a gluten-free label doesn’t answer every question about allergens.
Before buying and using the mix, read the full allergen information on the pack, even if the grain description suits your needs.
A shaker bottle means less measuring, but the PLUS plain shaker bottle examined is made with milk.
Check the ingredients to add and the preparation instructions for the bottle you want to buy.
Ingredients and allergen information can vary between product varieties and packs. The current information is especially important if you have an allergy.
Compare options online, but check the pack again before using the mix.
ALDI own-brand plain and multigrain pancake mixes.
Albert Heijn own-brand plain mix in a 400 g pack.
Own-brand plain, complete and wholegrain mixes, plus a shaker bottle variety.
A brand offering original, complete and gluten-free pancake mixes, among others.
Lidl own-brand original pancake mix in a 400 g pack.
These products offer different ways to make pancakes: a complete mix, a wholegrain variety, a standard mix and smaller packs. Compare the additions needed for each product, and always check the packaging if you have an allergy.
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An option if you’re looking for a complete mix in a smaller pack. The pack contains 210 g; check the preparation instructions to see what you need to add, and read the current label if you have a milk allergy.
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For anyone specifically looking for a wholegrain variety. This pack contains 400 g; check the grains used, allergens and additions needed on the packaging.
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A standard mix for anyone who wants to add milk, eggs and cooking fat. The pack contains 400 g; Koopmans says the original mix makes 11 to 13 pancakes. Check the current pack for allergen information and preparation instructions.
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A shaker bottle for anyone who wants to do less measuring. The pack contains 175 g; check which liquid you need to add, and read the current label if you have a milk allergy.
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A smaller pack if you don’t want to use a large one straight away. It contains 100 g; check the label for ingredients, allergens and additions needed.
Not always: the complete mixes described are made with water, but their instructions also call for butter or oil for cooking. Read the instructions on the specific pack before you start.
No. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains which allergens must be listed on food labels; a gluten-free mix may still carry an egg or milk warning.
No. The product information for the Koopmans mixes examined says that the batter must not be eaten raw and needs to be heated all the way through. Follow the preparation instructions on the packaging.
