A dry wholemeal pancake mix can work well for a quick breakfast if you make the pancakes ahead of time; the mix itself still needs to be prepared. If you mainly want to reheat breakfast on the day, ready-made wholemeal pancakes may suit you better, provided you have freezer space and a microwave. A wholemeal American-style pancake mix is another option if you want smaller, thicker pancakes and have time to cook them.
If you deliberately choose a wholemeal option when doing your food shop and have time to make several pancakes in advance, a dry mix could be worth considering. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes wholegrain products as higher in fibre than comparable products made with white flour. For the finished pancakes, check the nutritional information on the packaging too.
If you barely have time to make batter but do have a freezer and microwave, ready-made wholemeal pancakes may be a good option. Koopmans says its frozen version can be reheated in the microwave in about one minute.
If you want to keep a dry mix in the cupboard, remember to add the required milk, eggs and cooking fat to your shopping list. The ingredients you need vary from one mix to another.
First, decide whether you can cook before the morning or will only have time at breakfast. Then consider which product format and ingredients best suit your plans.
Choose this if: you want to make several pancakes in advance for breakfasts later on.
Bear in mind: you’ll need milk, eggs and cooking fat, as well as time to prepare them; PLUS lists a preparation time of around 30 minutes for the Koopmans Wholemeal Mix.
Choose these if: reheating fits your morning better than making batter and cooking pancakes from scratch.
Bear in mind: the storage instructions; according to the brand, Koopmans’ ready-made version should be kept in the freezer.
Choose this if: you want smaller, thicker pancakes and have time to cook them.
Bear in mind: you’ll need extra ingredients and cooking time; according to Jumbo’s product listing, the Dr. Oetker mix requires milk, eggs and sunflower oil.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal ingredients and fibre | Read the product name and compare fibre content on a like-for-like basis, for example per 100 g of prepared product. | If choosing wholemeal is my main reason for buying pancakes, I want to know what the mix contains and what the nutritional information refers to. Around 40% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Time in the morning | Check whether the product still needs to be cooked or only reheated, and what equipment you’ll need. | If I can’t cook just before leaving, I look for a breakfast that only needs reheating. Speed is the top priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Ingredients needed | Check which milk, eggs and cooking fat you need to add according to the instructions. | I want to be able to use the mix with what I have at home, without having to buy ingredients on the day I cook. Planning ahead for the food shop matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
A wholemeal mix needs to be combined with other ingredients and cooked. PLUS lists a preparation time of around 30 minutes for the Koopmans Wholemeal Mix.
Make the pancakes in advance if you want to eat them on a busy morning. If you haven’t prepared ahead, look for a ready-made option and check the reheating instructions.
The nutritional information may refer to the dry mix or to prepared pancakes. Any added milk, eggs and cooking fat are part of the prepared product.
Only compare values when it’s clear whether they’re given per 100 g of mix, per 100 g of prepared product or per portion.
The PLUS Wholemeal Pancake Mix lists wheat and oats, and states that it may contain barley, egg and milk. Other mixes may have different ingredients.
When you buy a product, check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging, even if you’ve bought it before.
Koopmans offers both a dry wholemeal mix and ready-made wholemeal pancakes. The difference matters most when choosing between cooking ahead and reheating.
The AH Wholemeal Pancake Mix is a 300 g own-brand option that you prepare yourself.
Jumbo lists its own 400 g wholemeal pancake mix as well as ready-made wholemeal pancakes, with six pancakes weighing 360 g in total.
PLUS sells its own 400 g Wholemeal Pancake Mix and also lists the Koopmans wholemeal mix.
The wholemeal American-style pancake mix is designed for smaller, thicker pancakes rather than thin pancakes.
No. A dry mix needs to be prepared and cooked first. PLUS lists a preparation time of around 30 minutes for the Koopmans Wholemeal Mix, so bear that in mind if you’re only starting in the morning.
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a food product can be described as wholegrain in the Netherlands if all the grain ingredient is wholemeal flour. If you want to compare specific mixes, check the ingredients and nutritional information as well.
Check the current allergen information for the mix you’re buying. The PLUS Wholemeal Pancake Mix lists wheat and oats, and states that it may contain barley, egg and milk. Don’t assume this applies to every wholemeal mix.
No. Don’t taste the Koopmans Wholemeal Mix batter raw. The product instructions listed by PLUS say that the batter must be heated all the way through.
