For those on a wheat or gluten free diet, it can be hard to find replacements for those wheat laden foods we love so much. It almost becomes an epic quest to find food items to replace those you are no longer allowed to eat. In my search for wheat free alternatives, I stumbled upon Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Pancake Mix. What follows is a product review:
Manufacturer:
Bob’s Red Mill is headquartered in Milwaukie, OR. Bob’s Red Mill products are unique in that they are milled the old fashioned way via millstones quarried in France. Bob’s Red Mill makes over 400 products, which can be found in a variety of stores. A store locater is available on site and a general search for my area yielded more than a dozen stores that carry the product within a reasonable driving distance. Bob’s Red Mill has a certified Gluten Free and certified Organic product line, which appeals to many in the public who want to eat healthier foods, or cannot tolerate gluten products yet yearn for the taste of them. In addition to local retail grocery stores, Bob’s is available on line at Amazon or you can order directly from their site.
Contents:
Bob’s Red Mill’s GF Pancake Mix lists a variety of assorted flours that are not in the wheat family, as well as well-known leavening agents such as baking soda and baking powder. This mix is wheat free, gluten free and dairy free. In addition, the packaging includes easy to follow directions, as well as two other recipes which can be made using the product. The bag that I purchased was the 22 oz size bag.
Taste and Performance:
I must admit, having recently tasted another brand of Gluten Free pancake mix which I hated, I had my doubts. However, I was delighted to find that the mix did, in fact, taste like pancakes. I liken it to tasting like Bisquick pancakes, only without the wheat. I really enjoyed the taste of this product and admit, I took seconds! Though the mix contains potato starch, you would never know it. I couldn’t taste any potato at all. The pancake batter looked and behaved on the griddle just like one would expect a pancake batter to cook. It bubbled just like regular pancakes, so it was easy to know when to turn them cooking them for the first time. This mix has just the right amount of sweetness and do not be afraid to add a little cinnamon to the mix to spice it up. The end result looked, smelled and tasted just like regular pancakes to me.
Price:
This product retailed for $4.19 for a 22 oz bag at the Ukrops where I purchased it. As a pancake mix, it will yield 15 servings per container at 2 pancakes per serving. I made one batch of pancakes and I still have ¾ of the bag left. I expect to be able to make 3 more batches of pancakes with this mix, making it cost about $1.00 per batch, which is very reasonable for gluten free products.
Overall Assessment:
I would definitely purchase this product again. The mix is more expensive than mainstream pancake mixes, but if you are on a gluten or wheat free diet, the cost is justified. I do note that the pancakes should be griddled on medium heat (5) on my stove, vs. medium high (8) on my stove. Bearing that in mind, this product exceeded my expectations. It tasted quite like the wheat laden Bisquick that I love and miss so much. I highly recommend this product to all who are on a wheat or gluten free diet.
