Picnic planners feeding a group
Check the number of pancakes in each pack against the number of people you expect. Tesco lists six-packs of both Scotch and banana pancakes, but their flavours may not suit the same guests.
Who is this for?
Shoppers carrying food outdoors for several hours
Choose according to the exact pack’s storage instructions and the cooling equipment you can bring. The Food Standards Agency advises putting food normally kept in the fridge into a cool bag or box with ice or frozen gel packs.
Hosts checking food allergies
Read the ingredients and allergen declaration on the current pack for every variety you plan to serve. A product name alone cannot establish whether it meets a guest’s requirements.
What should you check?
Start with the number of portions and whether you can prepare food before leaving, then choose a pack whose storage instructions fit the journey.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size | Check the pancake count on each pack and how many packs you need. Confirm the current date label before packing. | There are several people to feed, so I want enough individual pancakes without relying on pack size alone. |
| Outdoor storage | Read the exact storage statement. Waitrose’s chilled six-pack says to keep it refrigerated; the M&S four-pack says to store it in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Follow the pack’s opened-product instructions too. | If I cannot keep food chilled during travel and the picnic, I need a product whose own label permits cool, dry storage. |
| Allergens | Check the current ingredients and allergen declaration for the chosen variety, including any mix ingredients added during preparation. | Someone joining us needs an ingredient check, so I cannot treat different pancake packs as interchangeable. |
| Preparation | Distinguish ready-to-eat pancakes from a dry mix. For a mix, read what must be added and allow time and equipment to cook it before packing. | For a short-notice picnic, I want food I can pack without cooking; with time to prepare, a mix is another option. |
Picnic packing mistakes
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Treating chilled and ambient packs alike
Waitrose’s buttermilk six-pack requires refrigeration, while the M&S four-pack specifies cool, dry storage. Packing both in the same way could leave the chilled product without the cooling its label requires.
Read each pack’s storage and date instructions. For food normally kept in the fridge, follow the Food Standards Agency’s advice to use a cool bag or box with ice or frozen gel packs.
A chilled pack also means carrying cooling equipment throughout the journey and picnic.
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Assuming a familiar pancake type suits every guest
Different recipes and varieties can contain different ingredients, so the type of pancake does not settle an allergy question.
Check the ingredients and allergen statement on the current physical pack, including any ingredients needed to make a mix.
Relevant retailer ranges
These retailer examples help distinguish pack formats and storage requirements; the instructions for the product you buy take precedence.
Tesco
Tesco lists ready-to-eat Scotch and banana pancakes in six-packs.
- The listed pack counts make it straightforward to plan portions for a group.
- Check the chosen pack for its own storage, date and allergen instructions before taking it outdoors.
Waitrose
Waitrose has a six-pack of buttermilk pancakes labelled for refrigerated storage.
- The product information states that the pack must be kept refrigerated.
- You will need a way to keep this chilled pack cool on the journey and at the picnic.
M&S
M&S has a four-pack of buttermilk pancakes with cool, dry storage instructions.
- The product information says to keep the pack away from sunlight and states that it is suitable for freezing.
- Apply those instructions to this four-pack, not to other buttermilk pancakes without checking their labels.
Joybuy pancake options
These Joybuy options include mixes to cook before a planned picnic and a crisp, ready-to-eat pancake snack. They are different formats from the soft supermarket pancakes discussed above, so check the product type before choosing.
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Aunt Bessie's American Style Pancake & Waffle Mix 200g
A mix for a picnic you can prepare for in advance. Allow time to add the required ingredients and cook the pancakes before packing them; check the physical pack for ingredient and allergen information.
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Dr. Oetker American Pancake Mix 170g
Another mix for cooking ahead rather than packing straight from the packet. Its preparation calls for milk and cooking equipment; read the current pack for full instructions and allergens.
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Mi Lao Tou Egg Yolk Pancake (Milk Flavour) 120g
A ready-to-eat, crisp pancake snack rather than a soft Scotch-style pancake. Check its current storage instructions and allergen declaration before packing it for guests.
Frequently asked questions
Do chilled pancakes need a cool bag at a summer picnic?
Yes, if their pack says to keep them refrigerated. Waitrose’s buttermilk six-pack carries that instruction, and the Food Standards Agency advises keeping food normally stored in the fridge cool in a cool bag or box with ice or frozen gel packs.
Can I take pancakes without chilled storage?
Choose a pack whose own instructions allow cool, dry storage, and keep it away from direct sunlight. The M&S four-pack gives those instructions, but they should not be assumed to apply to another variety or pack size.
Can I freeze pancakes before the picnic?
Follow the directions for the exact product. M&S describes its four-pack as suitable for freezing; check the physical pack for freezing and defrosting instructions before planning when to prepare it.
Are buttermilk pancakes suitable for guests avoiding wheat, milk or egg?
Do not decide from the word “buttermilk” alone. Check the current pack’s ingredients and allergen declaration against each guest’s requirements, and check any additional ingredients used to make a mix.