Last week, commercial ready-to-eat waffles were put to the test. This week, we continue on the same theme with the analysis of ready-to-cook waffle mixes. Our analysis !
OUR ANALYSIS
About ten waffle mixes were compared. While the serving size listed on the Nutrition Facts table varies from one waffle mix to another, many brands offer a reference serving size of 40 g (about 1?4 or 1/3 cup). This portion, when prepared, is equivalent to 1 or 2 waffles.
Per 40g serving of blend, the products provide:
Like last week’s test bench, sugar and sodium content are the nutritional criteria that have the most influence on the winners.
Of the different waffle mixes analyzed, two stand out:
? President’s Choice Whole Grain Pancake & Waffle Mix
? Betty Crocker Bisquick Gluten Free All Purpose Mix
President’s Choice Whole Grain Waffle & Pancake Mix is ??one of the lowest in sugars (1.3g) in the test. Composed mainly of whole wheat flour and wheat bran, it provides 6 g of fiber per serving in addition to its 6 g of protein, which is very interesting. Its sodium content is slightly below average. This mixture is therefore the big winner of this test bench!
With its low sugar content (1.7g), Betty Crocker Bisquick Gluten Free All Purpose Mix ranks among the best choices. Its ingredient list is short and it does not contain palm oil. Its sodium content (350 mg) is slightly below average.
A great discovery
Despite its name, Gogo Organic Quinoa Pancake Mix can also be used to make waffles. Its sodium intake is moderate (95 mg) and its short list of ingredients with few additives is very interesting. In addition to providing only 1g of sugars, the mixture provides 2g of fiber thanks to the presence of brown rice flour and quinoa.
? The complete pancake and waffle mix from Pearl Milling Company
? Kinnikinnick’s gluten-free pancake and waffle mix
Although it has the shortest ingredient list, Pearl Milling Company’s Complete Pancake & Waffle Mix is, at 506 mg of sodium, among the saltiest mixes. Plus, it has nearly four times more sugars (4.7g) than the best choices and only 1.1g of fiber. From the same company, the Complete Pancake and Waffle Mix, Buttermilk Flavor is the saltiest on the test bench, providing 670 mg of sodium. Too bad, because it does not add any fat.
Since the gluten-free pancake and waffle mix contains chickpea flour, it is the mix with the highest protein content (6.5g). On the other hand, it is also, with its 7 g of sugars, the sweetest mixture of the test bench. In addition, it provides only 1 g of fiber and an above average amount of sodium (480 mg).
Our two test benches allow us to assess which are the champions of commercial waffles. Should we opt for ready-to-eat waffles or ready-to-cook waffles?
With the addition of milk (or vegetable soy beverage) and eggs, the mixture to be prepared provides more protein than ready-to-eat waffles. Cooking waffles also provide, on average, twice as much fiber as ready-to-eat waffles. As for the sugar and sodium contents, they are too variable according to the mixtures, which does not allow us to indicate the best choice clearly.
Homemade waffles
It will always be a winner to cook homemade waffles, because the control over the ingredients makes it the number one choice! You can use whole flour and even add chia, camelina or flax seeds.
? Thanks to Josianne Poirier, intern in dietary technique, for her valuable collaboration.
? For more nutrition advice, visit isabellehuot.com
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