Yes, you can absolutely use milk with Krusteaz pancake mix. In fact, milk is one of the most common and recommended liquids to use when making Krusteaz pancakes.
Why Use Milk with Pancake Mix
There are a few reasons why milk is an excellent choice for mixing with pancake batter:
- Milk adds moisture – The proteins and fat in milk help keep pancake batter light, fluffy and moist. This results in fluffier pancakes.
- Milk enhances flavor – Milk has a sweet, creamy flavor that enhances the taste of pancakes.
- Milk promotes browning – The sugars and proteins in milk promote Maillard reactions, which is the browning process that gives pancakes their golden color.
- Milk is versatile – Regular, low-fat, skim or buttermilk all work well in pancake batter. You can use whatever you have on hand.
So by using milk, you’ll get pancakes that are fluffier, more moist, and have better color and flavor compared to using water alone.
Krusteaz Pancake Mix Instructions
Krusteaz is one of the most popular brands of pancake and waffle mix on the market. Their original buttermilk pancake mix makes it easy to whip up perfect pancakes at home.
The instructions on a package of Krusteaz pancake mix recommend the following:
- Mix 3/4 cup pancake mix with 1/4 cup milk
- Stir just until blended
- For each pancake, pour 3 tablespoons batter onto a hot griddle
- Flip pancakes after bubbles form on the surface and the underside is golden brown
As you can see, the package directions specifically recommend using 1/4 cup of milk when mixing up a batch of their pancake batter.
Why Krusteaz Recommends Milk
Krusteaz recommends milk because it results in light and fluffy pancakes when used with their pancake mix. Here are some of the reasons why:
- Moisture – The milk provides moisture to hydrate the dry pancake mix resulting in a smooth, pourable batter.
- Tenderness – Milk’s lipids prevent gluten formation, keeping pancakes tender.
- Browning – Milk sugars brown more readily than water alone.
- Rise – Milk proteins and fats enable CO2 bubbles created by leavening agents to expand, leading to increased rise.
- Flavor – Milk provides a sweet flavor and creamy notes.
By following the package instructions and using the milk amount recommended, you can ensure your Krusteaz pancakes turn out with an ideal texture and flavor.
What Type of Milk Works Best
You have options when it comes to which type of milk works best with a packaged pancake mix like Krusteaz.
Here is a table comparing different types of milk and how they perform in pancake batter:
Milk Type | Flavor | Texture | Browning | Buttermilk Substitute? |
---|---|---|---|---|
Whole milk | Creamy, rich flavor | Very moist and fluffy | Good browning | No |
2% reduced fat milk | Mildly creamy flavor | Moist and fluffy | Good browning | No |
Skim or nonfat milk | Mild flavor | Lean texture | Moderate browning | No |
Buttermilk | Tangy, creamy flavor | Tender with slight denseness | Excellent browning | Yes |
Soy milk | Distinct soy flavor | Dense texture | Poor browning | No |
Almond milk | Nutty, mild flavor | Dense texture | Very poor browning | No |
As you can see from the table, whole milk, 2% reduced fat milk, and even skim milk all work well when making pancakes from a packaged mix. They provide moisture for a fluffy texture, good flavor, and nice browning.
Buttermilk is an excellent choice as it mimics the tangy buttermilk flavor typically found in pancake mix. It also browns well. When buttermilk isn’t available, you can make a substitute by mixing 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar with 1 cup of regular milk.
Non-dairy milks like soy or almond milk generally don’t provide the same performance for pancakes. They often lead to flat and dense pancakes with less desirable flavor.
How Much Milk to Use
When using Krusteaz pancake mix, simply follow the package instructions and use 1/4 cup of milk per 3/4 cup of mix. This ratio of about 1 part milk to 3 parts mix provides the moisture, fat, and protein needed for optimal pancake texture and taste.
However, if you want to adjust the milk amount, here are some guidelines:
- For thinner batter, use slightly more milk like 1/3 cup per 3/4 cup mix
- For thicker batter, use a bit less milk such as 2 tablespoons per 3/4 cup mix
- For fluffier pancakes, err on the side of more milk
- For denser pancakes, reduce the milk slightly
Just keep in mind that deviating too far from the recommended milk amount can lead to pancakes that spread too much or are overly dense. Make adjustments in small increments to achieve your desired consistency and fluffiness.
Can You Use Water Instead of Milk?
For best results, we don’t recommend using water in place of milk when making Krusteaz pancakes. Here’s why:
- Lack of flavor – Water doesn’t provide the sweet, creamy taste of milk.
- Tougher texture – Milk proteins and fat help keep pancakes tender. Water alone can result in rubbery pancakes.
- Dense and flat – Milk helps pancakes rise higher with a fluffier crumb. Water makes pancakes dense and flat.
- Insufficient browning – Milk sugars promote caramelization for nice browning. Water leads to pale pancakes.
Now, in a pinch, you can use water if you don’t have any milk on hand. The pancakes will turn out reasonably well. Just be aware that texture, flavor, and appearance will be negatively affected.
For best results, stick with milk whenever possible. Even powdered milk reconstituted with water will be better than water alone.
Can You Use Other Liquids?
While milk is the recommended liquid for Krusteaz pancake mix, there are a few other liquids you can use if desired:
- Buttermilk – As mentioned above, buttermilk is an excellent choice. It provides great flavor and texture.
- Yogurt – Plain yogurt or Greek yogurt can be used in place of milk. It provides moisture, tenderness and tang.
- Juice – Some people use orange juice or apple juice for a fruit-flavored pancake. Use 100% juice.
- Coffee – For mocha pancakes, replace the milk with cooled brewed coffee.
When substituting any of these other liquids, use the same amount called for of milk (typically 1/4 cup per 3/4 cup mix).
While delicious, be aware that these substitutes may impact the texture and browning of your pancakes slightly due to differences in fat, protein, and sugar content compared to milk.
Tips for Making Krusteaz Pancakes with Milk
Here are a few tips to ensure your Krusteaz pancakes turn out perfectly when using milk:
- Use fresh milk. Spoiled or sour milk can give pancakes an off flavor.
- Make sure your griddle or pan is properly preheated. Pancakes won’t brown as well on a cool cooking surface.
- Mix the batter gently until just combined. Overmixing develops gluten leading to tough pancakes.
- Let batter sit 5-10 minutes before cooking. This allows the batter to hydrate for a lighter texture.
- Grease your griddle well between batches. This helps prevent sticking.
- Flip pancakes at the halfway point when bubbles begin to pop. Don’t wait until the batter is completely set or pancakes may burn.
By following the package directions and using fresh milk at room temperature, you can easily achieve diner-quality pancakes at home with Krusteaz complete buttermilk pancake mix.
Conclusion
Milk is more than just an allowable liquid to use with Krusteaz pancake mixes – it’s the recommended liquid called for right in the package instructions. Dairy milk, whether whole milk, 2% reduced fat milk, or skim milk, provides moisture, tenderness, and flavor to pancake batter. Buttermilk can be used as well for a delicious tangy flavor. For best texture, rise, and caramelized browning, stick to real dairy milk instead of non-dairy milks or water when mixing up Krusteaz pancakes.