# Why does anyone buy that premade? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 6, 2013, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-buy-that-premade/652162 "2013-03-06T06:00:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-buy-that-premade/652162/121 "2013-03-07T14:37:34Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Huh? There’s not enough sugar in Hellman’s for me to notice (also diabetic.) In fact, [though it does list sugar as an ingredient](http://www.hellmanns.com/product/detail/97847/Real-Mayonnaise), it’s not enough to even add one carb per serving. Even when I eat a fair bit of it - like in tuna salad or something - I don’t see a change in blood sugar. > > Not disagreeing that homemade tastes better. But truly, there’s not enough sugar/carbs in Hellman’s to make a difference. I think people are confusing Miracle Whip for mayonnaise. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-buy-that-premade/652162/122 "2013-03-07T14:38:38Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > I think people are confusing Miracle Whip for mayonnaise. Yeah, that’s the only thing that makes sense. Weird, as we’ve had the mayo != Miracle Whip discussion here on what seems to be an annual schedule. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-buy-that-premade/652162/123 "2013-03-07T14:45:23Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Personally, pancake mix is the one I don’t quite get, mainly because making pancakes from scratch is almost exactly as complicated. [Heh.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLYxeJjxc8s&t=2m05s) ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-buy-that-premade/652162/124 "2013-03-07T14:46:50Z")
I guess I didn’t realize they had pancake mix like that. I thought I’d seen “complete” pancake mix boxes where you just add water? I don’t eat pancakes generally - maybe once a year, usually at a restaurant. I made them at home a couple years back, and I had to pull out a recipe to figure out how much of each ingredient I’d need, and I think that’s a big part of the appeal of the boxed mix - even the kind that you need to add other stuff to. There’s a recipe right there on the box, for how much of each thing you need to add, and how much if you want to feed 2 or 4 or 6 people. If it’s early and your kids are wailing for pancakes and you aren’t confident about cooking, a boxed mix with instructions could be a big comfort for some. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-buy-that-premade/652162/125 "2013-03-07T14:55:54Z")
People even roast their own coffee? I guess I shouldn’t confess that at home I’m perfectly content with Instant? I mean I put so much creamer in it that it’s really a waste to buy the good stuff. I also buy the precut salad bags. I don’t want to mess around with chopping radishes and carrots and bell peppers. Also, less waste. I do make my own sandwiches most mornings for lunch. And I make lots of things from scratch. Just not everything. Pancakes are a great example…not only is it the same to make delicious from home pancakes, I never liked pancakes until I made them at home myself. FerretHerder, I think you are thinking about the Bisquick mix. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-buy-that-premade/652162/126 "2013-03-07T14:57:18Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > I guess I didn’t realize they had pancake mix like that. I thought I’d seen “complete” pancake mix boxes where you just add water? They probably do, and that makes a heck of a lot more sense. But my parents had the Aunt Jemima mix in the house, and it required all those ingredients and, checking online, it seems it still does. I still remember discovering in my early 20s a pancake recipe (when I wanted to make pancakes and mixes weren’t available where I was living) and realizing, shit, I’m already 90% of the way to pancakes, 100% if I’m making crepes. > [@](#): > > There’s a recipe right there on the box, I was thinking about that when I wrote the original post. Flour makers could make a mint just slapping a pancake recipe on the back of their sacks of flour. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-buy-that-premade/652162/127 "2013-03-07T14:59:08Z")
Aunt Jemima has both Original (add multiple ingredients) and Complete (add water) formulas. Most of the lesser brands are complete style. Those adorable little mini milk jug looking “shake and pour” pancake mixes are all “complete”. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-buy-that-premade/652162/128 "2013-03-07T15:07:09Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Aunt Jemima has both Original (add multiple ingredients) and Complete (add water) formulas. Most of the lesser brands are complete style. Those adorable little mini milk jug looking “shake and pour” pancake mixes are all “complete”. What they are _not_ is “tasty”. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-buy-that-premade/652162/129 "2013-03-07T15:08:54Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Just to clarify I wasn’t talking about frozen veggies in a bag. > > Rather I was talking about stuff like raw sliced onions in a bag in the produce department, or sliced apples raw and in the produce. Stuff where they literally just took a knife to it and put it in a bag. Well I buy the already diced onions/tomatoes sometimes when I want to make a dish but my back is killing me and I’m dreading standing for the time it takes to dice up everything for my meal. 5 minutes doesn’t sound like much until you add that plus the other prep, plus cook time after working a 10+ hour day. It saves time, back ache and makes it all a lot easier on me so I buy them _shrug_. Not all the time, of course, but sometimes yes. Convenience is king if you have a challenge. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-buy-that-premade/652162/130 "2013-03-07T15:12:00Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > I think people are confusing Miracle Whip for mayonnaise. > [@pulykamell](#): > > Yeah, that’s the only thing that makes sense. Weird, as we’ve had the mayo != Miracle Whip discussion here on what seems to be an annual schedule. That’s what I thought at first, too, but **Equipoise** specifically mentioned Hellman’s, and Hellman’s does not make Miracle Whip. They have something called “Real Whipped”, but even that isn’t overly sugary at 1 carb per Tablespoon. Heck, even Miracle Whip isn’t that bad - [2 carbs per Tablespoon](http://www.livestrong.com/thedailyplate/nutrition-calories/food/kraft/miracle-whip/). ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-buy-that-premade/652162/131 "2013-03-07T15:13:03Z")
Onions are tough anyway. I don’t buy those pre-sliced onions, but sometimes I think I should. I seem to have an unusual sensitivity to onions…my eyes will sting for hours longer than my SO’s, even when I am super careful, and I don’t just a few tears, I get waterfalls. I don’t know if it’s just because my eyes are large or some other reason but I avoid cutting them as much as possible. So I certainly understand someone else buying them. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-buy-that-premade/652162/132 "2013-03-07T15:17:01Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Personally, pancake mix is the one I don’t quite get, mainly because making pancakes from scratch is almost exactly as complicated. > > Aunt Jemima mix still has you add milk, eggs, and oil to the batter. I mean, you’ve come pretty damned close to making pancakes from scratch already. In fact, you already have a basic crepe recipe just substituting flour for Aunt Jemima. Add some baking powder, and a little salt and sugar, and you’ve got American style pancakes. Do you have a good recipe that uses milk? I’ve tried a few, but I’ve never been blown away. All my recipes call for buttermilk, which I almost always have in the fridge. Almost. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-buy-that-premade/652162/133 "2013-03-07T15:26:48Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Do you have a good recipe that uses milk? I’ve tried a few, but I’ve never been blown away. All my recipes call for buttermilk, which I almost always have in the fridge. Almost. My mom always used sour (or soured) milk in place of buttermilk if she didn’t have any. A pancake expert (which I am not) would have to advise you. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-buy-that-premade/652162/134 "2013-03-07T15:34:12Z")
Yeah, there are a couple things you can do to substitute for buttermilk. I was just wondering if there was an excellent recipe that calls for milk from the start. Thanks for the idea, jsgoddess. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-buy-that-premade/652162/135 "2013-03-07T15:35:11Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > [Heh.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLYxeJjxc8s&t=2m05s) That’s perfect! Glad to see I’m not the only one who is perplexed by it. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-buy-that-premade/652162/136 "2013-03-07T15:40:44Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Do you have a good recipe that uses milk? I’ve tried a few, but I’ve never been blown away. All my recipes call for buttermilk, which I almost always have in the fridge. Almost. I tend to usually do European style crepes, with a mix of milk and seltzer water. Back when I made American style pancakes, I always just used the [Joy of Cooking](http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100306085815AAD1auv) recipe and thought it was good. That said, I’ve never been blown away by pancakes. > [@jsgoddess](#): > > My mom always used sour (or soured) milk in place of buttermilk if she didn’t have any. A pancake expert (which I am not) would have to advise you. Pasteurized milk that’s gone off is really spoiled milk, not soured milk. I’ve used spoiled milk in cooking every once in awhile, but it’s not the same thing as milk that’s been naturally soured, as pasteurization kills the little beasties inside the milk that cause it to sour. So when you see those old-timey recipes calling for sour milk or soured milk, it’s really unpasteurized milk that’s been left to naturally sour/ferment. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-buy-that-premade/652162/137 "2013-03-07T15:44:52Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > What they are _not_ is “tasty”. They’re great for camping though (camping like at a campground with the kids, not hiking into the backwoods). ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-buy-that-premade/652162/138 "2013-03-07T15:48:40Z")
I’ll admit to buying frozen bags of prechopped onions because onions fucking **hate** my eyes, and yet my husband loves onions. The only thing I’ve found to help is freezing a whole onion for maybe 15-20 minutes before chopping, but then I have to remember to do that and figure that time into meal planning. If I don’t buy bagged/chopped or freeze the onion first, I have to wipe my eyes multiple times during chopping and be careful to not slip with the knife while my eyes are streaming tears and in pain. (Fuck onions and their sulfuric acid-producing offgassing. :mad: ) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-buy-that-premade/652162/139 "2013-03-07T16:01:23Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Onions are tough anyway. I don’t buy those pre-sliced onions, but sometimes I think I should. I seem to have an unusual sensitivity to onions…my eyes will sting for hours longer than my SO’s, even when I am super careful, and I don’t just a few tears, I get waterfalls. I don’t know if it’s just because my eyes are large or some other reason but I avoid cutting them as much as possible. So I certainly understand someone else buying them. My gf cries like a baby when she works with onions. I gave her an old pair of chemistry lab goggles and they help. Looks funny/crazy as hell, but no more tears. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-buy-that-premade/652162/140 "2013-03-07T16:10:45Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > What they are _not_ is “tasty”. Good to know. I’m always tempted by them because I’m so incredibly lazy. > [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Do you have a good recipe that uses milk? I’ve tried a few, but I’ve never been blown away. All my recipes call for buttermilk, which I almost always have in the fridge. Almost. I don’t know that I’ve ever been ‘blown away’ by pancakes. My recipe is a cup of flour, a quarter tsp salt, 1 tbsp sugar, 3 tsp baking powder, an egg, 2 tbsp veg. oil and a cup of milk. Not soured, not buttermilk. Just milk. They taste light and fluffy to me and everyone I’ve ever made them for has devoured them. > [@pulykamell](#): > > That’s perfect! Glad to see I’m not the only one who is perplexed by it. I would go straight for that girl. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-buy-that-premade/652162.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-anyone-buy-that-premade/652162.md?page=8)