I love your site, but get a bit confused with the names of some USA products. Could you please tell me what Bisquick is? It's in so many recipes and I guess it must be flour, but don't really know. Thank you.
Leah from Queensland, Australia
As an American living in Oz, I can tell you that it is a mix of flour, baking powder, and a ton of other unsavory additives etc., that people use to make pancakes, or biscuits, muffins, or any other baked goods.
It is similar to the pikelet mix you get at Woolies. I've been here 11 years and just avoid any recipe that uses it because you can use real ingredients just as quickly and cheaply. (09/05/2008)
By Cindy from Queensland Australia
Biscuit Mix (All Purpose Baking Mix)
In a large bowl whisk together dry ingredients. With electric mixer on low or #2 of a 3 speed mixer, cut in fats until uniform in texture and fat particles are no longer visible. Remove from mixer. Yields scant 6 cups. Keep in air tight container refrigerated for up to one month. Recipe is easily doubled, tripled, etc. (09/05/2008)
By scott E.
Bisquick has been around USA since I was a kid and that is for years. It's ingredients are enriched wheat flour, partially hydrogenated soy and /or cotton seed oil, baking soda and other leavening, and salt (off box).
People use it in many recipes which are on the box and on the web. I have only used for making quick biscuits to go with stew and on camping trips because it can mix up pancakes quickly. Essentially it is a pancake, waffle, biscuit mix that already has the shortening, salt and leavening in it. Use the other persons recipe for it or your own biscuit recipe (minus liquid) if you want to try a recipe found online or on thriftyfun:) I would keep it in the refrigerator if it had butter in it though. (09/05/2008)
If you don't like the idea of shortening, try this:
Substitution: 1 cup mix = 1 c flour, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tbsp oil or melted butter. (09/05/2008)
By Deeli
I have used Bisquick and generic versions of it for all my married life (40 yrs), you use it like flour and don't have to add baking soda. I use it to make Dumplings, Biscuits or to thicken gravy. I learned of it from my Mother in law.
By Ariela
Bisquick is basically a dry mix for making biscuits, waffles, pancakes etc. It's the dry ingredients (flour, leavening, salt) and fat (shortening oil or butter) so that to make biscuits you simply add milk to the mix, instead of making the coarse crumbs where you cut the butter into the flour. It is a bit of a convenience food in that it saves a step or two. It comes in handy when you are in a hurry. You can definitely make your own and keep it in a container in the fridge if there is a recipe that you really want to try. (09/05/2008)
By Celeste
I make my own using whole grain flour and canola oil--it is still a convenience, but doesn't have all the additives of the prepackaged mixes. It basically is a time-saver (takes a few steps out the recipe since it has been done in advance). Bisquick is a trade name of a specific product; there are other mixes on the market just like it. You can also find several cookbooks and recipes on the web calling for it. (09/06/2008)
By susan
Baking Mix:
Mix flour and other dry ingredients. Cut in shortening. Use a mixer on low to cut in the shortening to save time. Store in an airtight container up to 6 months. This recipe uses a 5-pound sack of flour when doubled.
By Karen
You can grind the flour, add the baking powder, salt, oil or butter and store it in the refrigerator. As long as we're cooking, why not cook nutritious food. It's also good to know what mixes are made up of so that you can easily make substitutions according to your needs: Dairy Restrictions, wheat restrictions. (09/06/2008)
Go to www.bisquick.com. The first screen shows their New liquid formula for pourable pancakes. The usual Bisquick is in a box & is enriched flour with additional ingredients to be used for pancakes, waffles, biscuits, muffins, and so on. There's a lot of recipes on the website & on the box. (09/08/2008)
By Evsav
Thank you for so many answers - what a divided post! Nothing wishy-washy, you love it or hate it. Sounds quite useful really, but not totally necessary. I tend not to buy packets of things much, prefer to make my own, but can see many uses for it. Very best wishes to you all, and thank you so much for answering my query. (09/09/2008)
By Leah from Australia
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