Biscuit mixes are one of the most convenient baking mixes for bakers who would like to quickly bake some warm, fluffy biscuits in their homes. Gone are the days when bakers do a lot of mise-en-place, measuring flour and other ingredients to prepare buttery biscuits. While some would not recommend biscuit mixes, we celebrate the beauty of this pre-mix only when the baker uses all-natural ingredients.
Biscuit Mix Trivia
- Bisquick is the most common Biscuit Mix and is produced by General Mills. The history is pretty practical. A baker just wanted to make some biscuits so he mixed lard and dry ingredients to prepare the biscuit mixture.
Biscuit Mix Buying Guide
Commercially produced biscuit mixes are available in all supermarkets and groceries. Most of them are produced by food manufacturers who have developed these biscuit mixes for long-term consumption.
Bisquick and Jiffy are some of the most common brands in the market. The Berry Crocker Bisquick Buttermilk Biscuit Mix comes in yellow packaging with its cheerful blue letters printed above the packaging. Meanwhile, the Jiffy Buttermilk Biscuit Mix is sold in boxes containing 8 oz of the ready-to-bake mixture.
Biscuit Mix Production & Farming in Texas
The basic ingredients of a biscuit mix include flour, sugar, salt, shortening, and baking soda. All these baking ingredients are easily accessible in Texas both in local and commercial manufacturers.
Wheat is the source of flour, and Texas is home to several different kinds of wheat. Hard Red Winter and Soft Red Winter are among the wheat varieties that are planted rotationally as part of Texas’ agricultural plans to ensure production.
Texas also has a strong production of sugar with several sugar plantations located across the state. While sugarcane originated in Asia, sugarcane production in Texas is located in the areas of the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) such as Willacy, Cameron, and Hidalgo. However, sugarcane is sensitive to weather and may be severely affected by droughts, rains, freezing temperatures, and the overall soil quality.
Preservatives and Chemicals
Like any other commercially produced baking mixes, biscuit mixes contain preservatives and chemicals that can harm the human body when consumed frequently.
Palm oil is one of the unhealthiest fats as it is loaded with trans-fat which increases the LDL levels of the body, resulting in heart disease, stroke, and obesity. As a trans-fat, it is artificially made through hydrogenation and is commonly used in baked products.
Sodium based baking additives are incorporated in baked goods, juices, and food in general for different purposes such as antioxidants (Sodium Ascorbate), flavor enhancers (Monosodium Glutamate), components of baking powder, and leavening agents (Monosodium Phosphate, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Sodium Aluminum Sulfate, and Sodium Bicarbonate in general), preservative (Sodium Propionate), and emulsifier or dough conditioner (Sodium Stearoyl-2-lactylate).
Packaging
Store-bought baking mixes are foil packed then enclosed in paper packaging to ensure freshness. Society today incorporates dry mixes in people’s diets. Thus, proper packaging should be ensured to prevent contamination, fungal, and bacterial growth.
Stand-up pouches made from food-grade plastic approved by the US Food and Drug Administration should be used for the packaging of the biscuit mix. It is important to select the right plastic to ensure protection from heat, light, odors, and moisture which can lead to chemical reactions and damage the products.
Enjoying Biscuit Mixes
Buttermilk biscuits from either home-made or store-bought biscuit mix can be enjoyed on their own or paired with either sweet or savory flavors. Sweet buttermilk biscuits have a light, buttery, and crunchy texture. It is perfect to be paired with coffee or tea. Meanwhile, savory buttermilk biscuits can be flavored with herbs and spices and are perfect for brunches, high teas, and dinners.
Storage
Keep the biscuit mix in a sealed plastic bag and put it inside an airtight container to ensure freshness. Store it in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight and moisture to prevent chemical reactions from spoiling the mixture.
Cooking
Homemade Biscuit Mix
You can prepare this homemade biscuit mix in advance for your family to enjoy. You can also serve hand out some homemade biscuits to your friends!
Ingredients
6 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup shortening
3 tablespoons baking powder
1 tablespoon salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
Procedure
- Place all ingredients in a food processor. Pulse until well mixed, about 5 times.
- Store mixture in the refrigerator or freezer for up to 3 months.
- Use in recipes calling for biscuit mix or bake biscuits.
To Make Biscuits
- Combine 3 cups biscuit mix with 1 cup milk or buttermilk. Roll out dough 1/2″ thick and cut into circles.
- Place on an ungreased tray and bake at 425°F for 8-10 minutes.
- If you don’t have shortening, use butter or margarine instead. (Use the same amount of butter or margarine as shortening)
- Store in the fridge or freezer for up to 3 months
