Essential Korean Cooking Mixes for Your Pantry
Introduction
The right cooking mix can completely change the texture and result of a dish.
In Korean cooking, buchimgaru, twigimgaru, and Korean fried chicken mix may look similar in the package, but they serve very different purposes.
One helps create savory Korean pancakes. Another produces a light and crispy batter for vegetables and seafood. The third is specially formulated to create the crunchy, flavorful coating of Korean-style fried chicken.
Understanding the difference between these three pantry staples makes it much easier to choose the right mix for the dish you want to make.
In this guide, you'll learn how Korean pancake mix, Korean frying mix, and Korean fried chicken mix are commonly used in Korean home cooking.
Featured Korean Cooking Mixes
1. Buchimgaru
Buchimgaru is a Korean pancake mix designed specifically for making savory Korean pancakes, known as jeon or buchimgae.
Unlike plain all-purpose flour, buchimgaru is a prepared mix that may contain flour, starches, salt, and seasonings. The exact ingredients vary by brand, so always check the package if you have dietary restrictions or allergies.
Simply combine it with water and your chosen ingredients to create a quick pancake batter.
It is commonly used for pajeon, kimchi jeon, seafood pajeon, and other vegetable or seafood pancakes.
The result is a savory pancake with a lightly crisp exterior and a tender interior.
Best for:
- Pajeon
- Kimchi Jeon
- Seafood Pajeon
- Vegetable Jeon
- Korean Savory Pancakes
- Quick Pancake Batter
Quick Tip
Use cold water when making the batter and avoid overmixing. A lightly mixed batter can help create a better texture.
2. Twigimgaru
Twigimgaru is a Korean frying mix made for creating light and crispy fried coatings.
Like buchimgaru, it is a prepared mix rather than plain flour. Depending on the brand, it may contain flour, starches, seasonings, and other ingredients designed to improve crispness.
It is commonly mixed with cold water to create a batter for twigim, the Korean style of fried foods often found at street-food stalls and bunsik restaurants.
Vegetables, shrimp, squid, sweet potatoes, and other ingredients can be coated in the batter and fried until crisp and golden.
Best for:
- Korean Twigim
- Fried Vegetables
- Fried Shrimp
- Fried Squid
- Sweet Potato Twigim
- Assorted Korean Fried Foods
Quick Tip
Keep the batter cold and avoid overmixing. For many fried batters, a slightly lumpy mixture can create a better texture than a perfectly smooth batter.
3. Korean Fried Chicken Mix
Korean fried chicken mix is a specially formulated flour blend designed to create a crispy and flavorful coating for Korean-style fried chicken.
Unlike regular twigimgaru, which is commonly used for a variety of vegetables and seafood, Korean fried chicken mix is specifically made for chicken.
Depending on the brand, the mix may contain flour, starches, salt, seasonings, and other ingredients that help create a crunchy, golden exterior while keeping the chicken juicy inside.
It is especially useful for making Korean fried chicken at home, including classic fried chicken, yangnyeom chicken, and dakgangjeong.
The mix can be used as a dry coating or prepared as a batter depending on the product and recipe.
For the best results, always follow the mixing and cooking instructions on the specific product package.
Best for:
- Korean Fried Chicken
- Yangnyeom Chicken
- Dakgangjeong
- Chicken Wings
- Chicken Tenders
- Boneless Chicken
Quick Tip
For a crispier coating, keep the batter cold and fry the chicken in properly heated oil. For extra crunch, some Korean fried chicken recipes use a double-frying method.
What's the Difference?
Although these three cooking mixes may look similar, they are designed for different purposes.
Buchimgaru
A Korean pancake mix designed for savory pancakes and jeon.
Twigimgaru
A Korean frying mix designed to create a light and crispy batter for vegetables, seafood, and other ingredients.
Korean Fried Chicken Mix
A specially formulated mix designed to create a crispy, flavorful coating for Korean-style fried chicken.
The easiest way to remember the difference is:
Buchimgaru → Korean Pancakes
Twigimgaru → General Frying
Korean Fried Chicken Mix → Fried Chicken
They are not always interchangeable, especially when a recipe depends on a specific texture or coating.
Getting Started
If you're building your Korean pantry for the first time, choose the cooking mix based on what you cook most often.
Start with buchimgaru if you enjoy making pajeon, kimchi jeon, and other Korean savory pancakes.
Choose twigimgaru if you frequently make crispy fried vegetables, shrimp, squid, or Korean-style twigim.
Keep Korean fried chicken mix on hand if you want to make Korean fried chicken, yangnyeom chicken, dakgangjeong, chicken wings, or other crispy chicken dishes at home.
You don't need to buy all three at once. Start with the mix that matches the dishes you want to cook most often.
Storage Tips
These cooking mixes should generally be kept in a cool, dry place away from heat and moisture.
After opening:
- Reseal the package tightly after every use.
- Keep moisture out of the package.
- Use a clean, completely dry measuring spoon.
- Transfer the mix to an airtight container if the original package does not seal well.
Always follow the storage instructions and best-by date printed on the specific product package.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right cooking mix can make a noticeable difference in Korean cooking.
Buchimgaru makes it easier to prepare savory Korean pancakes. Twigimgaru helps create light and crispy fried vegetables and seafood. Korean fried chicken mix is specifically designed to create the crunchy, flavorful coating that makes Korean-style fried chicken so satisfying.
Once you understand what each mix does, you can choose the right one based on the dish and texture you want.
Keep these useful cooking mixes in your pantry, and you'll be ready to make everything from crispy pajeon and Korean street-style twigim to crunchy Korean fried chicken, yangnyeom chicken, and dakgangjeong.
Save this guide for your next grocery trip and continue building your Korean pantry one useful staple at a time.