Can pancake mix replace flour in cheese sauce?

No, pancake mix is not a suitable replacement for flour in cheese sauce. Here's why:

* Pancake mix contains leavening agents. These agents (like baking powder or baking soda) would react with the liquid in the cheese sauce, causing it to foam and become airy.

* Pancake mix contains sugar. This would add sweetness to your cheese sauce, which is generally not desired.

* Pancake mix may not have the right gluten content. Flour provides structure and thickness to cheese sauce. Pancake mix might not have the same gluten content as regular all-purpose flour, resulting in a thin and runny sauce.

Instead of using pancake mix, here are some alternatives for thickening cheese sauce:

* All-purpose flour: This is the most common and reliable way to thicken cheese sauce.

* Cornstarch: A good alternative to flour, cornstarch creates a smooth and glossy sauce.

* Butter and flour roux: This classic technique involves cooking butter and flour together before adding milk and cheese.

* Other starches: You can also use potato starch, tapioca starch, or arrowroot starch to thicken cheese sauce.

Remember to whisk the thickening agent into a small amount of cold milk or water before adding it to the cheese sauce to prevent lumps.