Shoppers comparing price per kilogram
If you buy oats for several breakfasts or baking recipes, you can compare pack sizes by price per kilogram. Jumbo’s standard packs and ALDI’s Golden Bridge own brand offer familiar options.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Shoppers short on time in the morning
If you want to make a quick bowl of hot oats over the festive period, look for fine varieties and check the preparation time on the label. A quick breakfast doesn’t have to mean buying individual sachets.
Shoppers who need gluten-free oats
According to the Voedingscentrum, ordinary oats are not automatically suitable if you need to avoid gluten. Before buying, check that the pack explicitly says the oats are gluten-free and read the allergen information.
What should you look for when choosing?
When adding oats to your Christmas food shop, the main factors in choosing a pack are price per kilogram, preparation, flake type and whether you need a gluten-free option. First decide which of these matters most to you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Price per kilogram | Compare the current price per kilogram and pack weight for the same type of oats. | If I’m stocking up on oats for breakfast and recipes, I want to be able to compare packs fairly. Price per kilogram would be the most important consideration for around 36% of consumers. |
| Preparation time | Read the cooking or microwave instructions for your chosen variety; compare loose fine oats with individual portions too. | On a busy morning, I want to know how quickly I can make a hot bowl of oats. Quick preparation would be the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Flake type | Check whether your recipe calls for oatmeal, fine flakes or jumbo oats. | For a Christmas breakfast or baking recipe, I want to buy the type of oats the recipe calls for. The type of flake would determine the choice for around 21% of consumers. |
| Gluten-free label | Check for an explicit gluten-free label and the latest allergen information on the pack. | If I need to avoid gluten, suitability matters more than convenience or price per kilogram. This reassurance would be the most important factor for around 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking individual sachets for a good-value standard pack
A low price per pack can make it difficult to compare packs of different sizes. Individual portions may also work out at a different price per kilogram from loose oats.
Compare the price per kilogram on the day you shop. If you mainly want a quick breakfast, consider loose fine oats too.
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Assuming all oats are suitable for a gluten-free diet
According to the Voedingscentrum, ordinary oats may be contaminated with gluten. European rules therefore set requirements for oats sold as gluten-free.
If you need gluten-free oats, check for an explicit gluten-free label and the allergen information on the pack; don’t rely on oats being listed as the only ingredient.
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Applying the nutritional information for plain oats to a festive recipe
Sugar, chocolate and other additions change the ingredients and nutritional value of the finished dish.
Read the nutritional information for the product you’re buying and assess any additions to your breakfast or baking recipe separately.
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Mistaking an online product listing for in-store stock
Lidl lists jumbo oats as an in-store product. That doesn’t tell you what’s on the shelves at your local branch.
Check availability at the shop where you plan to do your Christmas food shopping, and have a suitable alternative in mind.
Brands to compare
Jumbo
Jumbo stocks fine and jumbo wholegrain oats, as well as a larger pack of fine flakes.
- A choice of flake types and pack sizes.
- Compare individual portions separately by price per kilogram and check current availability.
Golden Bridge
Golden Bridge is ALDI’s own brand, with fine and jumbo wholegrain oats in 500 g packs.
- Two flake types in the standard pack mentioned.
- Check the preparation instructions and any dietary information on the pack for your chosen variety.
Quaker
Quaker Oatmeal 600 g is an option if you’re looking for a pack of wholegrain oats for breakfast.
- The product information for this variety states that it contains 100% wholegrain oats.
- Check the allergen information: this variety may contain wheat and barley.
Brinta
According to the product information, Brinta Oatmeal contains extra-fine oats for making porridge.
- The label gives microwave instructions for 2 minutes at 900 W.
- The allergen information states that it may contain traces of wheat and rye.
Crownfield
Crownfield is a Lidl brand that includes organic oats.
- A brand to consider if organic oats are on your list.
- Check the label for your chosen variety and its availability at your local shop.
Oat products on Joybuy
These products come in a range of pack sizes for breakfast. For your Christmas food shop, compare the flake type, preparation instructions, ingredients and current price per kilogram with what you need.
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Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g
An option if you’re looking for oats for a busy breakfast morning; check the preparation instructions to see if they fit your schedule.
324 g pack. Check the allergen information if you need to avoid gluten.
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Quaker Oatmeal 600 g
A pack of oats for making your own breakfast portions; compare the current price per kilogram with other standard packs.
600 g pack. The product information for the 600 g variety states that it contains wholegrain oats and may contain wheat and barley.
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Zonnatura Organic Whole Wheat Oatmeal 500 g
Worth considering if organic labelling matters when choosing your oats; check the label and ingredients on the pack.
500 g pack. Check the allergen information too if you need to avoid gluten.
Frequently asked questions
Should I compare oats by pack price or price per kilogram?
Compare the price per kilogram when weighing up packs of different sizes. Check it on the day you shop, then see whether the type of flake and ingredients suit your plans.
What’s the difference between oatmeal and oat flakes?
According to the Voedingscentrum, oatmeal is made from cut and rolled oat grains, while oat flakes are rolled without cutting. If you’re following a baking recipe, check which type it calls for rather than relying on the general term ‘oats’.
Is ordinary oatmeal automatically suitable for a gluten-free diet?
No. Ordinary oats are not automatically suitable for a gluten-free diet: the Voedingscentrum warns that they may be contaminated with gluten. If you need gluten-free oats, check for an explicit gluten-free label and the allergen information on the pack.
How should I store oats for the festive season?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack and keep oats in a dry place. The product information for Quaker Oatmeal 600 g says to store it in a cool, dry place; seal the pack well after opening.
What information on the pack can help me choose?
In particular, check the ingredients, allergens, net quantity and nutritional information for the specific oats you want to buy. The European Union’s Your Europe website lists these as part of the consumer information required for prepacked foods.