Who are these options for?

Compare fibre and choose your own toppings

You’re looking for a plain base for a sweet or savoury porridge bowl. You’ll want to know how much fibre your portion provides and how much sugar or salt your toppings add.

Make a larger portion quickly

You want to keep preparation to a minimum and are considering a flavoured instant porridge meal. Compare the serving size, preparation method and ingredients, not just the fibre content on the label.

Gluten-free claims need to be verified

If you need gluten-free oats because you have coeliac disease, regular oats aren’t automatically a suitable choice. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises checking the packaging for the official Crossed Grain symbol.

What should you look for when buying?

First decide whether you want to build your own bowl or choose a ready-flavoured option. Then compare the nutritional information for the amount you’ll actually prepare.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Fibre and serving size Compare fibre per 100 g and per sachet or serving. A smaller serving won’t automatically provide more fibre just because the figure per 100 g is higher. If you choose your own toppings, you’ll want to know how much fibre the oat base adds to each bowl; for around 45% of consumers, fibre content is the top priority.
Preparation and ingredients Check how much liquid is needed and how to prepare it, as well as the sugar and salt per serving in flavoured varieties. When you’re short on preparation time, what matters most is whether you can make the serving with the equipment available. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this convenience when choosing a meal.
Gluten and allergens Read the current ingredient and allergen information. If you have coeliac disease, check the packaging for the official Crossed Grain symbol. If you need to eat strictly gluten-free or avoid an allergen, you can’t rely on the product name alone; for around 22% of consumers, certainty about ingredients comes first.

Common mistakes

  • Comparing fibre per 100 g only

    The serving sizes of the products discussed range from 27 g for Quaker Oats Express Naturel to 75 g for Upfront Apple-Cinnamon Flavour, according to product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo. So the figure per 100 g doesn’t tell you how much fibre you’ll get from one pack.

    First compare the nutritional values on the same basis, then look at the amount you’ll actually use.

  • Assuming regular oats are gluten-free

    Oats may come into contact with gluten during processing. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, people with coeliac disease should look for the official Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging.

    If you have coeliac disease, check both the symbol and the current ingredient and allergen information.

  • Treating a flavoured variety as plain porridge oats

    A flavoured mix may contain other ingredients and allergens. Jumbo lists milk and sulphites among the ingredients in Upfront Apple-Cinnamon Flavour; Albert Heijn lists wholegrain oats as an ingredient in Quaker Oats Express Naturel and warns that it may contain soya, barley and wheat.

    Before buying, read the full ingredients list and compare the nutritional information for the specific varieties.

  • Relying on an online description alone

    When you have allergies or specific ingredient requirements, the information on the packaging you receive is what matters for making your choice.

    Check the current label before preparing the oats.

Brands to consider

Quaker

Quaker Oats Express Naturel is a portioned plain variety: Albert Heijn lists 12 sachets of 27 g, with wholegrain oats as the ingredient.

  • According to Albert Heijn, this variety contains 9 g of fibre, 1 g of sugar and 0 g of salt per 100 g. Its neutral base leaves plenty of room for your own toppings.
  • A 27 g sachet provides around 2.4 g of fibre. The product information warns that it may contain soya, barley and wheat.

Elovena

Albert Heijn sells the Natural Instant Oatmeal variety as gluten-free instant porridge oats in 40 g portions.

  • Albert Heijn lists 11 g of fibre and 14 g of protein per 100 g for this variety.
  • The label also lists 1 g of salt per 100 g. If you have coeliac disease, check the symbol on the packaging.

Upfront

Upfront Instant Porridge Apple-Cinnamon Flavour is a flavoured meal option in a 75 g pack, sold by Jumbo.

  • Jumbo lists 9.6 g of fibre and 18 g of protein per pack.
  • The ingredients list includes milk and sulphites. Jumbo also lists 7.9 g of sugar per 100 g.

Instant porridge oats on Joybuy

These two Quaker varieties are options for a quick porridge bowl: a plain base for your own toppings and a variety with added soya protein. Compare their ingredients and serving sizes before choosing.

Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g

Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g

A plain oat base for choosing your own sweet or savoury toppings.

The product information lists 12 servings of 27 g, 9 g of fibre per 100 g and a 2-minute preparation time. That works out at around 2.4 g of fibre per sachet.

Don’t assume it’s gluten-free: check the current packaging for allergens and the required symbol if you need gluten-free oats because you have coeliac disease.

View on Joybuy
Quaker Oats Express Protein 302 g

Quaker Oats Express Protein 302 g

An option if you’re looking for instant porridge oats with added soya protein and want to use hot water.

The product description lists wholegrain oats, soya protein and a 2-minute preparation time.

This product contains soya; also check the current label for possible traces of barley and wheat. Compare the nutritional values only once you’ve confirmed what quantity they refer to.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How do I compare the fibre in instant porridge oats?

Look at both the fibre per 100 g and the amount in the serving you eat. Albert Heijn lists 9 g per 100 g for Quaker Oats Express Naturel in 27 g sachets; Jumbo lists 13 g per 100 g and 9.6 g per 75 g pack for Upfront Apple-Cinnamon Flavour. These different serving sizes affect how the products compare per eating occasion.

Are regular instant porridge oats suitable for people with coeliac disease?

Not automatically: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oats can be contaminated with gluten during processing. If you have coeliac disease, check the packaging for the official Crossed Grain symbol and read the current allergen information.

Which allergens may be present in these instant porridge varieties?

It varies by variety. Albert Heijn warns that Quaker Oats Express Naturel may contain soya, barley and wheat; Jumbo lists milk and sulphites among the ingredients in Upfront Apple-Cinnamon Flavour. So, check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the product you choose.