Stock-up shoppers looking at the price per kilo
If you often make oats for breakfast, a snack or baking, a larger pack of rolled oats can be practical. Compare the price per kilo, and consider whether you’ll use the whole pack.
Which pack is right for you?
Shoppers who want a hot portion in a hurry
Individual portions can suit days when you don’t want to measure anything out. Quaker describes Oats Express as ready in two minutes; check the preparation instructions for each variant.
Shoppers who need to choose gluten-free
Regular oats aren’t an obvious choice for your store cupboard if you need to avoid gluten. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns that oats can be contaminated with gluten and advises people with coeliac disease to look for the official Crossed Grain symbol. Also check the current ingredients and allergen information.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether you’ll mainly use rolled oats or quick-to-prepare portions. Then compare packs within the same product type; an oat breakfast powder or snack bar isn’t directly comparable with plain oats.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of stocking up | Compare the price per kilo and net weight of similar oat products. Choose a pack size you’ll use up. | If I often make my own breakfast or snacks, I want to know what a useful quantity costs per kilo. For around 36% of consumers, value when stocking up comes first. |
| Speed and portions | Check the preparation time and number of portions, as well as which liquid and steps are needed. | On busy days, I want to be able to make a portion without measuring it out first. Around 29% of consumers are expected to prioritise this convenience above all else. |
| Gluten-free options | Read the gluten-free labelling and allergen information on the current pack. If you have coeliac disease, look for the Crossed Grain symbol. | If I need to eat gluten-free, I can’t rely on the word ‘oats’ alone. For around 21% of consumers, clear information about gluten-free suitability is their top priority when buying. |
| Ingredients | Check the ingredients and compare the nutritional information per 100 g, including fibre and sugars. Consider any added ingredients separately. | I want a plain oat base so I can choose what to add myself. That’s why around 14% of consumers prioritise the ingredients. |
Common mistakes
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Comparing only the price on the pack
A small pack and a large pack don’t contain the same amount, and rolled oats and instant portions are used differently too.
When stocking up, compare the net weight and price per kilo within the same product type. Then consider whether you want to portion out the rolled oats yourself.
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Assuming regular oats are suitable for a gluten-free diet
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oats can be contaminated with gluten. So a regular pack isn’t automatically suitable for people with coeliac disease.
Check the current gluten-free labelling and allergen information. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises people with coeliac disease to look for the official Crossed Grain symbol.
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Treating all oat products as the same
Rolled oats, instant porridge, breakfast powder and bars can have different ingredients and nutritional values.
First check the product type and ingredients. If you’re comparing products by their ingredients, look at sugars, fat and fibre per 100 g, among other things.
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Buying a large pack without considering how much you use
A bulk pack may not suit your store cupboard if you won’t use it all or can’t store it according to the pack instructions.
Choose a pack size that suits how much you use, check the best-before date and follow the storage instructions on the label.
Brands compared
These brands offer a range of pack formats and product types. A brand name alone doesn’t tell you whether a particular variant is instant or gluten-free.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s own brand offers regular wholegrain oats, including fine rolled oats in a 1 kg pack.
- A large pack of rolled oats suits anyone who likes to measure out their own portions.
- Don’t assume regular own-brand oats are gluten-free without checking the label.
Golden Bridge
ALDI’s own brand offers fine and coarse wholegrain oats in 500 g packs.
- You can compare the stated flake type and pack weight with other rolled oats.
- Check the information for the specific variant before choosing it for allergen or dietary reasons.
Quaker
Quaker offers both regular oats in a 600 g pack and the quick-to-prepare Oats Express range.
- The regular value pack is labelled as 100% wholegrain oats and contains 15 portions; Quaker says Oats Express is ready in two minutes.
- The regular oats pack states that the product may contain barley and wheat. Check the ingredients for your chosen Oats Express variant.
Brinta
The Brinta Oats pack reviewed contains 450 g of fine rolled oats.
- The ingredients list on this pack states that it contains 100% oats.
- The pack states that it may contain traces of wheat and rye. If you need to eat gluten-free, don’t rely on oats being listed as an ingredient alone.
Simply Free by Leev
This brand represents an explicitly labelled gluten-free oat variant in a 450 g pack in the range reviewed.
- A gluten-free label helps distinguish this variant from regular oats.
- Check the label on the specific pack again when you buy it.
Instant products on Joybuy
These products may suit you if you’re looking for individual portions or a quick-to-prepare oat product. The breakfast powder is a mixed product, not a pack of plain oats, so don’t compare it as if the entire contents were rolled oats.
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Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g
An option to consider if you want to prepare oats quickly. Check the pack for portion sizes and preparation instructions; if you need a gluten-free option, also read the allergen information.
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Quaker Oats Express Protein 302 g
A quick-to-prepare oat option for anyone who wants to compare the ingredients in the Protein version. Check the ingredients and allergens on the pack, particularly the information about soya and cereals containing gluten; don’t treat this variant as gluten-free.
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Family Whole Oatmeal Breakfast Powder with glucose sachets, 838 g
A mixed breakfast powder for anyone looking for a product to prepare as a single portion, rather than a plain base of oats. The stated total weight also includes glucose sachets. Check the ingredients and allergen information, including details about soya and milk.
Frequently asked questions
Is a larger pack of oats always better value for my store cupboard?
No, pack size alone doesn’t determine that. Compare the price per kilo of similar products and choose an amount you’ll actually use. Individual instant portions may be more convenient if measuring oats out yourself puts you off.
Can I buy regular oats for a gluten-free store cupboard?
Don’t assume that you can. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns that oats can be contaminated with gluten and advises people with coeliac disease to look for the official Crossed Grain symbol. Read the labelling and allergen information on the current pack.
How do I choose a pack size I can store and use up?
Choose a pack weight that suits how often you eat oats. Check the best-before date and follow the storage instructions on the label after opening.
What should I look for when buying gluten-free oats from an online health shop?
Check the product type and the gluten-free labelling on the specific pack before you order. The Online Drugstore has listed gluten-free oat products in a range of pack sizes; check the current ingredients and allergen information before choosing.