Home bakers who want to control the texture
If you want to keep the flakes visible or prefer a finer batter, start by checking the recipe. Allerhande’s oat cake recipe uses coarse flakes and asks you to grind some of them.
Who should consider this choice?
Stock-up bakers who use oats in different ways
If you keep oats for both breakfast and baking, choose a pack size that suits how much you use and make sure you have a dry place to store it in a tightly sealed container.
Bakers who need gluten-free oats
If you have coeliac disease, seeing ‘oats’ on the ingredients list isn’t enough to confirm that a product is suitable. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends looking for a gluten-free claim or, preferably, the Crossed Grain symbol.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, let the recipe guide you on whether you need fine or coarse flakes. Then choose a pack you can use and store properly. With instant oats and sachets, pay particular attention to the ingredients list if you’re looking for a plain baking ingredient.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Flake size and recipe | Check which flakes the recipe calls for and whether it includes a grinding step; look at the flake size on the pack. | If I want to keep some texture in my cake, I don’t automatically choose the finest flakes. Around 33% of consumers prioritise finding a product that suits the recipe. |
| Storage after opening | Check the best-before date and whether you can store the pack at home in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container. | If I don’t bake often, I want to stop an opened pack getting damp before I’ve used it up. Storage is the top consideration for around 27% of consumers. |
| Pack size and how you’ll use it | Compare the pack sizes with the quantities in your recipes and with how much you also use for breakfast. | I use the same oats for breakfast and want to choose an amount that suits both. Around 27% of consumers prioritise how they’ll use the oats and the pack size. |
| Allergens and gluten-free options | Read the current label; if you need to follow a gluten-free diet, look for a gluten-free claim or certification. | If I want to bake with oats because I have coeliac disease, I need to be able to choose a product that’s labelled as suitable. This dietary requirement comes first for around 13% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Choosing instant or extra-fine oats for every recipe
A recipe may call for coarse flakes and tell you to grind only some of them. That’s how Allerhande’s oat cake recipe works; using a different flake size changes the method you need to follow.
Check the ingredients and method before choosing. Use fine flakes if they suit your recipe, or coarse flakes if that’s what it calls for and you can do any grinding required.
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Opening a large pack without somewhere suitable to store it
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises that moisture and pests can be a concern with opened oats. A large pack still needs to be stored properly after opening.
Store the oats in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container. Check the smell and texture before adding oats from a pack that’s been stored for a while to your batter.
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Assuming ‘100% oats’ means gluten-free
An ingredients list that contains only oats doesn’t rule out contact with other grains. For example, Brinta Oatmeal’s product information says that it may contain wheat and rye.
If you need to follow a gluten-free diet, check the label every time you buy. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends looking for a gluten-free claim or, preferably, the Crossed Grain symbol.
Brands to consider
Quaker
Quaker Oatmeal Original is worth considering if you’re looking for plain oats.
- Quaker lists 100% wholegrain oats as the ingredient in Oatmeal Original.
- Quaker says this variety may contain barley and wheat. If you need a gluten-free option, always check the label on the specific pack.
Brinta
Brinta Oatmeal 450 g is worth considering if your recipe calls for extra-fine flakes.
- Albert Heijn’s product information describes the flakes as extra fine and lists 100% oat flakes as the ingredient.
- According to that product information, Brinta Oatmeal may contain wheat and rye. Fine flakes also won’t automatically replace the coarse flakes called for in a recipe.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s range gives you a choice of flake sizes and pack formats to compare with your recipe.
- Jumbo lists 500 g packs of fine and coarse wholegrain oats, as well as a 1 kg pack of fine wholegrain oats.
- A product listing can’t tell you how a particular flake size will work in your cake or tart; follow the recipe method for that.
Golden Bridge
Golden Bridge is the brand name of a 500 g pack of fine wholegrain oats listed by ALDI.
- The product listing specifies both the fine flake type and the pack size.
- Check the ingredients, allergens and best-before date on the pack before choosing it for a specific recipe.
Crownfield
Lidl lists Crownfield Organic Oat Flakes as part of its range.
- The product name makes clear that these are oat flakes.
- Check the pack for the flake size, ingredients, allergens and best-before date before using them in your baking recipe.
Oats for baking recipes on Joybuy
These packs are worth considering if you want to keep oats in the cupboard for cakes or tarts. Compare the pack sizes and, before buying, check that the flakes and current packaging suit your recipe and any dietary requirements.
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Brinta Oatmeal 450 g
Consider this pack if your recipe calls for fine oats and you want to skip a grinding step.
The product information for Brinta Oatmeal 450 g describes the flakes as extra fine. If you need a gluten-free option, check the current label: according to that information, the product may contain wheat and rye.
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Quaker Oatmeal 600 g
A pack to consider if you want to keep enough oats for several baking sessions.
The pack contains 600 g. Compare the flake size and ingredients on the current label with your recipe. If you need a gluten-free option, check the information on the packaging too.
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Quaker Oatmeal 375 g
This smaller pack may suit you if you’d rather keep a smaller amount of oats in the cupboard for baking.
The pack contains 375 g. Check the flake size and ingredients on the current packaging before choosing it for a recipe or if you need to follow a gluten-free diet.
Frequently asked questions
Do I always need to buy fine oats for oat cake?
No, the flake size depends on the recipe. Allerhande’s oat cake recipe uses coarse flakes and asks you to grind some of them; fine flakes are handy if your recipe calls for a finer mixture without that extra step.
How should I store opened oats in the cupboard?
Store opened oats in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says oats will keep for a year in a kitchen cupboard under these storage conditions. Also check the packaging and inspect the oats before using them.
Can I use regular oats if I need to eat gluten-free?
If you have coeliac disease, don’t rely on the word ‘oats’ alone. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends looking for a gluten-free claim or, preferably, the Crossed Grain symbol. Check the current label every time you buy and follow your personal medical advice on eating oats.
Are instant oats or sachets handy for cakes?
They’re only a suitable choice if the ingredients and quantity work for your recipe. Check for added flavours and whether the recipe calls for fine or coarse flakes; a quick breakfast serving won’t automatically meet those requirements.