Who might each option suit?

Solo bakers who want quick portions

A pre-measured sachet can be handy for one small cake or a portion of baked oats, as long as the amount of oats suits your recipe.

Bakers who want to control the batter’s texture

Loose fine oat flakes let you weigh out the amount yourself. If your recipe calls for oat flour, you can grind the flakes; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre uses this method in its recipes.

Shoppers checking ingredients and allergens

If you want to control the sweetness of your bake or need to avoid certain allergens, it’s worth comparing the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with the amount of oats your recipe calls for. Then choose the texture you want, and finally check the label of the product you plan to use.

What to consider What to look for Who is it important for?
Amount per serving Compare the weight of each sachet with the amount of oats in your recipe. Quaker Oats Express Naturel and Jumbo Havermout Porties Original are described as containing 27 g sachets. I’m making one small bake and want to skip weighing, but the fixed portion still needs to suit my recipe. Easy portioning is the top priority for around 36% of consumers.
Batter texture Check whether the recipe calls for flakes or oat flour. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains how to grind oats into flour using a hand blender or food processor. If I’m following a recipe that calls for oat flour, I want to control the amount and how finely it’s ground. This is the main priority for around 36% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Read the label of the exact product. According to Quaker’s product information, Oats Express Naturel contains wholegrain oats and may contain soya, barley and wheat; Jumbo lists sugar in Porties Original. I want to decide what else goes into my batter and need to know which allergens are listed on the packaging. This information matters most to around 28% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a sachet is a standard baking measure

    A sachet may contain less oats than your recipe calls for. If you don’t adjust the quantities, the ratio of oats to the other ingredients will change.

    Check the amount in grams in your recipe before choosing sachets. Otherwise, use loose oats that you can weigh out yourself.

  • Assuming all instant oats are unsweetened

    Quaker lists wholegrain oats as an ingredient in Oats Express Naturel, while Jumbo also lists sugar in Havermout Porties Original.

    Compare the ingredients list for the flavour and product you’ve chosen if you want to control the sweetness of your cake batter.

  • Assuming every oat product is gluten-free

    A product name containing oats doesn’t tell you whether the packaging is labelled gluten-free. Information about the possible presence of other grains can also vary from product to product.

    If these details matter to your choice, check the gluten-free claim and allergen information on the current packaging.

  • Using flakes when the recipe calls for oat flour

    Flakes and finely ground oats don’t give the batter the same texture. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre grinds oats for its baked oats recipe.

    Use the form of oats specified in your recipe; grind oats or flakes finely when oat flour is called for.

Brands to consider

Quaker

Oats Express Naturel is an option if you’re looking for a pre-measured oat base. According to the product information, the pack contains 12 sachets of 27 g.

  • Quaker lists wholegrain oats as an ingredient in the Naturel variety.
  • According to Quaker, this variety may contain soya, barley and wheat. The separate Proteïne variety contains soya protein and soya lecithin, according to Joybuy product information.

Brinta

Brinta Havermout is a loose oat option for anyone who wants to weigh out the amount they need for a small bake.

  • Albert Heijn describes the flakes as extra fine; the product information states that they are 100% oat flakes.
  • The pack isn’t divided into individual portions. Also check the allergen information on the packaging you choose.

Jumbo

Jumbo sells both loose fine oat flakes and Havermout Porties Original. The right format depends on your recipe and the ingredients you want.

  • Jumbo lists wholegrain oat flakes as an ingredient in Fijne Vlokken; with this loose product, you can weigh out the amount yourself.
  • According to Jumbo, Porties Original contains sugar as well as wholegrain oat flakes.

Golden Bridge

ALDI lists Golden Bridge Fijne volkoren havermout as a loose 500 g pack.

  • With loose oats, you can weigh out the amount your recipe calls for.
  • Before buying, check the ingredients and allergens on the label of the pack you’ve chosen.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is one sachet of instant oats enough for a small cake?

Not always: the sachets described for Quaker Oats Express Naturel and Jumbo Havermout Porties Original each contain 27 g. Compare that weight with the amount of oats in your recipe, and if the quantity is different, adjust the other ingredients accordingly.

Can I use oats when a recipe calls for oat flour?

Yes, you can grind oats or oat flakes finely before weighing them out for your batter. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using a hand blender or food processor; then follow the quantity specified in your recipe.

Are instant oats automatically gluten-free?

No. Don’t assume a product is gluten-free just because it’s called oats. Check whether the exact pack carries that claim and read the allergen information; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the conditions for using the gluten-free claim.