Households making several bowls
A big bag lets you measure out the oats for each person and make up each bowl as you like. Jumbo lists 25 portions for its 1 kg pack.
Which pack is right for you?
Shoppers who want a set portion
Individual sachets save you from measuring. Albert Heijn lists Quaker Oats Express Naturel as 12 sachets of 27 g, with a preparation time of two minutes.
Shoppers who read labels carefully
If you need to check ingredients or allergens, compare the current packaging. For coeliac disease, look for the gluten-free oats label too; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends checking for the official Crossed Grain trademark.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether you want to make several bowls for Sunday breakfast or prepare individual portions. Then check that the ingredients and allergen information are suitable for everyone eating.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size and portions | Compare the pack size in grams and the number of stated portions; also check how to store the oats. | If I’m making breakfast for several people, I want to decide how much goes in each bowl. Around 50% of consumers put the flexibility to make several portions first. |
| Speed and set portions | Check the preparation instructions, preparation time and amount in each sachet. | On a morning when I have little time to prepare, I don’t want to weigh out oats for every bowl. For around 30% of consumers, ready-to-make portions are the main priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current label. If you have coeliac disease, look for the official Crossed Grain trademark, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. | If someone at the table has a specific dietary requirement, I want to know what’s in the pack and what warnings it carries before I buy. This is the main priority for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘instant’ means a big pack
Portion sachets make measuring easier, but they don’t give you the same freedom to choose a different amount for everyone.
Compare the number of sachets and the amount per portion with the size of a big bag before you choose.
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Assuming ordinary oats are suitable for coeliac disease
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says oats can become contaminated with gluten during processing. So the product name alone doesn’t tell you enough.
Check the current packaging for the official Crossed Grain trademark.
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Reading only the front of the pack
Similar product names don’t mean the ingredients and allergen information are the same.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the label, especially if you have a specific dietary requirement.
Brands to compare
Quaker
Offers loose oats in a 600 g pack as well as Oats Express in individual portion sachets.
- Albert Heijn lists 15 portions for the 600 g pack and 12 sachets for Oats Express Naturel.
- The sachets save you measuring; with loose oats, you choose the amount for each bowl yourself.
Brinta
Offers oats with extra-fine flakes in a 450 g box.
- Brinta says its extra-fine flakes are designed for quickly preparing a warm bowl with water or milk.
- These are loose flakes, not pre-measured portion sachets.
Jumbo
Offers a 1 kg own-brand pack of fine wholegrain oats for anyone who wants to measure out several portions themselves.
- Jumbo lists 25 portions and 10 g of fibre per 100 g for this pack.
- You’ll need to measure the amount for each bowl and prepare the oats yourself.
Albert Heijn
Offers its own fine wholegrain oats, as well as oat products from other brands.
- Its own-brand range includes a 1 kg pack of fine wholegrain oats.
- Check the information for the product you choose and its current label.
Golden Bridge (ALDI)
An own-brand option for fine wholegrain oats, without individual portion sachets.
- ALDI lists a 500 g pack of Golden Bridge fine wholegrain oats.
- If you want set portions, you’ll need to measure the oats yourself.
Lidl
Offers jumbo oats as an option if you’re looking for loose oats.
- Lidl lists a product called Havermout grove vlokken.
- Check the pack size, ingredients and allergens on the label of the pack you choose.
Instant oats on Joybuy
This portion pack is a good option if you’d rather have individual portions for Sunday breakfast than measure oats out of a big bag yourself.
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Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g
An option if you want individual portions for Sunday breakfast. Before buying, compare the portion size and read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack.
Frequently asked questions
When should I choose a big bag instead of portion sachets?
A big bag is a good fit if you’re making breakfast for several people and want to choose the amount for each bowl yourself. Sachets are more convenient if you prefer pre-measured portions; compare the pack size and portion size.
Do I prepare fine oats and instant oats in the same way?
No, follow the instructions on the packaging for each product. Jumbo recommends cooking its fine oats with milk or a plant-based alternative over a low heat; according to the product information on Albert Heijn, each sachet of Quaker Oats Express Naturel takes two minutes to prepare in the microwave with 180 ml of milk.
Are ordinary oats suitable for coeliac disease?
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ordinary oats aren’t necessarily suitable for people with coeliac disease because they can become contaminated with gluten during processing. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says to look for the official Crossed Grain trademark on the packaging to identify suitable oat products.
What should I check on the label of an oat product?
Check the ingredients, allergens, pack size, nutritional information and preparation instructions for the product you’re buying. This is particularly important if someone at the table has a specific dietary requirement; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the importance of accurate label information for safe use.