Who is this choice for?

Festival-goers keeping an eye on salt

You’re looking for a quick oat-based meal, but you also want to know how much salt comes from the porridge oats and any extras. Compare dry products per 100 g, then check the figures for your prepared portion.

Campers with limited cooking facilities

You want to keep preparation and washing-up to a minimum. Check whether your chosen porridge needs only hot water, or whether you’ll need a microwave or pan, and what you’ll have to bring with you.

Shoppers looking to avoid gluten or soya

The exact product matters more than the general description ‘oats’. Voedingscentrum notes that oats can be contaminated with gluten. If you have coeliac disease, check for the official Crossed Grain symbol, and read the packaging for information on other allergens.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start by checking the salt content and ingredients of the dry product. Then see whether the preparation method suits the facilities available at the festival, and whether the exact product meets your allergen requirements.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Salt in your meal Compare the salt content per 100 g of dry product and work out how much that means for your portion. Include any extras in your calculation. If I eat my porridge with savoury ingredients, I want to know how much salt is in the whole meal. For around 50% of consumers, keeping an eye on salt is the top priority.
Preparation and portability Check the heat source, liquid and preparation time required. Also see whether you’ll need a bowl or pan. Without a kitchen on site, I don’t want to rely on a preparation step I can’t manage. Around 30% of consumers prioritise quick and easy preparation.
Ingredients and allergens Read the allergen information for the exact product and, if needed, check for the official gluten-free symbol. If I need to avoid gluten or soya, the packaging tells me whether the porridge meets my requirements. For around 20% of consumers, suitability is their main concern.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming instant means low in salt

    Salt levels vary between products. Albert Heijn’s product pages list 0.2 g of salt per 100 g for Quaker Oats Express Protein Naturel and 1 g per 100 g for Elovena Natural instant oatmeal.

    Compare the salt information on the same basis, then calculate it for the portion you’ll actually prepare.

  • Comparing a prepared portion with a dry product

    The 0.25 g of salt shown for Brinta Havermout on Albert Heijn’s product page applies to 40 g of porridge oats prepared with 250 ml of semi-skimmed milk. It is not the salt content per 100 g of dry porridge oats.

    First compare dry products per 100 g. Then include your chosen liquid and toppings when working out the salt content of your meal.

  • Assuming all oats are gluten-free

    According to Voedingscentrum, oats can be contaminated with gluten. The Quaker Oats Express Protein Naturel product reviewed also contains soya and may contain wheat and barley.

    If you have coeliac disease, look for the official Crossed Grain symbol and check the allergen information on the packaging of every product.

  • Waiting until the festival to check the cooking facilities

    The products reviewed don’t all have the same preparation instructions. Elovena Natural instant oatmeal can be mixed with boiling water or milk, while Quaker Oats Express Protein Naturel requires cooking or a microwave.

    Before you set off, check which liquid, heat source and equipment your chosen product requires.

Brands to consider

The product examples below show which features you can compare for each variety; they don’t mean that every product from a brand has the same ingredients or nutritional content.

Quaker

A brand to consider if you’re looking for instant porridge in individual sachets.

  • Albert Heijn lists a preparation time of around 2 minutes and 0.2 g of salt per 100 g for Oats Express Protein Naturel.
  • This Protein Naturel variety contains soya and may contain wheat and barley. Don’t assume the same applies to other Quaker varieties.

Brinta

A brand to consider if you want to prepare plain porridge oats yourself.

  • According to Albert Heijn’s product page, Brinta Havermout is made from 100% oat flakes.
  • The nutritional information shown there for a prepared portion with semi-skimmed milk isn’t directly comparable with figures per 100 g of dry instant porridge. The product may contain wheat and rye.

Albert Heijn

A retailer where you can compare product pages for different oat products side by side.

  • The product pages include information such as ingredients, allergens, preparation instructions and nutritional values.
  • Product information can change, so check the packaging of the product you use.

Elovena

A brand to consider if you’re looking for instant porridge labelled gluten-free.

  • Albert Heijn states that Elovena Natural instant oatmeal is labelled gluten-free and can be mixed with boiling water or milk.
  • The product page lists 1 g of salt per 100 g. A gluten-free label doesn’t replace the need to check the salt content.

Instant porridge on Joybuy

This Quaker pack is an option to take with you if you can prepare the porridge on site. Before choosing it, check the preparation instructions, allergens and salt content on the packaging for this variety.

Quaker Express Oatmeal, 324 g pack

Quaker Express Oatmeal, 324 g

This pack could work for a festival if you can prepare the porridge on site according to the instructions. Check the packaging for the salt content per 100 g and per portion, the heat source required and allergen information.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How do I compare the salt content of instant porridge?

First compare the salt content per 100 g of the dry products, then work out how much that means for your portion. For the prepared meal, also consider any milk, sauces or toppings you add. The figure for the porridge alone doesn’t automatically tell you how much salt is in the whole meal.

Does ‘no added sugars’ also mean low in salt?

No. Sugars and salt are listed separately in the nutritional information. If you want to compare products for salt, check the figure on the label.

Can I make instant porridge at a festival using only hot water?

Some varieties can be made this way, but not all. Albert Heijn says Elovena Natural instant oatmeal can be mixed with boiling water or milk, while Quaker Oats Express Protein Naturel requires cooking or a microwave. Follow the instructions on the exact pack you take with you.

Are plain porridge oats suitable for people with coeliac disease?

Not necessarily. Voedingscentrum notes that oats can be contaminated with gluten, and recommends looking for the official Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging of oat products for people with coeliac disease. Also check the allergen information for the exact product.

Should I still read the packaging if I’ve checked the nutritional information online?

Yes. Albert Heijn warns that product information can change. Use the online information to compare products, then check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values on the pack you receive before using it.