Who might this choice be relevant to?

If you’re mainly watching your salt intake

You want to make a quick, warm bowl of porridge on Sunday and start by comparing the salt content of the dry products. What you add during preparation also affects the finished bowl.

If you want to choose the flavour yourself

You’re looking for a simple oat base that you can customise with, for example, fruit or cinnamon, rather than choosing a pre-flavoured variety.

If you need to consider protein or allergens

As well as salt, you check ingredients such as soya. If you have coeliac disease, oats need an additional check: the Voedingscentrum advises looking for the official Crossed Grain mark on the packaging.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start by comparing salt content on a like-for-like basis. Then decide whether convenience, a neutral flavour or a particular ingredient or allergen requirement matters most for your breakfast.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this most important for?
Salt content Compare dry products per 100 g. Then check the salt in your portion, including the milk or drink you choose. If I’m watching my salt intake, I don’t want a low figure for dry porridge oats to give me the wrong impression of my prepared breakfast. Salt is the top priority for around 40% of consumers making this choice.
Ease of preparation Check the preparation instructions and portion size: a sachet requires a different approach from loose, extra-fine flakes. On a Sunday morning, I want to make a warm bowl quickly without having to measure out a portion first. Convenience is the deciding factor for around 30% of consumers.
Ingredients and sugars Read the ingredients list and the ‘of which sugars’ line; compare values per 100 g or for equal-sized portions. I want to choose the flavour myself and would rather not pick a sweet flavoured variety just because it has a low salt value. A simple, less sweet recipe is the top priority for around 20% of consumers.
Protein and allergens Check the protein content, soya and other allergens. If you have coeliac disease, look for the official Crossed Grain mark on the packaging. If extra protein or an essential allergen check determines my choice, I need to read more than just the salt information. This is the main priority for around 10% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Comparing dry porridge oats with a prepared bowl

    Joybuy lists 0.01 g of salt per 100 g of the dry product for Brinta Havermout. Albert Heijn lists 0.25 g of salt for a prepared portion made with 250 ml of semi-skimmed milk. These figures are not based on the same thing.

    First compare products dry, per 100 g, then check how much the liquid adds to your portion.

  • Assuming 0 g of salt also means low sugar

    For Oats Express Cinnamon, Quaker Nederland lists both 0 g of salt and 19 g of sugars per 100 g; sugar is also on the ingredients list.

    For flavoured varieties, check both the salt and sugar information. A plain variety lets you choose what to add yourself.

  • Assuming ordinary oats are automatically suitable for coeliac disease

    According to the Voedingscentrum, oats can become contaminated with gluten during processing. So the word ‘oats’ alone isn’t enough to check whether a product is suitable if you have coeliac disease.

    In that case, check for the official Crossed Grain mark on the packaging.

  • Looking only at the extra protein

    For Oats Express Protein Natural, Quaker Nederland lists 22 g of protein and 0.2 g of salt per 100 g. The ingredients include soya protein and soya lecithin.

    Compare the protein content with the salt and allergen information before choosing this variety.

Brands to consider

Quaker

Oats Express includes plain, cinnamon and protein varieties for anyone looking for porridge that’s quick to prepare. Compare the packaging for each variety.

  • According to Quaker Nederland, Oats Express Natural contains wholegrain oats as an ingredient and lists 0 g of salt per 100 g.
  • The ingredients vary by variety: Protein Natural contains soya and lists 0.2 g of salt per 100 g; Cinnamon lists 19 g of sugars per 100 g.

Brinta

The extra-fine porridge oats are a good fit if you want to measure out your own portion and choose whether to make it with water or milk.

  • Albert Heijn lists 100% oats as the ingredients; for Brinta Havermout 450 g, Joybuy lists 0.01 g of salt per 100 g of the dry product.
  • A prepared portion is measured on a different basis: Albert Heijn’s figure is for porridge made with 250 ml of semi-skimmed milk.

Elovena

According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Natural Instant Oatmeal is labelled gluten-free and comes in 40 g portions.

  • The product information lists five portions and no added sugars.
  • The same variety lists 1 g of salt per 100 g. If you have coeliac disease, also check for the required mark on the packaging.

Jumbo

As a retailer, Jumbo offers several types of porridge oats, including loose flakes and portion packs.

  • According to Jumbo, the range also includes gluten-free and high-protein options, so you can explore different product formats.
  • A category overview doesn’t tell you what’s on the label of each variety; check the salt and ingredients on each pack.

Porridge products on Joybuy

These products show two ways to make a quick Sunday breakfast: Quaker Express porridge and loose Brinta oats that you can portion yourself. If you’re choosing based on salt, always compare the figures on the specific pack.

Quaker Express Oatmeal, 324 g pack

Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g

An option if you’re looking for Express porridge for your Sunday breakfast. Check the salt per 100 g and per portion for this pack; don’t assume the figures are the same as for another Quaker variety.

View on Joybuy
Brinta Havermout, 450 g pack

Brinta Havermout 450 g

For anyone who wants to portion loose porridge oats themselves and make them with water or milk. The product information lists 100% oats and 0.01 g of salt per 100 g of the dry product. The liquid you choose affects the nutritional values of the prepared portion.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Should I compare salt per 100 g or per portion?

Use the two figures for different purposes: first compare dry porridge oats per 100 g, then check the portion you actually prepare. Milk or another drink can change the salt content of the finished bowl.

Is porridge with 0 g of salt automatically the right choice?

Not if the ingredients matter to you too. For Oats Express Cinnamon, Quaker Nederland lists 0 g of salt and 19 g of sugars per 100 g, so check the ingredients and the ‘of which sugars’ line as well.

Can I choose ordinary porridge oats if I have coeliac disease?

Don’t choose ordinary porridge oats without checking the packaging. According to the Voedingscentrum, oat products need to carry the official Crossed Grain mark to be suitable for people with coeliac disease, as oats can become contaminated with gluten during processing.

What should I look for in high-protein instant porridge?

As well as protein, check the salt and allergens for the specific variety. For Oats Express Protein Natural, Quaker Nederland lists 22 g of protein and 0.2 g of salt per 100 g; the product contains soya protein and soya lecithin.