Households serving several bowls
With a larger pack, you can decide how much porridge goes into each bowl for Easter lunch and which toppings to add. Check how many servings the pack says it contains.
Who are the different pack sizes suitable for?
Anyone who wants to prepare individual portions
An instant sachet saves you the effort of measuring. Check the weight per sachet, though: a pre-measured portion leaves you less room to adjust the amount of oats for each guest.
Anyone checking ingredients and allergens
Plain porridge oats and flavoured or enriched instant varieties can contain different ingredients. Check the ingredients list and allergen information for each specific flavour, even if you already know another variety from the same brand.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide how many bowls you want to make for Easter lunch and whether you want to measure out the oats yourself. Then compare the preparation instructions and the label for the specific variety.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Amount per bowl | Compare the net weight, the number of servings stated and the amount of oats per serving. | I want to serve several guests and choose the amount in each bowl myself. For around 40% of consumers, this flexibility when serving several bowls comes first. |
| Preparation and set portions | Check the preparation time and weight per sachet. Also see whether you need a pan, microwave or hot liquid. | If I need to prepare several bowls at once, I don’t want to weigh each portion separately. Pre-measured portions are the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and allergen information for the specific flavour, including any ‘may contain’ statements. | When catering for different dietary preferences, I want to know what each variety contains. Around 30% of consumers prioritise checking ingredients and allergens. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a sachet and a bowl you measure yourself are the same size portion
A set serving of instant porridge may not contain as much oats as the serving size stated on a large pack. According to Albert Heijn, Quaker Oats Express Naturel comes in 27 g sachets; for Quaker Havermout 600 g, Albert Heijn lists servings of 40 g.
Compare the weight per serving before deciding how many packs you’ll need for your guests.
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Assuming all instant porridge is unsweetened
Ingredients vary between varieties. For Jumbo Havermout Porties Original, Jumbo lists sugar as an ingredient alongside wholegrain oat flakes.
Read the ingredients list for the specific flavour, even if the front of the pack mainly highlights oats.
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Leaving your Easter shopping until Easter Sunday
Opening hours over Easter can vary between stores. A store’s usual Sunday opening hours won’t tell you whether it’s open on Easter Sunday.
Check the opening hours of the store you plan to visit shortly before the day.
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Assuming porridge oats are gluten-free without checking the label
According to Quaker Netherlands, oats can be cross-contaminated with other cereals. So the name ‘porridge oats’ alone doesn’t confirm whether a pack is suitable for a gluten-free diet.
If you need a gluten-free diet, check whether the specific variety is labelled as suitable and read the current packaging.
Brands to consider
Quaker
Albert Heijn stocks both a 600 g pack of regular porridge oats and Oats Express Naturel in individual sachets. They suit different ways of portioning.
- For the 600 g pack, Albert Heijn lists 15 servings of 40 g and wholegrain porridge oats as an ingredient.
- Oats Express Naturel has set portions of 27 g and may contain soya, barley and wheat, according to the product information.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists both a large pack of fine wholegrain oat flakes and Havermout Porties Original. Check which type of pack you need.
- The large pack of fine wholegrain oat flakes contains 1 kg, which you can portion out into bowls yourself.
- According to Jumbo, Havermout Porties Original contains sugar as well as 90% wholegrain oat flakes.
Brinta
Brinta Havermout is a pack of extra-fine oat flakes for anyone who wants to measure out portions themselves.
- Jumbo describes the flakes as extra fine and says they take just a few minutes to prepare.
- This pack doesn’t contain individually measured instant sachets, so you’ll need to portion it out yourself.
Golden Bridge
Golden Bridge is an ALDI own brand offering fine and coarse wholegrain porridge oats for portions you measure out yourself.
- ALDI lists a 500 g pack of fine wholegrain porridge oats.
- Check the preparation instructions on the pack you choose if timing at the table is important.
Upfront
Upfront Instant Havermout met Chocoladesmaak is a prepared instant meal, not a pack of plain oat flakes.
- For this chocolate variety, Jumbo lists 24 g of protein per 100 g.
- The ingredients differ from regular porridge oats; check the listed milk ingredients and seeds, among other things.
Instant porridge at Joybuy
These instant varieties are worth considering if you want to prepare individual bowls for Easter lunch. Compare the net weight and ingredients, and check the pack to see how many servings it makes.
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Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g
For anyone who wants to use instant porridge to prepare individual bowls for lunch.
324 g pack. Check the serving size and allergen information for this variety.
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Quaker Oats Express Protein 302 g
For anyone who wants an instant variety with added soya protein at Easter lunch instead of plain porridge oats.
302 g pack. According to the Joybuy product description, this variety is ready in two minutes. Check the allergen information and number of servings on the pack.
Frequently asked questions
When is a large pack a better choice than instant sachets?
A large pack is a good choice if you want to decide how much porridge to serve each of several guests. Instant sachets save you measuring, but have a set serving size. Compare it with the portion you want to serve.
Does all instant porridge contain added sugar?
No, ingredients vary by product. Albert Heijn lists no added sugars for Quaker Oats Express Naturel, while Jumbo lists sugar as an ingredient in Havermout Porties Original. So always read the label for the specific variety.
Are regular porridge oats automatically gluten-free?
No, don’t rely on the name porridge oats alone. According to Quaker Netherlands, oats can be cross-contaminated with other cereals. If you need a gluten-free diet, check whether the specific pack is labelled as suitable and read the current label.
Can I still buy porridge oats on Easter Sunday?
Check the opening hours of the specific store, as these can vary over Easter. According to the Dutch government, Easter Sunday falls on 28 March in 2027. If you’re not shopping earlier, check the opening hours shortly before the day.