Parents who want to control the flavour
You bake muffins, bars or small pancakes with children and want a plain oat base. That way, you can choose which other ingredients to add to the mixture.
Who is this relevant to?
Families who want to measure and mix together
You’re looking for simple tasks for children, such as measuring and stirring. Individual portions can make measuring easier; according to the Voedingscentrum, hot pans and boiling water call for extra care.
Bakers who need gluten-free oats
If gluten-free food is required, the word ‘oats’ alone isn’t enough to guide your choice. Check for an explicit gluten-free claim and read the allergen information on the packaging.
What should you look for when choosing?
If you’re buying oats for baking with children and want to keep an eye on salt, start with the recipe: would you rather measure out the oats yourself, or would fixed portions be useful? Then compare the nutritional information on the same basis and check that the packaging meets any gluten-free or other allergen requirements.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Salt and added ingredients | Compare the salt content per 100 g and per portion used. Also read the ingredients in the oats and the other baking products. | If I want to control the flavour, I need to know how much salt the oats and my other ingredients add to the bake. This check comes first for around 36% of consumers with this purchasing need. |
| Baking together | Choose oats that suit the recipe and a quantity you can measure together. Leave hot cooking steps to an adult. | I want the children to weigh and stir without having to handle hot liquids or use the oven. Around 29% of these consumers give baking together top priority. |
| Convenient portions | Check the quantity in each sachet and compare it with the amount required by the recipe. For instant varieties, check the salt and ingredients too. | For a quick baking session, I don’t want to weigh out loose oats each time, but the portions still need to suit the recipe. This convenience matters most to around 21% of these consumers. |
| Gluten and allergens | If needed, check for an explicit gluten-free claim and read the ingredients list and ‘may contain’ information on the packaging. | If gluten-free food or another allergen determines my choice, I don’t want to rely on the product name alone. This is the first consideration for around 14% of these consumers. |
Pitfalls when buying and baking
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Assuming ‘instant’ means low in salt
Salt levels vary between instant oat varieties. Quaker Oats Express Naturel states 0 g salt per 100 g, while the Protein variety reviewed lists 0.2 g per 100 g according to Albert Heijn and contains soya protein.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion used before choosing a variety for your recipe.
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Assuming regular oats are gluten-free
According to the Voedingscentrum, oats can come into contact with gluten during processing. Packaging for regular oats may also state that they could contain barley or wheat.
If gluten-free food is required, check for an explicit gluten-free claim and the allergen information on the current packaging every time you buy.
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Confusing a simple recipe with safe preparation for children
Even instant oats or a simple bake may involve hot liquids, a pan or an oven. When cooking together, the Voedingscentrum advises caution around hot pans, boiling water and sharp knives.
Let children measure and mix with appropriate supervision, and leave hot cooking steps to an adult.
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Relying only on an online product description
Ingredients and allergen information can change. This is especially important if you need a particular composition for your recipe or because of allergens.
Check the packaging again before using the oats.
Brands to consider
Quaker
Quaker offers regular oats and instant varieties, making it a useful brand to consider if you’re comparing measuring oats yourself with using individual portions.
- According to Quaker Netherlands, Havermout Original contains 100% wholegrain oats and 0.01 g salt per 100 g. Oats Express Naturel states 0 g salt per 100 g.
- Don’t assume every Express variety has the same ingredients: according to Albert Heijn, the Protein variety states 0.2 g salt per 100 g and contains soya protein. Check the allergen information on the packaging you choose too.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s fine wholegrain oat flakes are an option if you want to measure and mix the oats yourself for a baking recipe.
- For AH Volkoren havermout fijne vlokken, Albert Heijn states 0 g added salt and 0 g added sugars per 100 g. ‘No added salt’ is not the same as a statement of 0 g total salt.
- Before baking, check the current packaging for ingredients, nutritional information and allergens.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists fine wholegrain oat flakes and also lists a separate oat product labelled gluten-free. Treat these as different varieties.
- According to Jumbo, Havermout Fijne Vlokken Volkoren contains 0.02 g salt per 100 g; Jumbo says this comes from naturally occurring sodium.
- The regular fine flakes may contain barley, rye and wheat. If you need gluten-free oats, check the label on the packaging you choose and the current availability of the relevant variety.
Instant oats at Joybuy
This product selection focuses on instant oats as a pre-portioned oat base for baking with children. Before using them, check that the quantity, nutritional information and allergens suit your recipe and needs.
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Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g
An instant oat option if you prefer to use individual portions when baking. Check how much oats your recipe needs, then compare the salt per 100 g, portion size and allergens on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Are instant oats automatically low in salt?
No, salt levels vary between varieties. Quaker Oats Express Naturel states 0 g salt per 100 g; Albert Heijn lists 0.2 g per 100 g for the Protein variety reviewed. For your bake, check the portion size and current packaging too.
Should I look at the rest of the recipe as well as the salt content?
Yes. The salt content of oats tells you nothing about the other ingredients in your bake. For example, check what you’re adding in the way of sweeteners, flavourings and baking mixes if you want to control the ingredients yourself.
What baking tasks can a child do with oats?
Measuring and stirring are possible tasks with appropriate supervision. Leave hot liquids and equipment to an adult; the Voedingscentrum also advises caution around sharp knives when cooking together.
Can I use regular oats if gluten-free food is required?
Don’t assume you can: according to the Voedingscentrum, processed oats can come into contact with gluten. Check the packaging for an explicit gluten-free claim; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority links this claim to the requirements of Regulation (EU) No 828/2014.