Cook who wants to choose the flavour
For your own recipe, you want a neutral oat base so that the herbs, sauce or toppings provide the flavour. If you’re keeping an eye on the sugar content of the whole dish, check those additions too.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Quick-breakfast fan keeping an eye on sugar
You’re looking for something quick to prepare, but want to compare portion packs and loose oats on the same basis: ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g of dry product.
Shopper who needs to check allergens
As well as sugar, allergen information and the risk of cross-contamination matter. According to the Voedingscentrum, people with coeliac disease need to look for the official Crossed Grain symbol on oat packaging.
What should you look for when buying?
First, compare the dry oats per 100 g. Then choose between loose flakes for a recipe you can portion yourself and portion packs for a set quantity.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars and ingredients | Read the ingredients list and compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g; check separately for any mention of added sugars. | If I’m flavouring the dish myself, I want to know what’s already in the oat base. Around 40% of consumers give this control top priority. |
| Room for your own recipe | Choose plain oats and decide whether fine or jumbo flakes suit the preparation you have in mind. | For my own Asian night recipe, I want to choose the amount of oats and seasonings myself; around 30% of consumers value this freedom most. |
| Preparation and portion | Compare the portion size and preparation instructions for the exact variant. | On a busy morning, I want to be able to prepare a set amount quickly. This is the biggest priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Check the latest allergen information; if you have coeliac disease, look for the official Crossed Grain symbol. | If I need to take coeliac disease or an allergen into account, suitability matters more than convenience or flavour. This is the first thing around 10% of consumers check. |
Common mistakes
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Confusing no added sugars with sugar-free
Oats can contain naturally occurring sugars. Milk, fruit and other additions also count towards the finished dish.
Read the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g of dry oats, then assess the whole dish.
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Comparing prepared porridge with dry oats
The nutritional information for prepared porridge may include the milk used. It isn’t directly comparable with the figures for dry flakes.
Compare dry products per 100 g, and only use portion values when the quantity and preparation method are the same.
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Assuming regular oats are suitable for coeliac disease
According to the Voedingscentrum, oats can be contaminated with gluten, even though oats are naturally gluten-free.
If you have coeliac disease, check for the official Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging and read the allergen information.
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Choosing protein-enriched oats based on protein content alone
A protein variety may contain different ingredients from pure oat flakes. For example, the AH variety with added protein contains soya protein isolate and seeds.
If you’re mainly looking for a simple recipe base, compare the ingredients and sugars in the exact variety with those in regular oats.
Brands worth considering
Quaker
Offers regular oats and Oats Express Naturel in portion packs; the product format determines how much flexibility you have over portion size.
- According to Quaker, Havermout Original contains 100% wholegrain oats and 1.1 g of sugars per 100 g.
- A set portion is less flexible when you want to choose the quantity for a recipe yourself.
Brinta
According to the Albert Heijn product page, Brinta Havermout is made from extra-fine oat flakes.
- The product page lists 100% oat flakes as the ingredient.
- The nutritional information shown for the prepared product isn’t for dry oats alone.
Albert Heijn
Its own-label range includes fine wholegrain oat flakes and a variety with added protein; compare these products separately.
- AH Volkoren havermout fijne vlokken lists wholegrain oat flakes as an ingredient and contains 0.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
- AH Volkoren havermout proteïne contains, among other things, soya protein isolate and seeds; these ingredients may affect your choice.
Jumbo
The own-label range includes jumbo wholegrain oat flakes and oats in portion packs.
- You can compare a pack of loose flakes with a portion pack to find the quantity you want.
- Compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the exact variety, not just the product format.
Golden Bridge
ALDI Netherlands lists Golden Bridge fine wholegrain oats, with a choice of fine or jumbo flakes.
- The listed pack sizes include 500 g and 1 kg.
- Use the ingredients list and nutritional information on the pack you choose to compare sugar content.
Joybuy products to help you choose
These Quaker products suit two ways of enjoying oats: Express for a quick breakfast and a larger pack for a recipe where you can measure out the amount yourself. For both products, check the current packaging if allergens are a concern for you.
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Quaker Express oats, 324 g
A handy choice if you want to prepare oats quickly for breakfast; the pack contains 324 g.
Check the preparation instructions and allergen information for this variety. If you have coeliac disease, also look for the official Crossed Grain symbol.
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Quaker oats, 600 g
A good choice if you want to decide the amount of oats for your own recipe; the pack contains 600 g.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g of dry oats and check the latest allergen information. If you have coeliac disease, also look for the official Crossed Grain symbol.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘no added sugars’ mean oats are sugar-free?
No, oats can still contain naturally occurring sugars. According to Quaker, Havermout Original has no added sugars but contains 1.1 g of sugars per 100 g, so check both the ingredients and the nutritional information.
Which oats are suitable for an Asian night recipe?
Plain oats in loose flakes give you the freedom to choose the quantity and seasonings yourself. Choose fine or jumbo flakes to suit the preparation you have in mind, and consider what else you’re adding to the dish.
Can someone with coeliac disease choose regular oats?
Not without checking the packaging. According to the Voedingscentrum, oats can be contaminated with gluten; if you have coeliac disease, you need to look for the official Crossed Grain symbol on the pack.
Why does the sugar content of prepared porridge differ from that of dry oats?
The ingredients you use to prepare porridge contribute to the nutritional value of the portion. The Brinta product page shows values for the prepared product, so compare different types of oats per 100 g of dry product first.