Home bakers making banana bread and muffins
You’re looking for oats for a batter recipe and pay attention to the type of flakes when the recipe calls for fine oats.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Stock-up bakers
You want to keep oats for several baking sessions, so you consider the pack size, best-before date and whether you can reseal the pack properly after opening.
Bakers following a gluten-free recipe
You need oats labelled as gluten-free on the pack, and you also check the ingredients and allergen information for that specific pack.
What should you look for when buying?
Start with the ingredients and type of flakes specified in your bread recipe. Then choose a pack size that suits how often you bake and how you can store the oats.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Type of flakes and recipe | Check whether the recipe calls for fine or coarse flakes, oat flour or a combination with other types of flour. | If my recipe specifies a particular type of flakes, I don’t want to unknowingly replace them with a different oat product. Around 36% of consumers prioritise following the recipe’s structure. |
| Storing without waste | Check the best-before date and the condition of the pack; make sure you can store the contents in a dry, airtight container after opening. | I bake on several occasions and want to use an opened pack without the contents deteriorating. Around 29% of consumers give top priority to storing their supplies. |
| Gluten-free suitability | If gluten-free oats are required, read the gluten-free statement, ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack. | When my recipe requires gluten-free oats, I can’t assume a product is suitable just because it’s made from oats. This product-specific suitability is a top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Pack size and price per kilo | Compare similar types of oats by price per kilo and choose a pack size that suits how often you bake. | I bake occasionally and don’t want to buy a larger pack than I can store and use properly. For around 14% of consumers, a suitable pack size and the price per kilo are the most important factors. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming all oats are gluten-free
A pack of oats may carry a warning about other cereals containing gluten. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, the gluten-free statement can only be used when a product meets the applicable requirements.
If your recipe calls for gluten-free oats, check the statement, ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack you’re buying.
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Treating the best-before date as an automatic use-by date
The best-before date relates to quality. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oats may still be usable after this date if the packaging is intact and the product looks and smells normal.
Check the pack and its contents. After opening, store oats somewhere cool, dry and dark, in an airtight container.
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Looking only at the pack price
A larger pack isn’t necessarily suitable if you only bake occasionally. Standard oats and mixed portioned products also have different uses.
Compare the price per kilo within the same product type, and check that the type of flakes and pack size suit your recipe and how you’ll use them.
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Swapping types of flakes and oat flour without adapting the recipe
Recipes use oats in different ways. For example, an Irish oat bread recipe from Jumbo combines soaked oat flakes with wheat flour, oat flour and wholemeal flour.
Follow the ingredients and quantities in your chosen recipe rather than replacing flakes or flour like for like.
Brands to consider
Brinta
The 450 g oats reviewed have extra-fine flakes, making them a good option when a recipe calls for fine oat flakes.
- Albert Heijn’s product information lists 100% oat flakes.
- The same product information warns that the product may contain wheat and rye. If you’re following a gluten-free recipe, don’t rely on the fine flakes alone.
Quaker
Quaker Original Oats are an option when a recipe calls for standard oats without specifying fine or coarse flakes.
- Quaker lists 100% wholegrain oats as an ingredient.
- Quaker also warns that the product may contain barley and wheat. Don’t choose it based on an assumption that it’s suitable for a gluten-free diet.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s organic coarse wholegrain oat flakes are worth considering when a recipe calls for coarse flakes.
- The product information lists wholegrain oat flakes as an ingredient and displays the EU organic logo.
- The allergen information also warns that the product may contain other cereals. Organic certification alone doesn’t indicate whether a product is suitable for a gluten-free diet.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers fine and coarse wholegrain oats, so you can match the type of flakes to your recipe.
- The product information for the coarse variety reviewed lists wholegrain oat flakes as an ingredient.
- The product may contain barley, rye and wheat; check the label if gluten-free oats are required.
Golden Bridge
ALDI’s own brand includes fine and coarse wholegrain oats. Choose the type specified in your baking recipe.
- ALDI lists the fine and coarse varieties separately in its range.
- For recipes with specific ingredient or allergen requirements, check the information on the pack you’re buying.
Oats for your store cupboard at Joybuy
These packs offer oats as a base for baking recipes. Choose Brinta when your recipe calls for extra-fine flakes. For the two Quaker packs, first decide how much you want to store, and check the type of flakes if your recipe specifies one.
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Brinta Oats 450 g
An option for batter recipes that call for extra-fine oat flakes.
The product information for this variety lists 100% oat flakes. Check the best-before date and the pack label; as the product may contain wheat and rye, don’t assume it’s suitable for a gluten-free diet.
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Quaker Oats 600 g
The 600 g pack is a good fit if you bake regularly and can store your oats in an airtight container.
If your recipe calls for fine or coarse flakes, check the type on the pack. For a gluten-free recipe, also read the gluten-free statement and allergen information; Quaker warns that its oats may contain wheat and barley.
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Quaker Oats 375 g
The 375 g pack is a smaller option if you don’t bake as often.
Check the type of flakes if your recipe calls for fine or coarse oats. For gluten-free baking, read the statement and allergen information on this pack rather than relying on the product name.
Frequently asked questions
How long can I keep opened oats in the store cupboard?
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says opened oats can be kept in a kitchen cupboard for one year. Store them somewhere cool, dry and dark, in an airtight container, and don’t use them if they smell musty or have gone soft.
Can I use oats for baking after the best-before date?
Sometimes, according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, provided the packaging is intact and the oats look and smell normal. For an unopened pack, follow the storage advice on the packaging and check the contents rather than relying on the date alone.
Are standard oats suitable for gluten-free bread?
Don’t assume they are: if your recipe requires gluten-free oats, choose a pack with a gluten-free statement. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says this statement can only be used when the applicable requirements are met. Also check the ingredients and allergen information.
Can I replace all the flour in a bread recipe with oats?
Not unless you’re following a recipe developed for that substitution. Jumbo’s Irish oat bread recipe uses oat flakes alongside wheat flour, oat flour and wholemeal flour. So follow the ingredients and liquid ratios in a recipe for the bread you want to bake.