Choose a large pack of plain oats if you’re making porridge, overnight oats or bakes for several guests and can use the rest later. Fine flakes are ideal for a quick bowl of hot porridge, while individual portions are handy if you’d rather not measure them out yourself. If any of your guests have dietary restrictions, always check the label on the pack you choose.
Making several bowls of porridge, a dish of overnight oats or oat bakes? The pack size and number of portions can help you plan. Jumbo lists 25 portions in its 1 kg pack; Quaker lists 15 portions in its 600 g pack.
If you’d like to use the oats after Easter too, a larger pack could be a good choice. Just check that you can store any leftover oats according to the storage instructions on the pack.
Are you serving someone who needs to avoid cereals containing gluten, or their possible presence? Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack you’ve chosen. The Jumbo, Quaker and Brinta packs reviewed list different other cereals.
First, work out how much oats you’ll need for brunch and whether you’ll use any afterwards. Then choose the flake size or portion pack that suits your recipe, and check the label if anyone has dietary restrictions.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size and storage | Compare the pack size and stated number of portions. Also check the storage instructions for an opened pack. | I’m making oat dishes for several guests and want to use the rest later. For around 50% of consumers, having enough in stock is the top priority. |
| Preparation and texture | Check whether the pack contains fine or jumbo oats, and follow the preparation instructions for the dish you want to make. | If I’m making porridge just before serving or mixing oats into yoghurt, the pack needs to suit how I’m preparing it. Ease of preparation and choice of recipe matter most to around 30% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients, allergen information and warnings on the current pack. | If a guest needs to avoid certain cereals, I want to know what the chosen pack says before serving it. For around 20% of consumers, label information is the top priority when buying. |
Jumbo lists sachets of 5 × 27 g alongside a 1 kg pack of oats, which has 25 stated portions of 40 g. These packs won’t provide the same amount for a group.
Count how many portions you need before choosing individual sachets. They’re most useful if you’d rather not measure out portions for your brunch.
The Quaker, Jumbo and Brinta packs reviewed list different possible traces of wheat, barley or rye. So a brand name alone doesn’t tell you enough about a specific product.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you buy, and check again before serving if you’re using a different variety.
Lidl describes its 500 g pack of jumbo oats as an in-store-only product.
Check whether it’s available at your local store before planning your brunch shopping.
Jumbo’s range includes fine and jumbo wholegrain oats, as well as a 1 kg pack of fine wholegrain oats.
The Quaker value pack reviewed contains 600 g of plain wholegrain oats. The brand also sells individual Express portions.
The own-brand range includes fine and jumbo wholegrain oats in 500 g and 1 kg packs, as well as organic and gluten-free options.
The Brinta pack reviewed contains 450 g of extra-fine oat flakes.
ALDI lists Golden Bridge fine wholegrain oats in a 500 g pack.
Lidl lists jumbo oats in a 500 g pack, as well as organic oats in a separate product range.
Use the portion size on the pack you choose to work out how many bowls you can make. Jumbo lists 25 portions of 40 g in its 1 kg pack, while Quaker lists 15 portions of 40 g in its 600 g pack. If you’re making other brunch dishes too, adjust the amount of oats to suit what you plan to serve.
Don’t assume they are. The Jumbo variety reviewed lists gluten, while Quaker and Brinta product information warns of possible traces of other cereals. Check that the current label on the specific pack meets your guest’s dietary needs.
Check the label on the pack you’ve chosen. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information for pre-packed foods must be shown on the label and available before purchase. Check it again if you buy a different variety.
Follow the storage instructions on the specific pack and seal it properly after use. The Jumbo and Quaker product information reviewed recommends storing oats in a cool, dry place.
