Which choice is right for you?

For bakers who want to choose their own additions

For biscuits, bars, muffins or crackers, you can start with oats that contain nothing but oats. Then look at the whole recipe: fruit, raisins and other ingredients can also contain sugars.

For bakers looking for fine oats

If you don’t want noticeably coarse oats in your dough, check the description of the oat texture. Albert Heijn and Jumbo offer fine rolled oats, while Brinta describes its oats as extra fine. The right texture depends on your recipe.

For bakers who need gluten-free oats

If you follow a gluten-free diet, oats being the only ingredient isn’t enough to identify a product as gluten-free. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises looking for a ‘gluten-free’ label or the Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start by distinguishing between the ingredients and the total sugars. Then choose the oat texture and pack size that suit your baking plans. If gluten-free is a requirement for you, check for that label before comparing the other features.

What to consider What to check Who is it most important for?
Added and total sugars Read the ingredients list and compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g; these two pieces of information answer different questions. If I choose what to use to sweeten my bake, I want to know what’s already in the oat base. Around 38% of consumers prioritise this distinction.
Oat texture Check whether the packaging specifies fine or coarse oats, and whether your recipe calls for ground oats. If I don’t want a coarse oat texture in my dough, the type of oats is my first consideration. Around 31% of consumers prioritise texture.
Pack size Compare the pack size with the amount you use in your recipes, and check the best-before information. If I bake regularly, I want a pack that suits how much I use; for a one-off recipe, a smaller pack may be more practical. Around 23% of consumers give this top priority.
Gluten-free status Look for an explicit ‘gluten-free’ label or the Crossed Grain symbol, and read the latest allergen information. If my bake needs to be gluten-free, an ingredients list containing only oats isn’t enough to check. This is the top priority for around 8% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘no added sugars’ means ‘sugar-free’

    According to Albert Heijn, Quaker Oats contains no added sugars, but does contain 1.1 g of sugars per 100 g. So, no added sugar doesn’t mean that a product contains no sugars at all.

    If you have a strict requirement, check both the ingredients and the total sugars per 100 g. Don’t treat the two labels as interchangeable.

  • Looking at the oats alone

    A base made entirely from oats doesn’t determine how much sugar the finished bake contains. For example, in an Albert Heijn Allerhande biscuit recipe, the sweetness comes from apple and raisins.

    As well as the oats, consider the other ingredients and toppings in your full recipe.

  • Assuming regular oats are gluten-free

    With regular oats, contact with gluten during processing can be a concern. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre therefore distinguishes between regular oat products and products that are explicitly labelled as gluten-free.

    If gluten-free is a requirement, check the label and allergen information on the packaging every time you buy.

  • Assuming ‘organic’ means sugar-free or gluten-free

    Organic origins don’t tell you anything about those separate properties. Albert Heijn lists 0.7 g of sugars per 100 g for its organic oats, while Jumbo lists 1.1 g per 100 g for its organic wholegrain rolled oats.

    Check the nutritional information and any gluten-free label separately from the organic label.

Brands compared

These brands offer a range of oat products. Always compare the specific product: oat type, nutritional information and allergen details can vary between packs.

Brinta

According to Joybuy’s product information, Brinta Oats, 450 g, has an extra-fine texture.

  • Joybuy lists 100% rolled oats as the ingredient and 0.8 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • The product contains oats and may contain rye and wheat; check the label if allergens are a concern for you.

Quaker

Quaker offers regular oats and the individually portioned Oats Express Naturel variety. Regular oats are a good option for baking if you want to measure out the amount you need.

  • Albert Heijn lists Quaker Oats as 100% wholegrain oats, with no added sugars.
  • The same product information lists 1.1 g of sugars per 100 g, so check the total sugars if that distinction matters for your recipe.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn offers fine wholegrain rolled oats, among other products, as well as a separate gluten-free variety.

  • According to Albert Heijn, its fine wholegrain oats contain wholegrain oats as an ingredient, with 0 g of added sugars and 0.7 g of total sugars per 100 g.
  • The regular fine oats aren’t the same as AH Gluten-Free Wholegrain Oats, so check which pack you’re choosing.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers fine and organic wholegrain rolled oats in a range of pack sizes.

  • Jumbo lists wholegrain oats as the ingredient in its fine wholegrain rolled oats, with 0.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • The organic variety has its own nutritional and allergen information; don’t assume it has the same properties as the fine variety without checking.

Lidl

Lidl lists CROWNFIELD Organic Oats in a 500 g pack.

  • This is an organic oat option to compare with other packs when you’re shopping.
  • Before choosing this variety to meet a specific requirement, check the ingredients, sugars per 100 g and allergen information on the pack.

Aldi

Aldi lists GOLDEN BRIDGE Fine Wholegrain Oats in a 500 g pack.

  • The product name makes it clear that these are fine oats, which is useful if that’s what you’re looking for.
  • If you’re choosing based on added sugar, total sugars or allergens, read the nutritional information and label on the current pack.

Oat products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are oats with no added sugars also sugar-free?

No, those labels don’t mean the same thing. Albert Heijn lists Quaker Oats as having no added sugars, but it does contain 1.1 g of total sugars per 100 g. So check both figures when choosing oats for a recipe.

Which oats let me control what I add to my bake?

Oats with oats as the only ingredient let you choose what else to use. Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Joybuy list only oats or rolled oats as the ingredient in AH Fine Wholegrain Oats, Jumbo Fine Wholegrain Rolled Oats and Brinta Oats respectively. If the total amount of sugars matters, check the rest of your recipe too.

Are regular oats suitable if I need to bake gluten-free?

Don’t rely on the word ‘oats’ alone. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, you can identify gluten-free products by the ‘gluten-free’ label or the Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging. Also check the latest allergen information for the product you’re buying.

Are organic oats automatically sugar-free or gluten-free?

No, being organic doesn’t in itself tell you anything about those separate properties. Albert Heijn lists 0.7 g of sugars per 100 g for its organic oats, and Jumbo lists 1.1 g per 100 g for its organic wholegrain rolled oats. To check whether they’re gluten-free, look for an explicit label on the pack you choose.

How should I store oats for baking?

Store oats in a dry place and seal the pack tightly after use. Follow the instructions on the pack you buy for exact storage advice and shelf life.