Bakers who want to choose the texture of the oats
You’re baking oat biscuits and want to choose between fine flakes and biscuits with more visible oat flakes.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Home bakers planning their supplies
You use oats regularly and are looking for a standard pack size that suits how much you bake and can store.
Bakers who need to eat gluten-free
You need a pack of oats explicitly labelled gluten-free, and when baking, you also check the other ingredients and the risk of cross-contamination.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the flakes your recipe calls for, or the ones that will give you the texture you want. Then decide what pack size will work for you, and read the label if ingredients or allergens are important to you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Flake size | Check whether the pack says fine or coarse oat flakes. If you’re following a specific recipe, use the type it recommends. | If I want the oats to be clearly visible in my biscuits, I’ll choose differently than if I want to avoid coarse flakes. Around 33% of consumers put flake size first when making this choice. |
| Pack size | Compare the pack size with how much you use in your recipes and can store in a dry place. | Frequent bakers want enough oats in one pack, while occasional bakers don’t want a large supply left unused. For around 27% of consumers, the usable pack size is the most important factor. |
| Gluten-free labelling and allergens | Read the label on the exact pack. If you need to eat gluten-free, look for the words ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol, as advised by the Voedingscentrum. | If I need to avoid gluten, I also need to consider the other biscuit ingredients and cross-contamination during baking. This is the priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Ingredients for your recipe | Check that you’re buying oats or oat flakes, rather than a flavoured mix or another oat product. | If you want to choose what else goes into your biscuit dough, start with an oat base that suits the recipe. Around 20% of consumers give this the highest priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming all types of flakes are interchangeable
A Quaker biscuit recipe allows both quick and old-fashioned oats, but that doesn’t mean the oats will look the same in the finished biscuits.
Choose the flake size to suit your recipe and preference. If you switch to a different type, consider baking a small test batch first.
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Choosing a larger pack without a plan to use it
A larger standard pack is less practical if you don’t bake often and the oats will be sitting around for a long time.
Choose a pack size you can use up, and follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
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Automatically assuming regular oats are gluten-free
Regular oat packs may state that other gluten-containing cereals could be present or found in traces. According to the Voedingscentrum, you can identify gluten-free products by the words ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging.
If you need to eat gluten-free, check the exact pack of oats, all the other ingredients and the risk of cross-contamination during baking.
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Mistaking a breakfast mix for plain oats
A flavoured mix or single-serve product won’t necessarily contain the same ingredients as the oats specified in your biscuit recipe.
Read the ingredients list if you’re making a recipe that calls for oats or oat flakes as a separate ingredient.
Brands to consider
Brinta
Albert Heijn describes Brinta Oatmeal flakes as extra fine; Jumbo lists the 450 g pack as containing 100% oat flakes.
- A specific option to consider if you’re looking for fine flakes in a 450 g pack.
- The product information states that traces of wheat and rye may be present. Check the label if you need to avoid these cereals.
Quaker
Jumbo describes Quaker Oatmeal 600 g as 100% wholegrain oats in a cardboard tube with an inner pack.
- The 600 g pack is worth considering if you use oats regularly.
- The product information states that barley and wheat may be present. A tube-style pack is also not the same as a confirmed metal tin.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s range includes both fine and coarse wholegrain oat flakes in 500 g packs.
- You can choose your preferred flake size from options listed in the same pack size.
- Check the full ingredients and allergen information on the pack of your chosen variety.
Crownfield
Lidl Netherlands lists Crownfield Organic Oat Flakes as a product available to buy in store.
- A brand to consider if you’re looking for organic oat flakes at Lidl.
- Check the contents, ingredients and allergens on the specific pack before choosing it for your biscuit recipe.
Oat packs at Joybuy
These standard packs of oats range from 375 to 600 g, so you can choose the size that suits you. When choosing oats for biscuits, also check the flake size and the label on the individual product.
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Brinta Oatmeal 450 g
Consider this pack if you’re looking for fine flakes for your biscuits. Albert Heijn describes Brinta Oatmeal as extra fine; for the 450 g pack, Jumbo lists 100% oat flakes and possible traces of wheat and rye. Check the label if you need to avoid gluten or are looking for a particular type of packaging.
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Zonnatura Organic Wholegrain Oatmeal 500 g
Consider this pack if you’re looking for 500 g of organic wholegrain oats for a biscuit recipe. Check the flake size, ingredients and allergens on the exact pack before choosing it for a specific recipe.
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Quaker Oatmeal 600 g
The 600 g pack is worth considering if you bake with oats regularly. Jumbo describes the corresponding Quaker variety as 100% wholegrain oats and states that wheat and barley may be present. Check the flake size if your recipe calls for fine or coarse flakes.
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Quaker Oatmeal 375 g
This 375 g pack is an option if you’d rather buy less oats at a time than with the 600 g variety. Check the flake size and allergens on the label, especially if your recipe or diet has specific requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use both fine and coarse oats for biscuits?
Yes, Quaker’s biscuit recipe lists both quick and old-fashioned oats. If you switch between types of flakes, bear in mind that the visible texture may differ. The American terms may also not correspond exactly to the descriptions on packs sold in the Netherlands.
Is a tube of oats a metal tin?
Not necessarily. Jumbo describes the 600 g Quaker pack as a cardboard tube with an inner pack. If a metal tin is important to you, check the material of the specific pack.
What pack size is right if I only bake biscuits occasionally?
Choose a pack size that suits your recipe and that you can use up. A smaller standard pack may be more practical if you don’t use many oats; follow the storage instructions on the label.
Can I use regular oats if I need to eat gluten-free?
Don’t assume they’re suitable without checking the label. According to the Voedingscentrum, you can identify gluten-free products by the words ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol. The Brinta 450 g and Quaker 600 g packs described here state that other gluten-containing cereals may be present. Also check the other biscuit ingredients and avoid cross-contamination during baking.