Solo diners who want to use up their supplies
Do you regularly make one portion and have somewhere dry and airtight to store an opened pack? You can measure out portions from a larger pack without needing individual sachets.
Which type of packaging is right for you?
Solo diners who prefer fixed portions
If weighing isn’t part of your routine, portion sachets provide a pre-measured amount. Check how many grams each sachet contains: it may not be the same as the portion you’d choose yourself.
Shoppers who carefully check ingredients or allergens
Plain oats, sweetened portions and cereal mixes don’t necessarily have the same ingredients. Always read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack, even if you already know the brand.
What should you consider when choosing?
First, think about how often you eat oats and whether you want to measure them yourself. Then compare the pack size and label of the varieties that suit your routine.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size and storage | Check how many grams you’re buying and follow the storage advice on the pack once it’s opened. | If I often make one bowl, I want to be able to use up a larger pack without leaving it open for too long. For around 45% of consumers, this would be the main consideration when buying supplies. |
| Fixed portions | Check the number of sachets, the weight per sachet and the preparation instructions. | When I’m busy, I want to be able to grab one portion without weighing it. This fixed serving size would be the main consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and allergen information for the exact variety; check for a certification mark on the pack if needed. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the product’s composition matters more to me than the brand name. For around 22% of consumers, checking this would be the top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Buying more than you can use
A large pack is only practical for one person if it suits how often you make oats and how you store it once opened.
Think about your own portion size and how often you eat oats. Choose an amount you can use up and follow the storage advice on the packaging.
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Assuming portion sachets contain plain oats
Portion packs may contain different ingredients from plain oats. For example, Jumbo’s product information describes Jumbo Havermout Porties Original as containing sugar.
Choose sachets if fixed portions matter to you, but compare the ingredients with those of plain oats before choosing a variety.
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Assuming plain oats are gluten-free
According to the Voedingscentrum, oats may come into contact with gluten during processing. So the word ‘oats’ alone doesn’t confirm that a product is suitable for someone with coeliac disease.
If you have coeliac disease, check the physical packaging for the official Crossed Grain certification mark and read the allergen information for the exact product.
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Choosing based on the brand name alone
A brand may offer both plain oats and products with additional ingredients. The ingredients in one variety don’t automatically apply to another pack.
Always check the full product name, ingredients list and allergen information before choosing a different type of packaging.
Brands to consider
Jumbo
Jumbo’s own-brand range includes plain wholegrain oats and individual portions.
- It offers fine and coarse oats, as well as a 1 kg pack of plain fine oats.
- Ingredients vary by variety: Jumbo Havermout Porties Original is described as containing sugar. Check the pack you choose.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s own-brand range includes fine and coarse wholegrain oats; the fine variety described comes in a 500 g pack.
- For the fine variety described, Albert Heijn lists wholegrain oats as an ingredient and gives a serving size of 40 g.
- For this variety, the label lists oats as a gluten-containing grain and notes the possible presence of other grains.
Quaker
Quaker offers plain oats and Oats Express portion packs, so check which option you’re choosing.
- Quaker describes Havermout Original as 100% wholegrain oats and Oats Express Naturel as portion packs.
- Quaker notes the possible presence of barley and wheat in Havermout Original. Allergen information may vary between varieties.
Brinta
The 450 g pack of Brinta Havermout described here contains fine oats for measuring out your own portions.
- The product information lists 100% oats.
- The allergen information lists oats and notes the possible presence of rye and wheat.
Oats and portion packs at Joybuy
This selection includes packs you can measure a portion from yourself, as well as products sold as portion packs or cereal mixes. Pay particular attention to the pack size and ingredients: a mix with fruit isn’t the same as plain oats.
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Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g
An Express variety to consider if you want to make one portion at a time. The pack contains 324 g; check the weight per individual portion and the ingredients for this variety.
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Quaker Oatmeal 375 g
A smaller pack for anyone who wants to measure out oats for each meal and keep less in the cupboard at once. The pack contains 375 g; adjust the amount per bowl to suit what you usually use.
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Quaker Oatmeal 600 g
A pack for anyone who regularly measures out a single portion of oats. At 600 g, it contains more than the 375 g Quaker pack; make sure you have somewhere to store it once opened.
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Brinta Havermout 450 g
A pack of fine oats that you can measure a portion from yourself. For this Brinta variety, the product information lists 100% oats; the allergen information also notes the possible presence of rye and wheat.
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Family Whole Red Dates Raisins Oat Flakes (Free Pure Glucose) 838g
An oat and cereal product with dates and raisins to consider if you’re looking for an alternative to plain oats. The product name states 838 g; if you’re looking for sachets with fixed portions, check the ingredients and serving information on the pack.
Frequently asked questions
Is a family-size pack practical if I’m the only one who eats oats?
Yes, if you regularly make one portion, want to measure it yourself and can store the opened pack according to the label. If you don’t eat much oats, a smaller pack may be a better fit for what you’ll actually use.
How much oats should I have in one portion?
The Albert Heijn fine wholegrain oats described here list 40 g as a serving and recommend preparing it with 250 ml of water or milk. That serving size applies to this product; for portion sachets and other packs, check the weight and instructions for the variety you choose.
Are plain oats suitable for people with coeliac disease?
Not necessarily. The Voedingscentrum points out that oats may come into contact with gluten and says that, for people with coeliac disease, oats must carry the official Crossed Grain certification mark on the packaging. Check the allergen information for the exact product too.
What should I check on a large pack of oats?
Check the pack size, ingredients, allergens, nutritional information, best-before date and storage advice. This will help you decide whether the ingredients suit you and whether you can store the pack properly once opened while measuring out one portion at a time.