Who are the different pack formats useful for?

Parent or carer short on time at lunch

A pre-portioned sachet saves you measuring when you need to make a quick hot lunch during the school holidays. The Quaker sachets reviewed still require a bowl and a microwave or saucepan.

Solo diner with access to hot water only

A cup can be useful if you don’t have a microwave or pan. Check how much water you need, the serving size and which allergens the product contains.

Stock-up shopper who portions oats themselves

If you make several lunches at home, a larger pack may suit you if you want to measure out the oats yourself each time. The trade-off is losing the convenience of individually packed portions.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, choose a pack format that suits the equipment you can use at lunchtime. Then check that the serving size and ingredients match what you want to eat.

Portion sachet

Choose this if: you want a small, pre-measured portion; according to Albert Heijn, Quaker Oats Express Naturel contains 12 sachets and takes 2 minutes to prepare.

Bear in mind: you’ll still need a bowl and the specified liquid, and ingredients vary between sachets.

Cup

Choose this if: you only have access to hot water; the Upfront Oats Chocolade reviewed comes in a cup with one 75 g dry serving.

Bear in mind: this serving is larger than a 27 g sachet, and the cup contains milk and other ingredients.

Loose oats

Choose this if: you make several lunches at home and want to decide how much oats to use each time.

Bear in mind: you’ll need to measure out each serving yourself and follow the pack’s preparation instructions.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Minimal preparation Check whether you need a microwave, saucepan or just hot water, and how long preparation takes. I want to make one bowl quickly during the school holidays without weighing out the oats first; around 44% of consumers prioritise minimal preparation.
Ingredients and serving size Compare the dry serving size and read the ingredients and allergen information on the current label. If I want to flavour my lunch myself or need to avoid certain ingredients, the product’s composition is the deciding factor. Around 33% of consumers prioritise checking this.
Stock for several lunches Compare the number of servings per pack and decide whether you want to measure them out yourself each time. When making several lunches at home, individual sachets matter less to me than a pack I can portion as needed; this is the most important factor for around 23% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming every single serving makes the same size lunch

    A Quaker Oats Express Naturel sachet reviewed contains 27 g of oats; the Upfront cup reviewed contains 75 g and other ingredients. The packs are therefore not directly interchangeable.

    Compare the dry serving size, the amount of liquid needed and the ingredients before choosing a format.

  • Assuming every portion sachet is unsweetened

    Sugar is listed in the ingredients for Jumbo Havermout Porties Original. Quaker describes Oats Express Naturel as having no added sugars; that doesn’t automatically apply to other portion sachets.

    Read the ingredients list for the variant you’re buying if you want to control the flavour and sweetness yourself.

  • Looking only at the size of the pack

    A large pack of oats and a box of individual portions offer different levels of convenience. The number of lunches you can make also depends on the serving size you choose.

    Compare the number of servings with how you use oats for lunch, then decide whether measuring them yourself is worth the trade-off compared with pre-portioned servings.

  • Assuming ordinary oats are automatically gluten-free

    The oat products reviewed mention possible traces of wheat, barley or rye, among other things. So oats as the main ingredient aren’t enough to determine whether a product is suitable for a strict gluten-free diet.

    Check the current allergen information and look for an explicit gluten-free label if that’s essential to your choice.

Brands to consider

Quaker

Offers both Oats Express portion sachets and ordinary oats in larger packs. The right format mainly depends on how much you want to measure out yourself.

  • According to Albert Heijn, Oats Express Naturel contains 12 portion sachets and takes 2 minutes to prepare.
  • With a large pack, you’ll need to portion the oats yourself; check the current ingredients and allergen information for both formats.

Jumbo

Havermout Porties Original is an option if you’re looking for individually pre-measured sachets.

  • Jumbo lists five portions of 27 g each.
  • The ingredients list includes sugar as well as wholegrain oat flakes; check this if you’d rather add sweetness yourself.

Upfront

The Oats Chocolade cup reviewed is a single serving for a lunch when you have access to hot water.

  • The cup contains 75 g of product and, according to the product information, is prepared with hot water.
  • The product contains milk and other ingredients; read the label if its composition is important to your choice.

Brinta

The ordinary oats reviewed are intended to be portioned out yourself, rather than supplied in an individual sachet or cup.

  • Albert Heijn lists 100% oat flakes as the ingredients in this Brinta Havermout.
  • The label mentions possible traces of wheat and rye; you’ll need to measure out the serving yourself.

Oat products on Joybuy

These Quaker products may be relevant if you’re considering an Express variant for a quick oat-based lunch. Check how many individual servings each pack contains and how it needs to be prepared; the Protein variant isn’t necessarily the same product as regular Oats Express Naturel.

Quaker Express Oatmeal, 324 g pack

Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g

For a lunch where you want to use oats from individual portion packs. The pack contains 324 g; check the label for the weight per sachet, the amount of liquid needed and the allergen information.

View on Joybuy
Quaker Oats Express Protein, 302 g pack

Quaker Oats Express Protein 302 g

For anyone considering the Protein variant for a quick oat-based lunch. The pack contains 302 g; check the number of servings and the preparation instructions before comparing it with portion sachets. Also read the current information about soya and possible traces of barley and wheat.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Can I eat porridge for lunch?

Yes, porridge can also be eaten for lunch, according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. For a single-serving pack, check the serving size and ingredients: a small sachet and a larger cup don’t provide the same size serving.

Are ordinary oats automatically gluten-free?

No, don’t assume they are. The ordinary oat products reviewed mention possible traces of other grains; if you follow a strict gluten-free diet, check the current allergen information and look for an explicit gluten-free label on the pack.

What should I check on a pack of portioned oats?

Check the ingredients, allergens, net weight, nutritional information and preparation instructions on the pack you’re buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority also highlights the importance of clear best-before information on food labels.

Does every oat cup or portion sachet contain the same allergens?

No, the composition varies from product to product. The Upfront Oats Chocolade reviewed contains milk, while the Quaker sachets reviewed mention possible traces of soya, barley and wheat, among other things; always read the label for the variant you choose.