Choose plain oats if you want to decide for yourself what to add, and compare the salt content of products per 100 g. Oats won’t automatically make your stamppot supper low in salt: check the stock, sauce, processed meat and any salt you add while cooking, too. Sachets can be handy when speed is a priority, but check the ingredients and nutrition information for these varieties as well.
You want to decide for yourself what goes in or alongside your meal. Voedingscentrum lists 0 g of salt per 40 g serving of plain oats; before you buy, compare the nutrition information for your chosen product per 100 g.
You want a quick and easy porridge to have with your evening meal or enjoy on its own. Albert Heijn lists a preparation time of 2 minutes for Quaker Oats Express Naturel.
The word ‘oats’ alone isn’t enough to confirm that a product is suitable for someone with coeliac disease. Voedingscentrum recommends looking for the official Crossed Grain symbol; check the packaging of the specific product.
Start with the factor that matters most for your meal: control over salt, quick preparation, or the ingredients and allergens. Then compare the nutrition information on the specific pack.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| Salt and added ingredients | Compare salt per 100 g and check the ingredients list for added salt or flavourings. | If you want to choose the flavour yourself, you’ll also want to know how much salt is in the oat base. Around 42% of consumers say keeping an eye on salt is their top priority. |
| Ease of preparation | Check the preparation time and serving size; compare salt per 100 g here, too. | If you’re short on time, you’ll want to make a warm porridge without having to measure out lots of ingredients. For around 33% of consumers, convenience matters most. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the allergen information. If you have coeliac disease, look for the official Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging. | If you need to meet a specific gluten-related or ingredient requirement, your chosen pack must meet it. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Plain oats and products with added ingredients can have different salt levels. For example, Albert Heijn’s product information lists 0.4 g of salt per 100 g for AH Volkoren havermout proteïne.
Compare the figures per 100 g and check which ingredients have been added to the oats.
For Brinta, the listed salt content of 0.25 g is for a prepared serving made with 250 ml of semi-skimmed milk. It isn’t the figure per 100 g of dry oats.
Use the same basis when comparing packs, and assess milk and other additions separately.
Quick preparation doesn’t tell you anything about the salt content. According to Voedingscentrum, plain oats can also be low in salt.
Choose sachets if portion sizes or preparation time matter to you, and check the salt content of the specific variety.
According to Voedingscentrum, oats can become contaminated with gluten during processing. So seeing just one ingredient on the list doesn’t prove that a product is suitable for someone with coeliac disease.
Check for the official Crossed Grain symbol on the pack you buy.
Albert Heijn describes Brinta oats, in a 450 g pack, as a product made with 100% oat flakes.
Quaker offers plain oats as well as Oats Express Naturel in portion sachets.
The AH range includes fine wholegrain oats and a separate protein-enriched variety.
Jumbo offers 500 g of organic wholegrain oats and has also listed a separate gluten-free variety.
Crownfield is a Lidl brand that offers organic oats.
These products include portion sachets and larger packs of oats for anyone who wants to make something with oats to enjoy alongside a stamppot supper. If you’re keeping an eye on salt, always check the label on the specific pack; these products aren’t an assessment of the salt content of the whole meal.
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Worth considering if pre-measured portions make preparation easier for you. Joybuy describes this pack as containing 12 portions; check the pack for ingredients, salt per 100 g and allergens.
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A larger pack for anyone who wants to measure out and flavour their own oat-based dish. Compare the nutrition information per 100 g and check the ingredients and allergens on the pack.
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An oat base for anyone who wants to choose how to prepare it and what to add. Albert Heijn describes these Brinta oats as 100% oat flakes; check the salt content per 100 g of dry oats on the pack.
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A pack to consider if you want to decide how much to use in your oat-based dish. If you’re keeping an eye on salt, check the nutrition information per 100 g and the ingredients on the pack.
Yes, plain oats can make a simple base that lets you choose what to add. Voedingscentrum lists 0 g of salt per 40 g of oats; also compare the nutrition information per 100 g for the specific product.
No. The salt content of your meal also depends on the other ingredients and what you add while cooking. Voedingscentrum lists sauces, soups and processed meat among the foods that often contain a lot of salt.
The word ‘oats’ alone isn’t enough to tell. According to Voedingscentrum, oats can be contaminated with gluten, so check for the official Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging.
Seal the pack tightly and store the oats somewhere cool and dry. Check the pack for the best-before date and any further storage instructions.
