To control how sweet your dish is for a world food night, choose plain oats with nothing but oats on the ingredients list. Plain individual sachets are another option if quick measuring is your priority; with both formats, check the nutritional information and allergens on the packaging. Flavoured mixes need extra attention because of their added ingredients.
If you’re making a savoury porridge, topping, burger or biscuit for the evening, starting with oats and nothing else gives you the freedom to add your own flavourings. Check what else goes into the rest of the recipe, too.
An individual sachet can be handy for a small dish. Choose a plain variety if you don’t want a ready-flavoured mix to determine how sweet your dish is.
If you’re cooking for someone with coeliac disease, don’t assume ordinary oats are suitable. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says the official Crossed Grain quality mark must be shown on the packaging; also check the allergen information for every ingredient.
First, decide between plain oats, pre-measured portions and a flavoured mix. Then consider the texture and preparation you want, as well as the allergen information, to find the right pack for your dish.
Choose these: if you’re making a savoury dish or want to measure out sweet ingredients yourself.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to measure the oats yourself; cooking time and texture vary between fine and jumbo oats.
Choose these: if you want to make a small, pre-measured portion quickly.
Bear in mind: a fixed portion gives you less flexibility to adjust the amount to suit a recipe.
Choose this: if the ingredients in that particular mix suit the dish you want to make.
Bear in mind: added flavourings leave you less control over the ingredients.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients and sugars | Read the ingredients list and compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Check any claim about no added sugars separately. | If I want to control the sweetness of my dish, I look for a base without added sweeteners. This is a priority for around 46% of consumers. |
| Preparation and texture | Check the preparation instructions and choose between a pre-measured portion and fine or jumbo oats. | For a small dish, I don’t want to spend ages measuring or waiting; at the same time, the texture needs to suit my recipe. Around 27% of consumers say preparation and portion size are their main priorities. |
| Allergens and gluten | Read the allergen information. For coeliac disease, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says the official Crossed Grain quality mark must be shown on the packaging. | If I’m serving someone with a relevant dietary restriction, I need to be able to check that every ingredient is suitable. This is a priority for around 27% of consumers. |
A product with no added sugars may still contain sugars that occur naturally. Ingredients you add later will also change the overall make-up of the dish.
Read both the ingredients list and the ‘of which sugars’ value in the nutritional information per 100 g.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ordinary oats are not automatically suitable for people with coeliac disease.
In that case, choose a pack displaying the official Crossed Grain quality mark. Also check the other ingredients and be aware of possible contact with gluten in the kitchen.
Honey, syrup, chocolate and ready-made flavoured mixes can all change the final sweetness, even if you start with plain oats.
Prepare toppings separately and decide what to add to each dish.
Quaker offers plain oats as well as Oats Express Naturel in individual sachets. These options suit different ways of measuring and preparing oats.
According to Jumbo, Brinta Havermout 450 g consists of extra-fine rolled oats, for anyone looking for that texture in a dish.
Jumbo offers jumbo wholegrain oats that you can measure out and flavour yourself.
AH Biologisch Havermout fijne vlokken is an option if you’re looking for fine oats and a product labelled organic.
These products give you a choice between a small pack of Quaker Express and larger packs of oats that you can measure out yourself. If you want a less sweet dish, check the ingredients and nutritional information for the variety you choose.
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Consider this smaller pack if you only need a limited amount of oats for your dish. Check the ingredients, preparation instructions and any allergens listed for the pack you choose.
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These oats are suitable for a dish where you want to measure the amount yourself. Jumbo describes Brinta Havermout 450 g as extra-fine oats and lists 0.8 g sugars per 100 g. Check the allergen information on the packaging.
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The 600 g pack gives you plenty to measure out portions for several dishes. Check the packaging for the ingredients, preparation instructions and allergen information for this variety.
No. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority distinguishes the claim ‘no added sugars’ from the sugars that may occur naturally in a product. So check the ‘of which sugars’ value in the nutritional information, too.
A plain variety with only oats or rolled oats on the ingredients list lets you choose the other ingredients yourself. Fine and jumbo oats can give a different texture, so choose a pack that suits your dish.
Plain individual sachets are handy when you want to make a pre-measured portion quickly. Check the ingredients and preparation instructions for the specific variety, particularly if you’re using the oats in a recipe rather than serving them as porridge.
Don’t assume they’re suitable without checking. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oat products are suitable for people with coeliac disease only when the packaging displays the official Crossed Grain quality mark. Also check the other ingredients and avoid contact with gluten during preparation.
