Families who eat oats regularly
If several family members regularly make porridge, overnight oats or dishes with oats, the key thing is how much of an opened pack you’ll get through during normal use.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Shoppers who check vegan labels
If you eat a plant-based diet, check the ingredients in your chosen oats as well as anything you add during preparation. With flavoured or other prepared varieties, it’s particularly important to check the current label.
Households looking for gluten-free oats
For these households, pack size isn’t the first thing to consider. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises people with coeliac disease to look for the official Crossed Grain trademark on oat packaging.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, think about how often your family eats oats and whether everyone prefers the same type of flake. Then check the label on the pack you’re actually buying, especially if vegan ingredients or gluten-free oats are essential.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size and family consumption | Compare the weight with the serving size on the pack, and consider how quickly you’ll use the contents once opened. | If several people often eat breakfast together, I want a pack that suits how we use it without being left open for too long. That’s why around 38% of consumers prioritise stocking up for the family. |
| Vegan ingredients | Read the ingredients on the exact product and prepare it with water or a plant-based drink. | For a fully plant-based breakfast, I want to know what’s in both the oats and anything I use to prepare them. Vegan ingredients are the top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Convenience and flake texture | Check whether the flakes are fine or coarse. For individual sachets, check the amount in each one and the preparation instructions. | On busy mornings, I don’t want to measure out portions every time, or I’m looking for a flake texture everyone at home enjoys. Convenience or texture comes first for around 23% of consumers. |
| Gluten-free oats | If you need gluten-free oats, check the current pack for the official Crossed Grain trademark. | If I need gluten-free oats, I don’t want to rely on the word ‘vegan’. That assurance matters most to around 8% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
Choosing a large pack without considering how much you use
A 1 kg bag is a good fit for regular family use, but gives you less flexibility to switch between flake types if not everyone likes the same thing.
Check the serving size on the pack and consider how many breakfasts you’ll actually use the contents for.
-
Not sealing an opened pack properly
Storage matters when you’re using a family-size bag over several breakfasts.
Once opened, store oats in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Choose a smaller pack if that better suits how you use them.
-
Confusing vegan with gluten-free
A product made with plant-based ingredients isn’t automatically suitable if you need gluten-free oats. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns that regular oats may be contaminated with gluten.
If you need gluten-free oats, check the current pack for the official Crossed Grain trademark. An ingredients list that mentions oats alone isn’t enough.
Brands and own-label options to consider
Jumbo
Jumbo lists 500 g packs of fine and coarse wholegrain oats, as well as a 1 kg pack of fine flakes.
- The different pack sizes let you choose based on family consumption and your preferred flake texture.
- The standard coarse variety may contain barley, rye and wheat. Don’t treat it as a gluten-free product.
Albert Heijn
The own-label range includes a standard 500 g pack of fine wholegrain oats for anyone who doesn’t want to open a whole kilo at once.
- The plain variety described lists wholegrain oat flakes as its ingredient.
- The product information notes that other grains may be present. Albert Heijn advises checking the ingredients and allergen information on the pack again.
Quaker
Quaker offers, among other options, a 600 g pack of plain oats and individual Oats Express portions.
- The 600 g pack lists 15 servings of 40 g; Oats Express contains 12 sachets of 27 g.
- Each sachet contains less than the stated serving in the standard pack. For both products, check the current ingredients and allergen information too.
Brinta
Brinta has a 450 g pack of oats described as extra fine on the product page.
- A smaller pack could be a good choice if your family wants to try a fine flake texture first.
- The product page notes that traces of wheat and rye may be present; this doesn’t confirm that the product is suitable for a gluten-free diet.
Oats at Joybuy
These Quaker packs, at 600 g and 375 g, suit families who’d rather open a smaller pack than a 1 kg one. Choose between them based on how regularly you eat oats at home, and always check the current label if you need vegan or gluten-free options.
Image unavailable
Quaker Oatmeal 600 g
A standard-size pack for households that regularly eat oats together. It contains 600 g; the plain variety described is listed as providing 15 servings of 40 g.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack. If you need gluten-free oats, look for the official Crossed Grain trademark.
Image unavailable
Quaker Oatmeal 375 g
A smaller pack to consider if you eat oats together less often or don’t want to open a larger pack straight away. It contains 375 g.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack. If you need gluten-free oats, also look for the official Crossed Grain trademark.
Frequently asked questions
Are plain oats automatically vegan?
Not every product called oats has the same ingredients. The plain varieties described list oats as an ingredient, and you can prepare them with water or a plant-based drink. Check the label on the exact pack again, especially for varieties with added ingredients.
Can I choose regular oats if I need gluten-free oats?
If you need gluten-free oats, don’t rely on the ingredient oats alone. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, people with coeliac disease should look for the official Crossed Grain trademark on oat packaging. Check the product you’re buying.
How should I store an opened family-size bag of oats?
Store oats in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says opened oats can be kept in a kitchen cupboard for around a year; when using them, also check for any changes in smell or texture.
What allergen information should I check on the pack?
Read the ingredients list and check the pack you’re buying for any statements about the possible presence of other grains. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be clearly listed in the ingredients on prepacked products, and the specific grain must be named for gluten-containing cereals.