Households making several bowls
If you make porridge, overnight oats or baked recipes at the weekend, a pack of loose oats lets you measure out exactly what you need.
Who are these pack types suitable for?
Families who want a quick breakfast
Individual portions can be handy if you want to make a bowl without weighing anything. Just check the preparation instructions for the variant you choose.
Shoppers who check labels carefully
If you have specific ingredient preferences or need to manage allergens, check the ingredients list and any statements about the possible presence of other cereals or soya.
What should you look for when choosing?
Think about how much oats you use for weekend breakfasts and whether you want to measure out your own portions. Then compare the preparation instructions and labels of the packs that suit your needs.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size | Compare the net weight with the number of bowls you make, and check that you can store the pack according to the instructions. | If we serve several bowls at the weekend, I want to have enough oats at home and be able to measure out my own portions. Around 36% of consumers put pack size first. |
| Preparation and portions | Check the amount per serving and follow the instructions for preparation time, liquid and microwave wattage. | If breakfast needs to be ready quickly, I don’t want to weigh every bowl first. Set portions and ease of preparation come first for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the current pack, including any ‘may contain’ statements. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what’s in the product and whether it may contain other cereals or soya before using it. This label check is the most important factor for around 21% of consumers. |
| Flavour and texture | Check whether the oats are fine or coarse, and whether a flavoured variant contains ingredients other than oats. | For my weekend breakfast, I want to choose my own toppings or opt for a particular flavour and texture. This is the main deciding factor for around 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming plain oats are automatically gluten-free
The labels on some Quaker and Brinta variants state that they may also contain wheat, barley or rye. An ingredients list that only names oats doesn’t override this warning.
If you need a gluten-free product, check that the current pack is explicitly labelled gluten-free and read the allergen information too.
-
Comparing a flavoured variant as if it were plain oats
Quaker Netherlands lists sugar and natural flavourings alongside wholegrain oats in Oats Express Cinnamon; the nutritional information gives 19 g of sugars per 100 g. This is a different recipe from a variant that contains only oats.
If you’re looking for a neutral base to flavour yourself, compare the ingredients and sugars per 100 g.
-
Relying only on the online product description
The ingredients and allergen information on the pack are important when choosing the product you’ll actually use.
Read the current label before use, especially if you’re choosing between variants because of allergens or ingredients.
Brands to consider
Quaker
Quaker offers both loose oats in a 600 g pack and Oats Express portion sachets.
- Albert Heijn lists the 600 g Quaker pack as 100% wholegrain oats, with 15 servings of 40 g.
- The Oats Express Original label states that it may contain soya, barley and wheat. Check this information again for the variant you choose.
Brinta
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, the 450 g Brinta oats pack contains 100% oat flakes.
- For this variant, Albert Heijn lists 11 servings and a preparation time of two minutes in a 900-watt microwave.
- The label states that it may contain wheat and rye; check the pack if this is important to your choice.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers fine wholegrain oats in a 1 kg pack, among other options, for those who want to measure out their own portions.
- The 1 kg pack lets you take the amount you need for several breakfast bowls from a single pack.
- Check the ingredients, allergens and preparation instructions on the individual pack for the variant you choose.
Golden Bridge
Golden Bridge is an ALDI range that includes 500 g packs of fine wholegrain oats and a coarse variant.
- The choice of fine or coarse oats lets you select the flake texture you prefer.
- Read the nutritional information and allergen statements on the specific pack you buy.
Oat products at Joybuy
These products include loose oats in a range of pack sizes and a variant with portion sachets. Choose based on how many bowls you make and whether you want to measure out your own portions.
Image unavailable
Quaker oats 600 g
For making several breakfast bowls when you want to measure out your own portions.
Albert Heijn lists the 600 g Quaker pack as 100% wholegrain oats, with 15 servings of 40 g.
Check the current label for information about the possible presence of barley and wheat.
Image unavailable
Quaker Express oats 324 g
A portion pack for anyone who wants to prepare breakfast without measuring out their own serving.
The pack contains 324 g; check the amount per sachet and the preparation instructions for this variant.
If you need to manage allergens, also read the current statement about the possible presence of other cereals or soya.
Image unavailable
Brinta oats 450 g
For anyone who wants to measure out loose oats and prefers fine flakes for a warm bowl.
Albert Heijn lists the 450 g Brinta variant as 100% oat flakes, with 11 servings.
Check the current label for information about the possible presence of wheat and rye.
Image unavailable
Quaker oats 375 g
A smaller pack of loose oats for anyone who wants to choose how much to have at breakfast.
Pack size: 375 g. Compare this with the number of bowls you make at the weekend.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know whether a pack will be enough for our weekend breakfasts?
Divide the net weight by the serving size on the label, then compare the result with the number of bowls you want to make. Albert Heijn lists 15 servings of 40 g for Quaker 600 g and 11 servings of 40 g for Brinta 450 g; your own portions may be different.
Are plain oats always suitable if I need to eat gluten-free?
No. Don’t rely on the product name or an ingredients list that includes oats alone. Check that the current pack is explicitly labelled gluten-free and read the allergen information: the Quaker and Brinta variants mentioned state that they may contain other cereals.
Which label details can help me compare oat products?
Start with the net weight, ingredients, allergens and nutritional information per 100 g. Also check the serving size, preparation instructions, best-before date and any storage instructions on the pack you buy.
How should I store a large pack of oats after opening?
Follow the instructions on the pack. Quaker and Brinta product information on Joybuy recommends storing oats in a cool, dry place and keeping the pack tightly closed after opening.