If you’re planning breakfast or brunch ahead of time, first look for cereal flakes with organic status clearly shown on the packaging. Then check the type of grain, allergens and preparation method: the whole rolled oats we looked at can be soaked overnight, while spelt flakes need to be cooked to make porridge. Buckwheat flakes don’t have wheat as their main ingredient, but possible traces mean they aren’t automatically gluten-free.
If you want to prepare something for breakfast or brunch before Friday afternoon drinks, soaking the flakes overnight is one option. Albert Heijn recommends refrigerating its organic whole rolled oats, covered, for eight hours when making overnight oats.
Natural-looking packaging doesn’t necessarily mean a product is organic. Skal Biocontrole states that the EU organic logo is compulsory on prepacked organic consumer products in the EU.
Ingredients and allergen information vary between oat, spelt and buckwheat products. Before choosing a type of flake, check both the ingredients and any warnings about possible traces on the packaging.
First decide whether you want plain organic cereal flakes. Then choose a grain and preparation method that suit when you plan to serve them.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Organic status | Look for the EU organic logo and an organic label on the packaging. | If you want to be sure you’re choosing an organic product for breakfast, the label matters more than the packaging’s appearance. Around 36% of consumers make this their first check. |
| Grain type and allergens | Check the main ingredient and both the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements. | If you’re looking for a particular type of grain or need to avoid allergens, the information on the specific pack will help you choose. This is the most important factor for around 29% of consumers. |
| Preparation | Check whether the flakes need to be soaked or cooked for the dish you have in mind, and how long this will take. | If you want to prepare everything ahead of time, soaking the flakes gives you a different schedule from cooking porridge just before serving. Preparation is the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Availability | Check which pack sizes and purchasing options are available from your chosen retailer. | If you want to buy the flakes in time for a planned serving, your preferred variety needs to be available from your retailer. Around 14% of consumers put this first. |
In supermarkets, ‘flakes’ can also mean chocolate sprinkles for bread. That’s a different type of product from the cereal flakes for breakfast or brunch discussed here.
Check the product category and search specifically for organic oat, spelt or buckwheat flakes.
The oat and spelt products we looked at list gluten-containing cereals. The Smaakt buckwheat flakes we reviewed may contain traces of gluten-containing cereals.
Check the current label, and if you need a gluten-free option, don’t rely on the organic logo or main ingredient alone.
Albert Heijn recommends chilling overnight oats made with its organic whole rolled oats for eight hours. Jumbo says its organic spelt flakes should be cooked for seven to eight minutes to make porridge.
Choose in advance between preparing them cold and cooking them warm, and follow the instructions on the pack you buy.
The wholegrain rolled oats we looked at are suitable for overnight oats and porridge, among other dishes.
The organic wholegrain flakes we looked at include both oat and spelt varieties.
The products we looked at are organic buckwheat flakes and whole rolled oats.
According to the product information, the organic fine oats we looked at can be eaten hot or cold.
De Halm describes its porridge oats and oat flakes as part of its organic breakfast cereal range.
Check the packaging for an organic label and the EU organic logo. According to Skal Biocontrole, this logo is compulsory on prepacked organic consumer products in the EU.
No. An organic label doesn’t tell you whether a product is gluten-free. The oat products we looked at list oats/gluten; check each pack for any trace warnings and an explicit gluten-free label if you need one.
Albert Heijn’s organic whole rolled oats come with instructions for overnight oats: Albert Heijn recommends mixing 40 g of flakes with 250 ml of liquid, then covering and refrigerating the mixture for eight hours. Follow the preparation instructions on the packaging for other flakes.
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you buy. The products we looked at recommend storing them in a cool, dry, dark place; several also say to keep the packaging tightly sealed.
The product information we looked at presents plain cereal flakes mainly as a base for breakfast, porridge, overnight oats or other recipes. Before Friday afternoon drinks, decide whether you want to serve a prepared bowl or a topping. Don’t confuse plain flakes with muesli, granola or chocolate sprinkles.
