Households that like to stock up
A large bag is a good choice if several people eat porridge or you make it during the week too. Loose oats let you adjust the amount for each bowl.
Which pack is right for you?
Breakfast eaters short on preparation time
Fine oats are an option if you want to make porridge quickly. Individual sachets also save you measuring, but the portion size is fixed.
People who need gluten-free oats
A clear gluten-free label is important. Check the current ingredients and allergen information too: ordinary porridge oats aren’t automatically interchangeable with a gluten-free variety.
What should you look for when choosing?
For Sunday breakfast, first choose a pack that suits the number of people eating and how you plan to prepare it. If gluten-free oats are essential, this takes priority over your preference for a particular size or brand.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and portions | Check the net weight and serving suggestion on the pack. Make sure you can seal the contents properly after opening. | If several people are eating, I want to have enough porridge oats at home and be able to measure out portions myself. For around 40% of consumers, having enough in stock is the biggest priority. |
| Preparation time | Compare the type of oats and the preparation instructions. Check whether the pack contains loose oats or individual sachets. | On a busy morning, I don’t want to spend ages cooking or measuring. Quick preparation is the main priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Gluten-free options | If needed, look for a clear gluten-free label and read the current ingredients and allergen information. | If gluten-free oats are essential, I need to be able to check whether this particular pack is suitable. This is the first requirement for around 20% of consumers. |
| Oat texture and taste | Check whether the oats are fine or coarsely ground, and look at the ingredients if you want to choose your own additions. | I choose my porridge oats mainly for the texture I want or because I trust a particular brand. This preference is the deciding factor for around 10% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘100% oats’ means ‘gluten-free’
Ordinary oat products may carry warnings about wheat, barley or rye. So, a list of ingredients that includes only oats doesn’t automatically tell you whether the product is suitable for someone with coeliac disease.
Check the current label every time you buy. If gluten-free oats are essential, choose a product with a clear gluten-free label. The Dutch Coeliac Association also identifies the Crossed Grain symbol as a useful way to recognise suitable products.
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Automatically choosing portion sachets for the family
A pre-measured sachet saves you a step, but its fixed quantity won’t necessarily suit every person or recipe.
Choose sachets if measuring is inconvenient. Use loose oats if you want to adjust the amount for each bowl or are cooking for several people at once.
Brands to consider
Jumbo
Jumbo’s own-brand range includes ordinary and organic porridge oats, including a 1 kg value pack of fine wholegrain oats.
- The 1 kg pack lists 25 servings of 40 g.
- This variety contains oats and may contain barley, rye and wheat.
Golden Bridge
ALDI’s own brand sells fine and coarse wholegrain porridge oats in 500 g packs.
- Choosing between fine and coarse oats makes it easy to pick the texture you want.
- Check the pack you buy for ingredients and allergen information.
Quaker
Quaker sells both a 600 g pack of loose porridge oats and Oats Express Naturel, with 12 individual sachets of 27 g.
- Loose oats let you measure out your own portions; the sachets contain a fixed serving.
- Check the current allergen information for both pack formats.
Brinta
According to the product description, Brinta Porridge Oats 450 g contains extra-fine oats for warm porridge.
- The product description includes quick preparation instructions for the fine oats.
- The pack may state that it contains traces of wheat and rye.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn sells ordinary wholegrain porridge oats as well as a separate gluten-free wholegrain variety.
- AH Gluten-Free Wholegrain Porridge Oats carries a gluten-free label and states that it is produced in a completely gluten-free environment.
- Check the current pack, especially if ingredients or allergens are key to your choice.
Lidl
Lidl sells, among other products, coarse oat flakes in a 500 g pack.
- Coarse oats have a different texture from the fine varieties in this guide.
- Check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack before using it.
Porridge oats at Joybuy
This 600 g pack of Quaker porridge oats is a good choice if you want loose oats for Sunday breakfast and prefer to measure out the amount yourself.
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Quaker porridge oats 600 g
A pack of loose porridge oats for measuring out your own portions. Check the serving suggestion on the current pack and read the allergen information if gluten-free oats are essential.
Frequently asked questions
Are ordinary porridge oats always suitable if I need to eat gluten-free?
No, don’t assume they are without checking the label. For people with coeliac disease, the Dutch Coeliac Association recommends oats with a clear gluten-free label and identifies the Crossed Grain symbol as a useful way to recognise suitable products. The association also points out that some people with coeliac disease react to pure oats.
Where can I find allergen information for packaged porridge oats?
Check the label on the pack you’re buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked foods. Ordinary porridge oat products may also carry warnings about other cereals.
When are portion sachets more convenient than a large bag?
Portion sachets are more convenient if you want a fixed amount without having to measure it. Quaker Oats Express Naturel contains 12 sachets of 27 g; with a large bag of loose oats, you can adjust the amount more easily for different people.
How should I store an opened value pack of porridge oats?
Store the oats in a cool, dry place and seal the pack well after use. This is stated on the Jumbo 1 kg pack; for other packs, follow the storage instructions and use-by date on the packaging.