Families making several bowls
A large pack of plain porridge oats lets you measure out an amount for each person and choose the sweet flavourings, such as fruit or cinnamon. Check how many breakfasts the pack will provide for your household.
Which pack works best for you?
Households with busy mornings
Extra-fine flakes or pre-measured portion sachets are worth considering if quick preparation or avoiding measuring is a priority. Also check how many grams you use each time.
Households with gluten requirements
If someone has coeliac disease, it’s important to check the exact pack of oats. The Voedingscentrum recommends looking for a ‘gluten-free’ label or the Crossed Grain symbol; ordinary oat products may come into contact with gluten.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether you mainly need a pack for several breakfasts, less measuring or control over the ingredients. Then compare the pack size and the instructions on the packaging of the variant you choose.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and portions | Pack weight and stated portion size; work out how many bowls you’ll get from it. | If several family members often eat porridge, I want to know how long a pack will last us. Around 50% of consumers prioritise having enough in the cupboard for the family. |
| Preparation and convenience | Preparation instructions, equipment needed and grams per portion. | On busy mornings, I want to be able to prepare an amount without measuring it out every time. For around 30% of consumers, this convenience comes first. |
| Ingredients and dietary needs | Ingredients and allergens for the exact variant; if you have coeliac disease, check for a gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol. | I want to choose what goes into a sweet bowl myself, or I need to take a gluten requirement into account. This is the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ordinary oats are gluten-free
Oat products may come into contact with gluten, according to the Voedingscentrum. Gluten-containing grains or possible traces are also mentioned for ordinary Quaker and Brinta products.
If you have coeliac disease, check the exact pack for a ‘gluten-free’ label or the Crossed Grain symbol rather than relying on the word ‘oats’ alone.
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Checking only the porridge oats, not the toppings
Fruit, yoghurt, syrup and other additions change the ingredients and nutritional value of the breakfast you end up making. So a plain base doesn’t tell you everything about the whole bowl.
Check the porridge oats and what you add to them together if you want to assess the ingredients in a regular breakfast combination.
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Confusing Brinta porridge oats with Brinta wholegrain cereal
The Brinta Oatmeal described by Jumbo contains oat flakes. According to the label at Albert Heijn, Brinta Wholegrain cereal is made from wholemeal wheat flour and salt: it’s a different grain product.
Read the product name and ingredients list for the variant you choose, especially if a recipe calls for porridge oats or you need to check for allergens.
Brands to consider
Quaker
Quaker offers, among other options, a 600 g pack of plain porridge oats and individual Oats Express Naturel portions.
- The 600 g pack described by Albert Heijn states that it contains 15 portions of 40 g and 100% wholegrain oats.
- According to Albert Heijn, Oats Express Naturel contains 12 sachets of 27 g. Check whether the amount in each sachet is right for the person having breakfast.
Brinta
With Brinta, it’s important to distinguish between Oatmeal and Wholegrain cereal if you’re specifically looking for oats.
- Jumbo lists the ingredients of Brinta Oatmeal, 450 g, as 100% oat flakes.
- According to Albert Heijn, Brinta Wholegrain cereal contains wholemeal wheat flour and salt, so it isn’t porridge oats.
Jumbo
Alongside other oat products, Jumbo lists its own 1 kg pack of fine wholegrain porridge oats.
- The 1 kg pack size is worth considering if you’re planning breakfasts for the family.
- Check the ingredients and portion instructions on the pack you choose; a product listed in the range doesn’t describe every variant.
Albert Heijn
At Albert Heijn, branded products, own-brand porridge oats and separately labelled gluten-free breakfast cereals are available alongside one another.
- The category gives you a place to start if you need a pack with a gluten-free label.
- If you have coeliac disease, the label on the exact pack or the Crossed Grain symbol remains the deciding factor, as recommended by the Voedingscentrum.
ALDI / Golden Bridge
Golden Bridge offers fine and jumbo wholegrain porridge oats in 500 g packs.
- The choice between fine and jumbo flakes helps you find the texture you prefer.
- Check the pack weight shown for the exact variant: ALDI lists its fine porridge oats as 500 g.
Lidl
Lidl is another supermarket to consider for porridge oats and other breakfast products.
- Compare the pack and ingredients in store for the variant you actually want to use.
Porridge oats on Joybuy
These products include packs of porridge oats for several breakfasts, a smaller pack and an Express option for anyone looking for fixed portions. Choose based on pack size, preparation and the instructions on the exact pack.
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Quaker porridge oats 600 g
A pack that lets you measure out the amount you need for several breakfasts and add your own toppings.
If you have a gluten requirement, check the labels on the exact pack.
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Brinta porridge oats 450 g
For anyone looking for porridge oats for several bowls and wanting to choose their own sweet additions.
This pack contains 450 g. Check the ingredients of this variant if you want Brinta porridge oats rather than the separate wheat product, Brinta Wholegrain cereal.
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Quaker Express porridge oats 324 g
An option for mornings when you’d rather use pre-measured portions than scoop oats from a large pack.
The pack contains 324 g in total. Check the box to see how many grams are in each portion and how to prepare the variant you’ve chosen.
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Quaker porridge oats 375 g
A smaller pack for anyone who likes to make their own bowls of porridge and doesn’t need a 600 g pack.
Check the portion instructions and allergens on this pack before choosing it for your household.
Frequently asked questions
Are ordinary porridge oats suitable for coeliac disease?
Ordinary porridge oats are not automatically suitable for coeliac disease, as oat products may come into contact with gluten. The Voedingscentrum recommends checking the exact pack for a ‘gluten-free’ label or the Crossed Grain symbol.
How can I make a sweet breakfast with plain porridge oats?
You can prepare plain porridge oats and then add fruit or cinnamon, for example. The ingredients and nutritional value of the whole bowl also depend on your choice of milk, yoghurt and toppings.
How should I store an opened pack of porridge oats?
Store the pack according to the instructions on the exact packaging and seal it well after use. The Quaker and Brinta packs described here recommend storing them in a dry place; also check the best-before date on your pack.
Is one portion sachet enough for breakfast?
That depends on how much the sachet contains and what you serve with it. Albert Heijn lists 27 g per sachet for Quaker Oats Express Naturel, compared with a stated portion of 40 g on the 600 g Quaker pack described here. So compare the weight of the portions in the variants you’re considering.