If you’re looking for a neutral base for Christmas breakfast
With plain wholegrain porridge oats, you can choose what to add to porridge, yoghurt or overnight oats. Check the ingredients list if you want a product without added flavourings.
Who is this choice important for?
If you’re short on time over the festive period
Fine flakes or an Express option could be a good fit when you need to prepare breakfast quickly. Check the instructions and ingredients for the specific pack, though: a flavoured option is not the same as plain oats.
If you’re shopping for someone with coeliac disease
Ordinary oats need extra attention in this case. For oat products suitable for people with coeliac disease, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre specifies that they must carry the official Crossed Grain symbol. Also check the latest allergen information on the packaging.
What should you look for in wholegrain porridge oats?
First decide whether you need plain oats, a particular texture, quick preparation or a specific gluten check. Then look at the ingredients and preparation instructions on the pack you’re thinking of buying.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Especially useful for |
|---|---|---|
| Plain wholegrain oats | Check whether the ingredients list wholegrain oats or wholegrain oat flakes. For flavoured options, also look at the ingredients and sugars per 100 g. | If I want to choose the toppings and sweetness myself, I look for a neutral base for several Christmas breakfasts. For around 33% of consumers, this would be their main purchasing concern. |
| Flake size | Compare fine and coarse flakes with your recipe, and read the instructions for hot or cold preparation. | For overnight oats or yoghurt, I want to know how much texture the flakes retain; for smooth porridge, I’m looking for something different. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise their preferred texture. |
| Ease of preparation | Check the preparation time and serving size. For Express options, compare the ingredients too. | On a busy festive morning, I want to spend as little time as possible measuring and preparing breakfast. Quick preparation would be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Gluten and allergens | Read the current label and, if you have coeliac disease, check for the official Crossed Grain symbol, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre for oat products. | If I’m shopping for someone with coeliac disease, I need to check whether this specific pack is suitable before anything else. This would be the main consideration for around 17% of consumers. |
What should you watch out for?
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Assuming ‘wholegrain’ means ‘no added sugar’
A wholegrain flavoured option can still contain sugar. For example, Quaker lists sugar as an ingredient in Oats Express Cinnamon, alongside porridge oats.
If you want a neutral base, compare the ingredients list of the flavoured option with that of plain porridge oats.
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Assuming ordinary oats are suitable for coeliac disease
Oat products can come into contact with gluten-containing cereals. That’s why the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says ordinary oat products are not automatically suitable for people with coeliac disease.
Check for the official Crossed Grain symbol on the specific pack and read the latest allergen information.
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Checking the flake size only after you’ve bought them
Extra-fine flakes are suited to smooth porridge that’s quick to prepare, while coarse flakes give dishes such as overnight oats a different texture. The right choice depends on what you’re making.
Choose a flake size to suit your Christmas breakfast and check the preparation instructions on the packaging.
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Stocking up on more packs than you can store properly
Buying enough for several breakfasts is only practical if you can store opened porridge oats properly.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping porridge oats cool, dry, dark and tightly sealed. Also check the storage instructions and best-before date on the pack.
Brands to compare as a guide
These product ranges show the differences you might find on packaging. Always compare the specific option you’re planning to buy.
Brinta
Brinta describes its 450 g porridge oats as extra-fine oat flakes for hot porridge.
- A useful option if you’re looking for a fine texture.
- The manufacturer states that the product may contain traces of wheat and rye; check the label if you’re buying gluten-free.
Quaker
Quaker lists 100% wholegrain porridge oats as an ingredient in its Oatmeal Original. The brand also offers Express flavoured options.
- Original has a different ingredient base from a flavoured option.
- According to Quaker, Oats Express Cinnamon also contains sugar. Check the ingredients for each option.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers wholegrain porridge oats in fine or coarse flakes, as well as a separate gluten-free option.
- The different packs let you choose the flake size you prefer.
- Ingredients and allergens can vary between options, so check the current label before making your final choice.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers, among other options, fine and coarse wholegrain porridge oats in a range of pack sizes.
- You can choose the flake type and quantity to suit the number of breakfasts you’re planning.
- Jumbo states that its coarse wholegrain flakes may contain barley, rye and wheat.
Golden Bridge
ALDI offers 500 g packs of fine and coarse wholegrain porridge oats under the Golden Bridge brand.
- The two flake types let you choose according to the dish you’re planning to make.
- Check the packaging of your chosen option for ingredients and allergens.
Porridge oats for your Christmas breakfast at Joybuy
These products offer packaging options for a porridge breakfast, including an Express option and packs in different sizes. Choose based on the ingredients, preparation instructions and allergen information for each individual pack. If wholegrain oats or suitability for coeliac disease is essential, don’t rely on the product name alone.
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Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g
An Express option to consider if you want to make breakfast quickly on a busy Christmas morning. The pack contains 324 g. Check the preparation instructions, ingredients and allergens before buying.
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Quaker Oatmeal 600 g
A pack worth comparing if you’re stocking up on porridge oats for several breakfasts. Joybuy’s product information lists 100% wholegrain cereals and 15 servings. For a particular texture or preparation time, check the instructions on the pack.
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Quaker Oatmeal 375 g
A smaller pack to consider if you’re not buying enough for lots of breakfasts at once. It contains 375 g. Check the ingredients and preparation instructions if wholegrain oats or a particular flake size are important to you.
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Zonnatura Organic Whole Wheat Oatmeal 500 g
A 500 g pack to consider for your Christmas breakfast. Check the ingredients list carefully: the English product name mentions both wheat and oatmeal, and the type of grain matters if you’re looking for wholegrain oats.
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Brinta Porridge Oats 450 g
An option if you want to make smooth, hot porridge with fine flakes. Brinta describes the oat flakes in this product as extra fine, and the pack contains 450 g. Check the label if wholegrain labelling or allergen information is important to your choice.
Frequently asked questions about porridge oats
How can I tell if porridge oats are wholegrain?
Check whether the packaging lists wholegrain oats or wholegrain oat flakes as an ingredient. Especially with mixed breakfast products, check the other ingredients too rather than relying on the front of the pack alone.
Which flakes should I choose for a quick Christmas breakfast?
Fine flakes are ideal for smooth, hot porridge; Brinta says its extra-fine porridge oats take two minutes to prepare in the microwave. If you want overnight oats with more texture, coarse flakes are another option: Albert Heijn recommends leaving its coarse flakes to chill overnight.
Are ordinary porridge oats suitable for coeliac disease?
Not without checking the specific pack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says oat products for people with coeliac disease must carry the official Crossed Grain symbol. You should also read the latest allergen information.
How should I store porridge oats bought for the festive period?
Store porridge oats in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Also follow the storage instructions and best-before date on the packaging.
Is a wholegrain flavoured option the same as plain porridge oats?
No, the other ingredients can differ. For example, Quaker lists sugar in Oats Express Cinnamon, while the brand lists 100% wholegrain porridge oats as an ingredient in Oatmeal Original. Compare the labels of the options you’re considering.