People who want to choose their own additions
You’re looking for a plain oat base and want to decide whether to add milk, fruit or other ingredients. The ingredients list and ‘of which sugars’ figure matter more than the front of the pack alone.
Who are these options for?
Home cooks short on preparation time
You want to prepare porridge quickly on a weeknight. Compare the cooking instructions and see whether a fixed portion or loose oats better suits the way you use them.
Stocking up and measuring your own portions
You eat porridge regularly and prefer to decide how much to make each time. For loose oats, check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you choose.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the ingredients if you want to avoid additions. Then compare the preparation method, portion format and texture to find what suits your evening meal.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients and sugars | Read the ingredients list and compare the ‘of which sugars’ figures on the same basis, for example per 100 g of dry product. | If I want to decide what sweetens my porridge, I need to know what’s already in the product. This is the top priority for an estimated 36% of consumers. |
| Preparation time | Check the cooking instructions and whether you’ll need a pan or microwave. | I don’t want to spend long preparing food on a busy evening; around 29% of consumers say this is their top priority. |
| Portion format | Choose between loose oats that you measure yourself and a pre-portioned pack. | When I make porridge often, I want to be able to adjust the amount each time. This flexibility matters most to an estimated 21% of consumers. |
| Texture and how you serve it | Look for fine or coarse oats, and check the instructions for preparing them hot or cold. | I want a bowl with a texture I enjoy, even when the ingredients are similar. This is the first consideration for around 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘less sugar’ means ‘no added sugar’
These claims don’t mean the same thing, and porridge oats with no added sugar can still contain naturally occurring sugars. Voedingscentrum lists 0.3 g of sugars in 40 g of plain porridge oats.
Read the ingredients and the ‘of which sugars’ figure on the label. Also consider what you add to your porridge.
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Comparing a prepared serving with dry oats
The nutritional information shown by Albert Heijn for a serving of Brinta Porridge Oats made with 250 ml of semi-skimmed milk includes the milk. The stated 12 g of sugars is therefore not the figure for the dry oats alone.
Compare dry products per 100 g, and keep your chosen liquid and toppings in mind separately.
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Assuming every pack of oats is suitable for coeliac disease
According to Voedingscentrum, oats may come into contact with gluten during processing. This means ordinary oats are not automatically suitable for people with coeliac disease.
If you have coeliac disease, check that the pack carries the official Crossed Grain trademark and read the allergen information.
Brands to consider
Brinta
Brinta Porridge Oats are an option if you prefer to use extra-fine oats.
- According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Brinta Porridge Oats contain 100% oats and can be prepared in the microwave in two minutes.
- The sugar figure shown for a prepared serving includes semi-skimmed milk. The product may contain traces of wheat and rye.
Quaker
Alongside standard porridge oats, Quaker offers pre-portioned Oats Express varieties.
- Albert Heijn lists Quaker Oats Express Naturel in 27 g portions, with a two-minute preparation time. The product information states that it contains no added sugars.
- Check the portion size and allergen information for the variety you choose. Quaker Oats Express Naturel may contain traces of soya, barley and wheat.
Albert Heijn
AH Wholegrain Coarse Porridge Oats are a good fit if you want to measure out your own loose, coarse oats.
- Albert Heijn lists one ingredient for this product and 0 g of added sugars per 100 g. The nutritional information gives 0.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
- The allergen information lists oats and possible traces of, among others, wheat, barley and soya.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers fine and coarse wholegrain porridge oats, as well as individual portion products.
- The choice between fine and coarse oats gives you the freedom to pick the texture you prefer.
- Check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens on the pack you choose, especially if added sugar is a key deciding factor for you.
ALDI / Golden Bridge
Golden Bridge is ALDI’s own brand, with fine and coarse wholegrain porridge oats.
- ALDI lists both varieties in 500 g packs.
- Read the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens on the pack you choose before deciding whether it meets your requirements.
Lidl
Lidl lists a product made with coarse oats for anyone looking for this type of oat.
- The product description makes clear that these are coarse oats.
- Check the ingredients, sugars and allergens on the pack before choosing based on added sugar.
Porridge oat options at Joybuy
Take a look at these porridge oat products if you want to put together your own bowl for a weeknight meal. Check the ingredients, nutritional information and preparation instructions for the specific pack before choosing.
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Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g
An option if you’re looking for porridge oats for a quick evening meal. Check the preparation instructions, ingredients and nutritional information for this variety before choosing.
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Brinta Oatmeal 450 g
An option if you want to choose the liquid and other additions for your porridge yourself. Read the ingredients and compare sugars in the nutrition table per 100 g of dry product.
Frequently asked questions
Are plain porridge oats sugar-free?
No. Voedingscentrum lists an average of 0.3 g of sugars in 40 g of plain porridge oats. For a specific product, check the ingredients and the ‘of which sugars’ line on the label.
Does ‘no added sugar’ mean my prepared bowl contains no sugars?
No. Milk, fruit and other additions all count towards the sugars in your prepared bowl. For example, Voedingscentrum lists 10.2 g of sugars in a 250 g bowl of unsweetened porridge made with whole milk; this figure is not for dry porridge oats.
Can plain porridge oats make a quick evening meal?
Yes. Porridge oats can be the base for a hot or cold evening meal, as long as the preparation time suits you. Check the instructions for the product you choose, then decide which other components you’d like to add.
Are ordinary oats suitable for people with coeliac disease?
Not automatically. According to Voedingscentrum, oats may come into contact with gluten, so people with coeliac disease need to choose a pack bearing the official Crossed Grain trademark. Also check the allergen information for the specific product.