Choose plain wholegrain oats or fine oats if you want to keep a supply for several Sunday breakfasts and choose your own toppings. Sachets save you measuring, while a cup can be handy if you only want to add hot water. Check the ingredients, allergen information and storage instructions on the packaging for each product.
Would you like to have oats ready for Sunday and add your own milk, yoghurt, fruit or nuts? A larger pack may suit you if you use oats regularly. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, opened oats keep for about a year in a kitchen cupboard, provided you store them in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container.
If you’d rather not weigh out your oats, a sachet is one option. A cup may suit you if you have hot water to hand. Check the preparation instructions for each product to see which liquid you need and how to make it: sachets and cups don’t work in the same way.
Ingredients and allergens vary between plain oats, protein mixes and flavoured options. This matters if, for example, you need to avoid soya or are looking for an oat product suitable for people with coeliac disease. For the latter, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends looking for the official Crossed Grain Trademark on the packaging.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Storage after opening | Check the best-before date and storage advice, and seal opened oats securely. | If I want to be able to make Sunday breakfast from what’s in my cupboard, I need to store the opened pack properly. Around 25% of consumers put this first. |
| Preparation | Check whether you’ll need a microwave, a pan or just hot water, and how long preparation takes. | On a morning when I want to keep prep to a minimum, I’d rather choose a method that suits what I have at home. Preparation convenience matters most to around 25% of consumers. |
| Packaging and portions | Compare the pack size and portion size with how many breakfasts you want to make and what you’ll add yourself. | When I’m planning ahead for several Sundays, I want to know how much I’ll use each time and whether measuring it out works for me. This is the main consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the latest ingredients and allergen information. If you have coeliac disease, look for the official Crossed Grain Trademark, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients or am deliberately looking for a mix with added protein, the label determines my choice. Around 25% of consumers give this the highest priority. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oats are not automatically suitable for people with coeliac disease. The allergen information also varies between the Quaker, Brinta and Albert Heijn products reviewed.
Read the latest packaging. If you have coeliac disease, look for the official Crossed Grain Trademark; if you have an allergy, check both the ingredients and any warnings about the possible presence of allergens.
For opened oats, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing them in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container.
Seal the pack carefully after use or transfer the contents to an airtight storage container. Check the oats before using an old supply.
Plain rolled oats, a mix with added protein and a cup with flavourings may not have the same ingredients or nutritional value.
Compare the ingredients list and nutritional information for the option you want to use, and take into account any toppings you add to your breakfast.
Offers both plain oats and Oats Express portion sachets, giving you the choice between measuring them out yourself and having ready-portioned servings.
The Brinta Porridge Oats reviewed are made with extra-fine oats for a warm bowl of porridge.
The range reviewed includes, among other products, a porridge oat mix with added protein and an Oat & go cup.
Offers fine and coarse wholegrain oats in a range of pack sizes.
ALDI’s own brand includes fine wholegrain oats, a simple staple for your cupboard.
Lidl’s own brand includes an organic porridge oat option.
These products offer two options for Sunday breakfast: a pack of organic oats that you can portion yourself, and a Quaker Oats Express mix with added soya protein. For both products, check the latest packaging if the ingredients or best-before date are important to you.
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For anyone who wants to measure out their own portion of oats for Sunday breakfast. Check the best-before date and the ingredients and allergen information on the latest packaging.
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For anyone looking for a quick-to-prepare oat mix with added protein who can have soya. Joybuy describes this option as wholegrain oats with added soya protein and gives a preparation time of 2 minutes. Check the packaging for the nutritional information per 100 g, portion instructions and allergen information.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s storage guide, opened oats keep for about a year in a kitchen cupboard if you store them in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container. For an unopened pack, follow the best-before date and instructions on the label.
Not automatically. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says oats can become contaminated with gluten during processing. If you have coeliac disease, only choose an oat product with the official Crossed Grain Trademark on the packaging.
Check the protein source, nutritional information per 100 g and allergens on the packaging. According to Albert Heijn, the AH Wholegrain Porridge Oats Protein reviewed contains soya protein, while the Jumbo Protein Porridge Oats reviewed contains wheat protein crisps.
Yes. The ingredients and nutritional value of your breakfast also depend on the liquid and toppings you use. For a flavoured option, compare the nutritional information on the packaging; if you add your own ingredients, check their composition separately.
