Which pack is best for you?

Households planning several portions

If you’re organising breakfast or snacks for several people over a barbecue weekend, it’s worth considering whether you’d rather measure out portions yourself or use individually portioned packs.

Groups with limited cooking facilities

If there’s no fully equipped kitchen at your destination, the main thing to consider is whether you’ll need a pan, microwave or just hot water. Check whether you’ll need to bring bowls too.

People checking ingredients and allergens

If you need a variety that’s specifically labelled gluten-free or suitable for guests with allergies, check the label on the specific product rather than relying on the word ‘porridge oats’ alone.

What should you look for when choosing?

For breakfast or a snack over a barbecue weekend, the key factors are how you’ll portion it out, what facilities are available and the ingredients.

What to consider What to check before buying Who is this important for?
Pack size and portions Compare the net weight and number of portions; consider whether measuring them out yourself will work for your group. If I’m organising breakfast for several people, I want to know in advance how many portions I can make without having to measure everything out unnecessarily. Around 42% of consumers put this question about pack size and portions first.
Preparation at your destination Check whether you’ll need hot water, a pan or a microwave, and whether you’ll need to bring a bowl. Without a fully equipped kitchen, I want a preparation method that suits the facilities available. This is the main concern for around 33% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Check the ingredients, allergen information and, if necessary, whether the current packaging explicitly labels the product gluten-free. If I’m also preparing something for guests with specific dietary requirements, the variety I choose needs to suit them. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a big pack and portion sachets are interchangeable

    A big pack of plain porridge oats means you’ll need to measure out the portions yourself; individual sachets are already portioned. The difference matters most when guests are eating at different times.

    Before you buy, work out how many portions you need and whether you want to portion them out at home or at your destination.

  • Assuming instant oats don’t need a heat source

    Preparation methods vary between products. Quaker Oats Express Naturel says to use a pan or microwave, while Elovena Natural can be mixed with boiling water or milk.

    Read the instructions on the pack you choose and check that you’ll have the facilities and a suitable bowl.

  • Assuming all porridge oats are gluten-free

    A gluten-free label applies to a specific product, not automatically to all porridge oats. Warnings about the possible presence of other ingredients also vary between products.

    If anyone has dietary requirements, always check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging you’ll be using.

  • Treating a flavoured variety like plain porridge oats

    A cup or flavoured variety may contain different ingredients. For example, the AH Oat & go variety reviewed contains apple, cinnamon and almonds.

    Check the ingredients first, then choose the product format and flavour that suit your group.

Brands to consider

Quaker

Quaker offers both Oats Express portion sachets and plain porridge oats in a large pack.

  • The Oats Express Naturel pack reviewed contains 12 individual portions and gives instructions for preparing it in a pan or microwave.
  • The large pack of plain porridge oats reviewed isn’t individually portioned instant oats, so you’ll need to measure out the portions yourself.

Elovena

The varieties reviewed include Elovena Natural in individual portions and the flavoured Vitality variety.

  • Elovena Natural is labelled gluten-free and, according to the product information, can be mixed with boiling water or milk.
  • The Vitality variety contains different ingredients from Natural, so check the ingredients for each variety separately.

AH

The AH Oat & go variety reviewed is a single-serve cup with apple and cinnamon.

  • The cup is made with hot water and has a stated standing time of four minutes.
  • This variety contains milk and almonds, among other ingredients; check the label before serving it to guests.

Porridge oat products on Joybuy

These two Quaker Express varieties are worth considering if you’re preparing porridge oats for a barbecue weekend. Check the portioning, preparation method and ingredients on each pack.

Quaker Express Oatmeal, 324 g pack

Quaker Express Oatmeal – 324 g

An option if you want to portion out porridge oats for guests in advance for a barbecue weekend. Check the number of portions on the pack and make sure you can use a pan or microwave for the preparation method described.

If you have dietary requirements, read the current ingredients and allergen information.

View on Joybuy
Quaker Oats Express Protein, 302 g pack

Quaker Oats Express Protein – 302 g

This variety is worth considering if you’ll have access to hot water at your destination. Check the pack for the amount of water needed and the exact preparation instructions.

This is a Protein variety with added soya protein, not plain porridge oats. Check the portioning and current label if the ingredients or allergens are important for your group.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is a big pack of porridge oats handy for a barbecue weekend?

Yes, if you need several portions and can measure them out yourself. The large Quaker pack reviewed also needs a pan or microwave; portion sachets are more practical if you want to sort out the portions in advance.

Can you make instant oats without a microwave?

Some varieties can be made without one. According to the product information, Elovena Natural can be mixed with 200 ml of boiling water or milk, while AH Oat & go needs 155 ml of hot water and a standing time of four minutes. Check the instructions for the variety you choose.

Are porridge oats automatically gluten-free?

No, don’t rely on the product category alone. The Elovena Natural variety reviewed is explicitly labelled gluten-free; for any other variety, check the current label and information about the possible presence of other grains.

What should you check before serving porridge oats to guests?

Check the ingredients, allergens, any warnings about the possible presence of other ingredients and the preparation method on the current packaging. If your guests have specific dietary requirements, ask which ingredients they need to avoid first.