Instant porridge in portion sachets is handy when you want a pre-measured amount for a small baking session. If you’re making a larger batch of muffins or biscuits with children, a large pack of standard oats lets you weigh out the amount you need. Whichever you choose, check the ingredients, label and instructions for the exact variety.
A plain oat base gives you the freedom to add your own fruit or spices to the mixture. Before you buy, check how much oats the recipe calls for: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre's muffin recipe uses 100 g.
A pre-measured sachet can be handy for trying out a recipe once. Just compare the amount in each sachet with the quantity required by the recipe.
If children or anyone else eating with you needs to avoid certain ingredients, compare the exact varieties and read the current packaging before use.
Choose this for: a small baking session where a pre-measured amount comes in handy.
Bear in mind: a larger recipe may need several sachets, and the preparation instructions for an instant product may be intended for making porridge.
Choose this for: a recipe where you want to weigh out the oats yourself with the children and decide on the flavour.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to measure out each quantity yourself.
First decide what matters most to you when baking: control over the recipe, convenience for a small amount, the number of packs you’ll use or checking the label.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| A plain base | Read the ingredients for the exact variety and check that any added flavours will work with the recipe. | When I’m adding fruit or spices with the children, I don’t want the oats to determine the flavour already. Around 31% of consumers would put control over the recipe first. |
| A small amount | Compare the grams per sachet with the recipe and read the preparation instructions. | For a recipe I’m trying out, I’d rather use a small amount than weigh it out each time. Convenience for small portions would come first for around 31% of consumers. |
| Packaging use | Work out how many sachets the recipe needs and compare this with a larger pack. | When we bake together regularly, I don’t want to open several individual sachets for every recipe. For around 23% of consumers, the number of packs would be the main consideration. |
| Checking the label | Read the ingredients and allergen information for your chosen variety on the current packaging. | If someone eating with us needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know exactly what’s in this variety. Around 15% of consumers would put checking the label first. |
A portion pack isn’t necessarily designed for a baking recipe. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre's muffin recipe uses 100 g of oats; Jumbo Havermout Porties Original contains 27 g per sachet.
Check the number of grams required by the recipe and the amount in each sachet before you choose.
For 100 g, you’d need to open four 27 g sachets and still weigh out the right amount.
Added flavours or other ingredients can affect what else you add to the mixture.
Check the ingredients for the exact variety before choosing fruit, spices or other flavourings for the recipe.
A product’s ingredients and allergen information can change. Albert Heijn therefore recommends checking the current packaging.
Read the label on the variety you’ve bought before use, especially if allergens are important to anyone eating with you.
Quaker Oats Express Naturel is an example of instant porridge in individual portion packs.
Jumbo offers both standard oats in a larger pack and Havermout Porties Original.
Albert Heijn’s range includes products such as Quaker Oats Express and AH Oat & go.
This portion pack is a good fit if you want to use a small amount of oats. For a baking recipe, compare the amount in each sachet with the number of grams required and check the preparation instructions.
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A portion pack to consider for a small baking session when you’d rather not weigh out the oats each time.
The pack contains 324 g. Check how many grams are in each sachet and whether the instructions are suitable for using it in a dry baking mixture.
If you have allergies, check the current packaging, including for information about possible traces of soya, wheat and barley.
Yes, if the oats you choose and the quantity you need suit the recipe. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre's muffin recipe uses 100 g of oats; if you’re using 27 g sachets, you’ll need to open four and weigh out the right amount. Check the ingredients for the exact variety too.
The label on the product you’ve bought is the place to check the current ingredients and allergen information. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are listed on the labels of pre-packed foods. Don’t rely solely on a product page you looked at earlier when making your choice.
Don’t assume so: compare the ingredients and instructions for the exact products. An instant variety, for example, may come with instructions for making porridge, while a baking recipe requires a measured amount of oats.
A large pack is a good choice when you want to weigh out the amount you need for a bigger recipe, such as muffins you’re making with children. Sachets are most practical when the amount in each one suits a small baking session.
