Eating alone and want a set portion
A sachet saves you having to measure out a portion. Check the weight of each sachet and decide whether it’s the right amount for the breakfast you want to make.
Which format suits you?
Eating breakfast at home and happy to weigh your own portion
If you have a bowl and something to measure with, you can take a portion at a time from a large pack. The pack won’t contain individual sachets.
Checking ingredients or allergens
Read the label for the exact variety if added sugar, soya or gluten-containing grains matter to you. Oats aren’t automatically labelled gluten-free.
What should you consider when choosing?
First decide whether you can measure out your own portion at home, want a pre-measured sachet or actually need a cup. Then check the serving size and the label for your chosen variety.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portioning it yourself | Check the pack size and decide whether you can weigh out a portion at home each time. | If I usually eat breakfast at home, I can take one portion from a large pack and don’t need individual sachets. Around 38% of consumers prefer to portion it themselves. |
| A pre-measured sachet | Check the weight and number of sachets, and see whether one sachet is the right size for your breakfast. | For breakfast on my own, I don’t want to weigh out a portion each time, but I do want to know how much porridge I’m using. Around 31% of consumers prioritise a pre-measured portion. |
| A cup as a container | Check whether you can use your own bowl and what the pack says to add when preparing it. | If I don’t have my own bowl where I’m eating, I want to be able to make my porridge in a cup. For around 23% of consumers, the convenience of a cup is the top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the label for the exact flavour. If you need a gluten-free option, check the wording on the pack. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I check the ingredients and allergen information before choosing a pack format. Around 8% of consumers put these checks first. |
Common mistakes
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Choosing a cup when you already have a bowl
A cup is mainly useful if you can’t eat from your own bowl. You will need a bowl to prepare a sachet, though.
Think about where you’ll make your porridge and whether the built-in container offers any added convenience.
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Assuming all portion sachets have the same ingredients
Jumbo Original Oatmeal Portions lists sugar alongside wholegrain oats. Quaker Oats Express Plain lists wholegrain oats as an ingredient, while the Quaker cinnamon variety described by Albert Heijn also contains sugar.
Read the ingredients list for the exact flavour and pack you choose.
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Assuming regular oats are gluten-free
Oat products aren’t automatically suitable if you need to eat gluten-free. The Quaker Plain sachets reviewed here state that they may contain barley and wheat.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises looking for the ‘gluten-free’ label or Crossed Grain mark, and checking the allergen information on the current pack.
Brands and product ranges to consider
Jumbo
Jumbo’s product range described here includes both pre-measured oatmeal sachets and a large pack that you can portion yourself.
- Original Oatmeal Portions contains five 27 g sachets.
- These portions contain 90% wholegrain oats and sugar; the 1 kg pack does not contain individual portions.
Quaker
Quaker Oats Express Plain is an option if you want a pre-measured sachet that’s quick to prepare.
- The Plain pack described by Jumbo contains twelve 27 g sachets and lists wholegrain oats as an ingredient.
- The Plain variety may contain soya, barley and wheat. Check the ingredients of other flavours separately.
Albert Heijn
In the range described here, AH Oat & Go is a single-serve porridge option in a cup.
- The Oat & Go cup listed by Albert Heijn contains 65 g.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for your chosen flavour on the pack.
Brinta
Brinta Oatmeal is an option for making your own portions at home, rather than a pack of individual sachets.
- The 450 g pack described by Albert Heijn contains oatmeal and is labelled as 100% oat flakes.
- The pack contains no individual portions and states that it may contain traces of wheat and rye.
Golden Bridge
Golden Bridge is a supermarket own-brand option if you want to measure out your own portions from a large pack.
- ALDI describes fine or coarse wholegrain oatmeal in a 1 kg pack.
- This product format does not contain individually wrapped portions.
Porridge portions on Joybuy
This selection features Quaker Express oatmeal in individual portion packs, for anyone who wants to prepare one breakfast at a time.
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Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g
The individual portion packs are ideal if you don’t want to weigh out oatmeal each time.
According to Joybuy product information, the pack contains twelve portions and weighs 324 g in total. Check the portion size and the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a porridge cup for one?
A cup is most useful if you can’t use your own bowl. If you can eat from a bowl, a portion sachet or a portion measured out from a large pack will also let you make one breakfast at a time.
How can I check whether a portion sachet contains added sugar?
Read the ingredients list for the exact variety. Jumbo Original Oatmeal Portions lists sugar; the Quaker Oats Express Plain described by Jumbo lists only wholegrain oats as an ingredient, while the Quaker cinnamon variety described by Albert Heijn does contain sugar.
Is regular porridge suitable if I need to eat gluten-free?
Not necessarily. Check whether the pack says ‘gluten-free’ or carries the Crossed Grain mark, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Also read the allergen information for the specific product.
How can I make measuring portions from a large pack easier?
Measure out the amount you want for each breakfast, or put a dry portion into a sealable container in advance. Reseal the large pack securely after use and follow the storage advice on the pack.