Households that often eat oats together
If several people regularly have oats for breakfast or lunch, the pack size and number of portions are important factors when planning your supplies.
Which pack size is right for you?
People working from home with a short lunch break
If you have little time to measure or prepare your oats, pre-portioned sachets or fine oats are worth considering. Check the preparation instructions for the pack you choose.
Households that check ingredients and allergens
If ingredients, possible traces of other cereals or a gluten-free label are important to you, always check the latest label rather than relying on the pack size.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, work out how many people eat oats and how often. Then consider whether measuring and preparing them yourself fits into your lunch break.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Most relevant for |
|---|---|---|
| Shared supplies | Compare the net weight and stated number of portions; Jumbo lists 25 portions for its 1 kg bag. | If several people in my household regularly have a bowl, I don’t want to keep buying new packs. Having enough to share is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Quick preparation | Read the preparation instructions and check whether you need to measure the oats yourself. The Brinta and Quaker Express products described state a preparation time of 2 minutes, subject to the conditions listed. | Between meetings, I want to be able to make a bowl without spending ages measuring or cooking. Speed is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| How the household will use them | Check the ingredients and whether loose oats suit the ways people in your household like to prepare them. | If everyone in my household makes their bowl differently, I want a base that each person can customise. This flexibility matters most to around 21% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the latest ingredients list and allergen information. If you need gluten-free oats, don’t rely on the word ‘oats’ alone. | If an ingredient or possible traces of other cereals affect my choice, I need to be able to check the pack itself. This is the main consideration for around 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming ordinary oats are always gluten-free
Oat products may contain gluten due to contact with other cereals. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, people with coeliac disease need to look for the official Crossed Grain symbol on the pack.
Check the latest label and allergen information every time you buy. Don’t assume a product is suitable based on its category alone.
-
Choosing a large bag without considering how much you’ll use
A 1 kg pack makes 25 bowls if you use 40 g per portion. This size is best suited to households that use the contents regularly and can store the bag properly.
Choose a pack size that matches the number of portions you expect to make, and follow the storage instructions on the label.
-
Assuming a portion sachet is the same as a bowl you measure yourself
The Quaker Express pack described contains 27 g sachets. That’s a different amount from the 40 g the Netherlands Nutrition Centre uses as a reference for a bowl of oats.
Check the weight per sachet and decide how much suits the lunch you have planned.
Brands to consider
Jumbo
Own-brand wholegrain rolled oats in a large pack.
- The pack described contains 1 kg and lists 25 portions.
- The label lists oats and gluten, and warns of possible traces of barley, rye and wheat. Check this if you have specific allergen requirements.
Quaker
The product range described includes both loose oats and Express portion sachets.
- The 600 g pack of loose oats lists 15 portions of 40 g; Express contains 12 sachets of 27 g.
- Express is a portion-sized option, not a large bag for sharing. Compare the weight per sachet with the amount you would measure out yourself.
Brinta
An option with extra-fine oats for anyone who wants to measure out their own portions.
- The pack described contains 450 g and lists 11 portions. The microwave instructions specify 2 minutes at 900 W.
- At 450 g, this is a smaller supply than a 1 kg bag.
Golden Bridge
ALDI own-brand wholegrain oats, available in fine and coarse varieties in 500 g packs.
- Having a choice of fine or coarse oats makes texture an easy point of comparison.
- Check the label of the variety you choose for ingredients, portions and allergen information.
Crownfield
Lidl product range featuring organic oats in a 500 g pack.
- Worth considering if your household doesn’t need as much as a 1 kg bag.
- Check the label for the ingredients and allergen information for this variety when you buy it.
Oat products at Joybuy
This selection includes loose oats in packs of 375 to 600 g and a 324 g Express portion pack. Choose based on how your household will use them and how you prefer to measure out portions.
Image unavailable
Quaker Oatmeal 600 g
For a household that shares loose oats but doesn’t need a 1 kg bag. The pack described contains 15 portions. Check the allergen information on the latest label.
Image unavailable
Brinta Oatmeal 450 g
For anyone who wants to measure out their own portions and is looking for a smaller pack of fine oats. The pack described lists 11 portions. For a warm bowl, follow the preparation instructions on the pack.
Image unavailable
Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g
For anyone who would rather not measure out oats during a short break. The pack described contains 12 sachets of 27 g and gives a preparation time of 2 minutes in the microwave or a saucepan. Check the instructions and allergen information on the label.
Image unavailable
Quaker Oatmeal 375 g
A smaller pack of loose oats to consider if you don’t use them as often. Match the 375 g pack size to the number of bowls your household expects to make, and read the preparation and allergen information on the pack.
Frequently asked questions
How many portions can you get from 1 kg of oats?
At 40 g per portion, that’s 25 portions. Jumbo lists this number for its 1 kg pack, and the Netherlands Nutrition Centre uses 40 g as a reference amount for a bowl of oats. The amount you put in your own bowl may vary.
Can you have oats for lunch while working from home?
Yes, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre also lists oats as a lunch option. What goes into your bowl depends partly on how you prepare it and what you add, so consider the whole meal, not just the dry oats.
Are ordinary oats suitable for people with coeliac disease?
Not automatically. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oats can come into contact with gluten from other cereals, and people with coeliac disease need to look for the official Crossed Grain symbol on the pack. Also check the latest ingredients and allergen information.
How should you store a large bag of oats once it’s open?
Store the bag according to the instructions on the pack and seal it well after use. The product information for the Jumbo bag described says to store it in a cool, dry place.