Choose portion sachets if you want to make a warm bowl of porridge quickly on the morning of a barbecue and can follow the preparation instructions. Regular or fine wholegrain oats are a better choice if you want to decide the portions and toppings yourself. For both options, check the ingredients and allergen information: a wholegrain label doesn’t tell you what else is in the pack.
Wants to spend as little time as possible on breakfast before heading out or while getting ready for the barbecue. A portion pack with a short preparation time is particularly useful if you have the necessary equipment.
Looking for a neutral wholegrain base to combine with toppings such as fruit, yoghurt or nuts, and wanting to decide the portion size themselves.
Checking ingredients and allergens because of a specific dietary requirement. In this case, the words ‘oats’, ‘wholegrain’ or ‘protein’ alone aren’t enough to help you choose a product.
First, decide how you’ll prepare breakfast on the morning of the barbecue. Then compare the ingredients, pack format and information on the label.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Quick preparation | Check the preparation time and make sure you can use the specified microwave, pan or other equipment. | If I start getting ready for the barbecue early, I want to make breakfast with as little effort as possible. Around 36% of consumers are said to prioritise quick preparation. |
| Neutral wholegrain base | Check the wholegrain claim and ingredients if you want to add your own fruit, yoghurt or nuts. | I want to choose my own toppings rather than have a ready-made mix. Around 29% of consumers are said to prioritise a versatile wholegrain base. |
| Pack with several portions | Compare the net weight and decide whether you want to measure out the portions yourself. | If several people are having breakfast or I want to keep some oats for the following mornings, I’d rather have one larger pack. Around 21% of consumers are said to consider this the most important factor. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Read the current ingredients and allergen information; if you have coeliac disease, check for a gluten-free claim and the Crossed Grain trademark. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the pack must make it clear whether the porridge oats are suitable for me. Around 14% of consumers are said to put this check first. |
A short preparation time says nothing about the other ingredients or what you add to the porridge oats yourself.
Read the ingredients list, then decide which toppings you want to use.
According to the Voedingscentrum, oats can become contaminated with gluten during processing. A wholegrain claim therefore doesn’t prove that porridge oats are suitable for people with coeliac disease.
If you have coeliac disease, check the current pack for the official Crossed Grain trademark and read the allergen information too.
The Quaker Express Protein mentioned here contains added soya protein. This is an important difference from a neutral oat base if you need to avoid soya.
Before deciding, check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack of any protein variety.
Among the products mentioned, you can choose between regular wholegrain porridge oats and portioned Oats Express.
Brinta Porridge Oats are an option if you’re looking for fine oats as a neutral breakfast base.
The own-label range includes fine and coarse wholegrain porridge oats for those who want to measure out their own portions.
Golden Bridge by ALDI is worth considering if you’re looking for fine wholegrain porridge oats in a larger pack.
Zonnatura Organic Wholegrain Porridge Oats are worth a look if you’re specifically seeking organic wholegrain oats.
These two Quaker varieties are designed for anyone who wants to prepare portion-sized porridge quickly on a barbecue morning. The Protein variety contains added soya protein; preparation instructions and allergen information are still important for each product.
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For anyone who wants to prepare porridge quickly and has deliberately chosen a variety with added soya protein.
The product information gives a preparation time of two minutes. Check the current instructions and allergen information, especially if you need to avoid soya or cereals containing gluten.
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For anyone who wants to make a portion of porridge on the morning of the barbecue without measuring it out themselves.
The product information lists twelve portions and says it can be prepared in two minutes in a microwave or saucepan. Check that you have the equipment needed for this method, and read the current pack if you have allergies.
No. Don’t rely on ‘instant’ alone. Check the wholegrain claim and ingredients for the specific variety, especially if it’s a mixed product.
A neutral porridge base lets you choose your own toppings, such as fruit, yoghurt or unsalted nuts. If you’re choosing a ready-made variety, check the ingredients first so you know what’s already in it.
Don’t choose based only on the words ‘oats’ or ‘wholegrain’. The Voedingscentrum points out that oats can become contaminated with gluten and says that people with coeliac disease should look for the official Crossed Grain trademark on the pack.
Read the ingredients and allergen information for the variety you choose. According to the product information, Quaker Express Protein contains added soya protein; a similar product name doesn’t tell you what’s in another pack.
Portion sachets are handy when you don’t want to measure out your oats and can follow the preparation instructions. A large bag gives you more control over portion sizes, but you’ll need to measure out the oats and organise the preparation yourself.
