Home bakers who want to follow the recipe’s texture
If a biscuit recipe calls for fine or jumbo oats, that description helps you find the right type of product. Albert Heijn and Jumbo list these types separately in their ranges.
Who is this choice important for?
Shoppers looking for a plain wholegrain base
With regular wholegrain porridge oats, you can choose exactly what else goes into your biscuit dough. Quaker describes its Havermout Original as 100% wholegrain; always check the ingredients list for other varieties.
Bakers catering for someone with coeliac disease
For biscuits for someone with coeliac disease, the word ‘wholegrain’ isn’t enough. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre and the Dutch Coeliac Society recommend certified gluten-free oats; check that the packaging carries the official Crossed Grain trademark.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the type of oats in the recipe. Then check the ingredients, any dietary requirements and how much you need.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| Type of oats | Check whether the product is labelled ‘fine oats’, ‘jumbo oats’ or ‘porridge oats’, and compare this with your recipe. | If my recipe specifies a type of oats, I don’t want to use a different one by mistake. For around 29% of consumers, matching the recipe is the deciding factor. |
| Wholegrain base | Check the wholegrain claim and ingredients list, particularly for flavoured instant products. | I want to choose what else goes into my biscuits, so I’m looking for plain wholegrain oats. Around 36% of consumers put this first. |
| Gluten-free oats | If you’re buying for someone with coeliac disease, look for the official Crossed Grain trademark on the packaging. | If I’m baking for someone with coeliac disease, the oats must be certified as suitable; ‘wholegrain’ isn’t enough. For around 14% of consumers, this is the first requirement. |
| Pack size | Compare the pack weight with the amount of oats in your recipe. | If I’m making a large batch of biscuits, I want to know whether one pack will be enough. For around 21% of consumers, the right pack size matters most. |
Common mistakes
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Confusing wholegrain with certified gluten-free
A wholegrain claim doesn’t tell you whether the oats are suitable for someone with coeliac disease. Regular oat products may come into contact with gluten.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre and the Dutch Coeliac Society advise checking for the official Crossed Grain trademark. When baking, also check the other ingredients and avoid cross-contamination from kitchen utensils.
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Assuming fine and jumbo oats are interchangeable
Albert Heijn and Jumbo sell fine and jumbo oats as different product types. So if a recipe specifies one type, it’s important to choose the right one.
Follow the recipe’s instructions. If they’re unclear, bake a small batch first before making a larger quantity of dough.
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Relying on outdated product information
Albert Heijn notes that product ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change. This is especially important if you’re catering for a dietary requirement.
Check the current packaging before use, even if you’ve bought the product before.
Brands to compare
Quaker
Quaker describes its Havermout Original as 100% wholegrain. The brand also offers other oat products, including Oats Express.
- Havermout Original is a familiar option if you’re specifically looking for oats labelled as wholegrain.
- Check the product type and ingredients for each variety; the Original description doesn’t automatically apply to Express or flavoured varieties.
Brinta
Jumbo lists Brinta Havermout in a 450 g pack.
- An oat product you can compare with other plain porridge oats when your recipe calls for this type.
- Check the packaging for the exact type of oats and ingredients before choosing it for a particular biscuit recipe.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn distinguishes between wholegrain porridge oats with fine flakes and wholegrain porridge oats with jumbo flakes.
- The product names make it easy to look for the type of oats specified in your recipe.
- Albert Heijn says product information can change, so check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s own-brand range includes fine wholegrain oat flakes and other types of porridge oats.
- The ‘fine oats’ description is useful if your recipe specifically calls for them.
- Check the product name on each pack; different types of oats aren’t automatically interchangeable in the same recipe.
Zonnatura
Albert Heijn’s product listing describes Zonnatura Wholegrain Porridge Oats as containing fine wholegrain oat flakes.
- The fine flakes listed are a good match when your recipe calls for this type.
- Check the current packaging, including the allergen information, before using these oats.
Oat products at Joybuy
These Quaker packs are worth considering if you’re looking for oats for biscuits. For each product, check the exact type of oats on the packaging if your recipe calls for fine or jumbo oats. If you’re baking for someone with coeliac disease, the official Crossed Grain trademark is also important.
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Quaker Porridge Oats 600 g
If your biscuit recipe calls for regular porridge oats, you could consider this 600 g pack. Check the type of oats if your recipe specifies a particular texture, and read the allergen information on the packaging.
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Quaker Porridge Oats 375 g
This 375 g pack is another size to consider for a recipe using regular porridge oats. Check the pack to see what type of oats it contains, and read the allergen information before use.
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Quaker Express Porridge Oats 324 g
Consider this 324 g pack only if you can first check that the type of oats is suitable for your biscuit recipe. Check the packaging to see whether it contains oat flakes or flour, and read the allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need instant oats for biscuits?
Not necessarily: follow the type of oats specified in the recipe. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre uses regular porridge oats in a biscuit recipe, while Albert Heijn and Jumbo list fine and jumbo oats as separate product types.
How can I check whether porridge oats are wholegrain?
Read the product name and ingredients list on the current packaging. Quaker describes its Havermout Original as 100% wholegrain, but don’t assume this applies to another variety without checking.
Can I use regular wholegrain porridge oats for someone with coeliac disease?
Not based on the wholegrain claim alone. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre and the Dutch Coeliac Society recommend certified gluten-free oats for people with coeliac disease; check for the official Crossed Grain trademark and prevent cross-contamination from other ingredients and kitchen utensils.