Breakfast lovers who make their own porridge
You’re looking for a clearly labelled wholegrain base and want to choose your own toppings and how to prepare the oats.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Anyone who wants a quick, warm bowl
Saving time on preparation matters to you. A product with simple cooking instructions or individual portions could be a practical choice.
People with coeliac disease
A wholegrain label alone isn’t enough for you. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oats are suitable for people with coeliac disease only if the pack carries the official Crossed Grain symbol.
What should you look for?
First, decide whether you want oats for porridge or for a recipe that specifically calls for oats. For porridge, compare the ingredients, cooking instructions and packaging. If you have coeliac disease, checking for the certification comes first.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is it important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholegrain base | Look for wholegrain oats or wholegrain oat flakes in the product information, and read the ingredients list. | If I want to make my own porridge, I want to know which grain it’s made from. For around 40% of consumers, a clearly labelled wholegrain base comes first. |
| Preparation and type of flakes | Read the cooking instructions and check whether the product contains fine or coarse flakes. | On a busy morning, I want to know how much preparation a warm bowl takes. Quick, predictable preparation matters most to around 30% of consumers. |
| Pack size | Compare the pack sizes and choose between a larger pack and individual portions, depending on how you’ll use them. | If I make porridge regularly, I want a pack that suits how often I use it. For around 20% of consumers, the type of packaging is the top priority. |
| Suitability for coeliac disease | Look for the official Crossed Grain symbol and check the allergen information on the current packaging. | If I have coeliac disease, I need to be able to check whether these specific oats are suitable. For around 10% of consumers, this reassurance is the first thing they look for. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming wholegrain means gluten-free
A wholegrain label tells you about the grain used, not whether it may have been contaminated with gluten during processing. Standard oat products may also carry warnings about wheat, barley or rye.
If you have coeliac disease, follow the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice: choose oats with the official Crossed Grain symbol and check the current packaging.
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Assuming organic or own-brand labels guarantee other qualities
These labels don’t tell you, by themselves, which ingredients and allergens are listed on a particular pack or what type of flakes it contains.
Check these details separately on the packaging, especially if they determine whether the product is suitable for your recipe.
Brands to consider
Brinta
Brinta sells a 450 g pack of porridge oats made with extra-fine oat flakes.
- The version described by Albert Heijn contains 100% oat flakes and takes 2 minutes to prepare in the microwave.
- Albert Heijn warns that the product may contain traces of wheat and rye. The label ‘100% oat flakes’ also doesn’t, by itself, confirm that the product is labelled as wholegrain.
Quaker
Quaker sells a standard porridge oats option, as well as Oats Express Naturel in individual portions.
- Quaker Netherlands lists 100% wholegrain oats as an ingredient in Havermout Original.
- The standard version may contain barley and wheat. Quaker also notes that Oats Express Naturel may contain soya, barley and wheat. Check the allergen information for each variety.
Jumbo
Jumbo sells, among other options, fine wholegrain oat flakes in a 1 kg pack and 500 g of organic wholegrain porridge oats.
- Jumbo’s product information describes the fine variety as wholegrain oat flakes and the organic variety as wholegrain porridge oats.
- Check the current allergen information for the variety you choose. The organic option notes that it may contain wheat, barley and rye.
Golden Bridge
This ALDI own brand lists fine and coarse wholegrain porridge oats in 500 g packs.
- Having two types of flakes to choose from is useful when a recipe calls for fine or coarse flakes.
- Check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you choose before deciding whether it’s suitable.
Crownfield
Crownfield is a Lidl brand that includes organic porridge oats in a 500 g pack.
- Lidl’s product information lists the organic variety and its pack size.
- Check the wholegrain label, ingredients and allergen information separately on the specific pack. ‘Organic’ alone doesn’t tell you this.
Oat products on Joybuy
These products come in pack sizes that may suit you if you’re considering oats as the base for a warm bowl. The Express product is designed for quick preparation. If you’re using oats in stamppot, follow the ingredients and quantities in your recipe.
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Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g
If you’re looking for a warm bowl that’s quick to prepare, Joybuy’s product information says it takes 2 minutes in the microwave or in a saucepan.
If you have coeliac disease, check the pack for the Crossed Grain symbol before using these oats.
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Zonnatura Organic Whole Wheat Oatmeal 500 g
An option to consider if you’re looking for a 500 g pack and want to choose a grain to suit how you’ll use it.
The product name says ‘Whole Wheat’. If the difference between wheat and oats matters to you, read the current ingredients and allergen information.
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Quaker Oatmeal 600 g
A 600 g pack for anyone who wants to decide how much porridge to make and what to add to it.
Joybuy’s product information lists 100% wholegrain oats as an ingredient and says the product may contain barley and wheat. Read the cooking instructions if the type of flakes or preparation time will affect your choice.
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Quaker Oatmeal 375 g
A 375 g pack for anyone who wants to choose what to add to their porridge.
Check the ingredients, allergen information and cooking instructions on the current packaging, especially if the type of flakes or suitability for coeliac disease is important to you.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if porridge oats are wholegrain?
Check both the product name and the ingredients list. ‘Wholegrain porridge oats’ or ‘wholegrain oat flakes’ is a clear indication. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholegrain cereal products are made from the entire grain. Check the label on the pack you buy.
Are standard porridge oats suitable for people with coeliac disease?
Not necessarily. For people with coeliac disease, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing only oats with the official Crossed Grain symbol, as oats can become contaminated with gluten during processing. A wholegrain label is no substitute for this symbol.
Should I choose fine or coarse oat flakes?
Choose the type of flakes that suits your cooking method or recipe. If you mainly want a quick, warm bowl, check the instructions for a product with fine flakes. If a stamppot recipe calls for a particular type, follow the recipe. Check the wholegrain label separately for either option.
Can wholegrain porridge oats replace potatoes in stamppot?
Don’t assume that porridge oats can replace potatoes in a set amount. Use oats in stamppot when your recipe calls for them, and follow its quantities and instructions on the type of flakes to use. A porridge oats product won’t, by itself, tell you how much to use in stamppot.