If you eat porridge regularly
A multi-breakfast pack is a good fit if you use standard wholegrain rolled oats regularly. Choose a size you can store somewhere dry and finish at your usual pace.
Which oats are right for you?
If you’re short on time in the morning
Fine oats or pre-measured portions are worth considering if a quick breakfast is your priority. Check the cooking instructions: the shape of the oats and the convenience of the packaging are separate things to consider.
If you need to eat gluten-free due to coeliac disease
Standard oats aren’t automatically suitable. The Dutch Coeliac Society advises choosing oats with a clear gluten-free label and, preferably, the Crossed Grain symbol. Check the packaging of the specific product too.
What should you look for?
First decide whether you want standard oats or the convenience of individual portions. Then compare the ingredients, cooking instructions and pack size. If you have coeliac disease, checking for a gluten-free label comes before those considerations.
| What to consider | What to check | Who should prioritise this? |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size | Check the pack contents and choose an amount you can store properly and use up. | If I eat porridge regularly, I don’t want to leave a large pack unused until its contents are no longer usable. For around 38% of consumers, making practical use of the pack is the main priority. |
| Standard wholegrain oats | Read the ingredients list and distinguish standard oats from a ready-made breakfast product. | I want to decide for myself what goes into my bowl, so I’m looking for plain wholegrain oats as a base. For around 31% of consumers, the ingredients are their first concern. |
| Preparation and texture | Read the cooking instructions and check whether the product contains fine oats, coarse oats or individual portions. | On a busy morning, I want to know how to prepare my porridge, and the texture I prefer matters too. Quick preparation is the main priority for around 23% of consumers. |
| Gluten-free labelling | If you have coeliac disease, check for a clear gluten-free label and, preferably, the Crossed Grain symbol. | If I need to eat gluten-free due to coeliac disease, I can’t rely on the word ‘oats’ in the product name. For around 8% of consumers, this assurance is the top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming that ‘oats’ means a product is gluten-free
Standard oat products can come into contact with gluten-containing grains during processing and distribution. This distinction matters if you have coeliac disease, according to the Dutch Coeliac Society.
Check the gluten-free label on the packaging of the product you choose and, preferably, look for the Crossed Grain symbol.
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Treating rolled oats, bars and sweetened porridge as the same product
Oats as an ingredient don’t make a mixed product the same as a pack of plain wholegrain rolled oats. Other ingredients change the product’s composition.
Compare the ingredients lists of products in the same category and consider any additions to your breakfast separately.
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Choosing a large pack without planning how you’ll use it
A large pack may not be the best choice if you only eat porridge occasionally or can’t store the contents somewhere dry.
Choose a size that suits how often you make porridge, and seal the pack securely after use.
Exposure to moisture or leaving the pack open for too long could mean you’re unable to use some of its contents.
Brands and shops compared
These brands and shops offer oats in a range of forms. Always check the label on the pack you choose: a feature of one variety doesn’t necessarily apply to the entire range.
Brinta
Brinta Oatmeal, 450 g, is an option if you’re looking for extra-fine oats for a warm bowl of porridge.
- According to Albert Heijn’s product description, this variety contains 100% rolled oats, which are extra fine.
- Check the allergen information; this variety may contain wheat and rye.
Quaker
The range includes standard oats and individually packaged varieties for a different way of preparing porridge.
- Jumbo lists 100% wholegrain oats as an ingredient in Quaker Oatmeal, 600 g.
- Check the ingredients and allergen information for each variety; according to the product information, the standard 600 g pack may contain wheat and barley.
Albert Heijn
AH Wholegrain Oatmeal Fine Flakes is a supermarket own-brand option if you want standard fine oats.
- The product information lists wholegrain rolled oats as an ingredient.
- The label says the product may contain barley, spelt, rye and wheat, so don’t rely on the product name as an indication that it’s gluten-free.
Jumbo
Jumbo sells fine wholegrain oats in a 1 kg pack, as well as coarse wholegrain oats in a 500 g pack.
- The two types of oats let you choose between a fine and a coarser texture.
- If gluten is a concern for you, check the allergen information on the pack in question.
Lidl
Lidl lists a 500 g pack of coarse rolled oats.
- The coarse oats make this product worth considering if you’re looking for more texture.
- According to Lidl, this product is available in store only; check the pack there for full product information.
ALDI / Golden Bridge
Golden Bridge offers fine and coarse wholegrain oats as separate varieties.
- The listed 500 g packs let you choose the type of oats that suits the way you prepare them.
- Check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you choose; don’t assume the two varieties have the same information.
Oat products on Joybuy
These products include standard oats in a range of pack sizes, as well as an Express variety if you’re looking for individual portions. When choosing, consider not just the pack size but also the ingredients and preparation instructions for the specific variety.
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Quaker Oatmeal 600 g
A pack for anyone who regularly makes porridge with standard oats. Jumbo lists 100% wholegrain oats as an ingredient in this 600 g variety; if you have coeliac disease, check separately for a gluten-free label.
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Zonnatura Organic Wholegrain Oatmeal 500 g
A 500 g pack for making a standard bowl of porridge. Check the cooking instructions and, if you have coeliac disease, look for a gluten-free label on the pack.
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Quaker Oatmeal 375 g
A smaller pack if you’d rather not keep as much oatmeal at home at once. Check the ingredients, cooking instructions and any gluten-free labelling separately for this 375 g variety.
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Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g
An Express variety if you like the convenience of pre-measured portions. It’s a different type of product from a pack of standard rolled oats, so check the ingredients and cooking instructions before you choose.
Frequently asked questions
Are standard oats wholegrain?
Standard oats are made from oat grains and are a wholegrain cereal. For muesli, bars and other mixed products, though, read the full ingredients list: oats as an ingredient don’t tell you everything about the product as a whole.
Should I choose fine or coarse oats?
Choose fine oats for quick, warm porridge, and coarse oats if you prefer a chunkier texture. Albert Heijn says its fine wholegrain oats should be simmered gently for one minute; for other products, follow the instructions on the pack.
Are standard oats suitable for people with coeliac disease?
Not automatically: standard oat products can come into contact with gluten-containing grains. The Dutch Coeliac Society advises choosing oat products with a clear gluten-free label and, preferably, the Crossed Grain symbol.
How should I store a larger pack of oats?
Store oats in a cool, dry place and seal the pack securely after use. Choose a size that suits how often you eat porridge, and follow the storage and best-before information on the label.