11 Oatmeal Brands You Might Not Want To Spend Money On
Oatmeal is a heart-healthy choice designed to get your day off to a great start. It's packed with protein and fiber that will satisfy you for hours. But not all oatmeals are created equal, and some are better left behind on your next trip to the store.
Things to consider when deciding which oatmeal brands are worth putting in your cart on your next trip to the grocery store include flavor, sugar and salt content, consistency, and price — you often need to consider all these aspects. However, you shouldn't have to sacrifice flavor and satisfaction for affordability.
One final thing to keep in mind when choosing your oatmeal? Recent studies commissioned by the Environmental Working Group revealed glyphosate in many major brands. This chemical, found in the weed killer, Roundup, is known to cause cancer. Considering we are all exposed to cancer-causing chemicals every day in many places we already go, opting to avoid it in your breakfast should be a no-brainer.
Mush Ready-to-Eat Oats
This Shark Tank discovery contains all the deliciousness you'd expect from overnight oats, only premade. It comes in 10 regular flavors and three crunchy varieties. Besides the unflavored option, the Mush website lists apple cinnamon, blueberry, peach, strawberry, vanilla bean, coffee, dark chocolate, peanut butter, and peanut butter chocolate flavors. There are also three crunchy varieties: honey nut, vanilla almond, and peanut butter swirl.
Despite the mouthwatering-sounding available options, one taste-tester found them bland. Used to making their own overnight oats, a reviewer was excited to try Mush, thinking it would be a time-saving option (via Spy). The strawberry version was pinkish-gray with no actual berries, but it kept them full until lunchtime despite being a relatively small serving. The crunchy oat variety was better, with a bit of a granola texture, but if you're used to making overnight oats yourself, Mush is not a cost-conscious option.
You can make overnight oats using rolled oats, regular or oat milk, and peanut butter for under $1 per serving. It may be a hassle compared to just peeling the lid off a container of Mush. But it comes with a $5 to $7 price tag. Another customer thought the oatmeal wasn't worth the price except under very particular circumstances, like a lack of other healthy options. And if you're used to making overnight oats for pennies, spending multiple dollars per serving will likely leave you unsatisfied.
Bob's Red Mill
What's not to like about a product that's this organic and farm-to-table? According to some reviewers, the salty taste. While the brand's oatmeal is highly rated, the individual serving packs had several reviews commenting on the saltiness of this particular variety. One Bob's Red Mill reviewer rated it only two out of five stars, saying, "Never had I had such salty oatmeal, it's a shame because there aren't too many 'gluten-free' options available."
Salt isn't a flavor you'll often encounter in your oatmeal, so it's likely to be offputting in any quantities where the flavor is perceptible. This is particularly true of Bob's Red Mill. Even regular purchasers of other Bob's Red Mill products were disappointed in the plain variety because of the saltiness. Another reviewer said all they could taste was salt, despite adding "raisins, cinnamon, agave, chopped pear and a little oat milk" (per Bob's Red Mill).
The flavored variety had better reviews than the plain and may be worth considering, particularly if you need gluten-free oatmeal. But even these options had their critics. A few reviewers thought it wasn't sweet enough, and one commented, "I wasn't so much a fan of the oats themselves, though, because they were just so crunchy and never got soft" (via iHerb). This checks almost all the boxes to avoid: salt, sugar, and consistency.
McCann's Vanilla Honey Oatmeal Cup
McCann's makes a wonderful rolled oat you can add spices and sweeteners too, but you probably want to steer clear of the pre-packaged version. Not because it isn't delicious; people reviewed the flavor of the Vanilla Honey Oatmeal cup, as particularly high. But it is full of sugar — 17 grams in each single-serving cup. And according to McCann's, sugar is the second item on the ingredient list, just after oats, and it's no secret anymore that those items appear based on their predominance in a recipe.
To add insult to injury, those 17 grams of sugar aren't even naturally occurring. All 17 grams are added sugar. You wouldn't think this would be necessary for an oatmeal cup that contains honey, but there it is. In fact, instant oatmeal is one of the biggest offenders when it comes to hidden sugars. McCann's sugar content, for example, clocks in at more than half the recommended daily 25 grams.
Another potential cause for concern is the higher glycemic index in instant oatmeal compared to the slower cooking stovetop variety (via One Green Planet). The GI of instant oats is 83, compared to the 55 associated with old-fashioned oats. What does this mean for an oatmeal consumer? It will keep you full for longer but raise your blood sugar as your body works to digest it, making it particularly concerning for people with diabetes or pre-diabetes.
Quaker Maple and Brown Sugar Fiber and Protein Oatmeal
The biggest problem people had with this option was labeling. According to reviews on the Quaker Oats website, this claims to be a new version of the "Weight Management" variety of instant oatmeal. But most consumers disagreed, finding the latest version bland and flavorless. "Nothing like the original, it is so bland; there is no maple/brown sugar taste at all," one consumer complained (via Quaker Oats).
Quaker explains they reformulated the oatmeal to conform to consumer demands for a shorter ingredient list and fewer artificial flavors. But in doing so, they've removed what most people knew and loved about this variety. "This one has a very fake ... and almost 'soapy' taste to it," another reviewer reported (via Quaker Oats). It stands to reason that removing the artificial flavors from a recipe shouldn't create a less authentic taste in your oatmeal.
The Quaker Oats site isn't the only place where complaints were lodged about this new but not so improved version. Additional reviews for the brand revealed consumers who found the texture lacking, too. One commented that, "The flavor and texture is a complete downgrade from the original formula" (via Consumer Affairs). Quaker doesn't seem too interested in changing back to their original formula, so this oatmeal is best left behind on your next shopping trip.
Bear Naked Oatmeal
You may be more familiar with Bear Naked Granola, and that's for a good reason: It's the company's bread and butter. In fact, their oatmeal comes with a granola topper. And while that was a high point for some people, others were unimpressed.
According to reviews on the Bear Naked site, the biggest complaints are the texture and the packaging. The fill line is on the outside of the package, making it difficult to use. Many complained that they added too much water because they didn't know where to find the fill line. The white container also makes the line difficult to see. One reviewer lamented, "I didn't see the 'fill line' until I Googled the product."
Another commented that "the texture is like pulverized steel cut oats, it was like powder" (via Bear Naked). A Walmart reviewer also found this brand challenging to make successfully. They explained that, though they followed directions on the packaging exactly, "It turned out like soup. The second one I made, I only put half the milk in, and it overflowed before the 40 seconds was up" (per Walmart). Pre-packaged oatmeal should make your life easier, not more difficult, so we recommend skipping this brand.
Better Oats Organic Bare
There were a lot of reviewers who really liked this brand of oatmeal. But there were complaints about the quality control. One reviewer on the Better Oats website cited this as the reason he found a gritty substance like dirt or sand in his oatmeal packet.
Those choosing the Bare variety may be looking for something simple and unflavored. But a few thought it was a bit too simple. Several reviewers didn't care for the flavor, or lack thereof, even with assistance. However, a few were able to tolerate it by adding honey, cinnamon, raisins, or all of the above. The flavored varieties received quite a few good reviews on the Target website, but others were less enthusiastic, finding it too sweet and with an offputting texture. One complained that "It's NOT the same steel cut instant oatmeal . . . that had a hearty texture. These oats turn to mush — they do not hold up once hot water is added" (via Target).
Reviews of the Revolution Steel Protein variety had the opposite complaint. One reviewer complained that the protein pellets were, "Like adding crushed-up dog food into your oat meal" (per Amazon). Another thought the added protein tasted like cardboard. Consistency and taste were the major factors in determining this product's success (or lack thereof).
Nature's Path Organic Gluten-Free Spiced Apple with Flax
This is a great option for those who are gluten intolerant or just trying to cut back on the amount of gluten they consume. And the added flax will help keep you full. But at 9 grams of sugar per serving, it might not be the healthiest option, despite everything else it has going for it.
According to The Celiathlete, the Spiced Apple with Flax had a surprisingly good flavor, though it started out bland. The texture was good and easy to make in the microwave. But a single serving container, while only 170 calories, has 90 milligrams of sodium and 9 grams of sugar. This is more than a third of the sugar you should consume daily. And it was this reviewer's least favorite of the three options they tried.
The Celiathlete's favorite option was the Homestyle variety, which had no added flavors or sugars. But the Maple and Brown Sugar option was a close second. This one has 8 grams of sugar, making it higher than you probably want to start the day. Some reviewers, in fact, found it a bit too sweet for their tastes, making comments such as, "Too sweet, and the taste wasn't really nice" (per iHerb). Others complained the serving sizes were too small. One complained, "I often have to eat 1 ½ packets, and my husband sometimes just eats two. A few of them are more like a snack than breakfast fuel" (via Go Dairy Free).
Earnest Eats Vegan Hot Cereal
This oatmeal received good reviews overall, but like so many others on this list, people were turned off by the high sugar content in this brand. Some Amazon reviewers also found the flavor bland and a far cry from what was depicted on the box. One commented, "The package we received shows almonds, raspberries, something star shaped, blueberries, coconut, and pistachios" (via Amazon). But what they received contained only a meager amount of cranberries, and adding brown sugar and coconut helped, but only a little.
Another reviewer questioned the nutritional information and ingredients. The single-serving cups contain 16 grams of sugar, while an equivalent serving size from the bulk bag contains only 2 grams (per Amazon). They also commented that the 1/2-cup serving from the bulk bag appeared to be twice as much as the single-serve cup, though it also claims to be a half-cup serving.
The higher sugar content seems to be a trend with the single-serving cups. The Pumpkin Spice variety had the least sugar at 10 grams per serving (via Earnest Eats). The Maple Almond Cinnamon and Cranberry Almond each have 12 grams of, and the Blueberry Chia has 15 grams of sugar. The bags, however, range from 2 to 6 grams of sugar per serving and make a better option if you buy this for breakfast. But if you're concerned about how much sugar you eat, you should avoid this brand, particularly the portable but heavily sweetened single servings.
Giant Instant Oats
The issue with this brand isn't flavor; it's the glyphosate in your oats. Glyphosate is a chemical found in Roundup and the active ingredient in the weed killer. And according to Healthy Goods, it's also in many of the most common oatmeal brands.
They cite a study by the Environmental Working Group that shows the Giant brand rated exceptionally high at 760 parts per billion. Since you shouldn't be consuming these chemicals in the first place, you should steer clear of ones with high levels of glyphosate. The chemical is sprayed on the oats to kill the crop so it can be harvested sooner, but it has been shown to cause cancer in those regularly exposed to it.
If the presence of pesticides isn't enough to convince you to leave this one behind, then a high sugar count might be. There are 10 grams of sugar in each serving of Giant Brand Oatmeal (via Giant). And some other things about this brand might want to make you avoid it. It's highly processed and contains industrial caramel color and trans fats, even though the label may claim otherwise.
Modern Oats
Modern Oats come in various scrumptious flavors. According to the Modern Oats website, traditional flavors include 5 Berry, Coconut Almond, Goji Blueberry, Apple Walnut, and Vermont Maple. But all that deliciousness comes with a calorie count and sugar levels that are incredibly high. The calories in these little cups range from 230-300 per serving, and the sugar counts range from 13 to 18 grams.
The Celiathlete reviewed the Apple Walnut version, and the first impression was that this was bland (via The Celiathlete). But the flavor improved further into the cup. In fact, the overall flavor review was delicious, but the 300 calories and 17 grams of sugar were disappointing. And despite containing dried fruit, which was likely responsible for some of the high content, they also noted that cane sugar is the second item on the ingredient list.
Reviews on the Modern Oats website raved about the flavors. Still, one commented "the walnuts that come in the Apple Walnut flavor are always incredibly, inedibly stale. Same with the pecans in the berry flavor" (per Modern Oats). And another complained about the high sugar content, thinking it should be possible to make these without multiple teaspoons of sugar per serving.
KIND
This is another brand you likely know from non-oatmeal items. If you've heard the name, it's probably because of the bars. And while many people liked this oatmeal, the sugar content in some flavors is high, and the texture disappointed some reviewers. This may be due to a recent recipe change. On the KIND website, one long-time consumer complained, "I noticed a change in the consistency of both flavors after I prepared them and it seems like there is less product and the consistency is not as thick anymore."
Another reviewer found the flavor lacking in the Apple Cinnamon variety and the texture off, commenting "the flavor was bland, and the oats were too large to soften" (via KIND). She wasn't the only one to feel this way. Another reviewer thought the oversized oats led to a texture-less oatmeal.
Some reviewers also considered the Maple Almond flavor bland, and one commented that "the protein nuggets though I like them nutritionally, give the product a weird texture" (per KIND). The sugar content on all varieties of KIND oatmeal range from 7 to 9 grams per serving, mostly added sugars, but each was under 200 calories per serving, and reviewers did find the oatmeal filling.