As wonderful and healthy this cereal is, eating oats every day can become a tad bit mundane, especially for us Indians, who JUST cannot live without their masalas. To address this need, Saffola launched some new exciting flavors to the market with their masala oats range.
Made from 100% whole grain oats, Saffola Masala Oats boasts of being a healthy addition to your diet. The health and taste factor of any product in the market usually goes hand in hand and no customer would want to compromise in either department.
We reviewed five flavors of Saffola Masala Oats – Pav bhaji, Chinese (By Chef Kunal Kapur), Peppy tomato, Veggie twist, and Classic masala. How did they fare on the taste-o-meter? Find out the details in our Saffola Masala Oats review.
Our Review Factors
Here is the list of the review factors for Saffola Masala Oats :
1. Taste
Saffola Masala Oats are pre-flavored packaged instant oats. How closely does the actual taste justify the flavor tags? Is there any artificial or industrial taste felt?
2. Texture
Oats when cooked tend to have a mushy, creamy and smooth texture. How was our experience with Saffola Masala Oats?
3. Convenience
How quick is the preparation process? Does it take up a lot of time to cook? Are the instructions easy to follow?
4. Other Parameters
Ingredients
We gauge the list of ingredients to find out the use of any preservatives, flavor enhancers or additives.
In addition, the price and packaging details were also a part of our review.
Also Read : What are the benefits of oats?
Saffola Masala Oats Variants – Detailed Review
Before proceeding with the detailed review of each variant here are a few points of information that you need to know.
Saffola Masala Oats comes in five different flavors :
- Everyday Peppy Tomato
- Chef’s Special Chinese (By Chef Kunal Kapur)
- Mumbai Pav Bhaji
- Veggie Twist
- Classic Masala
2. All Saffola Masala Oats contain maltodextrin. Maltodextrin is an ingredient that most packaged foods contain which helps to improve the flavor, thickness and shelf life of the product.
Diabetics should avoid eating products with maltodextrin on a daily basis as it is high on the glycemic index and can spike blood sugar levels.
3. These oats can also be cooked in a microwave. We cooked them on a gas stove in a pan to ensure proper cooking.
4. We followed the same instructions as mentioned on the pack for cooking. These get ready in three minutes, as claimed. For best results, we recommend that you stir it continuously otherwise the oats might stick to the pan.
Here is what we thought about them :
1. Everyday Peppy Tomato
Product Highlights
A 38 gm pack of Peppy Tomato instant oats has a price of Rs. 15. It has a yellow and red color pack.
The main ingredients are – rolled oats (75%) and spices & condiments. Per 100 gm, it provides 396 Kcal of energy.
Our Take
When we opened the pack, we got a strong tomato-flavored aroma, but upon cooking the tomato flavor diminished. A prepared bowl of oats is yellowish-orange in color.
This has vegetables like carrots and onions, though we felt that some more vegetables could have been added. The carrots add a crunchy texture to this bowl of oats.
All in all this variant was more like a regular bowl of masala oats with a peppery kick and barely tasted of tomatoes.
Saffola Masala Oats, Peppy Tomato, 400g
Here are 7 Best Ways To Eat Oats.
2. Chef’s Special Chinese (By Chef Kunal Kapur)
Product Highlights
The Chinese variant is priced at Rs. 18 for a 38 gm pack. It has a unique maroon and yellow color pack.
The key ingredients are – rolled oats (76%), dried vegetables and spices and condiments.
Per 100 gm serving, it provides 382 Kcal of energy.
Our Experience
There is no pungent aroma upon opening the pack. A prepared bowl of oats is brownish-orange in color. We could spot some onions, corn and french beans in the oats.
In the first bite, you get to taste garlic and it has a recognisable soy-like Chinese flavor to it. It is mildly tangy because of the vinegar. The spice levels are mild too.
Overall, the flavor is decent.
Pros
- We loved the mild tanginess.
- This tastes delicious.
- It has a prominent Chinese-style flavor.
Best Suited For
Love experimenting with oats? We recommend trying this Chinese style instant oats.
3. Mumbai Pav Bhaji
Product Highlights
This variant is priced at Rs. 15 for a 32 gm pack.
The key ingredients are – rolled oats, vegetables, spices & condiments.
Per 100 gm, it provides 375 Kcal of energy.
Our Experience
The aroma is surely like that of a bhaji. It contains vegetables like potatoes, onions, peas, french beans, capsicum and coriander. Surprisingly the texture is very similar to a bhaji, even though the color is missing.
It has the usual masala oats flavor, which is decent, but somehow fails to give the pav bhaji flavor, which is promised on the pack. There is a definite aftertaste of garam-masala.
This product is not going to suffice your pav bhaji cravings in a bowl of oats.
Saffola Masala Oats Mumbai Pav Bhaji, 120g
(as of December 22, 2024 00:38 GMT +05:30 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)4. Veggie Twist
Product Highlights
The 500 gm pack of Veggies Twist variant is priced at Rs. 190. This has a green and yellow color pack.
Here the main ingredients – rolled oats and dried vegetables.
Per 100 gm, it provides 391 Kcal of energy.
Our Experience
All in all this flavor is quite tasty. It has a pleasant aroma of coconut.
It contains a distinct flavor of coconut and curry leaves. So if you love these flavors, then you are bound to enjoy this innovative twist to oats. Everything tastes fresh and homely.
The mix contains veggies like carrots and peas, which taste good. The combination of oats, coconut and curry leaves work surprisingly well here.
Pros
- This tastes delicious.
- It has a distinct flavor of coconut and curry leaves.
- Enticing aroma of coconut.
- It has a fresh and homely taste.
Best Suited For
If you love the flavor combination of coconut and curry leaves, you would love these masala oats.
Related Read : Types Of Oats: Steel Cut and Rolled Oats| What’s The Difference?
5. Classic Masala
Product Highlights
The 38 gm pack of the Classic Masala variant is priced at Rs. 15 (price at the time of review). It comes in a yellow and orange color pack.
The main ingredients include oats (73.9%), salt, spices & condiments.
Per 100 gm, it provides 383.6 Kcal of energy.
Our Experience
The Everyday Classic Masala Oats are quite a flavorful ride, and very easy to make. Even easier than making instant noodles, as you don’t even need to add a tastemaker here. But it is far more healthy than instant noodles.
Made with nearly 74% rolled oats, and using lots of dried vegetables, spices and condiments, Everyday Classic Masala Oats tastes like homemade food. The masalas taste simple and mild.
This bowl of oats is very comforting.
Pros
- The masala has a mild flavor
- Comforting flavors
- Good texture
- Vegetables are rehydrated well and add a desired bite
Best Suited For
This is a good option if you do not wish to experiment with eclectic flavors and want to stick with classics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some interesting FAQs on Saffola Masala Oats.
1. Are masala oats healthy?
There is no doubt that masala oats are high on convenience. But do note that these also contain maltodextrin and other additives which are not meant for regular consumption.
2. Can Saffola masala oats be consumed everyday?
Please note that packaged products should not be consumed on a daily basis. Freshly cooked meals are not replaceable. Packaged products are meant for occasional consumption only.
3. What is the cooking time of these masala oats?
The cooking time of these masala oats is three minutes.
4. What is the shelf life of these masala oats?
The shelf life is 9 months.
5. Can these masala oats be prepared in a microwave?
Yes. You can prepare these masala oats in a microwave for three minutes on full power. We did not try this method.
Conclusion
Oats have gained immense popularity in the last few years as a healthy food. Adding them to your diet is always a smart option. If you are not fond of the same old milk and oats porridge, swapping that with some flavored savory oats wouldn’t be a bad choice. And Saffola’s range of masala oats just makes for a tasty and instant meal option.
Which one is your favorite from the above list?
Our reviews are unbiased and all samples used during the reviews were paid for by us. Read our entire ethics statement here.
