Which Are The Best Masala Oats In India? We Tested 5 Brands

As breakfast, dinner, or a satiating snack, masala oats are a fairly sought-after meal choice in India. However, for the days when you lack the time (or energy) to chop veggies and add seasonings, there are packaged alternatives. 

The only drawback, sigh, to these packed masala oats is the synthetic flavor, the overly mushy texture, and additives. Can a packaged variant mimic homestyle flavors?

We taste tested five brands of masala oats easily available in the market – Baggry’s, Tata, Saffola, Yogabar and Quaker. We chose Yogabar Masala Oats as our Top Pick for its flavor, texture and ingredient list.

All you need to know is covered in the following table.

What parameters did we set to review these masala oats brands?

While taste and texture were the primary parameters, we also rated these brands on the nutrition quotient as this is something a large audience consumes regularly. 

1. Taste

‘Masala’ oats, as the name suggests, should be an appetizing blend of seasoning and spices, in the apt ratio to oats and veggies. 

We were looking for a bowl of oats that struck a favorable balance between salt and spice. Could we taste the natural flavors of the vegetables? What about the innate flavor of oats, was the nuttiness noticeable?

2. Texture

We were looking for porridge-like oats, with a thick consistency, and some variation in textures with the soft, crunchy bites of veggies. 

Which brand did it best? This also speaks of the type of oats used. Details on the varieties of oats discussed in the following section. 

3. Nutrition Quotient

Oats are typically consumed in half cup quantities, approximately 40 grams. We compared the calories offered per serve and the macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats). We also scanned the quality and quantity of ingredients used. 

4. Other Parameters

Here, we recorded the price, packaging, shelf life, and more. 

Before diving into the detailed review with each contender, let’s talk about types of oats and how it impacts the final texture. 

Whole oats, steel cut, rolled oats, quick-cooking, instant, there are quite a few variants. The most economic and commonly available variants include rolled oats and instant oats. 

While rolled oats result in a thicker, chewier end result, instant oats are mushier. The former is quite versatile and is used in baked goods, pancakes, granola, oatmeal, overnight oats and more. Instant oats are the quickest, and need under a minute to cook, making them ideal for instant oatmeal. 

Why is Yogabar our Top Pick?

This was clearly the best in terms of flavor, as compared to other contenders. It showed a pleasing balance between salt and spice, plus there was the natural-tasting tang coming from tomatoes. The vegetables (carrots and peas) had fresh flavors. Its tastemaker was masaledar, this had flavors similar to that of instant noodles. 

The texture and mouthfeel was impressive too, these veggies added a soft crunch. The oats were well-cooked in under three minutes and developed a fairly nice chewy bite which was porridge-like. To add to the positive aspects, this features a pretty clean ingredient list in comparison to other brands. It is devoid of added flavors, preservatives, or sweeteners. Big thumbs up.

Product Details

A 400-gram pack is priced at Rs 199/- This comes in a red, non-resealable pouch with a nine-month shelf life. The main ingredients are 62% Oats, 9% Dried Vegetables (Onion. Carrot, Peas, Methi), 7% Seeds (Watermelon. Chias Pumpkin), Rice Bran Oil, Seasoning (Coriander Powder, Fennel Powder, Onion Powder, Tomato Powder, Cumin Powder, Red Chilli Powder, Black Pepper Powder, Garlic Powder, Kasuri Methi Powder, Clove Powder, Bay Leaf Powder, Maize Powder, Sea Salt, Sugar, Black Cardamom Powder, Oregano Powder, Ginger Powder, Chickpea Flour, Fermented Soy, Nutritional Yeast, Corn Starch, Mango Powder, Turmeric Powder)

It also contains Added Natural Flavour. Rosemary Extract.

Rosemary extract is a natural preservative that holds such properties owing to its antioxidant and antimicrobial components.

Our Experience

Saffola Masala Oats made for another bowl of extremely delicious oats. The masala flavors one looks for, were captured beautifully here. Pepper, garlic, fenugreek lent their characteristic flavors, making the oats taste homestyle. Cloves and nutmeg added a warming spice to the bowl. The texture was on point too. The veggies had rehydrated well that added a new dimension of bites. What we liked best was how the onions added a soft bite and natural, caramel-like sweetness to the oats. Overall, the texture was not as thick as our Top Pick, but was close to what one makes at home. 

The only drawback here was the ingredient list. These oats use maltodextrin with flavor enhancers. Considering oats would be consumed over 2-3 times a week, this is something you must keep in mind. 

Product Details 

A 500-gram pack is priced at Rs 207/- and the main ingredients are Rolled oats (69.4%), Maltodextrin, Iodised Salt, Spices and Condiments (3.7%) [Onions, Turmeric, Pepper, Cumin, Garlic, Fenugreek, Clove, Nutmeg, Red Chilli, Dried Vegetables [Carrots (1.15%), Onion Flakes (1.15%), Green Peas (0.69%)], Edible Vegetable Oil (Refined Rice Bran Oil), Sugar, Starch, Natural Flavouring Substances, Hydrolysed Vegetable protein, Flavour Enhancers (INS 627, INS 631), Wheat Fibre, Nature – identical Flavouring Substances.

This has a nine-month shelf life.

Our Experience

Tata Soulfull Mast Masala oats performed mediocrely. The flavors were neither too good, nor inedible. It had a bold flavor of warming spices. Additionally, the ratio of masala to oats was balanced, no one component dominated the other. These are made with 25% (20% foxtail, 5% jowar) millets, but the nutty, earthy flavors were not really present. 

As for the texture, these oats were not thick, they were more gloopy, like a dense khichdi. Veggies like carrots and peas added a delicate bite, but only in certain bites as they were added sparsely. The onions lent a desirable bite that we liked. 

Product Details

This comes in an orange pouch that is not resealable. It holds 500 grams of product and is priced at Rs 219/- with a shelf life of nine months. The main ingredients are Rolled Oats (50%), Foxtail Millet (Navane) (20%), Mixed Masala Powder (20%) (Maltodextrin, iodised Salt, Mixed Spices, Refined Sugar, Natural Flavor, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Anticaking Agent (551), Stabilizer (414), Nature Identical Flavoring Substances, Flavor Enhancer (627, 631)), Jowar (5%., Dried Vegetables (Carrots-1.2%, Onion-0.8%, Peas-0.6%), Palm Oil, Maltodextrin, Dried Coriander Leaves (0.2%), Antioxidant (320).

Our Experience

The only saving grace for Baggry’s Masala Oats was the nutritional quotient. This features a pretty clean ingredient list and has the highest oats content per serve than all contenders.

However, what did not work was the flavor and the texture. This did not pack a lot of flavors and was quite bland. Spice, salt, the overall masala flavor was very subtle. The fact that the tastemaker uses wheat flour was questionable. Even the texture was disappointing. It was too sticky and gloopy, almost inedible. 

Product Details

These oats have a one year shelf life and come in a red-yellow pouch. One pack holds 500 grams of content and is priced at Rs 207/- The main ingredients are Oats (77.5%), Masala Seasoning (lodized Salt, Onion Powder (2.9%), Garlic Powder (1.6%), Wheat Flour, Sugar, Coriander (0.67%), Chilli (0.67%), Cumin, Turmeric, Black Pepper (0.23%), Clove, Fenugreek, Nutmeg, Yeast Extract, Acidity Regulator (E 3301)), Contains added flavour Natural, Nature Identical Flavouring Substances.

Our Experience

Quaker oats come with two seasoning variants- masala and tomato. We used the masala variant, as suggested by the title of the review. 

The texture was decent. It was not too runny, gloopy, or lumpy. This was quite chewy but sadly, it had no veggies which could have eliminated monotony in the texture.

With a nine-month shelf life, these oats are packed differently than other contenders. The seasoning is packed separately and the oats are unflavored. A pack holding 200 grams of product is priced at Rs 49/- and the main ingredients of the tastemaker are Seasoning (Iodised salt, Sugar, Spices and condiments, Maize flour, Tomato powder, Flavor (Natural and nature identical flavoring substances), Acidity regulators (330, 296), Anticaking agent (551), Flavor enhancer (635)

Our Top Pick was titled so, as it had the upper hand across all three aspects- taste, texture, and the nutrition quotient. Not only did Yogabar Oats+ Veggie Masala have a chewy, porridge-like bite, but the veggies added a soft crunch. The flavors were well-balanced and appetizing, and the clean ingredient list was the home run.

Here are some interesting FAQs on best masala oats brands.

While some features lip-smacking flavors and others had decent textures, Yogabar Oats+ Veggie Masala nailed both aspects, plus had a better, cleaner ingredient list. Everything from the balance of spices to the texture, the natural flavor of veggies- was on point.

Veggie oats, upma, or poha- what’s your preferred carb source?

Our reviews are unbiased and all samples used during the reviews were paid for by us. Read our entire ethics statement here.