I Tried 7 Toasted Oat Cereal Brands and This One Is Better than Cheerios

Very few foods are a constant throughout our lives. Our taste buds change as we age—we are a fickle bunch, especially when it comes to what we eat. And yet, there is at least one foodstuff that seems to satisfy all our dietetic requirements pretty much from the cradle to the grave: Cheerios.

These little os are a surprisingly tasty part of our complete breakfast, considering they’re just oats, corn starch, and a pinch of salt and sugar. They’re easy to digest, even on an upset stomach and simple to tote around in a baggie for a road- or trailside snack but also versatile enough to use in all sorts of recipes.

The brand comes in approximately 2,327 other flavors (okay, it’s “only” 17 permanent varieties and five limited-edition off-shoots), but the popularity of the original has inspired a handful of generic, grocery store-brand knock-offs all looking to capitalize on the success of the lower-case “o.”

At a glance, each of these alternatives look more or less identical to the name brand, all puffy rings of beige toasted oat. But the similarities stop there.

How I Tested the Toasted Oat Cereals

To rank these wannabe oats, I tried them dry by the handful and spooned them up in a cup of skim milk. And, of course, I ate them alongside the original as a control for the experiment.

The verdict? Some of them came darn close and, for the cheaper price, might even by better than the OG, at least ounce-for-ounce. Others couldn’t fool a baby. And in the end, one brand of generic “o” floated to the top of the bowl to rival the cereal king.

The Best Toasted Oat Cereals, Ranked

7. Hy-Vee Toasted Oats

The texture of these rings was immediately suspect—puffier and less substantive than the original. Our concerns were confirmed when they seemed to sponge up in milk. The flavor was strike three: Much stronger on the corn starch than the oat. An infant that wasn’t starving would likely leave them on the high-chair tray—or sweep them onto the floor.

6. Trader Joe’s Joe’s Os

We had really high hopes for this offering from Trader Joe’s, a grocery store chain that has built a reputation for pumping out exciting and delicious store-brand items that are often better than any name brand. Unfortunately, they need to check their puffing gun—these os were too puffy and too light. And the taste? Let’s just say it scored a big round 0 in the flavor department.

5. Kroger Toasted Oats

It must be difficult to recapture the right toasted crispness of real Cheerios, because, like the two brands above, Kroger also offers a puffier, less satisfying textural experience. But unlike its rivals, these “o’s” actually bring the oat—a nice earthy flavor that is strongly present when dry and manages to persist in milk.

4. Great Value Toasted O’s

This offering from Walmart’s house brand isn’t quite as puffy as the worst of these and has an oat flavor that is subtle, but present, especially when eaten dry. The real virtue here is in the name: “Value.” This is a solid Cheerio substitution that costs $1.67 per 12 oz box, less than half the cost of name-brand. When times are tough, that’s hard to resist.

3. That’s Smart! Toasted Oats Cereal

That’s Smart! is a budget-friendly grocery brand from the cooperative Topco, whose members include Hy-Vee, Schnucks, Meijer, and Piggly Wiggly, among others. They produce a slightly more compact oat o, which produces a pleasant crunch that resists going soggy in milk. Along with a satisfyingly rich oat flavor, making this a solid option.

2. Cheerios

I know, I know. I was shocked, too. The bottom line: As simple as these little rings of oats, corn starch, and two grams of sugar are, nothing replicates the smell, texture, and taste of the Real McCoy. Except, sometimes the bottom line is actually the bottom line of the receipt. And that’s why …

1. Millville Crispy Oats

… this off-brand, owned by the Aldi chain of supermarkets, is the brand of o I’ll buy every time. It’s close to the OG in crispy-crunch and oat flavor with a kiss of sweetness. Can I close my eyes and tell the difference between a handful of these oats and that of the name brand? Yes … maybe? But my kids can’t. And at $2.09 per 12-ounce box vs. $4 for Cheerios, I can definitely feel the difference in my wallet.