A Guide to Types of Oats

Oats are known for their positive effect on the human body. We tend to praise ourselves for having oats for breakfast but we often get confused in a store when seeing so many types of this grain.

5-Minute Crafts would like to tell you about types of oats and how they are different from each other.

What oats are, and why they’re healthy

The oat (Avena sativa) is an herbaceous plant that is mainly grown as livestock feed. However, oats have found the widest use in the culinary industry due to their neutral taste, coupled with healthy properties. Oats grow in regions with a temperate climate but, in general, they are not picky about growing conditions.

Since oats are processed in different ways, there are many types of oats. But despite being processed, oats are considered a whole grain. Oats are an excellent source of fiber, zinc, magnesium, and many other nutrients.

Types of oats

• Whole oat groats. This cereal has a particularly high nutritional value since it’s not damaged by processing and contains bran which is rich in dietary fiber. Whole oat groats take the longest to cook as compared to other types of oats: about 50-60 minutes.
• Old-fashioned oats. This is one of the most popular types of oats because they can be used in completely different dishes, such as oatmeal, muesli, cookies, oat milk, pancakes, and so on. For this type, oats are steamed first, then rolled with steel rollers, and then flattened to make them into flakes and dried afterward. Their cooking time is 5-20 minutes.
• Instant oats. These oats have been fully cooked and then dehydrated. Therefore, all you have to do is add some liquid. You can add either boiling water or cool water. Although instant oats are the most processed type of oats, they still have many healthy benefits.
• Quick oats. They are similar to old-fashioned oats, but the flakes are slightly smaller. So, it takes less time to cook these oats: only 1-3 minutes. It’s a good option for breakfast, especially if you are in a hurry.

• Oat bran. This is the outer shell of the oat grain. It has more protein and fiber. In addition, it is an excellent source of magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. Bran is loaded with dietary fiber that absorbs water naturally, making you feel full for a relatively long time. It takes about 3 minutes to cook.
• Irish oats. These oats are crushed in half. It’s generally considered to be less processed than other types of oats. And the larger the flakes are, the longer it takes to cook them. Irish oats are to be cooked for 25 to 30 minutes.
• Scottish oatmeal. This is a type of oats that turns into a creamy porridge after cooking. Cooking time on the stove is about 10 minutes. Scottish oatmeal has been considered a symbol of this country for many centuries: oats were an integral part of the main diet of Scottish farmers in the past. The porridge was stirred with a wooden spatula, cooled, and stored in a box. In the cold, the porridge hardened and could be cut into portions for breakfast or lunch.
• Oat flour. It is a whole grain flour with a slightly nutty flavor. It can be a great alternative to wheat flour when making cookies, bread, or cakes. Oat flour is easy to make at home: just pour dry oats into a blender or food processor and grind them to the desired consistency.