Monday, February 15, 2010

Types of Oats

Oats are the edible cereal grain produced by the cereal grass of the same name. Oats are light tan in color. They have a nutty flavor and a chewy texture and are high in vitamin B1. They also contain vitamins B2 and E. Oats must be hulled before they can be eaten. Whole oats minus the hull are called groats.

Rolled Oats: Oat groats that have been steamed then flattened by steel rollers into flakes. They are also known as old-fashioned cut.

Quick Cooking Oats: Oat groats that are cut into several pieces before rolling to shorten the cooking time. Quick-cooking and rolled oats are interchangeable in recipes.

Instant Oatmeal: Oat groats that are cut into very small pieces and specially processed so that they need no cooking, just the addition of boiling water. Some brands of instant oatmeal are flavored with sugar, spices, or fruits, and usually salt.

Steel-Cut Oats: Oat groats that have been sliced by steel blades. Also know as Scottish or Irish oatmeal, steel-cut oats have a firm texture when cooked. It is usually found in specialty markets.
Oat Flour: The finely ground grain. Usually found in health food stores. Oat flour sometimes is used in baked goods.

Oat Bran: The ground outer layer of the oat. Used in cooking and as a hot cooked breakfast cereal, oat bran in considered a good source of fiber.

Source: “Bee Prepared” Book

No comments: