Stock Image | Photo by Arx0nt/iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News
FEATURE – How many types of oats can you name? The different types of oats get their name based on the way they are roasted after they have been harvested and cleaned.
Oatmeal are whole oats. The only part removed at harvest is the tough, unpleasant outer skin. Grains are great for breakfast cereal and for stuffing.
Oatmeal are made when meal is passed through steel blades and thinly sliced. They have a dense and chewy texture.
Oatmeal sometimes called old fashioned oats. To make rolled oats, the cereal is lightly steamed and then rolled.
Oats for quick cooking are made like rolled oats. The difference is that rolled oats are made from whole grains and instant oats are made from steel cut oats.
Instant oatmeal it comes from oatmeal that has been partially cooked and then rolled out very thin. You’ll often find them with added sugar, salt, and other ingredients.
Oat bran is the outer layer of the bean, below the hull. It is available in rolled and steel cut oats and can be purchased separately. It is often used to prepare a hot breakfast cereal.
Oat flour used in baking. Most of the time it is combined with wheat or other flour containing gluten to make bread.
Oats are high in fiber. Foods high in fiber can help reduce high cholesterol, reduce the risk of certain cancers, lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, and help prevent heart disease. Oats contain certain antioxidants that help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. In short, or oatmeal, oats are very good for you.
Not only are they good for you, they’re delicious. With so many different types of oats, you’re sure to find a favorite way to eat them.
Add oats to smoothies or make overnight oats with these recipes:
Use oats as a meat extender by adding them to your ground meat before cooking it. One cup of oatmeal per pound of meat is the general recommendation. This will give you about 50% more “meat”. Start with the full amount or start with less and work your way up. This works well for recipes like meatballs, meatballs, casseroles, taco meat, and hamburger patties:
Thickening soup or stew with oatmeal. Use a blender or food processor to grind the oats. When the oats are the consistency of flour, they are ready to be added. For a creamy soup recipe, add 1/4 to 1/2 cup ground oats:
Sprinkle oats or make granola over yogurt and desserts:
Combine oats with other ingredients in pancake and waffle recipes:
Breakfast cereal is one of the most common ways to use oats. Save money and skip the unhealthy supplements by making instant oatmeal packets at home.
Make several batches of the recipe linked above and divide into individual serving size packets. Keep them in your pantry and you’ll have a quick breakfast or snack ready.
Take it a step further and customize each batch. For a creamier oatmeal, add a tablespoon of dry milk to each packet or use milk instead of water when cooking. Experiment with blends and flavor combinations. Try spices other than cinnamon, such as pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, or cloves. You can also add fresh fruit or a spoonful of peanut butter to the oats after they are cooked.
This article originally appeared on January 10, 2022 on the USU Extension Create Better Health blog.
Copyright © CreateBetterHealth.org, all rights reserved.