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What are oat groats?

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I just love how the sound of oat groats simply flows of your tongue and it’s actually cute how the words rhyme together. Let’s dive into understanding the basics of what oat groats actually are.

Oats are a gluten-free whole grain that is rich in antioxidants, dietary fiber and an assortment of vitamins and minerals. There are a number of reasons to incorporate oats into a well balanced diet.

What are oat groats?

What is the difference between oats and oat groats?

Some grains are known as berries, but oats are referred to groats, or the de-hulled oat grain. Groats are the husked oat kernel, which include the cereal germ, the bran and the endosperm of the grain.

Groats are milled to remove the outer husk, and therefore, are the most intact form of the grain. They are packed with dietary fiber and are extremely nutritious.

Are oat groats good for you?

oat groats nutrition information

Oat groats are a fantastic source of dietary fiber, both soluble and insoluble. In addition, they contain potassium, calcium, magnesium, several different B-vitamins, vitamin E, and trace minerals such as manganese, copper, iron, phosphorus, selenium and zinc.

It’s fair to say that with all the positives, occasionally you face the negatives. Research has concluded that some people encounter oats side effects when eaten, which may be caused by an allergic reaction to the avenin protein within the grain.

Are oat groats better than steel cut oats?

Oats are high in soluble fiber, which makes them extra creamy when cooked. There is a slight difference between steel-cut, rolled and quick oats; however, they all come from the same cereal grain.

Oat groats are the whole kernel that is removed from the husk or hull. Steel cut oats and the whole oat groats that have been cut into two or three pieces. Cutting the grain reduces the cooking time, but doesn’t reduce the overall taste or nutritional value.

Steel-cut oats have a wonderful chewiness that has a tendency to surprise many people who have disavowed oatmeal in the past. It’s definitely not mushy gruel!

What do oat groats taste like?

Oat groats taste a bit nutty, almost like browned butter. They have a semi sweet flavor in a wholesome comfort food kind of way.

Soak them overnight to accelerate the cooking process, but that is not totally necessary. However, the texture remains quite chewy after being cooked.

They require longer cooking times to become tender. As a result, oat groats are best used in pilafs, porridges and stews.

How do you store oat groats?

Oat groats are rich in antioxidants, which make them a good storing grain. Learn how to store oatmeal to properly preserve nutrition and successfully extend the shelf life.

For the best storage conditions, pack them in airtight containers, use oxygen absorbers to remove moisture, and also store them in a cool, dark and dry place.

Reducing oxygen and moisture helps to preserve the nutritional integrity of the grain, and also prevents unwanted sprouting. In addition, use proper pest control methods to prevent insects and rodents from entering the storage containers.

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Maria Guerra

Sunday 13th of March 2022

Can you bake with oat groat? Would it be good for cookies? Bread?

Joshua

Tuesday 15th of March 2022

I would not recommend that unless you are following a specific recipe. Oat groats are extremely dense and hard, not flakey like rolled or quick oats. It takes 40 to 60 minutes of simmering to make them tender, so maybe sprinkled in a multigrain bread or muffin, but that is not an ingredient I would freestyle with nor have I tried using it in any baking recipes thus far to be able to share personal experience. Please let me know how it turns out!

Rose

Monday 29th of November 2021

Dear Joshua my name is Rose I have been a vegan for almost 5 years I have been gluten diagnosed since I was 17 I've been eating a lot of Oatley ice cream lately and it has been making me very sick I don't know why but I don't know if it's the mono triglycerides that are in there or what it is but it's making me really sick to the point that I wake up dry heaving and throwing up every time after I eat the ice cream generally I don't eat dairy Or meat in over 15 years. So I was really excited when I found out about oatmeal ice cream I'm fine with the milk the milk doesn't make me irritated it's the ice cream that makes me really sick thank you so much happy holidays to you ❤️💐👼🏻 I loved your article about the oat groats it was very educational!!!!!

Joshua

Monday 29th of November 2021

Hello Rose, Thanks for reaching out, and I am supper happy that you found the information about oat groats to be extremely useful. However, I am not familiar with the ingredients used to manufacture Oatly ice cream. I believe this is something you should speak with a nutritionist about to see if there are ingredients you are allergic to. Have you tried other vegan ice creams made from almond milk or soy milk? do you experience the same symptoms? Again, I would highly recommend speaking with a professional that is more familiar with your person circumstances before doing too much diy research that could jeopardize your health and safety. Best, Joshua