Rolled Oats

What Is Rolled Oats?

Rolled oats is a grain product obtained by hulling the oat grain (Avena sativa), briefly steaming it to soften it, and then flattening it between rollers. This process both shortens the cooking time and extends the shelf life.

Depending on the flattening thickness, there are thin (quick) and thick (traditional) varieties. It has a wide range of uses, from breakfast porridge to granola, cookies, and bread doughs.

Nutritional Values of Rolled Oats

100 grams of raw rolled oats contains about 389 kcal of energy, 16.9 g of protein, and 10.6 g of fiber. A significant part of its fiber is of the soluble beta-glucan type. Values are approximate.

How Should Rolled Oats Be Consumed?

With its high fiber and protein content, rolled oats can be considered part of a balanced diet; it's consumed at breakfast as a porridge with water, milk, or plant-based milk, or mixed with fruit.

This information is general; rolled oats is a food, not a substitute for medical treatment.

How to Choose Rolled Oats?

A good rolled oats has grains that are evenly flattened, light yellowish-beige in color, with a low broken ratio; moldy odor or an oily appearance should not be preferred.

• Grains should be evenly flattened and light-colored
• Broken and dust ratio should be low
• Thin (quick) or thick (traditional) variety should be chosen according to purpose

How to Store Rolled Oats?

Dry rolled oats can be kept in a sealed container in a cool, dark cupboard for up to 1 year. Cooked oat porridge stays fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for 3–4 days.

Using Rolled Oats in the Kitchen

Rolled oats is mostly used in breakfast porridge, granola, overnight oats (oats soaked overnight), and cookie-cake doughs; it can also be added to meatball mixtures in place of breadcrumbs.

What Is the Difference Between Thin Oats and Thick Oats?

Thin oats are steamed longer and flattened thinner, cook quickly and give a softer porridge; thick (traditional) oats are less processed, leave a chewier texture, and take a bit longer to cook.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is rolled oats gluten-free?

Oats are naturally gluten-free, but there may be a risk of contact with wheat on the production line; celiac patients are advised to choose products labeled "gluten-free."

What are overnight oats?

It is a no-cook breakfast preparation where rolled oats are mixed with milk/yogurt and fruit and left in the fridge overnight to be consumed cold.

Are quick oats and traditional oats the same?

They come from the same grain, but the processing degree differs; quick oats are flattened thinner and cook in a shorter time, while traditional oats leave a firmer texture.