Oats – are they all the same, or what?

Today we’re looking at the difference between steel cut oats and rolled oats.

All oats start out as oat groats – kernels with the inedible hull removed. From there, the oat can be prepared or processed in different ways.

Steel cut oats:

• Are chopped up with a steel blade.
• Are thick, rough, and chewy.
• Are fairly unprocessed.
• Take a long time to cook.
• Have a slight nutty taste.
• Are a bit lower in calories than rolled oats.
• Are also called Irish or Scotch oats.

Rolled oats:

• Are pressed between rollers, then dried.
• Look light and flaky. 
• Are flat and oval.
• Reabsorb water better than steel cut oats.
• Don’t take as long to cook.
• Have a blander taste than steel cut.
• Are also called old fashioned oats.

Quick oats, or instant oats, are the most processed, only take a few minutes to cook, and are mushy. They’re basically rolled oats that are made even smaller for a quicker cooking time.