Oat groats are the primary source of making specific types of oats. Oat grouts are oat kernels from which the external husk and hull are separated for further production. Steel-cut oats and rolled oats, oats begin with oat groats. It is exposed to humidity and temperature to make it more stable for consumption. Every type of processed oat has distinct features.
Key Takeaways
- Steel-cut oats are whole oat groats chopped into pieces, while rolled oats are steamed and flattened.
- Steel-cut oats have a chewier texture and require longer cooking time, while rolled oats cook quickly and have a softer texture.
- Both oats are nutritionally similar, but steel-cut oats have a lower glycemic index, causing a slower rise in blood sugar.
Steel Cut Oats vs Rolled Oats
Steel-cut oats are made by cutting whole oat groats into smaller pieces with a steel blade. They have a chewy texture and nutty flavor and take longer to cook than rolled oats. Rolled oats are made by flattening oat groats between rollers. They are available in different thicknesses.
Steel-cut oats are made by slicing the oats groat into two to three smaller pieces with a steel blade. Thus, it has better penetration of water. However, Steel-cut oats take plenty of time to cook. As for the taste and texture, it has a coarse and chewier texture with a nutty flavor. Sometimes, it is called Irish oats.
Rolled oats are made by steaming and flattening oat groats with a roller. Thus, it may have a less porous nature than other types of oats. However, rolled oats cook more quickly. That’s why it is favored for quick oats and instant oats. As for the texture, rolled oats have a softer texture. Sometimes, it is referred to as old-fashioned oats.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of comparison | Steel Cut Oats | Rolled Oats |
|---|---|---|
| Process | Steel-cut oats are made by slicing the oats groat into two to three smaller pieces with a steel blade. | Rolled oats are made by steaming and flattening oat groats with a roller. |
| Penetration of water | Steel-cut oats have better penetration of water. | Rolled oats have less penetration of water. |
| Duration to cook | Steel-cut oats take plenty of time to cook. | Rolled oats cook quicker. |
| Texture/flavor | Steel-cut oats have a coarse and chewier texture along with a nutty flavor. | Rolled oats have a softer texture |
| Refer | Steel-cut oats are referred to as Irish oats. | rolled oats are referred to as old-fashioned oats. |
What is Steel Cut Oat?
Steel-cut oats are made by slicing the oats groat into two to three times with a steel blade. Due to the process, the name is justified as steel-cut oat are made by slicing oats with a steel blade.
Many people love steel-cut oats, however, it takes longer to cook and requires some work. They can’t be prepared in the microwave. Hence, it is cooked on the stove. It may sound easy to cook oats on the stove, however, the steel-cut oats take 40 minutes to cook properly.
Although, a hack may help make cooking steel-cut oats easier by making it overnight and adding toppings in the morning. That way, some time can be saved.
It is also known as Irish oats. Besides, these are considered as least processed food.
Steel-cut oats are not used to make quick oats and instant oats due to the longer duration of cooking, along with cooking on the stove only.
Oats groats are cut by steel-blade two to three-time, therefore, it has better penetration of water.
As for the taste and texture, it has a coarse and chewier texture along with a nutty flavor.
Summing up, steel-cut oats take longer to cook and can only cook on the stove. As a result, it is not used for the production of quicker oats and instant oats. Besides, Oat groats are cut two to three times by steel blade for the production of steel-cut oats.
| # | Preview | Product | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Bob's Red Mill Steel Cut Oats, 24-ounce (Pack of 4) | Check Price on Amazon |
| 2 |
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McCann's Irish Oatmeal, Traditional Steel Cut Oats, 28 Ounce | Check Price on Amazon |
What is Rolled Oat?
Rolled oats are made by steaming and flattening oat groats with a roller. Due to the process, the name is justified as rolled oats as it is made using a roller.
Many people love rolled oats, as it takes less time and preparation. They can be prepared in the microwave. Hence, it is used for quick oats and instant oats. It is much easier to cook, and it takes only 15-20 minutes to prepare this type of oats.
Besides, rolled oats have lesser taste and texture as it only focuses on the duration of cooking. Thus, it only focuses on time rather than flavor.
Moreover, rolled oats contain 140 calories, 5g protein, 2.5g fat, 27g carbohydrate, 4g fiber, and zero sugar. With that, mineral and nutrient content comprises 1.7mg iron, 140mg potassium, 1g polyunsaturated fatty acids, and 1g monosaturated fatty acids.
Oats have many health benefits, such as beta-glucan fiber, antioxidants, low glycemic index, weight management, low blood sugar, and gluten-free, thereby keeping the body healthy and fit.
As for the texture and taste of rolled oats, rolled oats have a more consistent texture, however, they can be chewier than other types of oats.
Rolled oats and steel-cut oats both have similar nutritional value with minimal processing, although there are some differences between them.
Main Differences Between Steel-cut Oats and Rolled Oats
Oats are harvested as whole grains, then made into certain types of oats through some processes. The oat kernel is left behind after removing the external husk. Oat groats go through some processes to be prepared as a certain type of oats. Steel-cut oats and rolled oats are types of oats. These two are very apart from each other, however, it is not really distinguishable.
- Steel-cut oats are made by slicing the oats groat into two to three smaller pieces with a steel blade. Meanwhile, Oat groats are steamed and flattened using a roller to make rolled oats.
- Steel-cut oats have better penetration of water, while rolled oats have lesser penetration.
- Steel-cut oats take plenty of time to cook, while rolled oats cook more quickly.
- Steel-cut oats have a coarse and chewier texture along with a nutty flavor, while rolled oats have a softer texture.
- Steel-cut oats are referred to as Irish oats. Meanwhile, rolled oats are referred to as old-fashioned oats.
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0268005X17306458
- https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/processing-of-oats-and-the-impact-of-processing-operations-on-nutrition-and-health-benefits/12103B74748A0B4FFD8ABC1B5699786F
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
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Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.
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