Oats, Oat Groats, Steel-cut Oats, and Oat straw…what’s the difference?
Oats are a whole-grain, gluten-free food.
Oat groats are the most intact and whole form of oats and take the longest to cook. Most people prefer faster cooking rolled, crushed, or steel-cut oats for this reason.
Steel-cut oats are considered to have the highest protein, iron, and fiber content.
Instant (or quick) oats are the most highly processed variety. They cook the fastest but can be the mushiest and lowest nutritional value.
Oats are often included in breads, muffins, cookies, and other baked goods. Oats are also used to brew beer in England.
Oat straw is green oat grass. It is culled from the tops of oats in the milky stage before mature oats form a head and are used to make a wonderfully nutritious and medicinal tea.
