Oatmeal is a coarse flour meal obtained from milled (ground) or steel-cut hulled oat grains (groats).

Oatmeal

also known as White oats, Coarse oatmeal


What is Oatmeal?

Oatmeal is a coarse flour meal obtained from milled (ground) or steel-cut hulled oat grains (groats). Sometimes, ground oats are also called “white oats,” while steel-cut oats are known as “coarse oatmeal.”

  • These ground oats are commonly used to make oat milk.
  • In some parts of the US and Canada, the term oatmeal is also used to refer to a popular oat breakfast porridge prepared with milk, water, cinnamon, and sometimes sugar.

The top ten most popular brands of oatmeal are:

  • Nature’s Path Original Instant Oats
  • Quaker Instant Oats
  • Straw Propeller Maple
  • Oatmeal Packets By Thinkthin
  • Love Grown Apple Cinnamon Hot Oats
  • Bakery on Main Gluten-Free Blueberry Scone Oats
  • Purely Elizabeth Original Superfood Oats
  • Nature’s Path EnviroKidz Brown Sugar Maple
  • McCann’s Regular Instant Irish Oat
  • Better Oats 100 Calories Maple & Brown Sugar

Origin of oatmeal

Oatmeal has been in existence for centuries, although there are different speculations on its origin. The oat plant’s root remains vague as some believe it originated from Asia Minor due to the countless number of subspecies there, which have been the focal point of many scientists. However, others believe it may have originated in Egypt, where remnants can be traced back to around 2000 BC. This food later became popular in Scotland around the 15th century, and two centuries later, it found its way to North America where it remains popular to this day. 

Nutrition

 A 100g (3.5 oz) serving size of oatmeal contains:

This food offers various health benefits to the body. They include reducing cholesterol levels, cardiovascular diseases, and asthma attacks in children. Also, it can aid in weight loss and regulating blood sugar levels. However, this food contains avenin, which can cause allergic reactions in some people. The main symptom is a feeling of being unwell, so if you experience this, you should avoid consuming this food.

Commercial production

The first step in the commercial production of this food is to dehusk the oat grains by impact. Then, the grain is heated to stabilize the oat groats. After that, the oat groats may then be milled to produce different oatmeal textures, ranging from fine to medium to coarse. Steel-cut oats are prepared differently. They contain small and broken groats from the dehusking process, which may be steamed and flattened to produce similarly rolled oats.

Application

To prepare oatmeal at home, first place the oats or groats into a blender or a food processor. Then, blend till they form a fine flour. While blending, take care to stir from time to time. Finally, your oat flour is ready, and you can now make your oatmeal porridge.

This food should be stored at room temperature and can easily last for a year or two. Left-over oatmeal should be properly refrigerated, because wet oatmeal can easily mold and turn into a bacterial culture. Oats should be stored inside an airtight container. The container should be dry, clean, cool, and dark, and pests should be prevented from entering the storage.

Oatmeal recipes

This food has a variety of uses in the kitchen. Some popular recipes include:

FDA Regulations

The FDA monitors the labeling of oat products. They also state the specific requirements for health claims on soluble fiber from certain foods, like oats, and their risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). The FDA defines Cardiovascular disease as a disease of the heart and circulatory system. Furthermore, they categorize coronary heart disease (CHD) as one of the most common and severe forms of cardiovascular disease. They also group cardiovascular diseases as diseases of the heart muscle and supporting blood vessels.

References

Dunevitz, Burton. “Total Oatmeal Immersion.” Physical Therapy, vol. 50, no. 2, 1970, pp. 193–194., doi:10.1093/ptj/50.2.193, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/5414666/

Palsdottir, Hrefna. “9 Health Benefits of Eating Oats and Oatmeal.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 19 July 2016, www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-benefits-oats-oatmeal

newkitchenlife.com02.05.2020, Sabrina from, et al. “How to Make Oat Flour Recipe.” Love and Lemons, 10 Feb. 2020, www.loveandlemons.com/oat-flour/