Instant oatmeal is a quick-cooking form of whole-grain oats that has been pre-cooked, flattened, and dried. It can be mixed with other dry ingredients to create a breakfast food that is easily reconstituted. However, it may lack some nutrients and fiber found in traditional oatmeal, and the texture may be thinner. Quick oats require actual cooking time, while instant oats can be quickly reconstituted in boiling water. Consumers should be aware of the difference when purchasing oatmeal.
Instant oatmeal is a quick-cooking form of whole-grain oats that have been coarsely chopped, pre-cooked, flattened between metal rolls, and dried. Oats can be mixed with other dry ingredients, such as powdered milk, sugar or dehydrated fruit, to create an easily reconstituted breakfast food. While traditional oatmeal can take 20 minutes or more to prepare, the instant variety can be ready on the table in just two to three minutes.
There are some trade-offs to consider, however, when using instant oatmeal instead of traditional oat varieties. The texture can be noticeably thinner and creamier than whole oatmeal, meaning it doesn’t have the distinctive “bite” that many oatmeal aficionados prefer. Because the oats have been precooked, they may also lack some of the nutrients and fiber found in traditional oatmeal.
Traditional oatmeal takes a long time to cook because the whole grain needs to be soaked in water to soften it. By grinding, flattening, and pre-cooking the whole grain of oatmeal, manufacturers of instant oatmeal significantly reduce the time it takes for hot water to penetrate and reconstitute the processed oats. Hot water can also rehydrate dried apples or other fruits, as well as liquefy other sweeteners and powdered milk.
Like many other quick-cooking or instant-cooking products, there is always a question about the taste versus the traditional product. Instant oats may suffer in side-by-side comparisons with long-cooked oatmeal, but a number of consumers find that the savings in preparation time make up for any flavor shortcomings. This is one reason why manufacturers often create a whole range of uplifting flavors, from brown sugar, banana nut, fruit and spice combinations. Some manufacturers also offer a higher-quality line of instant oatmeal with stronger grains and more complex flavors.
Many home cooks use a variety of quick-cooking oatmeal that is precooked but not ground or flattened like instant. These “quick oats” require actual cooking time, as they are not designed to be quickly reconstituted in boiling water like individually packaged instant oatmeal. Some grocery stores may offer instant and quick oatmeal in similar containers, so consumers should be aware of the difference. Traditional long-cooking oats might as well be stacked close to their quick or instant cousins, so it’s worth reading the label before buying oatmeal in a container. However, oatmeal products sold in single packs almost always contain the instant variety.
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