OAT

Oats, formally named Avena sativa, is a type of cereal grain from the Poaceae grass family of plants. The grain refers  specifically to the edible seeds of oat grass, which is what ends up in our breakfast bowls. Oats are especially rich in the soluble fiber betaglucan, which may play a role in reducing blood cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. Oats are also a source of antioxidants.

Different types of processed oats and oat products include the following:

Oat groats: whole oats that have been hulled and roasted. Groats take about 30 to 40 minutes to cook.

Steel-cut oats: Whole oats that have been roasted and then cut into bits. This reduces cooking time to about 15 minutes. They are sometimes known as Scottish or Irish oats or pinhead oats.

Old-fashioned rolled oats: These are oat kernels that are steamed and then flattened into flakes to allow them to be cooked more quickly.

Quick-cooking oats: These are flattened oats cut more finely to reduce cooking time.

Instant oatmeal: Cooked merely by adding boiling water, these oats of convenience are pre-cooked in the manufacturing process and rolled very thin to make cooking even quicker. A trade-off may be that these oats are less flavorful. In addition, flavorings, salt, and sugar are often added to instant oatmeal.

Oat flour: Flour made from oats is also available and can be combined with wheat flour in breads and other leavened foods.

Oat bran: This is a fine meal made from the outer layers of the grain. It can be purchased and used separately, but it may be a part of other oat products.

Serving Suggestions
Oats are also one of the main grains in granola (and many snack foods). Oats can be added to muffins, cookies, and bread for a different texture. Some types of European soup and stew recipes call for oats as thickening agents. Steel-cut oats can be added to some scone recipes for additional crunch and a nutty flavor.

A breakfast favorite, cooked oats pair well with fruits, nuts, and seeds.   Follow   package   directions   for   exact  cooking   times.Generally, less-processed oats such as steel-cut take 25-30 minutes
to cook, whereas instant oats take 1-2 minutes. If you don’t want to cook, you can leave overnigth with milk. The oats will soften and the mixture will thicken into a pudding-like texture.