Oat-based meals have been very popular quite recently. Those meals are especially popular for breakfast, but they are also widely consumed for the other times in the day. The sudden rise of fame is caused by scientific studies that show how oats are very rich in nutritional values, such as fiber, carbohydrates, protein, also Vitamin B and Iron.
However, you may get confused with the number of different oat products on the market. Sometimes, you may encounter oat bran and rolled oats. How are the two different from each other? Let’s see below.
Contents
Rolled Oats
Rolled oats, as the name suggests, are oats that have been rolled. Rolled oats are deriven from whole oat groats, whose hard and inedible outer husks have been removed. The oat groats are steamed and rolled into heavy rollers to produce the flat flakes of rolled oats. Sometimes, the term ‘oatmeal’ is used to refer to rolled oats specifically.
Oat Bran
An oat possesses several layers. There are the hard and inedible outer husk, the bran, and the endosperm with the germ. Hence, oat bran is not a whole grain. It is acquired from the bran part only, which is the outer casing of an oat groat. Oat bran is made by rolling oat groats through several rollers, flattening the groats and and separating the bran from the flour.
Oat Bran vs Rolled Oats
| Rolled Oats | Oat Bran |
|---|---|
| - Are whole grains, taking along the bran as well as the endosperm | - Is not taken from whole grains, taking only the bran part |
| - Have lower amounts of fiber per serving, also protein and sugar | - Has significantly higher amounts of fiber, protein, and sugar per serving |
| - Have more fat and calorie | - Has less fat and calorie |
| - The texture is solid and somewhat crunchy | - The texture is creamy and mushy, easy to digest |
| - Cook relatively slower | - Cooks relatively faster |
Conclusion
Oat bran is very high in fiber. It can keep you full and prevent you from getting hungry for a longer time than rolled oats. It also has less fat and calorie, making it an excellent choice for diet. However, rolled oats should be your choice if you need some extra kick for the day, or if you prefer a food that can be actually chewed.