Oats are a delicious and nutritious meal to have in the mornings. Additionally, you can add oats to any recipe as a binding agent or to add flavor to baked goods. This tasty meal is enjoyed around the world because of how healthy it is especially when you add milk or berries to it.
If you’re preparing a bowl of oats on its own or adding it to a recipe you may be wondering if there is a substitute that allows you to prepare your meals faster. The substitute you’re looking for is quick oats!
But what exactly is quick oats and is it ideal to replace old fashioned oats? Find out about all of this and more below.
What are Quick Oats?
Quick oats are a type of oats that have been steamrolled and flattened by a machine to be extremely thin. Since the quick oats are thinner they can break up when you’re cooking them. This makes the oats appear as if they’ve been diced.
Additionally, the oats will have a shorter preparation time because they’ve been reduced to smaller and finely flat pieces. This is why this type of oats is also known as instant oats.
What’s the Difference Between Quick Oats and Old Fashion Oats?
If you’ve been recommended quick oats as a good substitute for old-fashioned oats but aren’t sure as to what the former is, it is a pretty simple alternative.
These quick oats are almost exactly the same as their traditional counterparts but has a few differences in their overall texture and taste. Here are a few differences you’ll notice between the two oatmeals.
- Preparation Time
As mentioned before, quick oats are cut up into much smaller pieces before being flattened by a machine. This allows the oats to cook faster compared to traditional oats. You can prepare quick oats in about 5 minutes using hot water. Old fashioned oats takes about 25 to 30 minutes to prepare.
- Texture
Quick oats also has a different texture to regular oats. It can be a lot creamier and thinner than its traditional counterparts. You can blend quick oats easily too and add them to smoothies or as a binding agent.
Since the quick oats are thinner, you can add milk to the meal and create a drink instead of eating it with a spoon. Old fashioned oats are a lot thicker and has a porridge like consistency.
- Flavors
Traditional oats may only come in one flavor which is the flavor you all know and love. On the other hand, quick oats comes in a variety of flavors such as strawberry and banana. This makes quick oats an ideal substitute for smoothies.
What Can You Make With Quick Oats?
Although there are some differences between old fashioned and quick oats, you can use both types to make the most delicious recipes. Here are various goodies you can make with quick oats.
- Oat Cookies
Oat cookies are the easiest to make. All you need is some butter, peanut butter, syrup, flour and your quick oats.
Combine everything together and then scoop tablespoon sized portions onto parchment paper and bake it in the oven. Your cookies will be slightly crispier while traditional oats may make your cookies slightly moist.
- Muffins
Muffins are a healthier alternative to cupcakes because they’re not coated in sweet icing sugar. Additionally, you can make healthy muffins that contain blueberries and your quick oats. If you want more fiber from your muffins then adding a cup of oats to your recipe will do the trick.
- Pancakes
If you’re looking for a gluten-free pancake recipe then you can substitute your flower for oatmeal. You may need to place your oats in a blender to make a fine powder. You can then mix the quick oat powder with the rest of your ingredients to make tasty healthy pancakes.
- Strawberries and Cream Oatmeal
Cook a half a cup of quick oats and then add one tablespoon of butter, one teaspoon of sugar and three or four diced strawberries. You can add a dollop of cream to the top. You’ll then have a tasty dessert that’s also packed with nutrients.
- Creamy Overnight Oats
Overnight oats is a delicious favorite that’s become quite popular. It’s easier to do overnight oats with the quick version as opposed to traditional oats. Simply add one cup of instant oats to a bowl or jug. Then add milk to the oats.
Cover the container with a lid and leave it to sit in the fridge for 24 hours. The oats will come out soft and creamy. And the best part is, you don’t have to cook the oats.
- Meatballs
As mentioned before, oats is an excellent binding agent that you can use in many recipes. Typically people use bread as a binding agent but if you don’t have bread you can use oats as a substitute. Quick oats works extremely well for meatballs.
Simply add half a cup to your beef and mix the ingredients until well combined. The oats will add a pleasant flavor to your meatballs.
- Yogurt Oatmeal Surprise
Even though quick oats takes 5 minutes to cook you don’t necessarily have to eat them cooked. You can use the oats to add some texture and crunch to certain meals. The best combination of textures include yogurt and oats.
Since the oats are in smaller pieces it adds a pleasant texture and flavor to your dish. You can also add other ingredients such as blueberries for sweetness.
- Oat Brittle
If you don’t like peanuts or have a peanut allergy, you can make tasty brittle using quick oats. Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a skillet and add two cups of quick oats to the pan. Stir the oats until they’re golden brown.
Then cook one and half cups of sugar and half a cup of water in a separate pan. Simmer the sugar and water mixture for about 15 minutes and stir until it’s becomes golden brown. Then mix in your oats with an optional teaspoon of almond extract and baking soda.
Line a tray with parchment paper and spread the mixture over it. Let it cool completely and then break it into small pieces.
Can You Substitute Quick Oats for Old Fashioned Oats?
To answer in the simplest way possible, popular belief regarding both of these ingredients being interchangeable with one another is completely true.
Quick oats tastes a lot like traditional oats and as mentioned the only real difference is in the texture and preparation time. So you can use traditional oats in place of quick oats and vice versa.
Since instant oats cook much faster, they’re a great alternative if you’re in a rush. You can cook up a bowl of oats quickly before rushing off to work or school. But if you’re not in a rush to go anywhere, you can spend 30 minutes making a pot of old fashioned oats.
But that isn’t the only benefit of quick oats. They’re also form a much more delicate texture. It should also be noted that old fashioned oats have a thicker consistency so of you want a more dense ingredient then this is the best type of oats to use.
On the other hand, if you want a lighter fluffier recipe then quick oats may be the ideal substitute. The texture of instant oats is preferred in many cases and is the reason why a lot of people tend to choose quick oats as opposed to old-fashioned oats.
Which Type of Oats Should You Use?
There is no reason why you should use one type of oats over another. But if you don’t have traditional oats in your cupboard then instant oats will be a great alternative.
Some recipes may need old fashioned oats and others may require instant oats but you can substitute both types no matter what recipe it is.
On the other hand, if you’re making oats on its own and not adding it as an ingredient, then you may want to think about the consistency and texture you want. If you want a porridge with a thinner consistency with smaller bits then quick oats is for you.
But if you want a thicker and creamier porridge then old fashioned oats is the way to go. If you like butter and sugar in your oats, you may want to add less butter to quick oats because it can make it more runny.
Lastly, old fashioned oats is a lot more filling compared to quick oats so you may eat less of it.
Final Thoughts
So yes, regardless of whatever recipe you’re preparing or if you’re just making plain oats because you enjoy eating them, instant oats or quick oats are definitely good substitutes, if not the best.
They don’t have the same hearty texture, but the same traditional taste and feel of oats is still there, along with all of the great health benefits.
Quick oats can be found commonly in most stores as lots of brands offer different types. Use this guide to choose the right type of oats for your requirements.