“Groat” refers to cereal grains, such as oats, but now it can be used to describe any whole kernel of grain that has been minimally processed to remove its outer husk or hull, sometimes called “chaff.” People may call them “whole.” Almost every kind of food in the world has some groats in it. Groats are whole grain with endosperm, germ, and bran, so all of the nutrients are still there.
They are hard and chewy, so you must soak or simmer them to make them soft. Groats can be made from oats, wheat, and barley. Buckwheat can also be called “groats” when it is still in its whole kernel form. Buckwheat is related to rhubarb and is a seed, but it is cooked and used as a grain. It is also gluten-free, which is a plus. Eastern Europeans eat a lot of kasha, which is roasted buckwheat groats.
What are Oat Groats?
Oat groats are whole oats that haven’t been changed much. They have a high nutritional value because they haven’t been changed much and can be used in many different ways. But they take a long time to prepare and cook, and you must soak and cook them for hours before using them. Oats have been grown and used for a long time and in many different ways.
Archaeological evidence from places where early people lived shows that oats and other grains have been used to make a type of gruel for a very long time. Early humans would have known what oat groats were, and they are still a good part of a healthy diet today because they are high in fiber and minerals. The oats are first hulled when making oat groats, which means the outer husk is removed.
What’s left is a whole grain, which has the fiber-rich bran, the healthy germ, and the endosperm, which makes up most of the grain. Most of the time, the groats are heated to make them last longer on the shelf. After that, they can be turned into rolled oats or oat flour, or they can be sold as they are. Sometimes they are lightly crushed, which makes them cook faster.
Uses
Oat groats can be soaked and cooked to make porridge or gruel, and they can also be cooked before being added to bread and other baked goods to give them a nutty flavor and boost their nutritional value. You can make soups and stews with these oats as the first people did. The flavor of oats isn’t very strong on its own, but you can add many different things to it to make both sweet and savory foods.
You may also see oat groats labeled as “cleaned oats.” This refers to the fact that they are just oats whose outer layers have been removed and left alone. Keep the groats in a cool, dry place out of the sun, preferably in a container that keeps air out. If you want to keep the grains longer, you can freeze them. If you know you will be using your oat groats soon, soak them in a few water changes before cooking to speed up the process.
How to Cook Groats?
When making groats, look at the recipe you are using to find out how to cook them. The cooking time may change if you use different grains or groats that have been cut or crushed. Most of the time, you soak groats first, then simmer them until they soften. Blood sausage and black pudding have texture because they are made with buckwheat or barley groats.
In England, groaty pudding is a traditional slow-baked dish served on Guy Fawkes Night. It is made with soaked groats, beef, leeks, and onions, and it can take up to 16 hours to cook. Grouts are often served for breakfast mixed with fruit or jam, a sweetener like a maple syrup, brown sugar, honey, or nuts. The grouts are cooked in milk.
Some people buy groats to mill their flour and keep all of the whole grain’s nutrients. Because of the germ, such flour wouldn’t last as long, but home cooks could mill it right before using it. Groats are the version of oats that have had the least processing. When the groats are cooked right, they taste nutty and feel chewy. Groats take more time to cook than rolled oats or other more processed grains.
Whole grains are worth the extra time it takes to cook them because they have health benefits for the body, such as a lower risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes and better digestive health. Groats are cooked to make a good hot breakfast cereal or can be used instead of other grains, rice, or pasta.
- 1 cup oat groats
- 4 cups water
- Saucepan
- Lid
- Salt
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 1/4 cup chopped nuts
- Sweetener
- Milk
Instructions
- Put the oat groats and water in a large saucepan. Put a lid on the pan. Give the groats at least an hour to soak. If you want, you can let the groats soak overnight.
- When ready to cook the groats, turn the stove to medium-high heat. Bring the mixture of groats to a boil.
- Turn the heat down to low under the groats. Cook the groats for about 45 minutes with the lid on.
- Check on the groats now and then while they’re cooking to ensure they don’t run out of water before they’re done.
- If the water evaporates, but the groats aren’t done cooking, add 1/4 cup of water at a time.
- Taste a bite of the groats to see if they are done. They should be chewy but not crunchy.
- For salty groats, stir in a pinch of salt. For sweeter groats, stir in cinnamon, raisins, and nuts. You can add honey, brown sugar, or agave nectar if you want more sweetness. Add a splash of milk to make it more creamy.
Tips
If you want a bigger or smaller serving, change the number of groats and water. Keep the same amount of groats to water ratio. Try out different ways to flavor your food. Use chicken broth instead of water to make the groats taste better. Cook a larger amount and save the leftovers for later.
Are Oat Groats Nutritious?
Even though oatmeal and oatmeal raisin cookies come to mind when you think of oats, they can be used for much more in the kitchen. Whole oat groats and unhulled oat grains are healthy food to add to your diet, and they help fight Type 2 diabetes and heart disease like other whole grains. Use oat groats in your cooking to get the fiber and minerals they offer.
Nutrition Basics
Each serving of oat groats, which is 1/4 cup raw or about 1 cup cooked, has 152 calories and makes up 8% of a 2,000-calorie diet’s daily calorie intake. Each serving of groats has 6 grams of protein, which helps keep tissues healthy and a strong immune system. Groats have 26 grams of carbohydrates per serving, including 4.1 grams of fiber.
These carbs fuel your active lifestyle and give your brain the energy it needs to work. Their fiber content makes it less likely that you’ll get heart disease. One serving of oat groats has 11 percent of the daily fiber men should get and 16 percent of what women should get.
What do Oat Groats Taste Like?
Oat groats have a flavor that is a bit nutty and almost like browned butter. They taste kind of like wholesome comfort food because they are kind of sweet. Soaking them overnight will make them cook faster, but you don’t have to do that.
But even after cooking, the texture is still quite chewy. To get tender, they need to be cooked for longer. Because of this, the best ways to use oat groats are in pilafs, porridges, and stews.
Oat groats taste a little bit like nuts and almost like butter in a sweet, soothing way. You can leave them in the oak overnight to cook them faster, but you don’t have to. They won’t cook as quickly as couscous or quinoa, but they’ll be ready in less than an hour.
How do you Store Oat Groats?
The antioxidants in oat groats make them a good grain to store. Learn how to store oatmeal to stay as healthy as possible and last longer. For the best storage conditions, please put them in airtight containers, use oxygen absorbers to get rid of moisture, and put them in a cool, dark, and dry place. By cutting down on oxygen and moisture, you can keep the grain’s nutritional value and stop it from sprouting.
Also, use the right methods for pest control to keep insects and rodents from getting into the storage containers. Store grains in an airtight container in the pantry or a cabinet away from heat and moisture to keep them fresh. Cooked grains will last three to four days in the fridge. Whole grains that have been cooked and put in airtight plastic or glass containers can be frozen for up to six months.
