Get To Know Your Oats

Oats are a go-to breakfast choice for so many people and we love them! It is easy to see why. Did you know...

• Oats are super nutritious. They are packed with fibre, vitamins, and minerals that help you start your day right.
• Oats are incredibly versatile. Whether you’re in the mood for a warm, comforting bowl of porridge, a cold, deliciously soaked bowl of muesli or added crunch for your fruit and yoghurt.
• Oats help keep you full longer, helping you stop snacking between meals.
• Oats are easy to prepare. Especially if you buy pre-blended bags like we sell!
• Oats can be personalised to your taste. Just add fruit, nuts, seeds or spices.
• Oats can be eaten in many ways. Hot or cold, sweet or savoury.
• Oats can be eaten any time of the day. As breakfast or as a snack on the go.

 

8 Types of Oats Guide

Let us take you on a journey through the 8 different types of oats you can find.

From the raw, hearty texture of whole oats to the convenience of instant oats. Each variety brings its own character to your meals. Whether you’re craving creamy porridge, crunchy muesli, doing some home baking, or adding them to savoury dishes, there’s an oat out there for every taste and occasion.

1 - Whole Oats

Whole Oats are the rawest form of oats. This is the stuff you see growing in the fields before it’s harvested. In this raw form, it’s mostly used as livestock feed. The stalks make great hay, and the hulls (which hold the oat kernels) are super easy for farm animals to digest.

2 - Oat Groats

Oat groats are the rawest form of oats that can be eaten. These are whole oats with the tough stalks and hulls removed by machines, leaving just the good stuff—the oat kernel, known as the groat. Groats can be eaten cooked or raw (soaked in milk or water), or even ground down at home to make other oat-based goodies. They digest more slowly than rolled or instant oats, giving you steady energy and keeping you feeling full for longer.

3 - Steel Cut Oats

Steel Cut Oats are oat groats that have been cut into smaller pieces by steel blades. Also known as Irish oats, these are simply oat groats chopped into smaller pieces, which means more surface area is exposed. This makes them cook faster and gives them a slightly different texture compared to whole groats. Just like groats, steel-cut oats digest more slowly than rolled or instant oats, giving you a consistent boost of energy and keeping you feeling full.

4 - Stone Ground Oats

Stone Ground Oats are oat groats that have been ground into smaller pieces by stones. Did you know the word ‘meal’ actually means coarsely ground seeds? It’s is like steel-cut oats, which is why they are also sometimes called Scottish oatmeal. That is where the name ‘oatmeal’ comes from—oats ground into ‘meal’… oat-meal, oatmeal!

5 - Rolled Oats

Rolled Oats are flakes rolled from a whole groat. They are probably the most common type of oats you’ll find at the supermarket. They start as groats, but then they’re steamed (to soften them up) and rolled flat. That extra processing means they lose a bit of their nutritional value, but they cook a lot faster than steel-cut oats and have a totally different texture. They’re awesome for making creamy porridge, oaty biscuits, overnight oats or even bulking up meals. They are super versatile!

6 - Jumbo Oats

Jumbo Oats are big, thick whole oat flakes. Perfect for adding some texture. They’re ideal in flapjacks, bircher porridge mixes, or chunky muesli. Plus, they hold their shape really well whether you’re mixing, cooking, or baking with them. A great ingredient for when you want a bit of bite!

7 - Medium Oats

Medium oats are whole oat flakes rolled to be thinner than the jumbo. They’re perfect for granolas, giving you that nice crispy texture, or muesli if you’re into a hearty breakfast mix. They’re also great in oatcakes for a crumbly, buttery vibe and work wonderfully in flapjacks, adding a satisfying chew.

8 - Instant Oats (Quick Oats)

Instant Oats have been pre-cooked, steamed, and rolled flat. If you’re all about quick and easy oats, instant oats are your go-to. No need to spend 10 minutes cooking raw oats. Just add some liquid (usually hot water), give it a stir, and boom, they’re ready to eat! Since they go through extra steps like pre-cooking, steaming, and rolling, they do lose a bit of their nutritional punch, but hey, convenience wins sometimes.

Perfect for porridge pots or when you need your oats ASAP!

 

Fun Oat Fact

Around 70% of the world’s oats are used as livestock feed for poultry, cattle, sheep, and horses. The other 30% are eaten daily by humans as a delicious and hearty food that is known to help lower cholesterol.

 

The Oats We Use

At Toatilly we use 100% British oats from our premium supplier Glebe Farm. Their quality is excellent and are 100% Gluten Free meaning everyone can enjoy our tasty products. Their rolled and jumbo oats are perfect for making our porridge, muesli and granola blends.