You may have eaten raw oats before, but is it safe?
As a dietitian and recipe developer, my pantry is typically always stocked with every oat variety.
What Are Raw Oats?
Photo:Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Catherine Jessee, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
There can be a bit of confusion around the definition of raw oats.
We often think of raw as simply uncooked.
However, some consider oats to only be raw if they have not been steamed or heated during processing.
The Whole Grain Councildefines raw oats to be when the kernel, hull and stalk are still intact.
This bang out of oat is inedible and you wont find it in stores for purchase.
Youd only see it in the fields or right after being harvested.
Is It Safe to Eat Raw Oats?
Once oats have been harvested, they go through a few processing steps before they hit the cereal aisle.
Both dietitians agree, eating raw oats after these processing steps is generally safe to do.
Keep your taste buds excited by mixing and matching the toppings, too!
Try ourSriracha, Egg & Avocado Overnight Oatsrecipe.
In the mood for something sweet?
Try our dessert-inspired overnight oat recipes likeBrownie Batter,Almond Joy-InspiredorBanana Cream Pie-Inspired Overnight Oats.
Energy balls are a convenient and nutrient-dense snack, packed with fiber, protein and healthy fats.
Add them into lunchboxes or bite into them post-meal when you want something sweet.
Roll up ourSticky Bun-Inspired Energy Balls,Smores Energy BallsorApple Pie Energy Balls.
No-Bake Cookies or Brownies
Too hot to turn on the oven?
Raw oats can be made into delicious no-bake cookies and brownies.
The oats help hold them together and add some extra fiber as well.
Whip up ourVegan No-Bake Cookies,No-Bake Peanut Butter CookiesorNo-Bake Vegan Date Brownies.
Give our five-star-ratedBircher Muesli recipea taste.
Smoothies
Switch up your smoothie with oats!
They add a thick, creamy texture and extrafiber, which can help you feel full for longer.
Whirl up one of our oat-filled smoothie recipes like ourBlueberry & Spinach SmoothieorCherry-Berry Oatmeal Smoothie.
Explore the endless possibilities of oats, both raw or cooked.
However, neither way to eat oats is better or worse.
How you choose to eat themeither raw or cookedcomes down to personal preference.
Soaking oats can soften their texture, make them creamier, increase their digestibility and speed up cooking time.
However, soaking is not mandatory.
you’re free to enjoy oats raw or soaked, based on your preference and desired texture.
Types of oats | The Whole Grains Council.
(n.d.).https://wholegrainscouncil.org/whole-grains-101/easy-ways-enjoy-whole-grains/grain-month-calendar/oats-%E2%80%93-january-grain-month/types
