why are steel cut oats supposed to be better than

[Jeannie in NJ]

Old Fashioned Oatmeal? The fiber is the same but I keep hearing that steel cut oats are better. Why are they better if they are?

[mhg]

Think it's because they are processed less and more in their original form/package.

[Jeannie in NJ]

also what about unprocessed bran? Is that good for you? I am cutting way down on carbs but I need ways to get my fiber in.

[meet me in paris]

It has to do with the processing - the "old fashioned" oats are more broken down, so they are higher on the glycemic index than steel cut - it will raise your blood sugar and make it fall more quickly.

[Chrystal]

I, personally, like the taste better.

[Parrothead]

I, personally, like the taste better.

Me too. They are yummy.

[Peela]

Old Fashioned Oatmeal? The fiber is the same but I keep hearing that steel cut oats are better. Why are they better if they are?

 

Less processed. I always thought it was because once they are rolled, they are more open to oxidation. I eat rolled oats though.

 

also what about unprocessed bran? Is that good for you? I am cutting way down on carbs but I need ways to get my fiber in.

 

There is a lot of evidence that bran alone can irritate the bowel. Yes, its important to get enough fibre, but bran doesn't suit many people. Psyllium fibre can be good. The best though is lots of vegetables, especially leafy green vegetables. Leafy green vegies are a good laxative.

[kalanamak]

Old Fashioned Oatmeal? The fiber is the same but I keep hearing that steel cut oats are better. Why are they better if they are?

 

They taste better. Cook in a double boiler if you don't want to stir the whole time or use Bob's Scottish oats (scroll down to the bottom):

 

http://www.bobsredmill.com/oats/

 

It is just "smaller bits" steel cut oats, cooks faster and is generally easier to work with. Tastes the same.

 

You can SCO ahead of time, split up into serving sized portions and freeze. Heats up quickly for a SCO breakfast in a hurry.

Here is a fab bread recipe using them. It makes tasty bread and fantastic toast:

 

 

It's from Bernard Clayton's New Complete Book of Breads.

Scotch Oatmeal Bread

1 cup boiling water

1 cup SCO

Mix together. Add:

1/2 C all-purp flour

2 T. brown sugar

1 package dry yeast

Stir well, cover with plastic wrap, leave until morning (10 hrs.)

Stir down, and add:

1 C warm water

1/4 t. ground ginger

1 t. salt

1/2 nonfat dry milk. (I use non-instant which is denser than reg. Crush

the fluffly granules of the instant kind before measuring)

3 T soft butter

3 T maple syrup

2 C all purp flour.

Blend with a spoon for 150 strokes or mix it well with a KA. Add:

1/2 C at a time more all-purp flour until kneadable, or dough-hookable.

Knead until elastic. Place in greased bowl, cover and let double. Punch

down, divide into two or three balls...8x4 baking pans for 3 and 9x5 for

2...

Roll out into rectangles, sprinkle with maple sugar or brown sugar

(1/4 cup total) and cinnamon (2 T total...I use the 'true cinnamon').

Roll up tightly, tuck ends under and pinch shut. Place in buttered pans

and brush top with butter

Let double. Bake 350 F about an hour.

[JustGin]

They taste much, much better imho, but also they are have more of the good stuff left in them from what I understand. They are not time consuming to cook either. I put the oats in the water before heating, bring it all to a boil, turn it almost off, stir a few times to get it settled down (so it won't boil over) and then pop a lid on and walk away. 15 minutes later, yummy, yummy. :)