10 Best Oats in India 2021 - Buying Guide Reviewed By Food Blogger/Reviewer

Now, to make your selection process smoother and quicker, we have shortlisted the top 10 products so that you will not be overwhelmed by the variety of brands available in the field. Go through them before choosing the best for yourself.

Arsh is a professional food blogger and is currently pursuing a master's in Hospitality and Catering Technology. He holds a bachelor's degree in Hotel Management and Catering Technology and has worked with ITC Windsor Bengaluru in the front office department. You can also check out his amazing work on his Instagram account or website.

Oats are one of the many varieties of cereal grains that are grown for their seeds. They are not only great for your health but skin as well. 

This cereal comes packed with healthy dietary fibers like beta-glucan to help maintain healthy bowel movements, as well as a variety of vitamins and minerals. It helps avert numerous problems like heart disease, cardiovascular problems, diabetes, obesity, and many more.

Its low glycemic index, meaning the carbohydrates do not greatly affect blood sugar levels, as well as the high soluble and insoluble fiber content makes it a natural superfood that is great to enjoy every day. 

Soluble fiber regulates blood pressure, heart diseases, and hypertension. Oat fiber is more effective in regulating cholesterol levels than wheat fiber as it contributes to improving digestive health.

Applying oats to the skin can kill acne-causing bacteria and helps in treating itchiness because it contains zinc and many oxidants. Its proteins, lubricating fats, and compounds like saponins protect our skin from harmful pollutants and allow it to act as a natural cleanser.

Also, you can make a paste of oats and mix it with warm water to apply on your face. This can remove dead skin cells, dirt, and oil from the pores of the skin without causing any irritation. You can also have an oatmeal bath. For that, you can mix uncooked oats and baking soda with your bathwater. Spending 20 minutes in that water would be quite helpful for your skin. 

The Indian market has a variety of oats such as whole oat groats, steel-cut oats, rolled oats, quick oats from a variety of brands like Kellogg's, Bagrry’s, Eco valley, True elements, Saffola and many more.

To select the best one, you must be aware of its types, texture, cooking needs, expiryation, composition, and nutritional values. It could be a profound source of confusion for a consumer. To make your selection process easy we have designed a detailed buying guide for you.

Oats are available in various varieties and textures that target different types of consumers. To enjoy the best benefits you have to choose the one which is best suitable for you. Some common types that are available in the market are steel-cut oats, rolled oats, and instant or "quick oats."

Steel-cut oats, also known as Irish or Scottish oats, are comparatively less processed than instant oats. They take longer to cook among all three varieties as they are processed by chopping the kernels into several pieces. 

They offer chewier and heartier textures. Hence, steel-cut oats are an excellent source of proteins, fibers, and minerals. Those who do not follow a fixed busy schedule can go for these oats.

Rolled oats, also known as old fashioned oats or whole oats, are processed into soft, pliable, flattened pieces. They are given the shape of flakes after being rolled between rollers. Because of its flattening and streaming process, they are easy to cook than steel-cut oats but takes more time than instant oats. 

Instant oats, also known as quick oats, are far more processed in comparison to other varieties of oats so they contain fewer fibers, vitamins, and minerals. They are pre-cooked and pressed thinner. If you have a busy schedule, these oats are best for you as they can be cooked faster, but they retain less texture than other oats.

They are often flavored which means that they may contain ingredients such as sugar strawberry, Kesar, kishmish, and more. 

If you were ignoring oats until now because of their texture then you must try gluten-free oats. Although they have a similar taste with regular oats, they have a refined texture which makes them crunchier and tastier in comparison to other types. You can also add them to other dishes to have different flavors. 

Another benefit of this type is that it is easier and quicker to prepare. So if time is a restriction for you, go ahead with this oatmeal. Also, if you are struggling with medical conditions like a celiac disease where you cannot eat gluten because it can damage your small intestine, then you can strictly look for gluten-free oats.

These oats are comparatively cheaper than other varieties. Even if you're low on a budget, you don’t have to skip healthy oatmeal and can switch to a healthier way to start your day. Despite its economic cost, it does not compromise with nutrition

Initially, you might not like the bland taste of non-flavored oatmeals. However, if you still plan to shift to healthy oatmeal then flavored oats are a better option. Usually, the eating habits of children are not up to the mark. Because of its taste and flavor, it is easy for parents also to convince their children to start with this healthy oatmeal.

There are a variety of flavors available in the market like chocolate, banana, strawberry, and many more. You can also see different ingredients like carrot, onion, green peas, mixed with spices like roasted curry leaves, pepper, and many more. They are very much adjusted to Indian taste buds. 

However, keep in mind that you can always add flavor to plain oats on your own, so if you want to prepare a mix of different flavors it might not be worth going for pre-flavored options.

Selecting the best oats is a job half done. You must know the craft of making your oatmeal delicious. Either you can make a light dish from it or can use it as a crunchy crust for smoothies and shakes. To make this happen you can master different ways of cooking oatmeal.

Here is a Greek yogurt oatmeal bowl recipe from Quaker Oats. This recipe is perfect for people with busy schedule as it will take only 3 minutes to prepare it.

Ingredients:

1. 1/2 cup instant oats (uncooked)
2. 1 egg white
3. 1 cup non-fat milk or water
4. 3 tablespoons non-fat plain Greek yogurt
5. 2 teaspoons chopped pistachios
6. 1 teaspoon honey

Procedure:

1. Take a microwave-safe bowl and add oats.
2. Add the egg white to oats.
3. Stir them properly.
4. Add milk and mix all the ingredients.
5. Without the cover or lid heat it in the microwave for 2-2.5 minutes.
6. In the end, add yogurt and pistachios and pour the honey.

This recipe is from quaker oats, if you want to explore more recipes then you can visit the website.

Adding a variety of snacks to your kitchen can be a good option, here, check out more crunchy bites.

If you are looking for easy to digest, protein-rich, and highly nutritious breakfast, you can make oats part of your diet plan right away. It is never too late to switch to healthy alternatives. If we agree that health is more important than expensive clothes and handbags, then there is no point in ignoring this article. Here we have done everything to make your selection journey of oats smooth and well informed.

Author: Nikhil Deora