How to choose and cook oatmeal correctly: useful tips from an expert

One of the healthiest cereals that experts recommend for everyone is oatmeal. It is very healthy, easy to prepare, and satisfying. It is also important that it can be used to make not only porridge with water or milk, but also dishes such as oatmeal pancakes, casseroles, desserts, granola, and bread.

Nutritionist, founder of one of the most popular groups in Ukrainian social networks about complementary foods "Complementary foods. Its methods. New Ideas, Fresh Look", Victoria Stelmakh spoke on Facebook about the benefits of oatmeal and how to choose and prepare it correctly.

1. What are the benefits of oatmeal?

"The healthiness of oatmeal is not related to whether it is cooked with water or milk – it's up to your taste. You just need to remember that porridge cooked with milk will have more calories," the expert explained.

2. Who should eat oatmeal?

"People who suffer from heart disease, vegetative-vascular dystonia, and gastrointestinal diseases should eat oatmeal," says Victoria.

3. How to choose oatmeal

1. To prepare oatmeal, you can use oatmeal, which can be steamed or flattened, and polished.

2. Rolled oats

In this case, the oats undergo a stronger pretreatment.

3. Instant porridge

"People often use instant porridge. It is enough to pour boiling water over it and the dish is ready. It's convenient, quick and easy.

The more preliminary preparation the product has undergone, the easier it is to cook and the faster it is absorbed by the body. But at the same time, the benefits of porridge are reduced," the expert said.

The expert added that the healthiest oatmeal, saturated with all the necessary vitamins and minerals, can only be obtained from a natural product.

"Give preference to whole oats, even if it takes longer to cook, but you will make a real porridge. When choosing cereal for making oatmeal, pay attention to the name on the package – Hercules or Extra," advises the expert.

4. Oatmeal is divided into three types:

1. The number 3 on the package indicates delicate flakes intended for people with sensitive stomachs and for babies.

"Such flakes have the finest structure due to thorough steam treatment and do not require cooking at all, just pour boiling water or boiled milk over them for a while and the oatmeal is ready," explains Victoria.

2. The Extra pack, numbered 2, also contains thin oatmeal flakes made from cut groats. It takes no more than 10 minutes to prepare oatmeal from this type of flakes.

3. Extra 1 oatmeal is characterized by a high carbohydrate content.

"They are made from whole grains, their structure is denser. It will take about 15 minutes to cook oatmeal from such flakes, and it will be much thicker and healthier for the stomach," the expert said.

It is very important to pay attention to the tightness of the package, as well as the expiration date.

5. How to cook oatmeal correctly?

"Hercules" is a separate variety of oatmeal, this variety has the thickest flakes. It will take time to cook oatmeal from Hercules flakes, but the porridge will be extremely thick and tasty.

The expert advises that before you start cooking oatmeal, wash it thoroughly under running water. And then pour milk or water, bring to a boil, add oatmeal, add salt, sugar or honey.

"Oatmeal made from whole or crushed grains should be cooked over low heat for about half an hour, stirring constantly. Oatmeal porridge made from flakes can be cooked for only 10 minutes. For the first four minutes, cook over high heat, then reduce the intensity to medium. After another five minutes, turn off the heat, close the lid tightly, and leave it to brew for a few more minutes," recommends Viktoriia.

It is worth noting that you can add butter, berries, as well as dried fruits, nuts, or even meat to the finished oatmeal.