Best Oats To Buy [2021]

"Steel-cut oats are the least processed [type of oats] and the best option health-wise," says Kylie Ivanir, MS, RD, a registered dietitian with Within Nutrition. "The fibers in them are very healthy for the gut, hormones, satiety, and weight loss."

best oats to buy

You may be more familiar with rolled oats, which are steamed groats that are then flattened (rolled), and then there are quick/instant oats, which are the most processed. Instant oats are steamed until they are just slightly undercooked, so it only takes you a minute or so to finish them off.

"Ideally, buy organic oats because oats are highly sprayed with a toxic pesticide called glyphosate. Too much glyphosate can impact our gut health, hormone balance, and overall health," says Ivanir. In fact, in 2019, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found traces of glyphosate in more than 95 percent of popular oat-based food samples.

"Soaking the oats overnight helps make them easier to digest. Soaking also reduces the natural phytic acid (an anti-nutrient) found in oats which will help your body better absorb the nutrients," says Ivanir, who adds that "soaking the oats also increases the amount of resistant starches which help keep you feeling fuller for longer and also feed the good microbes in your gut!"

Ready to reap the benefits of oats? Head out and get yourself a bag of organic steel-cut oats. And for more on our favorite cereal grain, check out the Surprising Side Effects of Eating Oatmeal, According to Science.

But, it wasn't until 1856, when Ferdinand Schumacher began chopping and packaging oats in a more consumable way for his fellow Ohioans to eat, that the demand for oatmeal started rapidly growing in the United States, writes Ohio History Central. After several mergers, Schumacher's company would eventually become Quaker Oats, an enterprise known for turning oatmeal into a breakfast staple.

Better Oats is owned by the consumer brand Post, which also owns such cereals as Raisin Bran and Honeycomb. With more than 18 types of Better Oats, it's clear the brand is focused on making a warm porridge that everyone will love. There is the Thick & Hearty line, which includes Apple Cinnamon, Maple & Brown Sugar, and Blueberry Muffin flavors. And the brand also offers a lower-calorie line, an Organic Bare product, steel-cut oats with added protein, and classic instant oats.

Their variety is appreciated, but the quality is inconsistent across the entire range. The Steel Cut Maple & Brown Sugar with Protein, for example, have an odd texture. One Better Oats reviewer even described the taste of the added protein pellets as having a thick, wet-paper texture. The Bare version also seems to have some issues clumping up, leaving another Better Oats reviewer to report the style as soup-like. However, it may be worth a taste as the Bare line is a multigrain cereal featuring barley, quinoa, and rye in addition to your oats.

Bear Naked reviewers recount that some oats have repelling qualities, like the odor of chemicals in place of the earthy saccharine of maple syrup. It's also not a portion that is filling enough to be considered breakfast, with one Amazon reviewer referring to it as downright "tiny." Between the taste, the quantity, and the fill line, this is an instant oatmeal that needs some tweaking before it can be recommended.

As a family-run business, One Degree Organic Foods values transparency and clean ingredients. Their website even contains a product tracer for consumers to enter a source code and find more information about the contents' origins. The company's oatmeal line includes instant varieties of Cacao Nib, Coconut Sugar and Spice, and even a Quinoa Hemp oatmeal, along with different cuts like quick oats, rolled oats, and steel-cut.

As Walmart's house brand, Great Value produces a budget-friendly version of our favorite foods and essential commodities. Being affordable is a great thing, but there are other factors to having successful oats. Great Value is available in canister form or instant oatmeal packets and comes in basic styles like old-fashioned or steel-cut oats.

These certainly aren't the worst oats you'll ever taste, but they also won't be the best. If you're looking for a budget-friendly oat, you can rely on Great Value. We recommend preparing plain oatmeal with your own favorite additions to make the best taste.

Mush makes readily consumable oatmeal that comes in dessert tastes like vanilla, chocolate, coffee, and a few berry flavors. There's no need to add water or heat any of them. Think of Mush as overnight oats served at room temperature or colder. The cups are plant-based, high in protein, full of fiber, and free of dairy, preservatives, gluten, and artificial ingredients. Mush cold-soaks their grains, which Health Digest reports will help you absorb many naturally-occurring minerals in oats. That isn't the only nutritious aspect of Mush. The company uses less than eight ingredients per flavor.

That all sounds promising, but how does Mush taste? Spy tried the oats and noted that some flavors were hit or miss. The strawberry, for example, was classic but underwhelming. At $5 per cup, Mush is more expensive than any other oatmeal on our list. So, while it's not a product that will wow your tastebuds or helps you save money, the value of this oatmeal is that it's suitable for those who want something quick and healthy on the go.

It's impressive that the assortment offers a variety of flavors in different formats, with no overlap between the cups and the instant oatmeal packets. As for taste, Baker on Main uses ancient grains like amaranth, chia, and flax in their oats. This gives a nice texture, but ultimately it feels like they oversell the intended flavor and quality of their product since the grains are paired with a lot of added sugar.

There's plenty to love about the instant oat brands, but one of the most important things is maintaining a decent texture (read: not gluey) across all of their flavors. Modern Oats has been perfecting their oats since 2013, when the brand was founded in California. As one of the newer brands on the list, it's impressive what they've accomplished with texture in that short amount of time. One Modern Oats reviewer called the consistency perfect, and we have to agree that the creamy mouthfeel is pretty close to that.

A unique aspect of Earnest Eats is that the bags of oatmeal come completely unsweetened so that the diner can adjust it to their preference. For example, if you're someone who likes the tanginess of a cranberry, you'll likely need to add more to find this enjoyable. Nevertheless, that may well be the best solution to ensure everyone can have their oatmeal at their desired sweetness level. It's a simple decision that catapults this oatmeal brand high on our list.

Additionally, Earnest Eats works well as a muesli/granola snack, giving it extra points for versatility. While the superfood combination so proudly boasted on the package lacks originality (quinoa, amaranth, and flax seeds are common ingredients for many companies), Earnest Eats packages are mainly oats, so dress them how you like.

Considering KIND aims to make an impact, it's excellent news for the company that its oatmeal leaves a successful impression. It's not overly sweet, and the extra ingredients (apples, chocolates, salted caramel) are included in ideal ratios to the oats. That means you get some of the good stuff in each spoonful instead of fishing around for your favorite morsels. One KIND reviewer eats it especially on days when they want to feel a little more full in the mornings, and it works just as well as an everyday breakfast (or snack)!

The oat brand makes canisters of old-fashioned and quick oats, instant oatmeal, steel-cut oats, oatmeal cuts, gluten-free oatmeal, and organic oatmeal. The flavor of the oats supports the brand's prominent reputation. The steel-cut oats, for example, are organic and have a nice chewy texture that comes out the same no matter how you cook them. For example, some reviewers suggest that you can prepare them effortlessly in the pressure cooker. Additionally, Quaker Oats are as easy on the wallet as they are to cook. With concerns about trace contaminants, it is understandable to be skeptical of big-brand products. That said, Quaker Oats delivers on the promise of great-tasting grains if you're willing to give them a try.

Flahavan's proves each product in a range can be spot on. It makes sense when you realize Flahavan's is an Irish Oats company that dates back to 1785. They have cultivated an overwhelming selection of oats in this long history, modernizing to include individual cups along with family-sized bulk bags, gluten-free offerings, oatmeal with added fruit, overnight oats, and quick oats.

Flahavan's is incredibly consistent. Their most uncomplicated products, such as the Irish Porridge Oats, show how well the mill is regarded and ranked in Ireland. For a country that has a storied history with oatmeal (as told by The Atlantic), the lasting existence of Flahavan's in Ireland says a lot about the quality. Unfortunately for United States customers, it can be hard to find something other than Flavahan's traditional styled Irish rolled, steel-cut, or porridge oats. Even plain, the creamy texture of Irish oats is incomparable.

A few Amazon reviewers claiming to have tasted Flavahan's in Ireland report that you can successfully recreate the unique flavor and texture when at home in the United States. But for those who have never tasted the oats abroad, this is a uniquely smooth and satisfying bowl of oats. Plus, because you can modify the plain oats how you want, they can become something for everyone in the household.

The oats are just 100% oats, with no added ingredients or flavoring, so it's a product you know you can rely on to be a nice backdrop for whatever flavor profile you want to add to your breakfast. One Influenster reviewer specifically keyed in on the inexpensive cost of these low-processed oats, which is an important point. Not everyone can spend the extra money on a premium product, so the ability to buy a 16-ounce container of oats for pocket change is impactful for many households. 041b061a72