Oat Groats & How To Use Them - The Survival Mom

My family and I love oat groats. When I placed an order for an entire case and they arrived at our doorstep, my teenage daughter cheered! They are one of her favorite breakfast foods. Deeply nutritious, versatile, and yummy, they’re a grain you should add to your kitchen and food storage pantry.

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In this article

• What are Oat Groats?
• How to Use Oat Groats
• Grinding Groats
• How to Store Whole Oats
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Next Steps
• The Final Word

What are Oat Groats?

As you know, oats have many excellent nutritional qualities. We hear all the time about oat bran’s ability to help lower our cholesterol, and oatmeal is one of my favorite foods to store in my own food storage pantry, but what makes oat groats different?

Sometime referred to as whole oats, oat groats, which you can purchase here, are the untreated, natural, hulled oats with the outermost inedible chaff, or hull, removed. They offer superior nutrition because the endosperm, the germ, and the bran are all preserved.

They contain loads of fiber plus protein, antioxidants, minerals, various B vitamins, plus the heart healthy polysaccharide fats.

What do they taste like?

I find them to have a chewy texture and somewhat nutty flavor. My favorite way to eat them is as oatmeal; they make a satisfying, heart breakfast.

Which is healthier steel-cut oats or oat groats?

This is a bit of a trick question. Why? Well, steel-cut oats are just oat groats that are sliced. This reduces cooking time, yet they still have the exact same nutritional profile as the pre-cut groat.

I suggest you try them both, and decide which texture you prefer and in which recipes you will use one or the other most often. Personally, my family prefers oat groats.

What is the difference between rolled oats and groats?

The short answer is processing method and nutritional content.

When rolled oats, or oatmeal, are made, the process begins with the oat groat, which is soaked in water and then pressed. At this point, some of the fiber and nutrition are lost. Even more, fiber and nutrition are lost in the process of making quick oats and, more still, instant oats.

So to answer the question: Are groats any better for us than rolled oats or quick oats? Yes, they are.

Okay, so now we know oat groats are better for us, but how are we supposed to use them?

How to Use Oat Groats

They are at their best when used as is in hot cereal or when ground into flour. They’re sweet and add some moisture to your baking, which is perfect for muffins, pancakes, and quick breads.

What about using these wonderful oat groats on their own for breakfast? I tried out a recipe just for you and am so happy I did. It’s super easy and is very nutritious for you and your family.

Slow-Cooked Oat Groats

Serves 6-8.

• 1 ½ cups whole oat groats
• 6 ½ cups water
• Pinch of salt
• Cinnamon stick

1. Combine everything in a 3-5 quart crockpot.
2. Cook on low overnight or for about 7-9 hours.
3. You can remove the lid during the last few minutes to thicken it up.
4. Discard the cinnamon stick.
5. Sweeten with brown sugar or raisins if desired. You could also add apples.

Super yummy!

Grinding Groats

It’s a very smart idea to have multiple grains in your food storage pantry that can be used in a variety of ways, from grinding them for flour to cooking them whole. This complete guide to food storage grains will be very helpful as you build your own emergency food storage.

The best advice I can give you for grinding groats or any other grain is to verify that the grain mill you own is suitable for that particular grain. Many well-meaning people damage their sometimes-expensive mills by grinding things the burrs were never meant to grind! Check with the manufacturer’s instructions first to be on the safe side.

As with any other grain, including wheat, there’s no point in grinding a massive amount of flour unless you’ll be using it within 30 days or so. This isn’t a hard and fast rule, but since I don’t love pulling out my grain mill all the time, nor do I care to store several pounds of ground groats with no definite plan to use them, I’ve found the 30-day rule works for me.

How to Store Whole Oats

Whole groats will naturally have a longer shelf life if stored properly because the protective hull is still in place. I prefer storing groats and all other grains in small plastic buckets like this one, with a lid that provides an airtight seal. These are lighter in weight, and we’ll rotate through smaller amounts than in the much larger 5-gallon buckets. Since I have smaller amounts of groats, I also like this lighter container that holds a little over a gallon. If you won’t be opening the bucket or other container for more than six months, add an appropriate-sized oxygen absorber to protect the food from oxygenation.

Once ground into flour, store it in a tightly sealed container. As with any food, it is affected over time by heat, humidity, oxygen, and light. Read more about those “enemies of food storage,” as I call them.

Frequently Asked Questions

You’ve mentioned a lot of different types of oats here. How can I know which type to store?

We use and store oatmeal and, to a lesser amount, groats. For my purposes, oatmeal is most versatile for our family but we also like the occasional bowl of groats! Start with the type of oats you typically use most often and then add other varieties in smaller amounts. Just make sure you have a few recipes for each type.

Are oat groats gluten free?

Oat groats are naturally gluten-free. However, cross-contamination can occur during processing if oats are processed in facilities that also handle gluten-containing grains like wheat, barley, or rye. Therefore, individuals with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease should look for certified gluten-free oat groats or brands that specifically state they are produced in gluten-free facilities to minimize the risk of contamination. Here’s a link to one brand that is gluten free.

Are there other ways to use oat groats besides hot cereals, which I don’t like!

Cook a batch of oat groats as described here in a slow cooker (stove top cooking is fine, too), and then add those cooked groats to stir frys, soups, stews, and even as an add-in to meatballs! You can grind dry groats and use that powder in smoothies, pancakes, and homemade energy bars! They truly are a versatile, nutritious powerhouse!

Next Steps

Would you like help putting together your emergency food storage? I created a FREE ebook to help you build a balanced pantry to help you do that! In it I share more simple tips and explanations to help you create an emergency food supply that will provide nutritious and simple meals in an emergency. Get that free build a balanced pantry ebook here.

The Final Word

So, go enjoy those oat groats! Cook them up in a hot breakfast cereal and experiment with different additions. Grind a few cups into flour and try a half-and-half blend with all-purpose flour or freshly ground wheat to bake something amazing for your family!

Do you use oat groats? How do you like to prepare them? Share in the comments!

Originally published February 9, 2021; updated by The Survival Mom editors.

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