Storing Oats and Their Differences

By Jalapeno Gal77 -via APN

Many people store oats in their food storage, including myself.  When I first started prepping, I had no idea what the difference between steel-cut oats, rolled oats and quick oats were.  After doing a bit of research I now know.

• Steel cut oats, also called Scotch or Irish oats,  are oats that have been cut.  They take the longest to cook and have a chewy consistency.

• Rolled oats or Old Fashioned Oats are oats that have been steamed first and then rolled out flat.  They take longer to cook than quick oats, but not as long as steel-cut oats.

• Quick oats, or instant oats, are what most of us are familiar with today.  These are pre-cut, dried and then rolled.  These cook in a few minutes and have a mushy consistency.

• Oat Groats are whole, minimally processed oats.  They require hours of soaking and cooking before they are edible.  They are also referred to as “cleaned oats” in reference to the fact they have been hulled and then left alone.

Oats are one grain that has an exceptionally long shelf/storage life.  That is why so many preppers have oats stocked up.  I have some from last year, just sitting on the shelf in my pantry.  According to the LDS order form, if packaged in #10 cans they have a shelf life of 30 years.  Another option is to seal them in Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers (OA) and put them in a five gallon bucket.  Store in a cool dry place.

Selecting the right size oxygen absorbers for your container.

I stress the importance of always using a Mylar bag and OA any time you use a bucket to store your food.  Unlike the #10 cans, the bucket is not an oxygen barrier.  There is a slow leak of oxygen through the plastic walls over a period of time.

The second reason we use the Mylar bags is insect or rodent protection.  If your food is properly sealed in a bag with an OA, then you can rest assured no bugs will get in your food.

Notes on Oats:

• Oats are high in vitamin B1
• Oats are low in fat and contain no cholesterol.
• Oats are high in fiber.
• Oats are a great source of protein.
• Oats provide a slow release of energy in the morning because they are full of complex carbohydrates.
• Raw oats help relieve constipation.
• Oats relieve stress and are used to help treat depression, anxiety, and nervous disorders.
• Oats help sooth skin disorders such as eczema and psoriasis.

My family and I love oatmeal so we always have it in our home.  You can also store brown/white sugar and dried fruits to add to your oats for more flavor.  There are lots of nutritional reasons why adding oats to your diet is a great idea.  They have a long shelf life, are cost affective and easy to store.  Please feel free to leave ideas in the comment sections.

Keepin It Spicy,
Jalapeño Gal

Recipes for your pleasure:
Oatmeal Raisin Scones
Baked Oatmeal With Almonds and Cherries
Ranger Oatmeal Cookies
Easy Homemade Granola
Banana Oat Muffins