Is there a difference between Steel Cut oats and Old-Fashioned oats?

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   Marla Roseposted 13 years ago

   Do steel cut and old-fashioned oats taste the same or different?  Which one has a better taste?  Is one better for you than the other?

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      mega1posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      if you just search for steel cut oats on google you'll see - they are not as processed, probably better for you, not rolled out flat - takes longer to cook - they are basically oats - unprocessed.  They do taste great - but different than rolled oats.

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   2. 77

      azahorikposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Tastewise, steel cut oats have a heartier, nuttier flavor than old-fashioned (a.k.a. rolled) oats.  They 're also a little chewier, texture-wise.  I happen to like them better than rolled oats, but they do take longer to cook, about half an hour compared to the fifteen minutes it takes to cook rolled oats.  If you want, though, you can always cook them overnight in a slow cooker set on low, or cook them ahead of time and then reheat them on the stove or in the microwave with a little milk or water to loosen them up.  (They'll have thickened up while in the fridge.)
      
      As for which is better for you, the major difference between rolled oats and steel-cut oats is their place on the glycemic index.   The glycemic index ranks the effect of a carbohydrate on your blood sugar.  High GI (glycemic index) foods give you more of a blood sugar spike because they're quickly digested and release all of their sugars into your bloodstream at once, whereas low GI foods get digested more slowly, release their sugars over a longer period, and thus help stabilize your blood sugar. 
      
      The lower GI carbs tend to be the ones that are less processed and have more insoluble fiber, which is what slows down their digestion.  Since steel cut oats are less processed (basically just cut instead of steamed and rolled like old-fashioned ones), they have a lower glycemic index, 42 vs the 50 of old-fashioned oats.
      
      Both are pretty low on the glycemic scale, though, so it's not as if old-fashioned oats are bad for you.  They're just slightly less good for controlling your blood sugar than steel cut oats.
      
      Hope this helped.

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