What is the difference between rolled oats and oatmeal and which is better and healthier?

On the shelves of shops and supermarkets, rolled oats and oatmeal are always next to each other. Many people doubt whether it is the same porridge, or whether rolled oats are somehow different from oatmeal. Both products are made from oats and are rolled oats. They may have varying degrees of processing, requiring cooking or not. If rolled oats are made according to GOST 21149-93, it means that the best quality oats are used as the basis, and the porridge will need to be cooked for 15-20 minutes.

What is the difference between rolled oats and oatmeal?

The use of the word "Hercules" is partly an advertising ploy by companies. The generation that grew up in the USSR knows oatmeal under the name “hercules porridge.” There may be no differences between products. For example, the photo shows two products with the same characteristics:

Oatmeal differs from rolled oats only if they are made in accordance with GOST 21149-93. According to the document, they come in three types: Hercules, Extra and petal.

• Hercules and petal flakes are made from premium grade cereals (GOST 3034).
• The Extra type is made from 1st class oats (GOST 28637). They differ by numbers.

An example when there is a difference between rolled oats and rolled oats:

What are the differences between them:

What is Hercules (oatmeal)?

"Hercules" is a trademark. The company was the first to begin producing and popularizing oatmeal in the USSR.

Over time, in the absence of worthy competitors, all oat flakes began to be called rolled oats. The name is a reference to the ancient Greek Hercules - a mighty and strong hero who accomplished great feats. Since childhood, Soviet children were told: “Soviet cabbage soup and porridge are our food.” “Eat porridge, you will grow up to be a hero (beauty).” It was assumed that children grew up strong and healthy from Hercules porridge.

Later, other brands began using the name "Hercules" for oatmeal to attract the attention of consumers.

Many people prefer Hercules porridge, although there may be no difference between it and oatmeal.

What are oat flakes?

Oat flakes are highly flattened (pressed) oat grains. Unlike cereals, which take 1 hour to cook, cooking flakes takes from 5 to 15 minutes.

Oats are an unpretentious crop. The plant grows like a weed and tolerates cold and humid climates. In Mongolia, England and China, oats have long been fed to livestock. S. Johnson writes in the dictionary that in England they feed horses, and in Scotland they feed people. This is not a very pleasant comparison. A Russian proverb says: “Oats will grow through bast shoes.” In ancient times in Rus', oatmeal, jelly and pancakes were part of the daily diet of peasants, and in the south, oats were mainly used to prepare strengthening hospital food.

To make oat dishes tasty and light, oatmeal was prepared - flour was obtained from the cereal, fried, infused in a warm oven, and then crushed and sifted. This made it less sticky and quickly swelled in water and broth.

In the second half of the 19th century there was a real “oat boom”. They learned how to steam and press cereals. The first flakes appeared.

In America, oatmeal as a breakfast was popularized by the Quaker Oats company, founded in 1877.

Question answer

What is healthier, rolled oats or oatmeal?

In proportion to the thickness of the flakes and the duration of cooking, the naturalness of the product increases and the glycemic index decreases. The healthiest ones are thick flakes made from whole grains, which require a long cooking time. This could be Hercules (made according to GOST), petal oatmeal or Extra No. 3 oatmeal.

Who shouldn't eat oatmeal?

Porridge is contraindicated for people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome and gluten intolerance (celiac disease).

The name “Hercules” is associated with strong and healthy children, gobbling up nutritious porridge on both cheeks. The benefits of oatmeal are known to everyone. This is a nutritious and satisfying food, rich in B vitamins, PP, iron and magnesium. Mucous porridge has a beneficial effect on digestion - it gently cleanses the intestines of food debris, prevents inflammatory processes, normalizes microflora, and protects the walls of the digestive organs from the irritating effects of gastric juice. Oatmeal can relieve pain from gastritis and help you lose excess weight.

To get the most out of your breakfast, it's important to understand the types of cereals. You need to remember that instant porridge with the name “Hercules” has nothing in common with Soviet Hercules porridge.They contain a minimum of dietary fiber and a maximum of additives - sugar, flavor enhancers, imitations of fruits and berries. The calorie content and glycemic index of this oatmeal are the highest.