It's likely that you've heard of overnight oats if you're a meal prep enthusiast. Oats soaked in milk or yoghurt make up this beloved breakfast dish. Simply place them in the refrigerator the night before for a quick and convenient morning meal.
Do the health advantages, however, justify the hoopla, or should you continue eating oatmeal as usual? It could depend on your nutritional needs or personal preferences. The temperature is the most evident distinction between oatmeal and overnight oats; oatmeal, along with many other differences, is served hot, whereas overnight oats are prepared and served cold.
What Are Overnight Oats?
All you have to do to create overnight oats is let them soak overnight rather than cook them in the morning. This allows them to become a healthy, satisfying, and speedy breakfast option. Making cold-brew coffee in the morning is similar to doing so instead of a typical cup of hot coffee.
To save time in the morning, you just let it "brew" overnight in the refrigerator. As with coffee, the outcome of the overnight approach tastes much different in addition to being cooler. It's even said by some to taste better, particularly on sweltering summer days.
What Are Regularly Cooked Oats?
Around the world, oatmeal porridge is a common morning dish that is consumed in a variety of ways. A filling breakfast that will keep you full for hours may be made by simmering wonderful, robust oats with water or milk until they become thick and creamy.
With quick-cooking oats, this traditional oatmeal porridge dish may be prepared in approximately 10 minutes, whereas rolled oats require 15 minutes. It's great to personalise with your favourite type of milk or water and to top with almost any kind of delicious treat you choose.
Which One Is Healthier?
The rolled oats, which are more raw in nature, are the variety advised for overnight oats, but a typical bowl of oats often uses quick oats, which are severely processed and packed for longer usage. Since it's generally accepted that processed oats are less nutritious, overnight oats are a logical alternative.
Compared to cooking oats, overnight oats help retain more nutrients since they are soaked in liquid (often milk or yoghurt) for the whole duration of the soak. The rationale behind this is that oats that have been cooked may lose some of their nutrients, especially water-soluble vitamins like B and C.
When oats are prepared by heating them, it is commonly thought that slow-cooking them by soaking them for an extended period of time is a healthier option. This makes the oats expand and absorb the liquid through every pore, turning it into a filling and healthy morning dish on its own.
In summary, overnight oats are superior to regular oats in terms of nutrients and other aspects. However, what about flavour? According to some, overnight soaking provides oats with a chewy texture that makes breakfast more enjoyable than ordinary oats, which taste more like porridge.
The variations on rolled oats include numerous ways to arrange and combine the oats. To ensure that the oats' nutritional value isn't compromised by their high sugar or calorie content, it's crucial to avoid adding too many sugar-containing items to them. Soak oats in a bowl of milk, curd, or water and let them hydrate overnight. This is a simple recipe for overnight oats.