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Type | Oatmeal |
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Created by | Quaker Oats Company |
Quaker Instant Oatmeal (Instant Quaker Oatmeal until 1995) is a type of oatmeal made by the Quaker Oats Company, first launched in 1966. [1] It is crafted from whole grain oats.
It can be consumed in a variety of ways, most commonly with milk or water.
The Quaker Oats Company originally began as the American Cereal company, but changed its name to The Quaker Oats Company in 1901. The wild success of the company started with its Quaker Oats and quickly expanded to a variety of products produced for the convenience of its takers. Quaker Quick Oats was introduced in 1922, then Life Cereal in 1961, and Quaker Instant Oatmeal in 1966. What is most widely known to most users is flavored instant oatmeal which was introduced in 1970. [2] The Quaker brand was the first brand to feature a recipe on its box, promoting ease of use. [2]
Quaker Instant Oatmeal comes in 1.5 oz (43 g) single-serving packets and is usually flavored. Flavors include but are not limited to cinnamon, apple, and honey. [3] The oatmeal is prepared by mixing with boiling water and stirring, hence being referred to as "instant"; once mixed, the oatmeal is ready within a minute. It can also be prepared by adding up to 2/3 cup of water and microwaving for 30–60 seconds. Milk may also be used as a richer substitute for water. [4]
Although said to be quick and easy to make, the resulting oatmeal is not the same as traditional oatmeal. Quaker Instant Oatmeal has a different taste than oatmeal prepared the traditional way. This is due to how the oatmeal is processed and prepared. The mouthfeel of the oatmeal is changed as the oatmeal is finely milled to decrease cooking time, and the oatmeal is treated with chemical preservatives and flavoring. [5] [6] Although the taste might be slightly different, the nutritional value of the oats stay relatively the same. All forms are 100% whole grain and have the same nutritional information regarding each serving. [7]
In addition to the differences in taste between traditional oatmeal and instant oatmeal, there are also differences in the texture and consistency. Traditional oatmeal is typically thicker and heartier, while instant oatmeal possesses a smoother and more uniform texture. This is due to the fact that instant oatmeal is pre-cooked and dried before packaging, which changes the structure of the oat grains.
There are many different types of oatmeal produced by the Quaker brand: old fashioned oats, steel cut oats, quick quaker oats, and instant quaker oats. [11] Each type of oatmeal listed is cut and prepared differently which is what gives it its uniqueness.
Old fashioned oats are whole oats that all are rolled out to flatten them. This process allows the oat grains to be cut into small, thin flakes that are easier to cook and digest than whole oat groats. [11] In terms of nutrition, these oats are a good source of fiber, protein, and complex carbohydrates, as well as vitamins and minerals like iron and zinc. This type of oats are also low in fat and sugar.
Steel cut oats are oats made by cutting whole oat groats into smaller pieces uses a sharp blade. This process allows for the oats to be formed into small clusters that are both chewy and crunchy at the same time. Steel cut oats typically take longer to cook than rolled oats or instant oatmeal, taking about 20-30 minutes on a stovetop. [11] They require a much higher liquid to oat ratio than other forms of oats to achieve a creamy consistency. Steel cut oats are also rich in fiber, protein, and minerals.
Quick Quaker oats are a type of rolled oats that are cut into smaller pieces and then steamed and flattened, making them thinner and quicker to cook than traditional old-fashioned oats. [11] They have a slight chewy texture and nutty flavor, but not as much as steel cut oats since they are smaller pieces and more finely ground. Quick oats also come in different flavors so there can be added ingredients like salt or sugar.
Instant quaker oats are very finely ground oats and precooked, then dehydrated and flavored with a mix of natural and artificial flavors to give it the taste people like so much. [11] Instant oatmeal comes in a wide variety of flavors and the oatmeal can be prepared quickly by adding water or milk. The texture of these oats can be made very creamy due to how finely ground it is.
The oat, sometimes called the common oat, is a species of cereal grain grown for its seed, which is known by the same name. Oats are used for human consumption as oatmeal and rolled oats. Oats are a nutrient-rich food associated with lower blood cholesterol and reduced risk of human heart disease when consumed regularly. One of the most common uses of oats is as livestock feed.
Porridge is a food made by heating or boiling ground, crushed or chopped starchy plants, typically grain, in milk or water. It is often cooked or served with added flavourings such as sugar, honey, fruit, or syrup to make a sweet cereal, or it can be mixed with spices, meat, or vegetables to make a savoury dish. It is usually served hot in a bowl, depending on its consistency. Oat porridge, or oatmeal, is one of the most common types of porridge. Gruel is a thinner version of porridge and congee is a savoury variation of porridge of Asian origin.
Breakfast cereal is a breakfast food made from processed cereal grains. It is traditionally eaten as part of breakfast, or a snack food, primarily in Western societies.
Oatmeal is a preparation of oats that have been de-husked, steamed, and flattened, or a coarse flour of hulled oat grains (groats) that have either been milled (ground), rolled, or steel-cut. Ground oats are also called white oats. Steel-cut oats are known as coarse oatmeal, Irish oatmeal, or pinhead oats. Rolled oats were traditionally thick old-fashioned oats, but can be made thinner or smaller, and may be categorized as quick oatmeal or instant oatmeal depending on the cooking time required, which is determined by the size of the oats and the amount of precooking.
A blood sausage is a sausage filled with blood that is cooked or dried and mixed with a filler until it is thick enough to solidify when cooled. Most commonly, the blood of pigs, sheep, lamb, cow, chicken, or goose is used.
Rice pudding is a dish made from rice mixed with water or milk and other ingredients such as cinnamon, vanilla, and raisins.
Post Consumer Brands is an American consumer packaged goods food manufacturer headquartered in Lakeville, Minnesota.
Life is a breakfast cereal produced by the Quaker Oats Company. Introduced in 1961, the cereal has a brown, checked square pattern and mainly consists of oat flour, corn flour, added sugar, and whole-wheat flour. As of 2018, because of the numerous varieties the cereal has, the original cereal is now marketed as "Life Original Multigrain Cereal".
Groats are the hulled kernels of various cereal grains, such as oat, wheat, rye, and barley. Groats are whole grains that include the cereal germ and fiber-rich bran portion of the grain, as well as the endosperm.
Honey Bunches of Oats is a breakfast cereal owned by Post Holdings and produced by its subsidiary Post Consumer Brands. Created by lifelong Post employee Vernon J. Herzing by mixing several of Post's cereals together and having his daughter taste them, Honey Bunches of Oats was introduced to markets in 1989 after three years of development. The cereal is made up of three kinds of flakes and oat clusters baked with a hint of honey. It is marketed as a source of whole grain. Other varieties have almonds or fruits added into the mix.
Rolled oats are a type of lightly processed whole-grain food. They are made from oat groats that have been dehusked and steamed, before being rolled into flat flakes under heavy rollers and then stabilized by being lightly toasted.
Steel-cut oats (US), also called pinhead oats, coarse oatmeal (UK), or Irish oatmeal, are groats of whole oats which have been chopped into two or three pinhead-sized pieces. The pieces can then be sold, or processed further to make rolled oat flakes, of smaller size than flakes of whole groats. Steel-cutting produces oatmeal with a chewier and coarser texture than other processes.
Slátur is an Icelandic food made from the innards of sheep. There are two types of slátur; blóðmör (Icelandic) or "blood pudding" and lifrarpylsa. The first is similar to Irish and British black pudding, although it does not contain the spices used in British and Irish cuisine. They are also much smoother in texture.
The Quaker Oats Company, known as Quaker, is an American food conglomerate based in Chicago, Illinois. As Quaker Mill Company, the company was founded in 1877 in Ravenna, Ohio. In 1881, Henry Crowell bought the company and launched a national advertising campaign for Quaker Oats.
Instant breakfast typically refers to breakfast food products that are manufactured in a powdered form, which are generally prepared with the addition of milk and then consumed as a drink. Some instant breakfasts are produced and marketed in liquid form. The target market for instant breakfast products includes consumers who tend to be busy, such as students and working adults.
An oatmeal raisin cookie is a type of drop cookie made from an oatmeal-based dough with raisins. Its ingredients also typically include flour, sugar, eggs, salt, and spices.
Havreflarn, or havrekakor in Sweden, are Norwegian oatmeal cookies with a brittle, crisp texture. It is prepared traditionally with rolled oats, brown sugar, flour, and various spices, such as cinnamon and nutmeg. Occasionally, they are topped with a chocolate drizzle for added flavor.