It is also known as oats, and its use is gradually becoming
popular, especially among people who want to incorporate healthier options into
baking. With the increasing market for gluten-free and healthy baking products
oat flour is perceived to be one of the most viable and nutritional products.
Whether you are celiac, gluten intolerant or just looking to
improve the nutritive value of your baked products, oat flour is a good product
to sift through. This is a complete first-timer’s guide on oat flour, its
nutrition values, how to make oat flour and how to try out some oat flour
recipes. Keep reading for more!
What is Oat Flour?
It is obtained by smashing whole oats,
including rolled or quick oats into a fine flour-like consistency. It’s a
whole-grain type of food with nothing removed from the oats it’s made of, is
rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Considering that, oat flour
contains a nutty flavor and coarse feel, it could improve your edibles while
simply adding it to your baked goods.
Not only in baked products, oat flour can also be in
pancakes, waffles, cookies and as a thickening agent for soup and stew. Oat
flour is naturally sweet and has a subtle neutral flavor which is perfect for
use in many recipes.
Health Benefits of Oat Flour
Some pick oat flour due to its health benefits. Oats are especially high in dietary fiber which is great for the bowels and regulating spikes in blood sugar. Moreover containing beta-glucan which is a fiber that can assist in the reduction of cholesterol. In addition to that, oats contain proteins and other essential minerals such as magnesium, iron and zinc.
It also can be added to many diets containing oat flour. For
example, GF Oat’s Oat Flour has been certified to be perfect for consumers on
gluten-free diets. It also can complement a paleo diet, vegan, Mediterranean
diet and others that require minimal usage of added sugar. On the other hand, oat flour is rich in
fiber, which is beneficial to the digestive system of an individual. It can
also make you feel fuller for longer hence making it easier to control your
weight. Moreover, oxidants present in oats will help to prevent inflammation
levels and support heart health.
How to Make Homemade Oat Flour
To the amazement of many people, producing oat flour at home
is one of the easiest and most affordable things to do. There isn’t any
equipment needed to make these fries; you just need a high-speed blender or
food processor. Here's how you can do it:
1. Choose Your Oats
Both rolled and quick oats are fine to use in this recipe.
They both work but rolled oats seem to yield a finer flour than steel-cut oats
do. However, steel-cut oats are not recommended due to their ability to be
ground more difficult.
2. Blend
In the next level: determine how much oat flour you’d be
requiring. On average, one cup of oats produces 3/4 cup of oat flour. Take the
quantity of oats you would wish to use in the recipe.
For grinding use a clean and dry high-speed blender or food
processor. Spoon the oats into the stead of the blender or food processor. Mix
and combine the oats while at high speed. Duration will depend on the capacity
of your blender or the food processor you are using though it only takes one
minute in general. The oats must be ground to a fine powder or fine flour as
they are referred to afterwards.
After blending check on the consistency and turn off the
blender. If you find that the oat flour isn’t fine enough, pulse the mixer for
a few more seconds. Stir the mixture with a spoon, or better yet rub the sides
of the container to guarantee that all will be fine powder.
3. Store the Oat Flour
Once the oats are fairly processed, sift the oat flour into
another airtight container. Homemade oat flour can be used for up to three
months at room temperature, more so if you store it in the refrigerator, or
even the freezer.
In case you desire even finer oat flour, pass it through a finer sieve after processing from a blender. This will help as a filtering process in that it will remove any large particles that were not well-ground. However, if you require a large quantity of oat flour, then this could be more useful to do it severally in order not to fill the blender/food processor a lot.
Best Oat Flour Recipes
As your oat flour is prepared then it’s time to whip up a
storm and start baking!! Below are some of the best oat flour recipes useful
when changing from traditional flour to oat flour for baking.
1. Oat Flour Banana Bread
This banana bread made with oat flour does not turn dry, has
a lot of flavor, and helps to start your day or just have a snack. There you
have it, replace 1 cup of wheat flour with oat flour in the regular banana
bread recipe. The bananas complement the nutty taste of the oat flour hence making
the cookies yummy and healthy to boot.
For nutrition added spin, you can add chopped nuts and seeds
to your oat flour banana bread. Not only that it enhance the chewy texture but
also increases an extra shot of protein and healthy fats which is more satisfying
to those who crave it.
2. Oat Flour Pancakes
Oat flour pancakes are tender, light and both moist and
tender all at the same time and have the nutty undertone of oats. They are
especially good for a weekend breakfast; if you want to make these gluten-free,
you can use an oat flour gluten-free blend. Increase them a little and a cup of
fresh berries and you have yourself, a healthy, delicious breakfast.
You may also blend some mashed bananas or grated apples into
the batter to make your oat flour pancake even more healthy. They add more
taste and more fiber too and vitamins so your breakfast could be even more
healthy.
3. Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you are interested in a healthier version of the standard
oatmeal chocolate chip cookies try using oat flour. They are soft, tasty, and
have the perfect texture for any cookie I have ever eaten. Plus, they are a
delicious and easy option to introduce oatmeal into your everyday meal plan.
Adding oat flour and quick oats gives the oatmeal chocolate
chip cookies an interesting chewy texture. For a bonus, you can add chopped
nuts or sprinkle a little sea salt before baking your treats. This will improve
the taste and give your cookies that extra something special, a gourmet appeal.
4. Oat Flour Muffins
Firstly let it reach 375°F (190°C). Then prepare a muffin
tin with paper liners on it in case you do not have paper liners. In a large
bowl combine two cups of oat flour, two tsp of baking powder, ¼ cup of sugar
and a pinch of salt. For wet ingredients, combine in a bowl one cup of milk,
one-fourth cup of melted coconut oil, and one egg.
Combine the moist and dry ingredients, and then put in your
choice of additions such as blueberries, chocolate chips or chopped nuts. Scoop
the batter into the muffin cups and bake until done, normally about 20-25
minutes or so.
5. Oat Flour Pizza Crust
A gluten-free pizza is the oat flour pizza crust. For this
type of recipe, it is necessary to preheat the oven to that is 425 °F(220 °C).
Then, ensure that your baking sheet is lined using parchment paper. Stir 2 cups
oat flour, a little of baking powder, salt, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and ¾ cups
of warm water to form a dough.
Mix the dough a few times and then flatten this out on a
floured surface and then roll this into a sheet. Shape it to your liking!
Pour your dough onto the baking sheet that you have lined
and bake for 10 minutes. It is possible to wait for it to cool down then add
whatever toppings you prefer on your pizza. Then, put it back in the oven for
another 10-15 minutes for a crispy crust and well-done toppings!
As you can notice, you have many tasty meals to cook using
oat flour! Do so and be free to tweak the recipes to your preference.
Tips for Baking with Oat Flour
When substituting oat flour for traditional flour in
recipes, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Texture and Density: Oat flour is generally more compact,
so baked delicacies tend to be slightly more humid and come across as heavier.
Someone may wish to alter the liquid in a recipe or include additional
ingredients that help with the rise.
- Gluten Content: Oat flour is also special as it is
gluten-free, while other types of flour, like all-purpose, bread, and cake
flour are not gluten-free. People with celiac disease have to avoid gluten,
which is responsible for the structure and elasticity of products made by
baking, and you might have to add a binder such as xanthan gum or guar gum. It
is suggested that, per cup of oat flour, only up to 1/4 teaspoon of binding
agents should be employed.
- Flavor: Oat flour has a mild sweetness and a nutty taste
that works well for some dishes and spoils others. Besides, it is suitable for
cookies, muffins, and pancakes modestly used in quick breads.
- Absorption: Oat flour has a higher tendency to absorb more
liquid than traditional flour. Depending on the consistency you require you
might need to add a little more liquid ingredients to your mix.
- Measurement: When using oat flour in place of regular
flour use equal amounts by weight, not by volume because oat flour is less
dense. It is also important to accurately measure the oat flour and the
traditional flour which will be used. If you do not own a kitchen scale, the
rule of thumb is that a cup of oat flour equals approximately 90- 100g while a
cup of all-purpose flour is approximately 120g.
- Sifting: Oat flour can often be lumpy and a little gritty.
It was also recommended that the ingredient be sifted before being added to
other products to control the evenness of the product.
- Baking Time and Temperature: There may be just small
differences in baking times and temperatures. When making cakes or biscuits the
oat flour may lead to enhanced browning so, ensure that you pay close attention
to the browning process.
- Recipe Suitability: Some foods like pancakes, muffins, and
biscuits can accommodate oat flour easily, and you don’t have to worry about
changes in texture or taste. However, the yeast bread and other recipes that
rely on the formation of a strong gluten network may work only as well, if
special changes are made.
With these in mind, you may add oat flour into your baking
and cooking to achieve tasty and sometimes even healthier recreations of those
signature dishes.
Gluten-Free Baking with Oat Flour
Oat flour can be used in gluten-free baking and is ideal for
other baking purposes as well. They can be consumed by themselves, or in
combination with different other gluten-free substitutions like almond flour,
rice flour, gluten-free flour combinations and others. This makes it a perfect
addition to be included in the pantry for gluten-intolerant persons.
You should consider using oat flour in place of ordinary
wheat/bread flour in your gluten-free baked meals as it enhances the flavor and
nutritional value. From healthy lemon poppy seed muffins to gluten-free pizza
crust or nutritious peanut butter cookies, oat flour can be your best ally if
you want to make your recipes tasty and healthy.
Conclusion
Oat flour can be incorporated into baking to make it
healthier and tasty as well. Oat flour can be used while making oat flour
pancakes for breakfast, oat flour banana bread or oatmeal chocolate chip
cookies among others making it a better alternative to the normal flours. Learn
to love and incorporate oat flour into recipes because it will not only add
the right nutty touch, it’s also very healthy for you.
