Is it necessary to cook porridge (oatmeal)?
It is possible to just eat porridge (oats) after soaking in water for a couple minutes.
However, cooking it makes it creamier and softer.
I'm interested in knowing if cooking the oats actually changes them in some way (besides the heat), and if there is technically a difference between cooking vs. not cooking. (e.g. is it the case that if I leave it to soak for a longer period without heating, it could achieve the same softness?)
Best Answer
Yes, there is a chemical difference.
When you cook the porridge, the starch from the oats thickens the milk like a pudding. You don't get the effect (propper name, anyone?) by just soaking them. Just as you will never get a firm pudding without cooking.
What you prefer taste-wise is a completely different question.
Pictures about "Is it necessary to cook porridge (oatmeal)?"
Is cooking oatmeal necessary?
A popular breakfast favorite, oat flakes can be enjoyed cooked or raw. This means that you can either boil them, as when preparing oatmeal or porridge, or enjoy them cold, such as by adding raw oats to shakes.Are porridge oats better cooked or raw?
If you're wondering whether there's a difference between raw oats and oatmeal in terms of nutrition, Harvard Health Publishing says that cooking takes little away from oats, meaning they would essentially have the same nutritional value.Why do you have to cook porridge oats?
Is it necessary to cook oats? When you cook oats, you degrade the amount of available nutrition within the oats. Cooking also results in the release of certain anti-nutrients, such as phytic acid, that the human body cannot absorb directly from raw oats.Can you make porridge without heat?
Can I cook oatmeal without hot water? If you don't have some hot liquid, it will not cook. But you can do overnight oats or just eat it like muesli, raw. Some kinds of instant oatmeal don't required hot liquid, but it need to soak so it takes lot more time.How to Make Perfect Porridge - 5 Ways | Jamie Oliver
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