- By Bornika Das
- Wed, 26 Mar 2025 05:01 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Overnight Oats vs Cooked Oats: Oats have become the breakfast staple worldwide. Owing to numerous health benefits oats are the easy-to-go breakfast option. Irrespective of how the oats are cooked, this nutrient-rich food not only aids in digestion but also weight loss as it keeps cravings at bay. Oats are a powerhouse of antioxidants, soluble fibre and others which make them one of the healthiest foods of all time. In recent times, most people have indulged themselves in overnight oats, surpassing the age-old cooked oats recipes. There has always been debates about whether overnight oats or cooked oats are healthier for breakfast. Here’s all you need to know.
What Is Overnight Oats?
Overnight oats have become a popular breakfast option that people indulge in the morning. This is considered to be the healthiest way to eat oats. Overnight oats are made by soaking regular oats in milk or yoghurt overnight and left in the refrigerator. The soaking process makes the food a healthy, satisfying and speedy breakfast option. To make it more nutritious-rich, seeds like chia seeds or flaxseeds as well as nuts like almonds are added to it along with seasonal fruits. Besides they taste even more better on summer days.
What Are Cooked Oats?
Cooked oats or oatmeal porridge is a common age-old morning dish that is consumed in a variety of ways. Cooked oats as the name suggests are made by boiling the oats in a liquid be it milk or water. The cooking process breaks down the oats, resulting in a soft and warm porridge-like consistency. Cooked oats are often seasoned with spices, sweetened with honey or maple syrup and topped with ingredients like blueberries, nuts or cinnamon for added flavour.
Overnight Oats vs Cooked Oats: Which Is Healthier?
For making overnight oats, rolled oats which are more raw in nature are a preferred option. Nowadays, processed and packed oats are also available in the market but they are less nutritious. Compared to cooked oats, overnight oats retain more nutrients as they are soaked in either milk or yoghurt for the whole night. On the other hand, cooked oats may lose some of their nutrients, especially water-soluble vitamins like B and C.
When oats are cooked by heating them, it is commonly believed that slow-cooking them in a liquid for an extended period of time may be a healthy option. Cooking makes the oats expand and absorb the liquid through every pore, turning them into a filling and healthy morning dish.
So, overnight oats are considered a healthier breakfast option than regular cooked oats in terms of nutrients and other aspects. Some prefer overnight oats for their chewy texture which makes it more enjoyable than ordinary cooked oats, which taste more like porridge.
The variations on rolled oats include numerous ways to arrange and combine the oats. Ensure that the nutritional value of the oats is not compromised by adding too many sugar-containing items.
ALSO READ: 5 Reasons To Have A Bowl Of Overnight Oats In Your Breakfast