GRAIN BLEND, MULTI-GRAIN* (G29)

Oat groats (Avena sativa) are the whole oat grain with the hull removed. Oats are an annual grass, cultivated mainly in North America and Europe, but believed to have originated from a wild variety in Asia that was long considered a weed. Oats were first brought to North America and cultivated in the early 17th century. Our oat groats are steel-cut into smaller pieces, and are also known as pinhead oats, Scotch oats or Irish oats. Steel-cut oat groats differ from the more common rolled oats in that they have not been steamed, flattened or toasted. They are cut into smaller pieces to allow for better water penetration during cooking. This minimal degree of processing means that they digest more slowly than common rolled oats, giving them a lower glycemic index and making them better suited for those with blood sugar issues. Whereas uncooked rolled oats are appropriate for baking applications, steel-cut oat groats usually need to be cooked before being added to batters, due to their harder texture.