Quaker Instant Oatmeal (Instant Quaker Oatmeal until 1995) is a type of

oatmeal Oatmeal is a preparation of oats that have been dehusked, 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- ...

made by the

Quaker Oats Company The Quaker Oats Company, known as Quaker, is an American food Conglomerate (company), 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 ...

, first launched in 1966. It is made from whole grain oats. It can be consumed in a variety of ways, most commonly with milk or water.

Quaker Oats Company

The

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. The Quaker brand was the first brand to feature a recipe on its box, promoting ease of use.

Preparation

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 Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several tree species from the genus ''Cinnamomum''. Cinnamon is used mainly as an aromatic condiment and flavouring additive in a wide variety of cuisines, sweet and savoury dishes, biscuits, b ...

apple An apple is a round, edible fruit produced by an apple tree (''Malus'' spp.). Fruit trees of the orchard or domestic apple (''Malus domestica''), the most widely grown in the genus, are agriculture, cultivated worldwide. The tree originated ...

, and

honey Honey is a sweet and viscous substance made by several species of bees, the best-known of which are honey bees. Honey is made and stored to nourish bee colonies. Bees produce honey by gathering and then refining the sugary secretions of pl ...

. 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.

Differences from traditional oatmeal

Quaker Instant Oatmeal has a different taste than oatmeal prepared the traditional way, due to how the oatmeal is processed and prepared. The

mouthfeel Mouthfeel refers to the physical sensations in the mouth caused by food or drink, making it distinct from taste. It is a fundamental sensory attribute which, along with taste and smell, determines the overall flavor of a food item. Mouthfeel i ...

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. 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. 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.

Oats used

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

Flavors available in the U.S.

*Regular *Maple and Brown Sugar (also available in 50% less sugar) *Apples and Cinnamon (also available in 50% less sugar) *Raisins and Spice *Cinnamon Pecan *Cinnamon and Spice *Raisin, Dates and Walnuts *Strawberries and Cream (also available in 50% less sugar) *Peaches and Cream (also available in 50% less sugar) *Blueberries and Cream *Cinnamon Roll *Honey and Nut *Weight Control oatmeal (available in 3 flavors) *Safari Animal *Dinosaur eggs (brown sugar w/ dinosaur candies)Quaker Instant Oatmeal
, Quakeroats.com, Retrieved December 17, 2015

References

External links

Official website
{{Instant foods Quaker Oats Company cereals Porridges Instant foods and drinks Products introduced in 1966