Forget the white flour - there’s something WAY better!
Oat flour is the perfect replacement for your all purpose flour, wheat flour, or any other flours you’re accustomed to.
Why?
When the cold weather kicks in and you want to eat soothing food, increase your fiber intake, or enhance the nutritive value of your dishes, oat flour is the perfect solution for that.
It is a highly nutritious flour that is packed with protein, iron, phosphorus, calcium, and several other nutrients. It’s a nutrient-dense flour that is second to quinoa and amaranth.
Oat flour also contains a high fat content (the good fat, that is), so not only does it support heart health but it also helps keep you warm.
So if you think that oats are only served either cold or warm, here’s something interesting for you - oats can also be used to make bread, pie crusts, cookies, and so much more!
You can make a ton of pastry dishes, thicken your soups and stews, and make gluten-free breads and meals with oat flour.
The best part - you can make this type of flour in THREE easy steps using ONE simple tool and in under FIVE minutes!
Isn’t it amazing how God gives us all the tools we need to achieve excellent health? The more natural, the less processed food is, the healthier and safer it is for your body.
This is why I am a huge advocate of the Bible diet, which is basically all about eating organic fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains. This healthy approach to eating recommends consuming food created by the Lord in the natural way and in the manner they are intended.
And guess what - oats is one of the highly recommended grains in the Bible diet! Not only is it super nutritious and good for you but it is natural, versatile, and gluten-free.
Let’s get started and learn how to make oat flour, discover amazing oat flour recipes, and be well on your way to thriving health just as God has designed you to achieve!
What Is Oat Flour Made Of?
Oat flour is a nutrient-dense flour from rolled oats. It is a healthy whole-grain and it contains a good amount of fiber, vitamin B1, copper, molybdenum, manganese, biotin, chromium, and magnesium.
This gluten-free flour is packed with flavor, and there is an oaty, nutty taste to it.
With its silky texture, oat flour is quite like wheat flour but without gluten content. This is why if you suffer from gluten intolerance or sensitivities, oat flour is the perfect replacement for wheat-based flours.
You can make oat flour using a variety of oat types such as groats or whole oat kernels, old-fashioned rolled oats, and steel cut oats.
While quick or instant cooking rolled oats also works, it would be the least of my preference because these oats are processed.
So I suggest that you go for natural, raw oats when making flour at home to get the maximum health benefits your body deserves.
Why Is Oat Flour Good for You?
When it comes to flavor, nutritive value, cost effectiveness and versatility, oat flour reigns supreme.
It is cheaper than almond flour and quinoa flour and more nutritious than wheat flour.
If you have a jar of steel cut oats, you can easily make oat flour at home with just a blender. No need to run to the market to buy a bag of oat flour since you can have a fresh batch ready right in your kitchen, and in minutes!
With its amazing properties for reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, high cholesterol, and other ailments, oat flour is definitely a healthier alternative to your regular flours.
Oat Flour Nutrition
Oat flour contains 112 calories per 1/3 cup.
The same amount of flour has 4 grams of protein, 2.5 grams of fat, and 19.5 grams of carbohydrates. It is basically complex carbs without simple sugar, which allows for the slow release of this nutrient to keep you satiated longer.
Among the other nutrients of oat flour per serving are 105 mg of potassium, 2.5 grams of fiber, and other essential vitamins and minerals including calcium, thiamin, iron, folate, selenium, magnesium, and several others.
Which Flour is the Healthiest?
There is no doubt that oat flour is one of the healthiest flours there is.
With its high percentage of fiber and protein, along with abundant vitamins and minerals, you are much better off using oat flour for your recipe than inferior quality of flours.
It helps regulate your blood pressure, reduces bad cholesterol, helps you steer clear of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and supports your weight loss goals.
Oat flour is a healthy flour that will help your body thrive, which is exactly what God wants for you!
Can I Use Oat Flour Instead of All Purpose Flour?
Now you know how great oat flour is, you’re probably wondering - Is oat flour interchangeable with all purpose flour?
The short answer to that is YES.
You can easily substitute oat flour for all purpose flour if you are shooting for a gluten-free and more nutritious option for your recipes.
It has a mild, yet interesting flavor, as compared to the rather dull taste of all purpose flour.
Oat flour also gives recipes a crumbly and chewy texture, so it is best for baked goods such as cookies, waffles, and quick breads. You can even use it to make fluffy and light gluten-free cake and pancakes.
In the next sections below, I have included a few oat flour recipes that you can try including natural ingredients to make your desserts, snacks, and entrees healthier and more satisfying.
3 Quick Steps on How to Make Oat Flour
Making oat flour is super quick and easy.
It is definitely one of the simplest things you can do, and you’ll be confident knowing that you are capable of preparing this nutritious flour that will nourish your family and take care of your body the way God wants you to.
So, let’s go ahead and learn these steps on how to make oat flour:
1. Put 2/3 cup of oats in your blender.
I prefer to use old fashioned oats, steel cut or regular rolled oats to make oat flour.
So I buy a bag of good quality, organic oats, and it’s all I need. I also sometimes use oat berries, and it is really up to you which one you prefer to use as long as it is less processed and natural.
2. Set your blender to high.
If you’re wondering how to make oat flour without food processor, you’ll be amazed to know that you can do it with just a blender!
In fact, I just use my Vitamix blender to make oat flour, and it always turns out perfectly.
My blender comes with a dry and a liquid canister, and you simply need to use the dry one for your oat flour.
You can also use a grain mill or a food processor if you have any of these at home. But a high powered blender should work perfectly fine.
Just turn the setting all the way up, and your oat flour is good to go!
3. Spoon it out and start cooking.
You can either keep it a bit chewy or semi ground, while others prefer it silky and fully ground up.
It is absolutely up to you how you want it.
Once ready, just use the flour for your recipes or store it in a sealed container.
Just be sure to store your oat flour properly to keep it fresh for future use. But if you want to really ensure its freshness, you can always make small batches of this flour since it’s so easy to make, anyway.
How to Use Oat Flour - Best Oat Flour Recipes to Try!
What I love about oat flour is that it lightens food up.
It is an excellent alternative to wheat flour since it is gluten-free and has a better nutritive value.
You can use oat flour to your smoothies to increase the protein and fiber content, or you can also add this flour to make thicker and richer homemade ice cream (no ice cream maker required!).
Oat flour is perfect for your baked goodies such as Oat Flour Muffins, Apple Crisp, Frozen Strawberry Pie, pancakes, and several others.
You could also use oat flour for making gravy and sauces!
If the recipe requires all purpose flour, you can have 25 to 30 percent of the total amount of flour as oat flour.
How to Store Oat Flour and Keep it Fresh
If you decide to make a big batch of oat flour, then you need to make sure that the storage container is properly sealed and airtight.
I would store my oat flour in a mason jar, airtight container, or a ziplock baggie.
Proper storage is important since whole grain flours tend to spoil faster than white flour that’s heavily processed.
Be sure to put your container in a refrigerator if you plan on using them up for a longer period.
But I would advise that you make small batches or just what you are planning on using for a particular recipe for the day. It’s so quick and easy to make, anyway, and won’t take much of your time at all!
Be Confident in the Kitchen and Make the Best Oat Flour
Good health does not involve expensive food or intricate processes.
In fact, making simple changes in your diet and opting for natural food can already make a massive difference to your health.
For instance, by substituting oat flour to your usual white flour is already a confident move towards health and wellness.
So instead of relying on processed food for your meals, start going for a healthier and more natural alternative. Make oat flour for tastier and healthier pancakes, waffles, pies, muffins, stews, soups, and so much more!
When you make smarter food choices, you are showing how much you love and value your body as a temple of the Holy Spirit. Good nutrition is also a way of expressing your love for God because when you love your body you are showing your gratitude to the Lord by saying YES to life.
