Serving rich, hearty oatmeal for breakfast can give you a warm and satisfying meal that will leave you feeling full and content. Research has found that oatmeal can help reduce dietary cholesterol and promotes heart health. Understanding the difference between original oatmeal and instant oatmeal can help ensure that you get the final product you're looking for without added ingredients you do not want.
Texture
Original oatmeal contains 100 percent pure rolled oats. Each brand of rolled oats has a slightly different texture since the oats are rolled to different thicknesses based on the preference for the brand. The original rolled oats create a thick, rich texture with whole oat pieces. Instant oatmeal is created starting with original rolled oats that are rolled into a very thin, small consistency and cut to small pieces, or ground in some cases. The fine ground texture of instant oatmeal typically creates a smoother, gummy-textured oatmeal.
Cooking Time
Instant oatmeal cooks in the microwave in one to two minutes per 1/2-cup packet. Alternatively, you can boil the necessary amount of water and pour it over the instant oatmeal, letting it rest for one to two minutes to hydrate and be ready to serve. Traditional "old-fashioned" style original oatmeal cooks on the stove in five minutes after the mixture reaches a boil. You can cook traditional oatmeal in the microwave in two to three minutes.
Nutritional Benefits
Traditional oatmeal consists of pure rolled oats, and packs the nutritional punch of the natural grain. A 1-cup serving of traditional oatmeal contains 165 calories with minimal fat at 3.5 g per serving. Each serving contains 28 g of carbohydrates, but also packs 4 g of dietary fiber. Instant oatmeal that contains no added flavorings or sugars will meet the same overall nutritional benefit, but most instant oatmeal varieties contain added flavors with sugar, salt and other unnecessary ingredients that can add fat, carbohydrates and sodium.
Serving Suggestions
Create a hearty breakfast in minutes with pure rolled oats served with fresh fruit slices or berries and low-fat milk to thin it out. The fruit addition creates a sweetness that eliminates the need for sugar. If you find that your fruit does not contribute enough sweet flavor to the oatmeal, add a small amount of brown sugar or honey. Serve it with a small glass of fresh fruit juice to complete a breakfast.
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