Are oats more digestible after soaking overnight?

Question

I remember, years ago, reading something somewhere about an old Irish tradition of soaking oats in milk or water and leaving them that way overnight, whereupon in the morning the cooking time wouldn't be so long, and, more importantly, the oats would be much more assimilable and healthy. Is there any truth to this? I eat oats and mixed-grain flakes often enough, being Celtic in ancestry, so I want to make sure I'm getting the most caloric and nutritional bang for my bites. Maybe you've done some soaking of grains yourself? Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Yes...I've done it before too, but it doesn't have to be overnight....just so they will be softer. The softer texture improves digestibility. However, your digestive juices do the same thing when you eat them raw. It's just that doing it this way makes it easier on your digestive system.

Soaked or dry?...both work for me.

By the way, SPROUTING of grains is the thing that releases the enzyme inhibitors and allow you to get the most from your grains.

Answer 2

Yes. You have to remember that what you read was not talking about rolled oats, but whole hard kernel oats. But I have soaked my rolled oats too and find that after soaking them overnight, I can basically eat them without cooking.

Soaking overnight is done for most grains anyway, and most all beans and lentils too. If you don't soak and drain your beans or lentils a few times, you'll have the farts for days. Even soaking your rice will produce a very nice fluffy rice.

Answer 3

Ive soaked rolled oats overnight so I could eat them cold the next morning and have them be a bit softer..with some raisins and maple syrup. Not sure on how that effects digestion though..I'd guess it makes it a bit easier, since when you chew your food your introducing a more complex form of breaking food down with your teeth and saliva before it hits your stomach.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oatmeal

Lots of good information here on oatmeal..I guess what I do is a slight variation of something they do in vermont.

Answer 4

Never done it, but sounds interesting and I don't see why it wouldn't work; I'll make sure to watch for the other answers. I definitely prefer steel cut or "old fashioned" oats to the quick oats (which taste like library paste). If time's the issue, then make double or triple batch one morning, and store the rest in the refrigerator. It reheats quite nicely in the microwave. That's what I do when my schedule's tight (less clean up too!)