Oatmeal smoothies are kind of genius. A nourishing meal in a glass that feels like a milkshake and tastes like cookies? Yes, please! Plus, they’re a hearty, portable breakfast you can press into hands while everyone rushes out the door, an energizer in a glass for sluggish afternoons and a naturally delicious treat to enjoy anytime. There’s nothing not to love.
When you add oats to smoothies, you’re not only adding good-for-you fiber and a creamier texture, but you’re transforming it from a fruit drink into something more substantial and satisfying. It’s an act of love, really.
At Bob’s Red Mill, we believe the secret to homemade goodness—besides love, of course—is using the right ingredients. The cut of oats can make a difference in how thick and creamy your smoothie turns out. So, we’ll show you which oats work best and how to use them to blend up oat smoothies your whole family will enjoy.
To see how different oats performed in smoothies, we tested five types: old fashioned rolled oats, quick cooking rolled oats, instant oats, oat flour and steel cut oats.
We used the same Berries and Oats Smoothie recipe with Almond Protein Powder, ground Organic Brown Flaxseeds, maple syrup, unsweetened almond milk and frozen blueberries and blended them in a standard 650-watt countertop blender.
We were curious how each cut of oat would affect the overall texture of the smoothie, and how easily it blended, especially in a typical, non-high-powered blender. We didn’t pre-blend any of the oats before adding them to the blender, and only one needed a soak before it was ready for a spin through the blender.
Turns out Bob’s Red Mill Organic Old Fashioned Rolled Oats, the classic oats you turn to for your famous oatmeal cookies and cozy oatmeal in the morning, are also the best all-around choice for smoothies. They blend well in a standard blender and create a thick, creamy, satisfying texture with just the right amount of body.
Texture. Thick, smooth, creamy, and substantial.
Ideal for. Meal-style smoothies, adding body to smoothies without relying on ice or bananas, baked-good-inspired smoothie recipes like oatmeal cookie or apple pie.
It makes perfect sense that Bob’s Red Mill Organic Quick Cooking Rolled Oats are also great in smoothies. After all, they’re rolled thinner than old fashioned oats, so they break down more quickly in the blender. The result is a smooth, creamy texture that’s slightly lighter but still very similar to regular rolled oats.
Texture. Smooth and creamy, slightly lighter than old fashioned rolled oats.
Ideal for. Faster blending, standard blenders, and more drinkable, sippable smoothies.
Those packets of Bob’s Red Mill Classic Instant Oatmeal aren’t just for a quick hot breakfast. You can use them in smoothies, too! Made with a signature four oat blend of oat bran, rolled oats, quick oats and Scottish oats, they break down easily in the blender and hydrate quickly into thick, soft smoothies with a creamy, cohesive texture.
Texture. Very smooth and soft, with a thicker, creamier consistency than old fashioned rolled oats.
Ideal for. Blending easily in lower-powered blenders.
Tips. Flavored packets will add sweetness, so you may want to adjust the maple syrup or other sweeteners accordingly. Add a splash of liquid if it gets too thick.
That bag of Bob’s Red Mill Whole Grain Oat Flour in your pantry is perfect for pancakes, banana bread, cookies and oat smoothies! It’s made from freshly milled whole grain oat groats, so it’s already a fine powder, and it blends really easily, quickly absorbs liquid and creates a thick, creamy smoothie.
Texture. Ultra-smooth and creamy, thicker than old fashioned rolled oats.
Ideal for. Extra-thick smoothies, lower-powered blenders, smoothie bowls and adding body to smoothies without ice or frozen banana.
Tips. Use oat flour to thicken just about any smoothie. Start with a small amount and blend, then add more as needed since it thickens quickly. If it becomes too thick, add a splash of milk to loosen it up.
Bob’s Red Mill Organic Steel Cut Oats are chopped oat groats, not rolled like old fashioned rolled oats. When cooked into a cozy bowl of hot cereal, they’re hearty and perfectly chewy. But adding steel cut oats into smoothies as-is, or even pre-blended, adds a gritty texture. So show them some love and give them a good, long soak. When they’re softened up, they blend beautifully into a thick, creamy texture.
Texture. Thick, smooth and hearty when soaked; gritty if not soaked thoroughly.
Ideal for. Extra-thick smoothies and overnight prep.
Tips. Soak the oats overnight using about twice as much liquid as oats (a 2:1 ratio of milk or water to oats). This softens them and helps them blend up smooth and creamy.
After blending more oat smoothies than we can count, we learned a few things along the way. Like whether soaking or pre-blending is actually necessary, if a standard blender can handle it and whether the type of oat really makes a difference. Here’s what we found.
Whatever oats you have in the pantry, rolled, quick, instant, or steel cut, you can turn them into a creamy, satisfying smoothie. With just a scoop and a quick blend, everyday ingredients become something worth sharing. However you blend it up, Bob’s Red Mill oats make it easy to fuel your day, one glass at a time.
