Wiktionary
n. oat groats that have been rolled into flat flakes under heavy rollers.
WordNet
n. meal made from rolled or ground oats [syn: oatmeal]
Wikipedia
Rolled oats are traditionally oat groats that have been de-husked, steamed and then rolled into flat flakes under heavy rollers before being stabilized by being lightly toasted. The oat, like the other cereals, has a hard, inedible outer husk that must be removed before the grain can be eaten. After the outer husk (or chaff) has been removed from the still bran-covered oat grains, the remainder is called oat groats. Oat groats are a whole grain that can be used as a breakfast cereal; various forms of oatmeal and rolled oats, and pinhead oats are cooked to make porridge. Steel-cut oats (pinhead oatmeal) are oat groats that have been chopped into smaller pieces before any steaming and thus retain bits of the bran layer. Since the bran layer, though nutritious, makes the grains tough to chew and contains an enzyme that can cause the oats to go rancid, raw oat groats are often further steam-treated to soften them for a quicker cooking time (modern "quick oats") and to denature the enzymes for a longer shelf life. Rolled oats that are sold as porridge oats usually, but not always, have had the tough bran removed. They have often, but not always, been lightly baked or pressure-cooked or "processed" in some fashion. Thick-rolled oats are large whole flakes, and thin-rolled oats are smaller, fragmented flakes. Oat flakes that are simply rolled whole oats without further processing can be cooked and eaten as "old-fashioned" porridge oats, but more highly fragmented and processed rolled oats absorb water much more easily and therefore cook faster, so they are sometimes called "quick" or "instant" porridge oats. Rolled oats can be further processed into coarse powder, which, when cooked, becomes a thick broth. Finer oatmeal powder is often used as baby food. Rolled oats are also often the main ingredient in granola and muesli.
Whole oats are an excellent source of thiamine, iron, and dietary fiber. Whole oats are also the only source of antioxidant compounds known as avenanthramides; these are believed to have properties which help to protect the circulatory system from arteriosclerosis. Oat products also contain beta-glucan, which may help people with Type 2 diabetes control their blood glucose level, and might also help stimulate the immune system to fight off bacterial infections.
Usage examples of "rolled oats".
There was a long, rather ramshackle hallway that usually had cartons of soap flakes piled up in it, and a spacious kitchen, though it too was more than half-full of merchandise: canned goods, sacks of flour, packages of rolled oats.
Karnak opened a leather pouch at his side and removed a hard cake of rolled oats and sugar.
Miln consisted of rolled oats and barley coated with dried molasses, often with alfalfa or melilot thrown into the mix.
Thereafter, they breakfasted on fruit, mellon balls, rolled oats, hot mash, toasted bread, butter, and jam (excitingly different from county to barony to principality), dried tortoise, game bird, or game animal (as appropriate), occasional fish (salty shortonies or chewy skeeniks), and for desert, candied apples, dates, and khalkas.
I remember her tellin me that Donald n Helga might be spendin August at the house n for me to check n make sure we had enough Quaker Rolled Oats, which was all they'd eat for breakfast.
Across her lap was a large brick of orange cheese encased in a flimsy cardboard box, and several pounds of rolled oats and pinto beans in clear plastic bags.
He lowered his nose to the shelled corn seasoned with molasses, the rolled oats, and the ground barley in the trough.
Clouds of flour and spices and rolled oats had settled over everything.
It shattered on impact, spraying nuts and rolled oats in every direction.