Cooking with oats

OATS. Oats are a whole-grain food, known scientifically as Avena sativa. Oat groats, the most intact and whole form of oats, take a long time to cook. For this reason, most people prefer rolled, crushed or steel-cut oats. Instant (quick) oats are the most highly processed variety.

Oatmeal has been on a health pedestal for years--and for a good reason. Oatmeal is packed with soluble fiber, which reduces your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the "bad" cholesterol. In fact, having 1 1/2 cups of cooked oatmeal provides six grams of fiber.