No, oats don’t contain gluten naturally. However, the question “is oatmeal gluten-free? ” becomes complicated when it comes to how oats are grown and manufactured. Commercially sold oats can sometimes be contaminated with gluten if they are mixed with grains like wheat, barley and rye during the manufacturing process (more on this below).
Pure oats are gluten-free and safe for most people with gluten intolerance. However, oats are often contaminated with gluten because they may be processed in the same facilities as gluten-containing grains like wheat, rye, and barley.
Oats are not considered a top allergen, and in their pure form, oats are safe for the majority of people with celiac disease. Unlike wheat, barley, and rye, oats are not considered a source of gluten in many countries. The concern with oats is that they come into contact with gluten grains from the field to processing.
Therefore, if you have an allergy or sensitivity to gluten, you need to be careful about looking for those labeled/certified as gluten-free. Steel-cut, rolled and quick/instant oats can all be gluten-free if they are labeled as so. An organic seal does not mean they are free of gluten — only a gluten-free label does.
Are oats refined grains?
Steel cut, rolled oats and grains that are still in ‘seed’ form are all whole grain oats, meaning the bran, endosperm and germ of each oat is still intact. Refined oats generally only feature the endosperm, which does not typically feature as many nutritional benefits as the other two parts.
The next thing we wondered was, what is the difference between refined and refined oats?
Refined oats generally only feature the endosperm, which does not typically feature as many nutritional benefits as the other two parts. Barley, rye and oatmeal all qualify as whole grain oats and may be used in a wide array of recipes and cooking techniques.
What are whole grain oats?
Whole grain oats are oats that are intact, meaning they have not been ground down or refined to remove two-thirds of each seed. Steel cut, rolled oats and grains that are still in ‘seed’ form are all whole grain oats, meaning the bran, endosperm and germ of each oat is still intact.
What is the difference between refined and whole grains?
Whole grains are a much better source of fiber and other important nutrients than refined grains are. Examples of whole grains include brown rice, and whole grain oats. In fact, oats are one of the few well-known grains that almost never has its bran and germ eliminated during processing.