Quaker Oats is one of the most popular and well-known oat brands in the United States and around the world. Their recognizable packaging featuring the Quaker man logo can be found in many households and grocery stores. But with so many oat brands available today, some consumers wonder – are Quaker oats actually real, quality oats? Or are they highly processed and filled with artificial ingredients?
The short answer is yes, Quaker oats are real oats. Quaker uses whole grain oats as the main ingredient in their best-selling products like Old Fashioned Quaker Oats, Quick Oats, and Steel Cut Oats. However, like many food products today, Quaker oats also contain some additional ingredients and go through processing to produce the final product.
In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at how Quaker oats are made, the types of oats they use, their processing methods, additional ingredients, and how they compare to other oat brands. We’ll also provide some history on the Quaker Oats company and their founding principles over 135 years ago. After reading, you should have a good understanding of what goes into Quaker oats products and be able to determine if their oatmeal meets your standards for “real” oats.
Brief History of Quaker Oats Company
Before diving into the processing and ingredients, let’s start with a quick background on Quaker Oats as a company. Quaker Oats was founded in 1877 in Ravenna, Ohio by Henry D. Seymour and William Heston. The company was initially called the Quaker Mill Company, named after the Quakers or members of the Religious Society of Friends. Early Quaker colonists founded the Midwestern town of Ravenna where the company started.
The Quakers were known for their integrity in business dealings and commitment to quality products. This became a guiding principle for the new Quaker Mill Company. In the early 1900s, their famous Quaker Man logo was created to represent these values. By 1908, Quaker had become the largest cereal company in the United States. Some of their early oat-based products included Quaker oats, Quaker puffed wheat and puffed rice cereals.
Over the decades, Quaker Oats went on to create popular products like Life Cereal, Cap’n Crunch, and Aunt Jemima Syrups and Mixes. They also expanded into other categories like snack bars, cookies, and ready-to-eat cereals. Quaker Oats merged with several other food companies in the 1900s and became the Quaker Oats Company. In 2001, PepsiCo acquired Quaker and remains the parent company today. While no longer family-owned, Quaker continues to make oatmeal and other whole grain foods the core of its product lineup.
Types of Oats Used in Quaker Oats Products
Quaker uses a few different types of oats to produce their famous oatmeal products including:
– Steel cut oats – Also called Irish or Scottish oats, steel cut oats are whole oat groats cut into 2-3 pieces by steel blades. This process helps the oats cook faster while retaining more texture than rolled oats. Quaker’s Quick Cook Steel Cut Oats are an example.
– Rolled oats – Rolled oats (or old fashioned oats) are oat groats that have been steamed and rolled into flat flakes under heavy rollers. This preserves some texture while allowing them to cook more quickly. Quaker Old Fashioned Oats uses 100% whole grain rolled oats.
– Quick oats – These are rolled oats that are cut slightly smaller and thinner, so they cook faster. Quaker’s Quick Oats cook in just 1 minute.
– Oat flour – This is produced by coarsely grinding whole oat groats. Quaker uses oat flour to add nutrition in products like breakfast biscuits.
– Whole grain oats – This refers to oats that use the entire oat groat with the bran, endosperm, and germ. Quaker states their oats are 100% whole grain.
So in summary, Quaker uses a variety of traditional whole grain oats like steel cut, rolled, quick oats and oat flour in their products. They don’t appear to use controversial oat types like milled oat flour or dehulled oat bran. This indicates they are sticking to time-tested whole grain oats.
How Quaker Oats Are Processed
Quaker oats undergo some processing both at Quaker and on the farms where they’re grown. Let’s take a look at the key steps:
Growing and Harvesting Oats
– Oats are planted in the spring and harvested around early fall when the oats are hard and dry. The farmer cuts the oats while they are still in the field.
Cleaning and Hulling
– The oats are transported to a mill where they are put through cleaners to remove debris. The outer oat hulls are steamed and removed. This leaves the oat groats.
Cutting
– For rolled oats, the groats go through large steel rollers to flatten them into flakes. Quick oats are cut before rolling into thinner pieces. Steel cut oats are chopped 2-3 times rather than rolled. This breaks up the groat while maintaining more texture.
Cooking
– The rolled and quick oats are steamed and toasted at high temperatures. This stabilizes the oils in the oats to preserve freshness and alters the taste. Steel cut oats skip this pre-cooking phase.
Packaging
– The finished oats are then packaged into Quaker’s recognizable containers like cylinders, cartons, and pouches. This protects shelf life and makes the oats easy to store.
So in summary, Quaker oats go through hulling, cutting, rolling or chopping, possible pre-cooking, and packaging. This allows them to produce the tender, quick-cooking oats consumers expect. But they are still minimally processed compared to many over-processed foods today.
Additional Ingredients in Quaker Oats
Besides oats, Quaker does add some other ingredients to their oatmeal during processing. Here are the main extras found in popular Quaker oatmeal products:
Salt – Most Quaker oats contain a small amount of salt for flavor. The salt level ranges from 0-2% across products.
Sugar – Some flavored Quaker oats include sugar, which can range from 1-5 grams per serving. This includes flavors like Cinnamon & Spice.
Natural Flavors – Quaker uses natural and artificial flavors in flavored oatmeal to create tastes like maple and brown sugar.
Guar Gum – This natural stabilizer thickens the oatmeal and prevents separation. It is made from guar beans.
Calcium Carbonate – This is added to certain oats as a source of supplemental calcium.
Vitamin D – Some Quaker oats are fortified with vitamin D to increase the nutritional value.
So in summary, while oats are the main ingredient Quaker does make some additions for taste, texture, nutrition and freshness. However, most of these are relatively minor and aren’t unhealthy. Quaker oats mostly live up to their reputation for using simple, natural ingredients compared to many brands.
Nutrition Profile of Quaker Oats
Now that we know what goes into Quaker oats, let’s analyze the nutrition you get in a typical serving.
Here is the nutrition facts for a 1/2 cup serving of Quaker Quick Oats, unflavored:
| Calories | 150 |
|---|---|
| Total Fat | 2.5g |
| Sodium | 0mg |
| Potassium | 116mg |
| Total Carbs | 27g |
| Dietary Fiber | 4g |
| Sugars | 1g |
| Protein | 5g |
As you can see, a serving of Quaker oats delivers 150 calories, 5g of filling protein and fiber, while being low in sugar and sodium. It provides minerals like potassium and magnesium as well.
The fiber comes from the whole grain oats, while the protein provides sustained energy. The nutritional values are similar across Quaker’s quick oats, old fashioned, and steel cut oatmeal. Quaker oats are a healthy choice within a balanced breakfast.
Do Quakers Oats Contain Gluten or Wheat?
For people avoiding gluten, a common question is whether Quaker oats are gluten-free. The good news is regular Quaker oats do not contain gluten or wheat. This includes all their traditional oatmeal products:
– Quaker Old Fashioned Oats
– Quaker Quick Oats
– Quaker Steel Cut Oats
– Quaker Quick Cook Steel Cut Oats
Oats are naturally gluten-free grains. However, Quaker does produce some other products like pancake mixes, cereals, and snacks that do contain gluten. So be sure to double check labels if you need to avoid gluten. For plain Quaker oatmeal, you can enjoy it gluten-free.
Are Quaker Oats Non-GMO?
Another common question is whether Quaker oats are GMO or non-GMO. According to Quaker FAQs, they state their oats come from identity-preserved, non-GMO sources as of 2016. So Quaker oats should meet non-GMO standards and be non-GMO based on their sourcing.
However, Quaker oats are not certified organic or certified non-GMO. So there is no independent verification of their non-GMO status. But their stated sourcing methods indicate their oats should be non-GMO. Other grains used in Quaker products may be sourced conventionally.
How Quaker Oats Compare to Other Oat Brands
Quaker is one of the largest oat brands, but how do they compare against smaller oat companies? Here is a quick comparison on key factors:
Ingredients
– Quaker uses 100% whole grain oats as the main ingredient in their traditional oatmeal. Smaller brands also tend to use 100% whole grain oats.
Processing
– Quaker oats go through cleaning, hulling, cutting, rolling, and pre-cooking using high heat. Smaller brands often use lower heat processing methods to reduce damage.
Pesticides
– Quaker states they get oats from non-GMO sources but they may use some pesticides. Smaller brands are more likely to be organic.
Antioxidants
– The toasting process may lower antioxidants in Quaker oats versus raw oats from some niche brands. But Quaker oats still provide antioxidants.
Cost
– Quaker oats tend to cost less than small batch or organic oat brands. But the price difference per serving is minimal.
Accessibility
– Quaker oats are sold widely at any grocery store. Smaller brands may only be available at health food stores or online.
So in summary, while Quaker uses reliable whole grain oats, smaller brands may offer some benefits for people concerned about organic, less processing, or higher antioxidant levels. But Quaker provides minimal ingredients and decent nutrition at a low cost to the masses.
Should You Buy Quaker Oats?
Based on the criteria we evaluated, here are some conclusions on whether Quaker oats are worth purchasing:
Pros of Quaker Oats
– Inexpensive compared to boutique brands
– Widely available at any grocery store
– Uses whole grain oats with limited ingredients
– No gluten, wheat, or GMOs
– Recognized and trusted brand name
– Provides filling fiber when avoiding gluten
Cons of Quaker Oats
– Not certified organic or non-GMO
– Higher heat processing may damage nutrition vs. small suppliers
– Contains salt, sugar, natural flavors as additives
– Not supported by conscientious consumers
Overall, Quaker Oats provide an affordable, accessible source of whole grain oats. They uphold their reputation for using simpler, purer ingredients compared to many processed foods. Their oats offer filling fiber, antioxidants, and plant-based protein.
While not perfect, Quaker oats are a decent option for most people wanting an easy breakfast staple. The pros seem to outweigh the cons for the average consumer. However, those adhering to strict diets like vegan, keto, or paleo may prefer other oat brands.
Conclusion
When you see the classic Quaker logo and man on a cylinder of oats, you can rest assured real oats are inside. Quaker oats are made from minimally processed whole grain oats like steel cut, rolled, and quick oats. They go through some processing like hulling, cutting, rolling, and cooking to produce the final product. But the oat groat remains largely intact.
Quaker also adds minor ingredients like salt, sugar, and natural flavors to enhance taste and texture. But their ingredient lists remain simple compared to many foods. The nutrition provides filling fiber, antioxidants, and plant-based protein.
Quaker oats are affordable, accessible, and use reliable whole grains. This makes them a fine choice for most people looking for an everyday oatmeal. While not as pure as some small-batch brands, Quaker oats uphold their founder’s values of quality and integrity dating back to 1877. They provide real whole grain oats to millions of households every day.