Oat bran is the outer bran layer of the oat groat and it’s considered to be one of the healthiest grains on the market, it makes a perfect, balanced nutritional breakfast along with oatmeal. Oat bran is packed with nutrients; In fact, it’s even more nutritional and healthier than regular oatmeal.
Oat bran provides a high amount of carbs and fat to keep you full until lunchtime but that’s not what all the fuss for this product is about. This product contains more protein and soluble fiber than regular oatmeal and has fewer calories.
Even though oat bran is healthy as breakfast as well as for making delicious oat cookies, there is a time when you don’t want to waste your time going to the store and buying this product and you don’t have to if you have these alternatives at home.
Oat Bran Substitutes Are
- Oatmeal/ Rolled Oats
- Flaxseed
- Rice Bran
- Wheat Bran
- Corn Bran
- Oat Flour
- Wheat Germ
- Coconut Flour
- Buckwheat Flour
- Almond Flour
- Whole-wheat flour
Keep up with us to find out more about these oat bran substitutes.
Oat Bran Substitutes
Oatmeal/Rolled Oats
If there’s one thing I never run out of in my house is oatmeal and rolled oats. I always buy these products in bulk and I never want to get myself in a situation where I have to run in the store in order to make my favorite breakfast with brown sugar, or oatmeal cookies.
Oatmeal is full of protein and dietary fiber, making it the perfect breakfast to hold you throughout the day even though it has a bit of a bland flavor. Oats are also known for their cholesterol-lowering properties and balancing blood pressure.
Let me tell ya, oatmeal has so many health benefits and it’s not just for consumption. Oatmeal is famous for its exfoliating abilities for the skin and body; it helps you smooth your skin and get rid of any redness and bumps you have on your face.
Oatmeal is the best substitute for oat bran and the difference in taste will vary just slightly. Use a 1:1 ratio when replacing oat bran for oatmeal or rolled oats.
Flaxseed/ Flaxseed Meal
Flaxseeds are a known superfood with so many health and nutritional benefits. Flaxseeds are a rich source of fiber, protein content, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B1, and omega 3 fatty acids which are good for heart health, reduce the risk of cancer, balance blood sugar levels, and have anti-inflammatory properties.
You can easily find these little sesame look-alikes in your local grocery stores and health food stores. Many people use this superfood in their diets and as a healthy drink in the morning to improve their digestive health.
They have a subtle nutty flavor which is perfect for making your baked goods a little bit nutty without actually using any nuts in them. Flaxseeds can also be used in savory recipes.
Flaxseeds are an amazing alternative to meat, fish, and other protein food. For improving your digestive system or for a morning power booster, mix one teaspoon of ground flaxseed with a glass of water and drink it in the morning.
Rice Bran
Another product that’s very similar to oat bran is rice bran. This is a byproduct of the rice milling process(the outer layer part of either brown or white rice) and contains a high amount of antioxidants, proteins, carbohydrates, and healthy oils(rice bran contains 15-20% natural oils which are used to make rice oil).
Rice oil is wildly used in the medical world for lowering cholesterol levels, decreasing calcium absorption, and diabetes. Rice bran is a great substitute for oat bran when it comes to baking cookies, muffins, bread recipes, and other baked goods. Replace one cup of oat bran with one cup of rice bran.
Wheat Bran
Wheat bran has a high protein and fiber content and it’s also consumed as a healthy breakfast instead of oatmeal or rolled oats. Due to the high fiber containment, wheat bran is much drier than oats and requires more liquid.
You can also use wheat bran in bread recipes, pancakes, cookies, savory dishes, and as a side dish with meat or fish. Replace one cup of oat bran with one cup of wheat bran.
Corn Bran
Corn bran is a byproduct of the exterior layer of corn and it’s a part of most breakfast cereals, chips, granola bars, snack bars, corn bran muffin recipes, and other snacks.
If you have this product already in your home, feel free to use it as a substitute for the oat bran but note that the consistency and the color of your dish might slightly change. Also, the nutty taste will be less pronounced, and instead, you’ll taste the corn.
Oat Flour
Oat flour is made by finely grinding oats until you get grainy(you can also find smooth oat flour in the stores), flour-like consistency. This oat product has a nutty taste and a crumbly texture that works amazing when baking with it. Just like the oat bran, oat flour is a great source of protein and fiber.
Because of the grainy texture of oat flour, your savory dishes or baked goods will have an amazing crunch. This especially works for making your pie crusts, even more, crunchier and crumblier.
To make your own oat flour, all you’re going to need is some rolled oats or a cup of oatmeal and a food processor. Process the oats until you get your desired consistency and voila, you got yourself a homemade oat flour with a subtle caramel taste.
Wheat Germ
Wheat germ is a part of the wheat kernel that helps the plant with the reproduction process. Wheat germ is rich in protein, insoluble fiber, and healthy fats. It’s also rich in vitamins(Vitamin E has antioxidant properties which can prevent many chronic diseases and lower the risk of cancer).
Wheat germ is not the easiest product to find in your local stores so I suggest looking for it in the more equipped health food stores.
Coconut Flour
This type of flour is made out of dried coconut meat and it’s a part of many gluten-free baking recipes and gluten-free diets since it doesn’t have any gluten content. Coconut flour became one of the most popular flours on the market along with almond and wheat flour.
You can use this flour in various recipes; either sweet or savory, it works either way. You can substitute your regular all-purpose flour with coconut one in cookie recipes, muffins, pancake batter, and Asian food like coconut shrimp and stir-fry recipes.
Now, unlike regular all-purpose flour, coconut flour has a distinct coconut smell and taste which is not always the right choice for some recipes or for people who don’t enjoy the taste and smell of coconuts.
[Related Article: 5 Best Substitutes For Coconut Flour In Baking]
Buckwheat Flour
Buckwheat flour is an excellent gluten-free and grain-free alternative for all-purpose flour for those who have gluten allergies or they are sensitive to gluten and Is made from buckwheat seeds. This flour is also a good substitute for oat bran because they have a similar nutty and sweet taste that complements many baked foods.
Buckwheat has many health benefits including preventing the risk of heart disease, improving digestion, and has cholesterol-lowering properties, and other chronic illnesses.
It is also very rich in amino acids and is full of nutrients. Unlike regular white flour, this product is a bit more on the dense side and can’t be used for all purposes in cooking and baking.
You can make simple recipes with this type of flour like buckwheat pancakes, banana bread, healthy muffins, gluten-free pizza dough, and healthy snack foods and bars.
Almond Flour
Almond flour is a gluten-free, low-carb product that’s made by blanching and grinding almonds until they resemble a powder/flour. This became a very popular flour, especially in paleo diets or any low-calorie diet, and vegan baking recipes because of this flour’s nutritional value and lots of minerals and vitamins(Vitamin E and magnesium). Almond flour is very low in carbs but it’s an excellent source of healthy fats and fiber just like the oat bran.
Types Of Almond Flour
The two main types of almond flour are blanched and unblanched almond flour. The blanched one is made from blanched almonds a.k.a almonds that are put in hot or boiling water for a minute or two to remove the skin.
After this process, the almonds are shocked with cold or ice water and they are gently squeezed. The almonds are then put in a food processor and ground until the consistency is fine.
Unblanched almond flour is made from almonds that still have their skins on. This flour is heavier and harder to digest and causes stomach pains because of its heavyweight and hard texture.
Whole-Wheat Flour
Whole-wheat flour is made by grinding whole grains of wheat and it’s a great substitute for oat bran in baking. This flour is packed with lots of nutrients like vitamin B, fiber, proteins, antioxidants, magnesium, zinc, and iron.
Whole-wheat flour contains gluten so if you’re allergic to gluten, or afraid of developing a celiac disease I suggest you stick to the gluten-free and grain-free alternatives to wheat flour.
Consuming whole-wheat flour on regular basis can reduce the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, forms of cancer, obesity, can improve digestion, and regulate your body weight.
Related Questions And Other FAQs
Can I Substitute Oatmeal For Wheat Bran
Yes. Oatmeal makes an amazing substitute for wheat bran, especially in muffin recipes, pancake recipes, and banana bread.
Oat Bran Substitute Rolled Oats
Rolled oats and oatmeal are the best substitutes for oat bran since they’re both oat products with some tiny differences in texture. You can use rolled oats in your baking or in other recipes without changing the proportions or the taste of the product.
Substitute For Oat Bran In Bread Recipe
The best substitutes for oat bran for your bread recipes are wheat bran, rice bran, corn bran, and flaxseeds/flax meal.
What Is The Difference Between Oat Bran And Rolled Oats
Oat bran gives your recipes a much creamier texture than rolled oats. The second difference is the nutritional value between these two. Oat bran has higher nutritional value and it’s rich in soluble fiber and lots of protein. At the end of the day, it really depends on what your preferences are.
Are Quick Oats Rolled Oats
Yes. Quick oats are rolled oats that have gone through lots of processing to decrease the cooking time for the preparation of the oats. They are also halfway cooked and you can prepare them in two minutes.
