SaurabhOat bran is a common cooking ingredient with many uses. Oats are widely spread and there are many health products that come from them and can be useful in our kitchen.
Oat bran is a product with a lot of fiber and many vitamins and minerals. It is a great food supplement that is typically added to cereals, muffins and will provide many health benefits.
Typically oat bran is cooked before using and all you have to do is bring the water to boil, add salt and then place the oats to cook for a few minutes.
Make sure that it is cooked correctly and the texture that you need is achieved. You can use oat bran to make puddings, pancakes, bread, as a power booster in your smoothies and many more.
However, if you don’t have oat bran at hand, you probably question yourself is there a suitable replacement for it?
Take a closer look at the list below and find out more about each product. Choose the best one that will be good for your cooking.
Substitutes for Oat Bran
Oat bran may look challenging to replace, but there is no need to worry. The following list has all the best substitutes, their features, and health benefits, so let’s get right into it.
1. Wheat Bran
The first thing that comes to mind when you need to substitute oat bran would be wheat bran. They share many things and one of those similarities is dietary fiber.
Wheat bran is also very healthy and nutritious. You can use a cup of wheat bran for a cup of oat bran in your cooking. Further, easily make the swap when preparing pancakes, cookies, muffins, and some other baking goods.
When using wheat bran you need to know that the texture may be slightly different. But there is no need to worry, the taste and the final results will be outstanding.
2. Oat flour
Similar to oat bran, oat flour is a perfect replacement in many ways in your cooking. It is made from whole grain and provides a nice mild nutty taste and tender crumb. Most importantly it is gluten-free which makes it ideal for many recipes.
When you use oat flour, actually you’ll provide a mild caramel taste to your baking goods, cakes, cookies, and other recipes. Use equal amounts when replacing or try adjusting based on the ingredients in your cooking.
3. Rice Bran
A product that is very similar to oat bran is rice bran. It is a byproduct that contains antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins. It is also gluten-free which makes it suitable for everyone to use.
You can replace 1 cup of rice bran with a cup of oat bran when making bread, cookies, and some other baking goods.
It is good for your health and will provide a nice touch to your dish.
4. Oatmeal
Another oat product that could easily replace oat bran is oatmeal. It has a similar taste to oat bran. You can use it to make some cookies, cakes, or other baking goods.
You can use equal amounts or adjust by using 1 or ¾ of oatmeal for a cup of oat bran. The texture may not be the same, however, you won’t notice the difference. You can use a blender to process it a bit before use, so you’ll get more similar results.
5. Corn Bran
Corn bran can replace oat bran in many ways. They are similar and provide a nice texture to different meals. Corn bran is made of the outer layer of the corn kernel.
It contains a lot of vitamins and minerals as well as fiber which is good for our health. The carbohydrate content of the corn bran is low, which makes it good in many ways.
You can substitute a cup of oat bran with a cup of corn bran. You should also know that corn bran has a bland flavor so it can be good to make muffins or some other baking goods.
6. Flaxseed
A commonly-used ingredient that can replace oat bran is flaxseed. It is an ingredient that has been around for many years and can be used in many ways.
It contains a lot of nutrients which are good for your health. Some people may not enjoy the taste of flaxseed, so make sure not to add too much.
Actually, a tablespoon or two would be good enough for cooking or making a smoothie. You can also add equal amounts when replacing oat bran in baking.
7. Wheat germ
Oat bran can be replaced by a wheat germ in many ways. Wheat germ is made from the seed of wheat which contains a lot of health benefits. What makes them a suitable replacement for each other is that they both have dietary fiber.
You can use it to prepare muffins, pancakes, smoothies, cookies, and other baking goods. Use almost the same amount when replacing or try adjusting based on the other ingredients.
8. Whole-wheat flour
Another type of flour that is perfect for replacing oat bran is whole wheat flour.
Made from deriving whole grains of wheat which are ground afterward, this flour is often used to bake bread. It is very healthy and nutritious and contains a lot of vitamins and minerals.
Adjust the quantity that needs to be added when replacing oat bran.
9. Coconut flour
Coconut flour finds its way here to replace oat bran in many ways. It is made from dried coconut meat and it is white flour that is commonly used in baking.
This flour has a mild, sweet taste which will fit perfectly in recipes that require oat bran.
It is a type of flour that is usually used in baking. However, it’s not a problem to find some other uses as well. It is a gluten-free product that works great for baking cookies, bread, muffins, and other recipes that require oat bran.
10. Buckwheat flour
Buckwheat flour is yet another good substitute for oat bran. It is made from grinding the seeds of the buckwheat plant.
It has a nutty, bitter taste which is similar to oat bran. Keep in mind that the taste may be more intense and it may not be suitable for every recipe. What is important to note is that it is gluten-free, which is suitable for everyone.
Use oat bran to make muffins, waffles, pancakes, and some other baking goods.
Related Questions
What is the difference between oatmeal and oat bran?
They both come from the same grain. However, oatmeal comes from the inner part whereas oat bran comes from the outer part. The outer part is milled and becomes concentrated.
Can ground oatmeal replace oat bran?
Yes, since ground oatmeal is similar to oat bran and can be replaced by many recipes. You can use a cup of oat bran for 1 or ¾ cup of oat bran.
Are wheat bran and oat bran interchangeable?
Yes, you can use 1 cup of bran for a cup of wheat bran at any time. You can make pancakes, muffins, and many other recipes.
