Oat flour is a nutritious, gluten-free flour that’s a great alternative to traditional wheat flour. It’s made from ground oats and can be used in a variety of recipes, from baked goods to savory dishes.
However, if you don’t have oat flour on hand or are looking for a substitute, there are several options available.
What Is Oat Flour?
Oat flour is, of course, made of oat, which is both protein-rich, nutrient-dense, and especially gluten-free. Its amazing component is why more and more people consider using this flour nowadays.
For those unaware, it brings lots of health benefits thanks to a good source of healthy carbohydrates, proteins, and fiber.
It surely suits the requirements of those who want to balance their bodies and stay away from whole wheat or all-purpose flour.
This flour tastes slightly sweet and toasty, making it perfect for baking. What makes it different from other flours lies in the soft, fluffy, and dense texture it gives to the baked treats.
Yet, this flour still works well when combined with other ones. For example, oat flour helps to lighten some baked meals with a heavy texture or enhance the flavor of nuts, caramel, honey, fruits, and yogurt.
You need to grind whole old-fashioned or rolled oats into a fine powder regarding its manufacturing progress.
Recommended Oat Flour Substitutes
1. Brown Rice Flour
Brown rice flour is the first substitute for oat flour that we highly recommend. Like oats, brown rice cereals need to go through the milling and grinding process to get a fine powder.
Please do not mistake it with white rice as brown rice consists of more nutrition and vitamins, like fiber, than the other one. Why? Because it does not go into refinement like white rice.
That being said, brown rice flour is a perfect oat flour replacement for making rice cake dishes or other baking recipes. A cup of oat flour will be equivalent to 3/4 cup of brown rice flour.
2. Coconut Flour
If you are looking for a gluten-free oat flour substitute, how about coconut flour?
Coconut flour is made from ground coconut and is another gluten-free option. It’s very absorbent, so you’ll need to use less of it than you would with oat flour. Coconut flour also has a distinct coconut flavor that may not work well in all recipes.
3. Almond Flour
Almond flour is made from ground almonds and has a similar texture to oat flour. It’s also gluten-free and provides a nutty flavor that works well in many recipes.
However, almond flour is pricier than oat flour, and it may not work as well in recipes that require a lot of binding or structure.
4. Oatmeal
Some people find it challenging to find a substitute that is nearly similar to oat flour in terms of taste and smell. Well, you had better look no further because the oatmeal can be your savior.
The way to make the oatmeal is the same as the almond flour. As mentioned above, you will grind oatmeal in the food processor and directly get oat flour.
There is no longer need to run to the grocery to buy oat flour or find other substituting oats for flour. You can create it by yourself without any challenge.
The best thing here is that you can adjust the flour texture thanks to the grinding time.
Let’s take an example: When you leave the food processor to work for a little bit, you will have oat flour with more texture. On the contrary, let it alone until you get the finest powder.
5. Amaranth Flour
When it comes to the perfect oat flour alternative without gluten, we also go for amaranth flour.
Although amaranth does not belong to the grains, people still make this type of flour by having the amaranth seeds ground and considering it a popular oat flour replacement.
Apart from no gluten absence, it is antioxidant and packed with nutrients, including proteins, minerals, and vitamins.
This is also why many home cooks make use of it as a great healthy flour, especially the Aztecs and the Incas.
Additionally, amaranth flour is best served in baking bread or combined with almond or rice.
6. Buckwheat Flour
Next, buckwheat flour is undoubtedly worth being on the list due to its rich nutrition of protein, vitamins, and fiber.
Apart from gluten-free content, its distinctive toasty flavor is also another reason why it is the best replacement for oat flour.
Buckwheat flour works well in making yummy loaves of bread, cakes, cookies, and other baked goods. Thanks to the appealing aroma with the nutty taste it brings, we bet that you might fall in love with it at first bite.
The only weakness we figured out on this choice is that it is not popular or seen among staple foods at the grocery stores.
7. Rye Flour
When you lack oat flour while cooking, you can consider our last alternative for oat flour called rye flour.
Like the other flours above, this type comes from ground rye. It is low in protein and gluten yet rich in beta-glucans and other nutrients like vitamins and minerals.
8. Quinoa flour
Quinoa flour is made from ground quinoa and is another gluten-free option. It has a nutty flavor that works well in baked goods and is also high in protein. Quinoa flour can be a bit expensive, so it may not be the best option for everyday baking.
9. Corn flour
Corn flour is made from ground corn and is another gluten-free option. It has a slightly sweet flavor that works well in many recipes, especially savory dishes.
Corn flour can be a bit gritty, so it may not work as well in recipes that require a smooth texture.
Tip: Experiment with different substitutes to find the one that works best for your needs.
How To Choose The Best Substitute for Oat Flour?
What is a good substitute for oat flour? How to choose the best substitute for oat flour?
First and foremost, you need to consider the nutrient contents of the sub for oat flour. It should be full of protein, vitamins, fiber, minerals, and gluten-free.
What is more, the option with a finer texture and absorbing not much of the liquid in the recipe will be the perfect oat flour alternative. Do not forget that it should be the one that matches perfectly with your recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Oat Flour Alternative In Baking?
The winner should call for gluten-free buckwheat flour for the best substitution for oat flour in baking. Of course, it depends not only on which type of the product but also on your recipe.
For this reason, both heavy flours like coconut or almond one and light flours like the rice one are not suitable for substituting.
As mentioned above, you will suffer from gritty or dense baked goods if you do not get the right amount of liquid.
Is Oatmeal And Oat Flour The Same?
Well, they are not actually the same. Oatmeal and oat flour are all made from the identical whole grain called oat groats, but undergo different manufacturing progress and have dissimilar physical characteristics.
To be more specific, the second one is a fine powder manufactured from the grinding process. It is finer than any other oats goods in the market.
On the contrary, oatmeal can be steel-cut, rolled, or quick oats with different processing requirements.
Can I Use All-purpose Flour To Substitute Oat Flour?
Yes, of course. But it also depends on which recipe and cuisine you want to make, as well as how consistent you are trying to achieve. Consider carefully, or else you cannot get the same flavor despite the substitutions.
