Learn how to make quick oats from old-fashioned oats! This kitchen hack is great when you don't have the right kind of oats needed for a recipe. It's super easy to do and will save you a trip to the grocery store.

Stainless steel cups of old fashioned and quick oats

Easy Kitchen Hack!

For years, I kept quick cook oatmeal and old-fashioned oats on hand because different recipes use one or the other. The worst was when I ran out of fast cook oats and had to run to the store in the middle of a recipe – it's happened more times than I like to remember!

So, I'm reviewing all things oatmeal in this post – specifically, the difference between the two, substitutions, and the simple hack to make quick oats.

  1. Easy Kitchen Hack!
  2. Can I Use Old Fashioned Oats Instead of Quick Oats?
  3. How to Make Quick Oats from Old Fashioned Oats
  4. Substituting Old Fashioned for Quick Oats
  5. Additional Baking Tips and Tricks
  6. How to make Quick Oats from Old Fashioned Oats

Can I Use Old Fashioned Oats Instead of Quick Oats?

It depends. Old fashioned oats give baked goods more texture but take longer to cook, which is why some recipes call specifically for quick oats. Quick cook oats are processed more, so they don't have to cook as long.

In many cases, you can use the two interchangeably. But in some cases, a recipe will only work with quick cook oats. Hence why I kept both on hand for so many years!

Then I figured out you can make your own quick oats with old-fashioned oats, and life was changed forever! Okay, maybe that's an overstatement, but yes, you can make quick cook oats out of regular oats, and it has saved me from making unnecessary trips to the store.

I'm showing you how to do it, plus sharing tips for substituting oats – I wish I'd known all of this years ago!

Overhead shot of old fashioned oats in a food processor

How to Make Quick Oats from Old Fashioned Oats

First, the hack. If you are making cookies that need quick cooking oatmeal, but you only have old-fashioned ones, here's how you make it work:

Place your oats in a food processor. Pulse a few times to break them down. Give them a stir and pulse again, if needed. That's all you do!

Overhead shot of old fashioned oats in a food processor after being processed

Use your DIY oatmeal in your recipe – just be sure to measure the amount you need after you've processed them.

Overhead shot of old fashioned oats in a food processor after being processed and cup of old fashioned oats next to it

Substituting Old Fashioned for Quick Oats

When it comes to old-fashioned oats vs. quick cook oats in baking,the best rule of thumb is to follow the recipe.

You can substitute old-fashioned for quick cook oats in many cases, and a well-written recipe should indicate this. If the recipe specifically calls for one or the other, stick to that for the best results.

Unfortunately, there's no way to DIY old-fashioned ones, so those are the ones I usually keep on hand. That way, if I need quick oats, it's just a few food processor pulses away to DIY it! Sometimes the simplest things can make a big difference in the kitchen, and DIY quick cook oats can be a total sanity-saver! If it saves a trip to the store, it's a winner in my book. I hope you've found this post helpful!

Additional Baking Tips and Tricks

  • Common Baking Substitutions
  • How to Double a Recipe
  • 5 Must Have Baking Tools
  • How to Send Cookies in the Mail
  • 1 heaping cup old fashioned oats or any amount

  • Place old fashioned oats in a food processor or blender. Pulse a few times in short bursts. Stir the oats and see if you need to pulse again.

  • Measure what you have left and use it in the recipe.

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 4 kcal | Carbohydrates: 1 g | Protein: 1 g | Fat: 1 g | Saturated Fat: 1 g | Sodium: 1 mg | Potassium: 4 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 1 g | Calcium: 1 mg | Iron: 1 mg

Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword oatmeal

Overhead shot of old fashioned and quick oats in measuring cups

Different recipes call for different types of oats, but you no longer need to keep both in your pantry! Learn how to easily make quick cook oats from old-fashioned oats.

Last Updated on March 6, 2021

All text and images © DOROTHY KERN for Crazy for Crust. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words, or link back to this post for the recipe. Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be accurate.

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Published on: March 2, 2021