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Ready-made steel-cut oats in a retort carton

Steel cut oats, made from whole oat groats, are an excellent source of protein, soluble and insoluble fiber, and select vitamins and minerals.

Organic Steel-Cut Oatmeal
Organic Steel-Cut Oatmeal

The drawback of this type of oatmeal is its cooking time—up to 30 minutes compared with the two to three minutes required for rolled or instant oatmeal. To provide consumers with a way to prepare steel-cut oats in minimal time, Tualatin, OR-based Pacific Foods has developed ready-to-eat Organic Steel-Cut Oatmeal in five varieties, packaged in a retort carton.

“Pacific Foods strives to provide products that nourish and increase access to healthy, wholesome foods for kids and families alike,” says Pacific Foods Associate Brand Manager Jen Anderson. “The Organic Steel-Cut Oatmeal was created to fuel consumers on busy mornings, providing them a breakfast solution that is packed with protein, fiber, and heart-healthy whole grains in less than two minutes. Keeping in mind that consumers usually don’t have the half hour or more it takes to prepare traditional steel-cut oats on early mornings, Pacific’s ready-to-eat steel-cut oatmeal is a pantry staple, on-hand when needed.”

The product, planned for launch in April 2015 (as of presstime), is slow-cooked in small batches, explains Anderson. “Maintaining the consistency and delicious heartiness of the steel-cut oats was a critical factor,” she says. “We wanted to make sure that we maintained the heartiness of the steel-cut oat without sacrificing texture.”

The heat-and-eat product is then packaged in a 10-oz Tetra Recart retortable carton from Tetra Pak constructed of three layers—paperboard, film, and aluminum—that seals in the liquid, protects the product from external moisture, and preserves the flavor and texture of the product.

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