Rolled Wheat vs. Wheat Bran

[BethH]

Does anyone know the difference between these two? I made the Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins from 2000 and they called for wheat bran. My grocery was out so I substituted rolled wheat. It looked a little like wheat oatmeal and the muffins still taste OK, but I'm just wondering how different wheat bran is from rolled wheat, esp. the difference in fiber content.

TIA!!! BTW, these muffins are pretty tasty and easy...I definitely plan to make them again! The reader who sent them in said they freeze well too!

[slknight]

I don't have the answer to your question, but I was also wondering about wheat bran. The multigrain bread recipe in the current issue calls for it. I've never seen wheat bran in the store; only oat bran. I've made the multigrain bread twice now and substituted wheat germ both times. It seems to work fine.

[sneezles]

Beth
According to The Food Companion, "rolled" is a grain that has been hulled and then steamed and flattened between rollers into quick-cooking flakes. It says this particularly applies to oats but since you descirbed as looking like wheat oatmeal I'm thinking it the same thing.

[sneezles]

sklight
According to the same book,
"... The first milling breaks the wheat grain and separates its three componotes. The outer hull, or bran, si rich in nutrients; the wheat germ contains the seed's embryo that will later sprout; and the endosperm, which makes up most of the grain and provides most of its starch, will become white flour. Since bran and germ contain oils that spoil quickly, they are removed to extend the shelf life of white flour,..."
Hope that helps a little!

[ChefChris]

FYI: wheat bran is also referred to as "Millers Bran." Most grocery stores carry it. I have seen it in a bag and also in a box (box brand was Arrowhead Mills called unprocessed wheat bran.)

Chris

[BethH]

Oh no! My rolled wheat had all the bran removed! I wonder if my muffins have as much fiber in them as I thought???

[karole]

millers wheat bran can be found in health food stores or co-ops. i use it every day on my oat meal along with wheat germ.