Oats (cooked) vs Quinoa (cooked)

The short answer

Cooked, both are soft and mild. Quinoa brings more protein per 100 g; oats bring more of the soluble fibre (beta-glucan) that makes porridge filling. Oats for a warm, fibre-rich breakfast, quinoa for a protein-forward base that works savoury too.

Oats (cooked) and Quinoa (cooked), per 100 g and per portion. A gap means USDA has no value for it — not zero.

Oats (cooked) · per 100 gQuinoa (cooked) · per 100 g
Calories71120
Protein2.5 g4.4 g
Fat1.5 g1.9 g
Carbs12 g21.3 g
Fiber1.7 g2.8 g
Sugars0.3 g0.9 g
Sodium4 mg7 mg
Vitamins & minerals — where both carry data
Calcium9 mg17 mg
Folate6 µg42 µg
Iron0.9 mg1.5 mg
Magnesium27 mg64 mg
Niacin0.2 mg0.4 mg
Phosphorus77 mg152 mg
Potassium70 mg172 mg
Riboflavin0 mg0.1 mg
Thiamin0.1 mg0.1 mg
Vitamin A0 µg0 µg
Vitamin B120 µg0 µg
Vitamin B60 mg0.1 mg
Vitamin C0 mg0 mg
Vitamin D0 µg0 µg
Vitamin E0.1 mg0.6 mg
Vitamin K0.3 µg0 µg
Zinc1 mg1.1 mg
At equal calories (per 100 kcal)
ProteinOats (cooked): 3.6 g, Quinoa (cooked): 3.7 g · FiberOats (cooked): 2.4 g, Quinoa (cooked): 2.3 g · SodiumOats (cooked): 5.6 mg, Quinoa (cooked): 5.8 mg

Generic USDA foods (not brands), so both carry micronutrients. Numbers are per 100 g unless the portion toggle is on. USDA FoodData Central, as of 2026-08-12.

Common questions
Is Oats (cooked) or Quinoa (cooked) better?

Neither is “better” on its own — it depends what you want from it. The table shows where each is higher; the short answer says when each one fits. Compare on the same basis (per 100 g) and pick for your dish and your goal.

How were these numbers worked out?

Straight from USDA FoodData Central for the generic form of each food, per 100 g. We show the portion view too, but portion sizes differ between foods, so per 100 g is the fair comparison.

Why does one column say “no data”?

Because USDA has no value for that nutrient in that food — so we leave it blank rather than print a 0 that would read as “none”. A real zero from USDA still shows as 0.

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