In brief
In King Arthur Baking's Honey Oatmeal Bread, oats rest in water before the remaining ingredients are mixed in. This lets them soften and absorb liquid.
Useful to know
In King Arthur Baking's Honey Oatmeal Bread, oats rest in water before the remaining ingredients are mixed in. This lets them soften and absorb liquid. [1]
The rest belongs to the formula rather than being an accidental delay. If skipping it changes the dough, compare preparation stages before immediately compensating with more flour.
Sources
For further detail and to check the information: