How to cook oatmeal

Video: HOW TO MAKE OATMEAL | the BEST oatmeal recipe

Content

Method 2 of 4: Cooking Oatmeal on the Stovetop
Method 3 of 4: Steaming the oatmeal
Method 4 of 4: Steep the oatmeal overnight
Tips
Warnings
What do you need

1 Place the oatmeal in a microwave safe bowl. Typically, for most types of oatmeal, the average serving size is about 1/2 cup (45 g). If you are using instant oatmeal, simply open the pack of cereals and pour the contents into a bowl. As a rule, instant oatmeal is packaged in portions. In this case, you do not have to take measurements.

Use a measuring cup to measure out the amount of cereal you need.

2 Add 1 cup (240 ml) water and stir. Take a measuring cup and pour 1 cup (240 ml) of cold water into it. Then pour the water into a bowl on top of the oatmeal. Stir well so that the water is evenly distributed throughout the cereal. You shouldn't have any lumps or dry oatmeal.

You may feel that 1 cup (240 ml) of water is too much for ½ cup (45 g) of oatmeal. Note, however, that oatmeal absorbs water very quickly during cooking.
If you want to make a creamier oatmeal that tastes fat, use milk instead of water.

3 Microwave the oatmeal for 1.5-2 minutes. Take a bowl of oatmeal and place it in the microwave. Cook using a high temperature setting. If you want to cook softer, creamy oatmeal, do not cook it for more than 1 ½ minutes. If you prefer a thicker porridge, cook for 2 minutes or even longer.

If you are using regular oatmeal, increase the cooking time to 2.5–3 minutes for a tender porridge.

4 Stir the oatmeal. Remove the bowl from the microwave. Remember she will be hot! Stir in the oatmeal. Your porridge is ready to eat.

Wait for the oatmeal to cool for a minute or two before tasting it.

5 Add additional ingredients. Healthy and tasty ingredients such as butter, honey, cream, fresh berries, dried fruit, or roasted nuts can be added at this stage. Just add the desired amount of your favorite ingredient and enjoy your favorite meal.

Please note that instant oatmeal packaged already contains various additives. Typically, this oatmeal contains brown sugar, cinnamon and apples. Therefore, you do not need to add additional ingredients to such porridge.

Method 2 of 4: Cooking Oatmeal on the Stovetop

1 Pour 1 cup (240 ml) of water or milk into a small saucepan. Use a measuring cup to measure out the correct amount of liquid. Oatmeal cooked in boiling water will retain its original firmness and cook faster. Oatmeal cooked with milk has a softer and creamier texture.
- You can use a small saucepan as the cereal must be partially submerged in the water while cooking.
- This cooking method should only be used if you are making porridge with whole grain oatmeal. If you are using instant oatmeal, microwave it.
2 Bring water or milk to a boil. Heat water or milk in a saucepan over medium heat until the liquid begins to bubble. This is the optimum temperature for cooking oatmeal. Only add cereals to boiling water or milk. Otherwise, your porridge will be too runny.
- You can also mix milk and water for a low-calorie, creamy oatmeal.
- Make sure that the water and milk do not evaporate, as the oatmeal can burn.
3 Add ½ cup (45 g) oatmeal and stir. Measure out the required amount with a measuring cup. 1/2 cup (45 g) oatmeal is considered a standard serving for one person. If you want to make more oatmeal, add another ½ cup (45 g) oatmeal and ¾ – 1 cup (180–240 ml) water or milk.
- Salt to enhance the taste of the porridge.
4 Simmer the oatmeal over low heat until it reaches the desired consistency. Stir occasionally. But don't overdo it. The exact cooking time will vary depending on the amount and type of oatmeal you are using. Instead of looking at the clock, it is better to monitor the consistency of the porridge.
- It may take 8-10 minutes to cook the oatmeal. Whole-grain oats take longer to cook, about 20 minutes.
- Frequent stirring destroys the beneficial starch, making the oatmeal gooey and tasteless.
5 Remove the pan from the heat. When the oatmeal has reached the desired consistency, transfer it to a serving dish. Use a spoon or spatula to scoop the porridge from the sides of the pot. Use a dish large enough to accommodate not only the porridge but also the additives you will be using.
- Note that the oatmeal will thicken as it cools. Therefore, remove the pot from the stove a little earlier, even before the porridge has the desired consistency.
6 Add additional ingredients. While the oatmeal is hot, add a lump of butter, a spoonful of natural peanut butter, or a handful of raisins. If you like a sweet porridge, sprinkle it with brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, or canned fruit.
- Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves can balance the sweetness of the porridge.
- Wait for the porridge to cool before eating it.

Method 3 of 4: Steaming the oatmeal

1 Boil water in a kettle. If you are using a regular kettle, fill it with water and place it on the stove. You can also use an electric kettle. While the water is warming up, you can proceed to the next steps.
- This method can be used with instant oatmeal as well as whole grain cereals.
2 Place ½ cup (45 g) oatmeal in a bowl. This portion is for one person. If you want to cook more oatmeal, add 0.5-1 cup (120-240 ml) boiling water to 0.5 cup (45 g) cereal.
- Use a measuring cup to measure out the right amount of cereal and water.
- Add a pinch of salt to dry cereal to enhance the flavor of the dish.
3 Pour boiling water into a bowl of cereals. After the water boils, open the spout of the kettle to release the steam. Stir the cereal as you add the water. If you prefer tender oatmeal, add 1 ¼ cup (300 ml) water. If you like thick oatmeal, add ¾ – 1 cup (180–240 ml) water.
- The oatmeal will thicken as it cooks, so add a little more water.
4 Wait for the oatmeal to cool before eating. After you pour boiling water over the oatmeal, it should be slightly infused. Be careful not to burn yourself. Enjoy the taste of the oatmeal after it has cooled slightly.
- Add some cream or Greek yogurt to cool the oatmeal faster.
5 Add additional ingredients. For a sweet porridge, add honey, brown sugar, or maple syrup. Alternatively, you can add banana chunks, granola, or semi-sweet chocolate chunks. Finally, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and apple pie seasoning.
- If you want to add variety, experiment with unusual flavors and flavors - add dried cherries, pistachios, or coconut.
- Serve the oatmeal as an acai bowl. Combine the crushed acai berries and add other wholesome ingredients such as chia seeds, nut butter, and fresh fruit.

Method 4 of 4: Steep the oatmeal overnight

1 Pour 0.5 cups (45 g) whole grain oatmeal into a small container. A glass canning jar with a screw cap is ideal for this purpose as you can easily measure out the right amount of oatmeal. However, other containers can be used as well. After placing the oatmeal in the jar or container of your choice, shake it well to create an even layer of oatmeal.
- Choose this method if you are making whole-grain oatmeal. Instant oatmeal will immediately soften when you add liquid to it. Whole-grain oats won't soften too quickly. It will retain its shape.
- If you're in a rush in the morning, transfer your oatmeal to a plastic container with a lid and feast on it along the way.
2 Add milk or milk replacer. Pour in 0.5 cups (120 ml) cold milk or use almond, coconut, or soy milk. Take equal amounts of oatmeal and milk.
- You may not be able to achieve the desired consistency the first time. If the oatmeal is too runny, reduce the amount of milk. If it gets too dry, add some liquid before serving.
3 Stir the contents of the container. Stir until you achieve a smooth consistency. Otherwise, there will be dry lumps in your porridge.
- Additional dry ingredients such as chia seeds, flax seeds and spices can also be added at this stage.
4 Place the container of oatmeal in the refrigerator. Cover the container and place it on the middle shelf of the refrigerator. The oatmeal will absorb the milk and become softer and more voluminous. After 3-5 hours the oatmeal will be ready to eat. Leave the container in the refrigerator for 7-8 hours to get the optimal consistency of oatmeal.
- If the container you have chosen does not have a lid, use plastic wrap or aluminum foil instead of a lid.
- Leaving a container of oatmeal in the refrigerator for more than 10 hours will turn your porridge into an inedible mass.
5 Add additional ingredients. After removing the oatmeal from the refrigerator, add ingredients such as honey, Greek yogurt, or chocolate nut spread. If you prefer healthier ingredients, use fresh fruit and sugar-free nut butters.
- Add banana puree to make the porridge sweet. Don't use traditional sweeteners.
- Get creative with your optional ingredients! You can try different flavor combinations.
- If you don't want to eat cold oatmeal, heat it up in the microwave for one to two minutes.

Tips

If everyone in your family enjoys oatmeal, make up different types of supplements. You will have your own mini bar of additional oatmeal ingredients.
Use almond, coconut, or soy milk as a dairy substitute if you prefer a more nutritious, low-calorie breakfast.
You can cook a large portion of the porridge and keep it in the refrigerator. Then set aside as much as you can eat, add 1-2 tablespoons of water or milk and heat the porridge in the microwave.

Warnings

Wash the pot immediately after cooking the oatmeal. Do not leave any leftover porridge in the pot, otherwise it will stick to the walls and make it difficult to clean the dishes.
Never leave a boiling pot or kettle unattended. Not only can this cause a fire, but you also risk ruining your breakfast!