Although it requires about 60 minutes of hands-free stovetop time, this recipe for chewy and creamy whole grain oat groats (oatmeal) is adaptable and simple to make.
On hot summer days, I occasionally serve this whole oat groats (oatmeal) recipe cold for lunch. I consume it almost every morning.
Who knew there would be a run on oat groats? (UPDATE: FEB 2021) I mean its the most basic whole grain. After years of use, I stopped using Bobs Red Mills in the summer of 2020, during COVID. Over the past year, I’ve experimented with several different brands of oat groats, and they all require significantly longer cooking times, ranging from 2-4 hours. Once I locate a manufacturer that cooks in an hour, I will update (SEE UPDATE BELOW) this post. Such a bummer. Where did all the whole grain oat groats go, Bobs Red Mill? It must have been the great oatmeal run during the pandemic, right?
Try these Oat Groats from Food To Live (Affiliate Link) as of April 20, 2021. If you prefer chewy, cook these for about an hour; if you prefer them creamy, cook them for about one and a half to two hours. The closest I’ve found to oats that cook in an hour is Although they are not as inexpensive as they once were, they are still a very inexpensive breakfast. Similarly, their availability varies, so if you don’t see them right now, check back.
Tips on how to make oatmeal
You can stop using oatmeal packets and begin making your own at home. I assure you that it will be just as simple, but ultimately even more affordable and delicious. The best feature is that you can completely customize it, so you can choose how to prepare it and what oatmeal toppings to use.
Although it’s likely that most Americans never venture beyond oatmeal and oatmeal cookies, oats can easily play a much larger role in daily meals thanks to their mild flavor, delicate sweetness, and pleasing texture. They cook up equally chewy and creamy, which is a satisfying combination. Oats are a welcome addition to both sweet and savory dishes because the bran layer is so soft that it doesn’t draw attention to itself. All oat products, including whole, rolled, and flour, are classified as whole grains because they have the same amount of bran, germ, and endosperm as the oat kernel. ”.
There are many ways to reduce the cooking time if you prefer the flavor and texture of steel-cut oats but are pressed for time. You can prepare food for a few days at a time and then reheat it. It only takes about 10 minutes to prepare the oats in the morning if you bring the water to a boil the night before, add the oats, and cover the stove. Alternately, you could boil them for a short while before going to the gym to work out in the morning. When you get back, your oats will be warm and ready for you. We even have friends who use a slow cooker overnight for eight hours to make freshly made steel-cut oats for breakfast.
Microwave In theory you can microwave oats. We’ve never managed to do it without the entire dish erupting in a volcanic eruption all over the microwave. On most microwaves, half-power is the recommended setting, but we typically just use the shortcuts mentioned above. Send us an email with your successful method for microwaving oats, and we’ll post it here.
Stovetop Typically, you bring water to a boil, add the oats, reduce heat, and simmer the oats for however long you like while stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Some people prefer their oats to be extremely tender, while others prefer some bite. Some people like their porridge more liquid, while others prefer it stiffer and dryer Start by putting the oats in cold water, then bring to a boil if you prefer your oats to be creamier.
“The very ingredient that gives body, a smooth texture, and a lovely sheen to soups is the soluble fiber in oats that has been shown to lower blood cholesterol. Oats add a chewy, hearty texture to pilafs that pairs well with sweet vegetables like carrots and beets. Rolled oats are perfect for crisp toppings, chewy bottom crusts, and exceptional cookies in the dessert category, and oat flour produces delightful scones and airy muffins. ”.
How to Make Oatmeal – Cooking Methods
There are many different ways to prepare oatmeal. We’ll show you how to cook oatmeal on the stovetop, in the microwave, and even in the Instant Pot!
If you have the time, learning how to cook oatmeal on the stove is the best way to obtain the fluffiest oats possible. Stovetop oatmeal requires constant mixing, resulting in light, fluffy oatmeal that everyone will enjoy.
Good news: making quick-cooking, rolled, and steel-cut oats on the stove is simple. Discover the typical oats-to-liquid ratio by continuing to read.
Recipe used in photos: Banana Bread Stove-Top Oats.
Instructions: Fill a medium pot with 3 cups of liquid and 1 cup of steel-cut oats. Bring to a boil over high heat while continuously stirring. After that, turn heat to low and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cook until steel-cut oats are thick and creamy.
Steps: Fill a medium pot with 2 cups of liquid and 1 cup of rolled oats. Bring to a boil over high heat while continuously stirring. After that, turn the heat down to low and stir continuously for about 3 to 5 minutes, or until the oats have thickened.
Instructions: Fill a medium pot with 2 cups of liquid and 1 cup of quick-cooking oats. Over high heat, bring to a boil while stirring constantly for 1-2 minutes, or until the oats have thickened.
Steel-cut oats can be cooked in a variety of ways, but one of my personal favorites is slow cooker oatmeal. Once you’ve added your liquid and steel-cut oats to the slow cooker, stir it up, and turned it on, you’ll have a filling breakfast ready in a matter of hours.
Although you can cook both rolled oatmeal and instant oatmeal in a slow cooker, we only advise doing so with steel cut oats because of how much work it cuts out of the cooking process.
Recipe used in photos: Crockpot Maple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats.
Instructions: First, spray the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. After that, combine 4 cups of liquid and 1 cup of steel-cut oats in the slow cooker. 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low, covered, in the oven. Stir steel-cut oatmeal if you can every hour or so to avoid sticking. Remove from slow cooker once thickened.
Overnight oats are a fun twist on classic oatmeal. You can make a chewy, nutritious breakfast by soaking your oatmeal in milk and chia seeds for at least two hours or overnight.
Good news: You can use all 3 types of oats for overnight oats! We love overnight oats because they’re served chilled rather than hot, and we always suggest using chia seeds during this process so they get nice and fluffy. Keep reading to learn how.
Recipe used in photos: Classic Vegan Overnight Oats.
Place one cup of steel-cut oats, one tablespoon of chia seeds, and one 5 cups liquid into a glass container and mix. Place in the microwave, and then cook for one minute on high. Mix again. Cover the dish after that, and put it in the fridge for at least two hours or overnight.
Place one cup of rolled oats, one tablespoon of chia seeds, and one 5 cups liquid into a glass container and mix. For at least two hours or overnight, cover and put the container in the refrigerator.
Place one cup of quick-cooking oats, one tablespoon of chia seeds, and one 5 cups liquid into a glass container and mix. For at least two hours or overnight, cover and put the container in the refrigerator.
The cooking time for Instant Pot steel-cut oatmeal and Instant Pot oatmeal can be reduced while retaining the chewy, delectable texture of stovetop or slow cooker oatmeal.
Although quick-cooking oatmeal can be prepared in the Instant Pot, we only advise cooking steel cut and rolled oats due to the amount of labor it saves during the cooking process.
Recipe used in photos: Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats.
Steps: Combine 1 cup steel-cut oats with 3 cups liquid in an instant pot. Close Instant Pot and turn the valve to seal. Set Instant Pot to high pressure for 10 minutes. Open the valve to vent quickly after the timer sounds. Mix steel-cut oats and serve.
Follow these steps to add 1 cup rolled oats and 2 cups of liquid to an Instant Pot. Close the Instant Pot and turn the valve to seal. Set the Instant Pot to high pressure for 3 minutes. Open the valve to vent quickly after the timer sounds. Mix oatmeal and serve.
You can prepare either rolled oats or quick-cooking oats in the microwave in under 2 minutes if you only have a few minutes for breakfast.
Recipe used in photos: Cookie Dough Microwave Oatmeal.
Instructions: Place 1 cup rolled oats and 1. 33 cups liquid into a microwave-safe bowl. Then, microwave on high for 1 minute. Remove from microwave and stir. Reheat for one more minute on high in the microwave.
Instructions: Place 1 cup quick-cooking oats and 1. 33 cups liquid into a microwave-safe bowl. Then, microwave on high for 1 minute. Remove and stir.
