Oatmeal is delicious, nutritious, and perfect to eat in the morning. It can be cooked in a variety of ways, making it a quick and easy breakfast option on busy mornings!

Ingredients

• 45g traditional rolled, steel-cut or instant rolled oats
• 240ml water or milk
• 240ml almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk or other dairy-free alternative (optional)
• Various ingredients, spices and add-ins (added to taste)

Cook Oatmeal in the Microwave

Pour the oatmeal into a microwave-safe bowl. Most oatmeal is 45 grams or half a cup, such as quick or rolled oats. If you’re using instant oatmeal, just open the package and pour the contents into a bowl. They are pre-proportioned and do not require measuring.

• Measure loose rolled oats using a measuring spoon and dry measuring cup.

Add 240ml water and mix them well. Fill a liquid measuring cup with 240ml of cold water and pour it over the dry oatmeal. Mix oatmeal and water until evenly mixed. There should be no clumps or dry oatmeal in the bowl.

• Using 240ml of water to cook 45g of oatmeal may seem like too much, but keep in mind that oatmeal absorbs water quickly as it cooks.
• For a richer oatmeal, use milk instead of water.

Place in microwave for 1½ to 2 minutes. Place the oatmeal in the microwave and heat over high heat. For a richer, softer oatmeal, set the cooking time to 1½ minutes. If you like it thicker, increase the time to 2 minutes or a little longer.

• If you’re making a heartier oatmeal, such as traditional rolled or steel-cut oats, you may want to increase the cooking time to 2½ to 3 minutes to make sure they are tender enough.

Stir the oatmeal thoroughly. Remove the bowl from the microwave. It’s hot, so be careful. Stir quickly and serve.

• Let the oatmeal cool for 1 or 2 minutes before eating.

Add your favorite flavor. At this point, you can add some healthy and delicious toppings, such as butter, honey, cream, fresh berries, dried fruits, or toasted nuts. Stir in as much of each ingredient as you like and enjoy!

• If using prepackaged instant oatmeal, give it a taste before adding anything. They usually already have add-ins like brown sugar, cinnamon, apples, etc., so control the amounts.

Cooking Rolled or Steel-Cut Oatmeal on the Stove

Fill a shallow pot with 240ml of water or milk. Use a standard measuring cup to accurately measure the required amount of liquid. Oatmeal soaked in water and simmered over slow heat will cook faster and be firmer. Oatmeal cooked with milk will be softer and smoother.

• Cooking works best in a smaller pot, such as a saucepan, as the oatmeal needs to be partially submerged in water to cook.
• Only steel-cut or rolled oats need to be cooked on the stove. Other oats are made specifically for microwave cooking, such as packaged instant oats and quick-cooking oats.

Bring water or milk to a light boil. Heat the pot over medium-high heat until it begins to bubble. This is the perfect temperature for simmering oatmeal. Be sure to boil the water or milk before adding the oatmeal to prevent it from absorbing too much water and becoming soggy.

• Using a combination of milk and water makes for a richer cereal without adding calories.
• Don’t boil the water or milk too hot or it will evaporate quickly and burn the cereal.

Add 45 mg of rolled oats and stir. Measure the rolled oats using a measuring spoon and dry measuring cup. 45 grams of oatmeal is a standard serving for one person. If you want to make more, just add 45g of rolled oats and 180 to 240ml of water or milk.

• Add a pinch of salt to jazz up the oatmeal.

Simmer the oatmeal until it reaches your desired consistency. While cooking, stir the oatmeal occasionally, but not all the time. There is no exact cooking time, it depends on the amount and type of oatmeal. Rather than keeping an eye on the clock, keep an eye on your cereal as it thickens.

• Traditional slow-cooked rolled oatmeal takes about 8 to 10 minutes to cook. Steel-cut oatmeal is harder and may take up to 20 minutes to soften.
• Over-stirring can break down the starches in oatmeal, causing them to become slimy and canceling out the natural flavor of the oats.

Turn off the heat and remove the pot from the stove. Once the oatmeal has reached your preferred texture, pour it into a deep bowl. Use a spoon or spatula to scrape along the sides of the pot so you don’t have to clean up as hard afterward. Make sure the bowl you use is large enough to hold the other ingredients you plan to add.

• The oatmeal will become a little thicker as it cools, so you might want to turn off the heat and remove the pot from the stove when it’s almost cooked.

Stir in other delicious additions. While the oatmeal is still hot, add a pat of butter, a spoonful of natural peanut butter, or a handful of raisins. If you like it sweet, sprinkle it with a little brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, or candied fruits. Oatmeal is so versatile, you can usually add anything to it and you can’t go wrong!

• Cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice work well to neutralize sweeter ingredients.
• Let the cereal cool down to a safe temperature before eating.

Make Oatmeal with Boiling Water

Bring a kettle of water to a boil. Fill the teapot with water, place it on the stove, and bring to a boil over high heat. You can also use an electric kettle. While the water is heating, you can continue preparing other breakfast items.

• This method also works well with packaged instant oatmeal, as well as slower-cooked rolled and steel-cut cereals.

Pour 45 grams of rolled oats into a bowl. 45 grams can make enough for one person. If you want to make more, measure out an additional 45 grams of oatmeal. For every 45 grams of oatmeal, add 120 to 240 ml of boiling water.

• Use a dry measuring cup to get a more precise ratio of oatmeal and water.
• Adding a pinch of salt to dry oatmeal can enhance the flavor.

Pour the boiling water over the oatmeal. After the water boils, turn off the heat and open the spout to release some steam. Stir in the oatmeal while pouring the water. To make softer oatmeal, add about 300ml of water. If you prefer thicker cereal, add 180 to 240 ml of water.

• Oatmeal will expand and thicken as it cooks, so it’s best to use a little more water than you think.

Wait for the oatmeal to cool before eating. After pouring in the boiling water, the oatmeal will be piping hot for the next few minutes. To avoid burning your mouth, wait until most of the steam is gone before eating. When you eat it later, you’ll be glad you did.

• Add a little cream or whey-free yogurt to cool down your freshly cooked oatmeal more quickly.

Add toppings of your choice. Sweeten a bowl of plain oatmeal with honey, brown sugar, or maple syrup. After that, top it with some banana slices, granola bars (break them up first), or semi-sweet chocolate chips. Finish with a dash of cinnamon sugar or apple pie spice.

• When you want something a little different, be bold and try adding some unusual toppings, such as dried cherries, pistachios, or shredded coconut.
• Try serving your oatmeal like an acai bowl and tossing it with an acai smoothie blend and other healthful ingredients like chia seeds, nut butter, and fresh fruit.

Prepare Overnight Oatmeal Using Rolled Oatmeal

Scoop 45 grams of rolled oats into a small container. It’s best to use glass jars so you can control portion sizes. If you don’t have a glass jar, any open, deep-bottomed container will work. After filling the oatmeal, shake it to make the surface even.

• Rolled oats are perfect for overnight oatmeal. Instant oatmeal becomes mushy quickly after adding water, while steel-cut oatmeal is not soft enough and is still dry and hard after adding water.
• If mornings are always hectic, pack your overnight cereal in a plastic container and take it with you while you’re on the go.

Add an equal amount of milk or a milk-free milk substitute. Pour in about 120ml of cold milk, you can also use almond milk, coconut milk, or soy milk. They will provide moisture to the cereal. The ratio of oatmeal to milk is about 1:1.

• It may take you a few tries to figure out the exact proportions. If the overnight oatmeal you make the first time is a little soggy, you can use less milk next time. If it’s too dry, just add a little more milk when eating.

Mix all the ingredients in the container evenly. Stir until the oatmeal has a consistent texture from top to bottom. Otherwise, you’ll just end up with dry oatmeal chunks that won’t arouse your appetite.

• You can also add other dry ingredients at this time, such as chia seeds, flax seeds, and seasoning powder.

Chill the oatmeal in the refrigerator overnight. Secure the lid and place the container on the middle shelf of the refrigerator. During this time, the oatmeal will slowly absorb the milk and become swollen and soft. It takes about 3 to 5 hours to eat. Oatmeal that has been aged for 7 to 8 hours has the smoothest texture.

• If the container you’re using doesn’t come with a lid, seal the opening with a piece of aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
• Refrigeration for more than 10 hours will turn the oatmeal into a soggy mush that cannot be eaten.

Add your favorite flavors and enjoy your cereal ice-cold. After you remove your cereal from the refrigerator, add delicious toppings like honey, whey-free yogurt, or chocolate hazelnut spread. Health-conscious people can add more nutritious toppings like fresh fruit and sugar-free nut butter.

• Use mashed bananas to sweeten your oatmeal instead of traditional sweeteners.
• Use your creativity! Oatmeal is very versatile and there are almost no restrictions on ingredients. You can combine several ingredients to create a variety of unique flavors.
• If you don’t like cold cereal, scoop out enough for one person and heat it in the microwave for a minute or two.

Tips

• When preparing oatmeal for the whole family, you can use several small bowls to hold the ingredients and let the family help themselves according to their personal preferences.
• For convenience, consider making a big pot of oatmeal ahead of time and keeping it in the refrigerator until you need it. Pour out the amount you need, add a tablespoon or two of water or milk, and heat in the microwave.
• Substitute almond milk, coconut milk, or soy milk for a more nutritious, lower-calorie breakfast.
• After cooking oatmeal on the stove, it is best to wash the pot immediately. Otherwise, after the remaining oatmeal dries, it will need to be soaked in water for a long time to clean up.
• Don’t leave a boiling pot or teapot alone. Not only is this likely to cause a fire, it may also burn the cereal.