a question for the oatmeal gurus...

i'm ready to graduate from the instant oatmeal packets.  i love the convenience, but they're too sweet (even though i buy the reduced sugar variety), and i'm aready adding chopped nuts, flax, etc, so the time and effort investment is already getting up there.  i also don't like all the additional packaging.

i can get quick oats and regular oats, as well as all kinds of other grains and stuff, in bulk.  but here's my question: if i pick the right ingredients, can i still get away with just boiling the kettle?  what doesn't have to be "cooked"? 

if i have to dirty a pot to cook a cup of cereal in the morning, i won't do it. 

since i don't do any of the quick or rolled oats I can't help you with speedy cooking, but here's what i do with my steel cut oats.

i cook a weeks worth on Sunday evening. it microwaves very well. very tasty!

I microwave mine right in the bowl.  That may not be the best way, but I'm like you - I don't want to dirty a pot every morning.  The kettle is an interesting idea... I might try that.

Hey now that is something I've never thought of.  I mean -- I always cook my oats in a pot but after it begins to boil I turn it off and let it sit covered for 5 minutes.  I wonder if it would work to just add boiling water to oats in a bowl and cover and let it sit the same way.  Maybe pre-warm the bowl with hot water to keep the temp up.

I'll try it tomorrow and see.  Would be great to not have to wash the pot every day.  Btw, I like the regular oats the best.   I agree about the instant oats being too sweet.

I don't know about just boiling the kettle but, if you have a microwave, you don't need a pot.  Just put oats and water in a relatively large bowl (since it tends to bubble up) and microwave for 90 seconds.  I find it's a good idea to stir after 1 minute, but my mum doesn't so that may be microwave-dependent (mine's powerful, and the stirring midway through prevents boiling over).  Use quick oats if you want smoother oatmeal; use regular oats if you want a little more texture in your oatmeal.  I use 1/3 cup oats with 3/4 cup water, but I know the standard around here is 1/2 cup oats with 1 cup water.

thanks, everyone!

guess i will have to experiment.

my neighbourhood grocery store doesn't have steel-cut oats (yet?).  i'd love to try them....

pg, just be careful with the microwave. my steel cut oats boil over and create a big mess. I guess you just need to put your oats in a large bowl. like susiecue said, it is a good idea to stir after 1 minute.

If you use plain rolled oats, you don't even need to cook them. Sometimes, I take 1/2 cup rolled oats + 1 cup soy milk (+ 1 tbsp each dried cranberries and sunflower seeds) and leave it in the fridge overnight. It's ready to eat in the morning, cold or warm. I usually add flax & maybe some nuts or additional fruit.

Otherwise, a bag of rolled oats should have microwave directions on the bag.

Hi.

I use generic brand quick/1 minute oats, that I buy in bulk. I just add boiling water, steer and let it seat for a few minutes. It cooks it just fine, while I am getting ready to leave. I tried microwave thing, but it alters the texture, and not for the better in my opinion.

UD

I cooked 8 servings of oat groats one evening, adding raisins, walnuts, and cinnamon in the last 15 minutes of cooking (takes about an hour) and then put individual servings in plastic wrap and froze them ( I had seen frozen oatmeal in the grocery, so figured I could do it myself).  in the morning, I take out a serving and put it on a plate/bowl, and microwave until hot.  No extra dishes but once a week.

Original Post by safina1:

pg, just be careful with the microwave. my steel cut oats boil over and create a big mess. I guess you just need to put your oats in a large bowl. like susiecue said, it is a good idea to stir after 1 minute.

I reduce the power when I nuke steel cut oats. Generally to 30-40% of max and it runs for 12 minutes w/o boiling over

i do traditional oats, not steel cut.  i like my oats to soak up a lot of liquid so they get fairly soft & creamy.  i don't like chewy oats.  YMMV. 

1) 1/2 cup oats in a bowl that's 3 times bigger than my pile of oats.  add enough liquid (almond breeze) to cover oats. 

2) nuke for 1 minute.  let sit in microwave for a few minutes. 

3) add enough liquid to cover & stir.  nuke for 1 minute.  let sit in microwave for a few of minutes.

4) add whatever i'm going to add (usually brown sugar, butter, almonds & raisins).  nuke for 1 minute.  remove & add a wee bit more liquid if necessary.

I guess I'm old school when it comes to oats.  I buy rolled oats that I cook for ten minutes in a pan over radiant heat.  I put water, oats, salt, and raisins in all at once and bring to a boils, then reduce heat and cover simmering for ten or more minutes.  Then I remove the pan from the heat and let it stand for about five minutes.  Then I add maple syrup and milk.  I eat it from the pan so I don't have to get a bowl dirty.

1/4 cup regular oatmeal, 1 sweet and low packet. pour on plenty of boiling water, pop in microwave for 45 seconds.

Perfectly fine, does not boil over.  If you add fruit such as raisins, they plump up real nice.

Alternate option (works just as well) soak whole deal overnight in water/ milk. put in micro for 1 minute.

Original Post by glos2lv:

1/4 cup regular oatmeal, 1 sweet and low packet. pour on plenty of boiling water, pop in microwave for 45 seconds.

 this seems like a method i can live with.  thanks, glos!

Original Post by pgeorgian:

Original Post by glos2lv:

1/4 cup regular oatmeal, 1 sweet and low packet. pour on plenty of boiling water, pop in microwave for 45 seconds.

 this seems like a method i can live with.  thanks, glos!

 You don't even need to add boiling water. Just add half a cup of regular oats to a bowl, pour on a cup of water, and microwave until it's reached your desired consistency. Usually that's about 90 or 120 seconds.

I usually cook oats in the microwave for about 3-4 minutes when I'm making them as a snack. Sometimes though, when I have oats for breakfast, I will soak them overnight in about 1/3-1/2 cup of liquid, add a bit extra liquid or stir-ins like canned pumpkin, dried fruit, or mashed banana in the AM and reheat for about a minute or so (and then I add nuts/ground flax/PB etc). Overnight oats. All the health benefits of stove-top, all the convenience of instant. Its a win-win situation really. And I think soaking overnight actually kinda gives the oats a more hearty texture as opposed to just straight microwaving. Perhaps because they don't need to be cooked as long?

I've seen Alton Brown make regular oats using his coffee pot (Mr. Coffee style).  He just puts the oats in the carafe and adds the appropriate amound of water, and as he says "walk away, just walk away".  I haven't tried it yet.  Something to think about though.   When I make my oats, I cook them and eat them right out of the pan.  No extra dish, just the sauce pan.

Try 1/2c quick oats in a BIG bowl with one cup (or more, depending on how you like your oatmeal, thick or thin) water and microwave for 1:45-2 min. Stir in your favorite fixings. The oatmeal gets sooo big and filling! Also, my favorite thing to do is microwave it for about 1:15min, chop up an apple and add it in, then microwave again the rest of the 30 seconds. The apples get a little squishy and warm :] Try with a little almond milk, splenda, and cinnamon mixed in! the best!!

Original Post by sjrluv11:

Try 1/2c quick oats in a BIG bowl with one cup (or more, depending on how you like your oatmeal, thick or thin) water and microwave for 1:45-2 min. Stir in your favorite fixings. The oatmeal gets sooo big and filling! Also, my favorite thing to do is microwave it for about 1:15min, chop up an apple and add it in, then microwave again the rest of the 30 seconds. The apples get a little squishy and warm :] Try with a little almond milk, splenda, and cinnamon mixed in! the best!!

Oooh, that apple idea sounds fantastic.  I may try that tomorrow. 

My method of choice is to take 1/2 cup Old Fashioned Oats and 3Tbsp dry milk powder to work in a small container, then add water from the drinking fountain and microwave until it gets nice and thick.  Boiling over can be a problem if it is not watched closely.

I do my rolled oats in the microwave too.  1/3 cup oats and about 7 oz. of water.  4 minutes or so on 70% power... it all depends.  I also do them the night before just putting in a bowl overnight with some skim milk.  They are soft in the a.m. -- very energy efficient.

Definitely time to give up the packets!  And I think it's worth it to go for the rolled oats.  They seem to be thicker cut than the quick cut, and have more density.  Steel cut are good and they can be done in the micro too I believe.  

What's really yum is to chop up an apple or a pear, throw it in a bowl with some oats and a bit of water, then microwave.  The juice from the fruit sweetens the oats.  Edit: oh I see someone already mentioned this :)