Cooked oats, also called oatmeal, are perfect for making a delicious breakfast porridge or a healthy dessert. At home or in the office, you can cook a delicious, nutrient-rich oatmeal in no time. By cooking oats on the stove, in the microwave or in an electric rice cooker, you can find a simple method that suits your needs.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Prepare Oat Soup on the Fire
Step 1. Pour 1 cup (250ml) of water or milk into a medium sized saucepan and add a pinch of salt
Put the pot on the stove and set the heat to medium-high. Watch the pot while you wait for the liquid to come to a boil.
- Using 1 cup (250 ml) of liquid and ½ cup (45 g) of oats will allow you to make just one serving. If you have to cook for several people, increase the amount of liquid and oats accordingly.
- You can use whole, semi-skim, or skim milk. If you use milk with a higher percentage of fat, the soup will be creamier. If, on the other hand, you use plain water, the soup will be less rich.
- Exclude salt if you are on a low-sodium diet. This ingredient will not affect the cooking process.
Step 2. Once the liquid has come to a boil, add ½ cup (45g) of rolled oats and stir
Lower the heat to cook the soup over medium heat. Stir it constantly with a spoon to prevent lumps. As you stir, collect it from the bottom of the pot to prevent it from sticking.
Step 3. Cook the soup for 5 minutes or until it has a soft consistency
Stir it while cooking. After 5 minutes, take a small amount with the spoon and move it to a bowl. Blow on the soup for about 30 seconds to cool it and taste it. If it is cooked enough for your taste, then it is ready.
If it still feels tough, continue cooking it for another 2 to 3 minutes. Try it again. Continue to cook and taste it until you get a satisfactory degree of doneness
Step 4. Serve the oatmeal in a bowl
Move it into the bowl with the help of a ladle or spoon. Let it cool for about a minute. Gently stir it to help the steam escape and let it cool down first.
Eating it right away can burn your mouth. Try to hold back
Step 5. Add the garnishes of your choice to customize it
Try mixing it with berries, nuts, spices or honey to make it palatable. When eaten on its own, oatmeal is practically bland. By adding different toppings you can vary the dish day after day and try new flavors.
- Add different red fruits, such as dried strawberries, raspberries, and cranberries.
- Coconut flakes and chia seeds are perfect for adding a crunchy note.
Method 2 of 3: Prepare Oat Soup in the Microwave Oven
Step 1. In a microwave-safe bowl, mix the oats, water or milk and a pinch of salt
Use ½ cup (45 g) of oats, 1 cup (250 ml) of water or milk and a pinch of salt. Mix the ingredients for about 30 seconds. The oats should absorb the liquid and stop floating.
- Use whole milk for a richer soup. Try skim milk or water instead for a healthier alternative.
- If you are on a low-sodium diet, exclude salt. This will not affect the preparation of the soup.
Step 2. Microwave the soup on full power for 2.5 to 3 minutes
Watch it as it cooks to make sure it doesn't overflow. If it starts to simmer, pause the microwave. Stir the soup and continue to cook for the remaining time.
- Pause the oven and stir the soup only if it is about to overflow, otherwise you can simply cook it non-stop for as long as necessary.
- Cooking times may vary depending on the years and the power of the microwave.
Step 3. Remove the oatmeal from the oven
Put on a pair of gloves or use a tea towel to remove the hot bowl from the microwave. Stir it for about 30 seconds to cool it down and remove any lumps.
Step 4. Taste the soup
If you have a satisfactory result, add the toppings you want. If after tasting it still feels tough, put it back in the oven and cook it for another minute. Continue to taste it and cook it as needed until you reach the doneness you prefer.
If it is still not cooked completely even though it has absorbed all the liquid, add some milk or water. Stir it before putting it back in the microwave
Step 5. Always add different toppings to vary the dish
Enrich the flavor of oatmeal with dried fruit, granola, sweeteners, milk, or any other topping you want. Dried fruit is a long-life product that you can keep in your office desk drawer.
- Try garnishing the oatmeal with bananas, walnuts and maple syrup to recall the flavors of banana bread.
- Add apples and cinnamon to make fall-inspired oatmeal.
Method 3 of 3: Make Oat Soup with a Rice Cooker
Step 1. Combine oats, water or milk and a pinch of salt in a rice cooker
Calculate 1 cup (90 g) of oats, 400 ml of milk or water, and a pinch of salt per person. Quickly mix the ingredients with a spoon and put the lid on the pot.
If you need to cook for several people, change the recipe accordingly
Step 2. Turn on the pot
Press the power button and wait. The rice cookers adjust themselves and turn off automatically when cooked, when there is no more liquid left in the chamber. There is no need to remix, remove the lid or do anything else.
Rice cookers often emit hot steam, which can cause burns. At all costs, avoid putting your hands close to the vents during cooking
Step 3. Read the instruction manual to find out if the pot emits a warning sound or has a light that goes off when cooking is finished
Depending on the model, the pot will beep or turn off once it has finished cooking the oats. Remove the lid and stir the soup.
Cooking times vary depending on the model, but calculate more or less 10-15 minutes
Step 4. Serve a portion of oatmeal
Use a large spoon or ladle to move the soup into a bowl. Gently stir it for about a minute inside the bowl to help the steam escape and allow it to cool.
Try not to burn yourself. The oatmeal will be hot
Step 5. Garnish the oatmeal as you wish with fresh fruit, spices and dried fruit
Customize it with the toppings you like best. You can be inspired by the combinations of fresh and dried fruit usually used to make cakes and other desserts.
If you want to serve oatmeal as a dessert, add a handful of chocolate chips to make it more delicious
Advice
- The cooking instructions in this article are for classic rolled oats, which are whole flake.
- There are also instant-cooked rolled oats. Being smaller and thinner, they are designed for faster cooking. As the name suggests, this type of oat cooks earlier than the traditional one. The amount of liquid needed to prepare it is the same and it can usually be cooked in about a minute on the stove or in the microwave.
- Avoid cooking instant oatmeal in a rice cooker, as it may cause them to disintegrate.
- Coarsely crushed oat grains with steel machinery are characterized by a rubbery texture. It is necessary to cook them for about 25 minutes on the stove or in a rice cooker. This type of oat absorbs more liquid when cooking, so use 2 1/2 cups of water or milk (600 ml) per serving.
- Coarsely ground oat grains with steel machinery should not be cooked in the microwave, as they require longer cooking times.
- Cooked oats can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days using a container with a lid.
