the quest for the perfect easy bowl of oatmeal

[bmccasland]

Not too long ago was a thread about cooking oatmeal. Me, being a biologist and all, had to contuct a scientific experiment.... This was in the name of science afterall.
The oats - steel cut, what else?
Methods of cooking: traditional simmer on the stove, crockpot (and I have to get those liners for my non-removal crock), and boil/let sit.

Simmer on the stove - you have to stir it, otherwise it burns which is Not Good. Stir - labor intensive. Low simmer and ignore - burned.

Crock pot - follow the recipe, add dried fruit to satisfaction, cook on low overnight. Result: creamy oats, really soft fruit. I happen to like the nutty texture of steel oats, and this did get somewhat creamy. But not like rolled oats. If you're cooking for a family - this would be my method of choice. Hot oats for all in the morning, little fuss.

Bring to boil, cover, and let sit overnight. I really like this one. Of course the oats are cold in the morning, so you have to portion out and reheat in the microwave. I put in dried fruit when I brought the whole thing to a boil, and the fruit didn't get real soft. Also the pot is easier to clean than if I did the simmer and stir method.

Preferred method after this highly scientific experiment: bring to boil, cover, and sit overnight.

Bonne Appetite!

[Dianyla]

There's yet another option to try. I've done this when camping.

Soak steel-cut oats overnight in water, then cook in the morning.

[hellosunshine]

ashamed to say i microwave.time is money when youre self employed!

[bcipam]

Funny Oatmeal story...

A number of years ago I was on a Backroads Camping trip. 6 days riding through Oregon. On the 5th day, after sleeping 6 nights on the ground, I was in a mood. Tired, sore and just down right grumpy.

The offering that morning was oatmeal. Just not my favorite and worse yet, no milk, or sugar to make it better. They offered some raisins thats it. UGH.

All the way back to the picnic bench I was grumbling about this stupid bowl of oatmeal. As I was sitting down on the bench, between two other cyclists, the 3 people on the other side got up, as I sat, the bench started to tip over. The people on either side of me were able to bail. Being in the middle and holding a bowl of oatmeal, I could not. The table continued over sideways, the bowl ended up flying up in the air and as I landed on my back with a big "THUMP" the oatmeal came down and landed right in my crotch! I'm sure it was a pretty site to behold. The other riders got quite a laugh. Ha Ha on me.

Anyway that was an omen for the day. That was my last pair of clean shorts and I had to wash them out and wear them wet to start the ride (the day started out 40 degrees BTW). Within an hour of starting I got a flat and had difficulty patching the tube (I was out of spares), and later that day, in a race to catch up to the other riders, I had an encounter with some railroad tracks and had a serious accident... so as you can see...

I don't do OATMEAL!

[margo49]

Soak overnight in cold water
Then simmer a minute or two
Never microwave - it desroys something I am sure
And most important - salt not sugar (Scottish background)

[spokewench]

I have German Mennonite background and we never added sugar either (I still dont)

[MomOnBike]

My oatmeal recipie is as easy as I can make it for my really-stupid-in-the-mornings self.

Pour boiling water over thick oats and nuke 'til done. (The water is left over from making tea)

Brown sugar and 1/2 tsp butter are all that is needed, though a few pecan bits are always nice.

[Rai Sue]

I'm curious. I've always gotten rolled oats (right now I actually prefer the Bob's Red Mill 5 grain rolled hot cereal), and they cook a lot faster and are (to me) a nicer texture.

Recently my mother (I'm temporarily back living w/my parents) switched to my kind from steel-cut, because hers took 40 minutes to cook! Also, the steel cut ones were not optimal for baking with, we sadly discovered a loaf of persimmon bread later.

So, why are steel cut preferred? Is it just tradition?

[spokewench]

I like them cause they have a little more flavor (nuttier) and they are not so mushy!

[SouthernBelle]

I'm curious. I've always gotten rolled oats (right now I actually prefer the Bob's Red Mill 5 grain rolled hot cereal), and they cook a lot faster and are (to me) a nicer texture.

Recently my mother (I'm temporarily back living w/my parents) switched to my kind from steel-cut, because hers took 40 minutes to cook! Also, the steel cut ones were not optimal for baking with, we sadly discovered a loaf of persimmon bread later.

So, why are steel cut preferred? Is it just tradition?

Steel cut oats are less refined. Generally speaking, the longer the cooking time, the less refined. Less refined means more fiber in the case of oats. So steel-cut=best, rolled=good, instant=don't bother.

HTH,

[Rai Sue]

Thanks for explaining.

i gotta admit I like the rolled style better, though. And convenience wins out for camping and bike-touring--I think I will probably settle for instant when cooking outdoors.

My favorite additions? Butter (salty) and dried cranberries (sweet and tart!)

RS

[Aint Doody]

Easiest--uncooked with walnuts and blueberries (fresh or frozen) and fat-free vanilla yogurt. Sticks with you, but it's not exactly a warm breakfast.

[Geonz]

What does steel cut mean, anyway? Or Rolled? (and does that mean instant has been put through my lawn mower and mulched?)

[Dianyla]

What does steel cut mean, anyway? Or Rolled? (and does that mean instant has been put through my lawn mower and mulched?)

Steel cut oats have been chopped coarsely with a metal blade. When you look at them, you can see the little oat grains whacked into bits.

Rolled oats have been flattened, as if by a steamroller or like a penny put on a railroad track.

Now, I'm not totally sure about instant. I think it means pulverized + high fructose corn syrup.

[equus123]

I'm just a big fan of the Quick 1-minute Quaker Oats 1/2 cup + 3/4 cup Skim Plus milk on the stove. I like to just heat the milk up quickly - as soon as its about to foam over the top of the pot, dump the oats in and cook it for a minute. When its done and I put it in a bowl, I just cover the top of the oatmeal with honey.

As for the cleanup - when I'm done eating, enough time should have passed for the pot to cool. I put the pot, spoon, and bowl into the sink and soak it in soapy water until I come home from work. By the time it soaks - everything comes off instantly!