the quest for the perfect easy bowl of oatmeal

[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!

[mimitabby]

we use "original" quaker oats and they are always a big hit. we like to add dried fruit or fresh fruit and chopped nuts to it.

We add milk and brown sugar, DH must have cinnamon.

It never really seems to take that long to cook, while it's cooking I'm cleaning up other messes in the kitchen anyway.
Bmccasland, thanks for doing the experiment. Crock pot cooking of oats seems like way too much work for me!

[julesey]

I LOVE cream of wheats...I just make them in the microwave (or stove top if I have more time) add some raisins and honey and you're good to go. It's a nice change if you get sick of oatmeal.

[carpaltunnel]

I love steel cut oats too. I usually chop up an apple and throw it in at the halfway point with some cinnamon. Sometimes pecan pieces . I'm going to try dry rolled oats and yogurt, that sounds good. Sometimes I make granola with honey, just to get some oats into my husband, but it has so much fat and sugar.

[cylegoddess]

This is called 'horse chow'but tastes great!
add to DRY oatmeal
raisins, currants, dates etc
lemon juice
pinch of sea salt

Eat like that!
Also good with OJ poured on it.

[equus123]

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.

Yours isn't warm...mine isn't oatmeal....

But I really love Grape Nuts in Dannon Low Fat Vanilla Yogurt - delish!!

[shootingstar]

In last 2 years, I restarted having abit of microwaved oatmeal (about less than 1 c.) for brekkie with abit of skim milk. Real fruit..whatever we have in fridge on hand. Blueberries or raspberries only when in season and cheap. No sugar nor raisins necessary for my oatmeal bowl.

It has to be microwave, I'm jumping onto the bike for work commute, just before 5:30 am to start work..after dragging outta bed at 4:30 am.

Before oatmeal now...last time I had oatmeal..was when I was 19. I had it often as kid and teenager. It was made in a big pot over stove, for 6 children ..and lots of milk added to it. But no sugar nor spices. Probably a good thing.

I used think of oatmeal..as ugh. But now, a great quick breakfast start for early/lazy birds...

[letsride89]

1/4 old fashion oats
3 packets splenda
1/4 cup sugar free syrup
1/2 banana
walnuts

eat up my friends, eat up.