Cooking oatmeal is a great way to start your day on a healthy note. Oatmeal provides energy without causing blood sugar spikes and is a fantastic source of fiber and protein. It’s also easy to customize your oatmeal by adding in fruits, nuts, seeds, and spices to create a delicious and nutritious breakfast. With so many options for customization, oatmeal is a versatile ingredient that can be used in everything from desserts to snacks. So why not give it a try and cook up some oatmeal today?
Best Oats for Oatmeal
When it comes to choosing the best oats for oatmeal, there are a few options to consider. Here are some of the most popular types of oats and their unique characteristics:
Rolled Oats: Rolled oats are whole oats that have been steamed and flattened into flakes. They have a chewy texture and take longer to cook than quick oats, but they are more nutritious and have a fuller flavor.
Quick Oats: Quick oats are rolled oats that have been cut into smaller pieces for faster cooking. They are convenient for busy mornings, but they may have a softer texture than rolled oats.
Steel-Cut Oats: Steel-cut oats are whole oats that have been chopped into small pieces. They have a nutty flavor and a chewy texture, but they take longer to cook than rolled oats or quick oats.
Ultimately, the best oats for oatmeal will depend on your personal preference and cooking style. Experiment with different types of oats to find the one that suits your taste and schedule.
How to cook quick oats?
The oats to water ratio is 1:2 for both rolled and quick oats. A typical serving size is 1 cup of water, milk, or a mix of both with 1/2 cup of oats. For the optimum consistency, you can mix half a cup of water and half a cup of milk.
- Add water to a pot and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Reduce heat to low, add oats and simmer until liquid is absorbed.
- Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes.
- Fluff with a fork and serve.
How to cook rolled oats?
- Soak oats overnight in water.
- Drain water and rinse thoroughly.
- Add 1 cup of water to a saucepan and bring to boil.
- Once boiling, add oats and stir constantly until they have cooked through (about 5 minutes).
- Remove from heat and let sit for 10-15 minutes before serving.
How to cook steel-cut oats?
- In a large pot, bring 3-4 cups of water or a mix of water to a boil.
- Slowly stir in 1 cup of steel-cut oats and a pinch of salt. Reduce the heat to a low simmer.
- Simmer the oats, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Cook until the oats have absorbed most of the liquid and reached your desired consistency. If you like creamier oats, you can add more liquid during cooking.
- Remove the pot from the heat, and let the oats sit for a few minutes to thicken.
FAQ
Dry fruits, fresh fruits or freeze-dried fruits. Sparkle with cinnamon, brown sugar, honey, maple or agave syrup. Also can add peanut butter, nuts or yogurt.
For non-sweet oatmeal you can add about a teaspoon of butter and a bit of salt.
Cooking oatmeal with water is the best way to go. Oats have been shown to be high in fiber and protein. Water helps make them easier to digest and less likely to cause stomach upset. Milk adds fat and some vitamins and minerals, but these are easily absorbed without the addition of milk. If you want to add milk to your oatmeal, use skim milk instead of whole milk. Skim milk contains fewer calories than whole milk and still provides the same nutrition. For the dairy-free version you can use almond, coconut or other types of vegan milk.
Raw oats can be eaten as long as they are soaked in water for at least six hours before eating, which helps with digestion of the food.