Do you ever wish for an overflowing oatmeal bowl?
As opposed to the measly amount you get from one serving of oats? If you answered “yes” to the above, then the Voluminous Oatmeal Trick is for you!
*Ends sales pitch*
What is the Voluminous Oatmeal Trick?
The idea is to add more than the recommended liquid to the oats, prior to cooking. Then you can either microwave or cook on the stovetop, but stop before all the water is absorbed. Come back the next day (or a few hours later), and all the liquid has been absorbed, leaving you with pillow-soft oats that are double the size of regular oats!
Step One: Measure out one serving of dry oats (40g). I also add 1/4 tsp salt.
Step Two: Add a little over 1 1/2 cups liquid (I add 400g).
Step Three: Microwave or cook on the stove, but stop before all the water is absorbed. (I microwave for 4 1/2 minutes, then leave in the closed microwave for 5 more minutes. You might have to watch if for the last minute, and stop and start the microwave, so it doesn’t spill over. It depends on your microwave’s wattage.)
Step Four: Put in the fridge, uncovered. When you return the next day (or a few hours later), the watery mess above will have magically turned into 2 cups-worth of pillowy, voluminous oats! Now, I am strange and like my oatmeal cold (like pudding!). But if you want it hot, you can still re-heat the next day. Re-heat it just until it gets hot, and the volume will stay. Troubleshooting Note: Microwave wattages vary, and therefore if your oats haven’t thickened up by the next day it probably means you need to cook them longer next time.
Try this trick on any of the following:
This is amazing! Thank you!!!! Do you have a recommendation to make this in bulk (like in a crock pot)? I tried & failed miserably.
Making one portion at a time isn’t too much trouble but I prefer to bulk cook for the week.
Sorry, I haven’t ever tried.
Hey Katie,
Ive tried this trick many times and I love it! I also love putting banana in my oatmeal so when I make oatmeal the regular way I smash up the bananas and put them in during the cooking process. So today I did that with this but using this trick and when I went to put it in my fridge I realized that when I put banana in my fridge it makes the fridge smell and everything in it taste like banana ( I am in college so I have a mini-fridge so thats why it does this to the fridge) What would happen if I covered the oatmeal? I don’t have to make everything in my fridge have that banana taste.
Another way to make creamier, puffier, oatmeal is to cook it is an electric steamer (like a rice cooker). It is now my favorite way to cook my oatmeal. 1/2 cup oatmeal to 1 cup of water and 30 minutes in the steamer. I own a 2 tier steamer so I can use the bowl that came with it or my own bowl. I set it before leaving for my workout and it is ready when I come home. I use different add ins depending on my mood that day. Add ins that I have used are 1 TBSP brown sugar or 1 serving size container Greek yogurt (plain or with fruit) or coconut oil. When I want crunch I had a 1/2 serving of granola on top. Sometimes I had in a 1/3 cup of raisins or craisins with the dry oatmeal and it steams right along. No adjustment on the water is necessary.
Hi ! I looooove this trick, I use it all the time now!
I’ve been using plain, dry Quaker oats from the big cylinder. I’m wondering if this trick would work for the instant oatmeal packs as well? My thought is no, since those cook in about 1-2 minutes, but maybe with the excess water it would be okay? Perhaps there’s a similar tweak to get your instant oatmeal packs to expand a similar way??
Thanks!
I love this trick! So much oatmeal!
I tried this for the first time yesterday and I loved it so much I’m making it again for tomorrow! 🙂 I used your cinnamon raisin recipe, and added a little maple syrup! Soooo good and perfect for a humid summer day!!
Hi Katie! What happens if you cook your oatmeal for too long? Would the water evaporate too quickly and not turn voluminous?
I’ve used this trick the past three mornings and LOVE it!! I’ve been making (and loving) overnight oats (with raw oats and Greek yogurt) for years, but this takes it to a whole new level! What I’ve always liked about overnight oats is the pudding-like consistency — this just doubles that! 🙂 Now, I add in my Greek yogurt to this voluminous mix right before eating and it makes it nice and creamy. So far, I’ve done cherry-chocolate-almond, peanut butter-banana, and apple-cinnamon-peanut butter. Thanks, Katie!
This question is for “Chocolate Covered Katie”,
What is your wattage for your Microwave to cook this recipe?
“Step Three: Microwave or cook on the stove, but stop before all the water is absorbed. (I microwave for 4 1/2 minutes, then leave in the closed microwave for 5 more minutes. You might have to watch if for the last minute, and stop and start the microwave, so it doesn’t spill over. It depends on your microwave’s wattage.)”?
I do the same thing all the time, completely by accident, but much more rapidly. Add extra water, and microwave until the edges start to bubble up, stir, microwave again until bubbling, repeat until it’s as thick as you like. Usually takes about 6 minutes, including stir time