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:
Hey Katie,
Thanks for that oatmeal trick, I used it yesterday and had wonderfully voluminous oatmeal for breakfast.
Ivy,
Aww you’re so welcome!! 🙂
can i make this without a microwave?
rebecca,
Sure! I’d probably add even more liquid, though. If you do try it, let me know how it goes! 🙂
I love your concept of the voluminous oatmeal! I’ve also heard to double to cooking liquid and double the cooking time. Have you tried this?
I haven’t. I’m always up for trying new ideas, though. I guess my “voluminous oat” idea is 1/2 of that equation, since it’s double the recipe. And then it cooks even after you take it out if you leave it overnight. It’s my go-to recipe for all oatmeal lately: cook the oats with double the water, then leave in fridge overnight, then add whatever you want :).
I love your idea of voluminous oats. I’ve tried it before, but it has always been watery (as you said). I love your suggestion to put it in the refridgerator over night. I must try it out.
Thanks for all of your inspiring recipes!
Ooh…i’m excited to try this method…I usually soak my oatmeal overnight, without precooking it…they turn out pretty good…but this version sounds even more luscious. thanks!
Ooh let me know what you think if you try it, Lauren :).
Thanks Katie! I’m just curious – what brand of oats do you use?
I just had a grainy oatmeal-“like” breakfast and your post was a good reminder to try it differently next time. Even though it wasn’t technically oatmeal, I still totally felt like it wasn’t enough while eating it. It went by way too fast, as does my regular oatmeal. I love oatmeal and I will definitely try this next time, hell maybe tonight for tomorrow, live dangerously eh?
By the way, you’re always an inspiration for any chocolate on the agenda, and this morning was no different – I used leftover raw cacao nibs from my “Organic Superfood Mix” (way too expensive, so this was a treat) in my grainy concoction.
I cooked my nine-grain hot cereal in almond milk and put a few bits of raw cacao in it while cooking, then transferred it to the magic bullet and added a few more bits of cacao, a couple goji berries, a little chunky peanut butter, a few frozen strawberries, a tablespoon of toasted wheat germ, and a quarter cup more almond milk, then I blended. Then I added more cacao bits and berries for texture. It was delish but still too grainy as I was trying to blend it enough to smooth out the grainy texture without turning it to liquid (which I’ve done). I thought of you because I realized I could’ve blended it longer last night and put it in the fridge overnight for a puddingish texture, but laziness got the better of me. I was still hungry when finished so I ate the rest of the cacao nibs in the bags, raw and naked, perhaps as they should’ve been eaten from the get-go. 😉
My favorite are the Old Wessex Irish organic oats. They come in a green container. But the other day I ran out, and I was forced to use Quaker… I actually liked them too :). The OW are still my #1, but at least I know I can survive (happily) on Quaker if need be.
Happy Saturday, Jenn!
Thanks!! I’ll check out Old Wessex when I run out of my grainy stuff and my Quaker packets. LOL, “Old Wessex” = OW. that doesn’t seem fair, ha.
Question – do you cook it again in the morning to make it hot?
Ooh good question! I should edit that in my post, huh? lol I just never thought about it, because I like cold oatmeal! But yes, if you want it hot, you can still re-heat the next day. Re-heat it just until it gets hot, no longer, and the volume will stay 🙂 .
I’ve read about this trick on so many other blogger’s pages. You have started quite a trend, Ms. Katie. 🙂
I’ve been reading more about this, and your step-by-step is so simple I really need to give it a try!
Hi Katie,
I clicked on the Kozyshack-Style Oatmeal Pudding link, and it directed me to this. Do you not have that recipe up anymore? If not, do you think you could maybe email it to me? 🙂
Oo sorry about that, Bryana! I need to remember to fix the link now that I changed that post.
Here’s the recipe: https://lett-trim.today/2009/08/27/tofu-in-oatmeal/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Yay!! Thank you so much. 🙂
Love the trick and here’s another: a serving of oats is 1/2 c not 1/3 c (at a mere 150 calories that aint too shabby) which in and of itself would add more volume. The types of oatmeal look so delicious must try the blueberry muffin one. I like to cook my oats with 1/2 a banana and eat the other half with almost butter while oats are cooking ; ) then top with crunchy cereal. Oatmeal is so yummy!
I usually make oatmeal another way and I always get a huge bowl of oatmeal!
I use 1/4 Cup of oats, 1/2 cup of almondmilk or oat milk and 1/2 cup of water. I put this in a small pot and immediately add 2 Tbsp Chiaseeds, 1/2 Cup frozen blueberries and 1 banana (sliced). Then I turn the heat up quite high and wait (stirring) until it has a lovely texture. It does only take a maximum of 8 minutes and it turns out fabulously! I sometimes sweeten it with maple sirup if I am in the mood for something really sweet 🙂
[sorry for any mistakes, I’m not a native speaker]
Mm thanks for a yummy-sounding idea, Clara! I’m always trying to find a way in which I’ll like chia seeds, because they’re so healthy!
This sounds fantanstic, who wouldn’t love a bigger bowl of oats:) I like banana in my oats, would you recommend cooking it in with the oats the night before or in the morning when you reheat it?
I think either way would work just as well. Personally, I do it the night before, but that’s just because I like my oats cold in the morning, so I don’t reheat them. I’m weird ;).
Oops didn’t mean to be anonymous:) Thanks, plan on trying it out tonight. And cold oats are totally yummy, not weird at all.
That is an awesome trick. I have never heard of doing that before but guess what?! I am doing it for my breakfast tomorrow 🙂
Good luck hehe :).
trying this tonight for the first time! so excited!
I just tried this and it’s still in the fridge, but it’s working!!!! I’m so excited! I love oatmeal, but the portion is too small and I am watching my weight. 1/3 cup is even less than I normally eat:)