Since the beginning of time (blog), I have been making the perfect bowl of oatmeal. Here are some tips on how to make creamy oatmeal that’s neither sticky nor dry.
Nobody likes sticky oatmeal
Back when I was eating oatmeal all the time, I’d bring it up in conversation and people would say “ewwww oatmeal.” Their associations were usually cooking rolled oats added to boiling water that were sticky, watery and/or dry. “It’s not that!” I would say. My whipped oat recipe is anything but sticky or dry. Don’t let a packet of instant oatmeal made with lukewarm water in a hotel trick you into eating!
I’ve always made oatmeal with milk, slowly heating it while gently stirring over medium heat, and with very thinly sliced super ripe bananas mixed in. Bananas are not only for taste but also for texture. In fact, when I was taking my dietetics course, I did a research project to show the effects that milk, bananas, and stirring had on the final consistency of the bowl of oats. (Spoiler alert: all three make it creamier!)
How to make oatmeal creamy
What Type of Oats Are Best for Creamy Oatmeal?
I’m partial to old-fashioned rolled oats because of their balance of cooking time and texture, so they produce a very creamy bowl of oatmeal! Steel rolled oats are also great for this, but because they take longer to cook, I don’t tend to choose them as often.
What type of liquid is best for creamy oatmeal?
I’ve always used a combination of half milk and half water which I’ve found to be the perfect blend of flavor and creaminess, but of course whole milk works too. Try not to use just water unless you have to – the flavor is so mild! You can use a dairy-free milk like coconut milk, soy milk, oat milk (!) or almond milk, but I usually use full-fat dairy milk to maintain its protein and fat content.
What temperature is ideal for cooking oats?
I always used medium heat so as not to burn the milk! I also want the oats to be able to release their starches slowly without boiling too wet, which results in a drier product. I tend to just turn off the heat before the oats reach the desired consistency because they will continue to thicken a bit as they cool in the bowl.
What can I add to oatmeal for a sweet taste?
I’m partial to the thinly sliced ripe bananas in the above recipe! Bananas have the ability to emulsify things (ie smoothies) unlike any other fruit. This dramatically affects the creaminess of the final product. They also sweeten the oatmeal naturally and offer a great taste! Check out this post on Healthy Ways to Sweeten Oatmeal for more flavor ideas, including cinnamon, vanilla extract, brown sugar, dried fruit, maple syrup, coconut milk, and one of my favorite toppings, peanut butter.
Can you make creamed oats in bulk?
YES! You can make a big batch of oatmeal to reheat on busy mornings. Your oatmeal will cool in one big piece. When you’re ready to reheat it, the key is to add some milk to rehydrate it and reheat it in the microwave or on the stove. The more you stir while reheating, the creamier they will become.
My favorite oat toppings
- Granola
- Nut butter
- Fresh fruits
- Dried fruit
- Coconut flakes
- Chia seeds
- Cereal
- Pancake
- PB&J
- Broke anything
- Anything crunchy
My favorite oatmeal ingredients
- Banana slices (for the batter!)
- Chia seeds for thickness
- Pumpkin
- cottage cheese
- Greek yogurt
- Fruit of all kinds (dried like raisins or fresh like chopped pear)
- Pinch of salt (always!)
What is the healthiest type of oatmeal?
This is a trick question! All types of oats are still just oats and all have the same nutritional profile. The difference is in their surface area and their light processing, such as steaming, so they cook faster. I prefer old fashioned rolled oats for the cross between texture and quick cooking time. All different varieties of oats have the same nutritional value, but the surface area and cooking time differ.
- Steel oats: These are whole oats that have only been cut. They have a longer cooking time of around 20 minutes because they have the least surface area exposed to the liquid and heat and therefore take longer to break down. I’ve made steel rolled oats in my rice cooker and crockpot for a hands-free approach! Check out this recipe for Instant Pot Chai Spiced Oats.
- Old oat roll: These oats have been cut flat for more surface area and cook faster!
- Quick oats or instant oats: These stinks have been cut, rolled, and steamed, which precooks them. Instant oats get a bad rap because they often come in single-serve packets that come with lots of sugar, but they’re not bad on their own! Look for low or no sugar options.
More oatmeal variations:
This creamy oatmeal recipe combines rolled oats, milk, and banana. The banana infuses the bowl with natural sweetness and makes the oats incredibly creamy! This recipe makes one serving, but you can easily double or triple and reheat throughout the week! Once done, add some milk.
Components
- mature
Instructions
Step 1: Combine oats and liquid in a saucepan
Start by combining oats, water and milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Let it warm up.
Step 2: Cut the banana into thin slices
Cut a banana into very thin pieces, leaving only a few larger pieces.
Step 3: When the oats are steaming, start stirring
Once it starts steaming or bubbling, stir vigorously from time to time to “beat” the banana into the oats. The oats will take about 5 minutes over medium heat from start to finish to fully absorb the liquid. They are done when they reach the desired consistency!
Step 4: Pour in the vanilla and any other mix-ins
Pour in the vanilla (and often pumpkin or cottage cheese) and pour into your bowl.
Step 5: Add toppings
Add as many toppings as you like, such as almond or peanut butter dollops, nuts, granola, coconut, crushed granola bars, or a mix – with dark chocolate chips! Or see all the combinations listed below.
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Brooch
Oatmeal Whipped Cream
The whisking method produces a really creamy bowl of oatmeal. Bananas basically disappear, so there are no chunks. Since banana is a type of emulsifier, this method suspends the oats into a thick, creamy consistency, and the whole bowl is sweeter because the sweetness of the banana permeates throughout.
Components
- 1/3 cup old fashioned oats
- 1/3 cup milk of your choice
- 2/3 cup water I like my oats a little runny – reduce to 1/2 cup if not
- 1/2 banana very thin slices
- 1/2 Ms chia seeds
- Pinch kosher salt
- 1 ch vanilla extract mixed in at the end
Instructions
Start by combining oats, water and milk in a saucepan over medium heat.
Cut a banana into very thin pieces, leaving only a few larger pieces.
Step away for a few minutes while the oatmeal heats up.
Once it starts steaming or bubbling, stir vigorously from time to time to “beat” the banana into the oats. The oats will take about 5 minutes over medium heat from start to finish to fully absorb the liquid. They are done when they reach the desired consistency!
Pour in the vanilla (and often pumpkin or cottage cheese) and pour into your bowl.
Add any toppings you like, such as almond or peanut butter dollops, nuts, granola, coconut, crushed granola bars, or a mix – with dark chocolate chips! Or check all the combinations listed below.
