23 Oatmeal Recipes Worth Waking Up For (2024)

FAQs

Can you make oatmeal ahead of time and reheat? ›

If preparing make-ahead oatmeal, place into individual containers and let cool completely before covering. Oatmeal will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat gently on the stove top with a little extra water or milk, or using preferred method.

Spices: cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, or nutmeg. Natural sweeteners: a dash of maple syrup or honey. Unsweetened or lightly sweetened chocolate: shaved dark chocolate (with a cocoa content of 70% or more) Nuts, seeds, and nut or seed butters: almonds, cashews, walnuts, peanuts, sunflower seeds, or chia seeds.

Drizzle date syrup, agave nectar, or buckwheat honey for a more nuanced sweetness than straight-up sugar. Cook oats with fresh fruit like blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries for added texture, flavor, and plenty of beautiful color.

You only need to let the oats soak and rest in the fridge for 2 hours. But, it's ideal if you soak it overnight…hence the name overnight oats! The next morning you have a ready-to-eat, delicious, creamy bowl or jar of “oatmeal.”

Overnight oats swell overnight, thus, turning them into a delicious breakfast. For the preparation, you mix oat flakes with water, milk or plant-based drink. Then put the mixture in the fridge overnight. There it has time to swell and develop its taste.

High-sugar toppings like chocolate, syrup, and dried fruit

As Best points out, "some of the worst ingredients that are mistakenly added to healthy overnight oat recipes include chocolate sauce, sugar, syrup, and dried fruit."

Yes, it is good to eat oatmeal every day considering its nutritional profile and health benefits, including weight control and heart-healthy effect. As a breakfast food and mid-meal snack, oatmeal is potentially a better option than the majority of foods available in the market.

Healthy Ways To Eat Oatmeal

If you start your day with a warm bowl of oatmeal, you can spruce it up with healthy add-ins. For example, you can season your oatmeal with a touch of maple syrup, along with anti-inflammatory cinnamon or ginger and fresh fruit.

Steel-cut oats, also called Irish oatmeal, are the whole oat kernel that has been cut into two or three pieces using steel disks. This type of oats contains the highest amount of fiber, as it is least processed. Steel-cut oats take a little longer to cook, and result in a creamy and chewy porridge.

Is it healthier to make oatmeal with milk or water? ›

Some people may prefer to cook oats with water, especially those who are lactose intolerant to avoid any digestive issues. For those who can consume dairy, using milk can enhance the overall flavor, protein content, and creaminess of an oatmeal bowl compared to using water.

The digestion of different grains and carbohydrates again takes longer than processing fruit and vegetables. Grains like brown rice, buckwheat and oats can take approximately an hour and a half to exit your stomach, whereas legumes like chickpeas, lentils, beans etc. take even more – around two hours.

Nuts and Seeds

Pistachios also contain tryptophan, an amino acid that is related to sleep quality. Tryptophan helps improve sleep by helping make melatonin and serotonin. Pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds also contain tryptophan. Sprinkling pumpkin seeds on your oats or yogurt give an added crunchy texture.

According to the American Kennel Club, you can typically feed dogs around one tablespoon (15 grams) of cooked oatmeal for every 20 pounds (9 kg) of body weight (16). Given its rich content of soluble fiber, oatmeal has also become an increasingly common ingredient in many types of commercial dog food ( 17 ).

But sometimes I just stick the whole pot in the fridge. That's okay too because you just made yourself a delicious whole grain breakfast you can adapt all week long. In the AMs, add a splash of water to the oatmeal and reheat on the stove or in the microwave. You're welcome.

Transfer to the fridge until fully cooled. Portion oats into the cups of a ½ cup Anytime Tray and cover with the lid. Freeze overnight, or at least 6 hours. To reheat from frozen: Place a frozen oatmeal portion into a Anyday Small Dish.

Cooked oats will last up between 3 to 5 days when stored in the fridge, whereas uncooked oats can last between 1 to 2 years if stored in a cool, dry place. On average, steel-cut oats have a longer shelf life than other types of oats, such as instant and rolled oats, and can last 2 years when correctly stored.

How to Store Oats So They Stay Fresh Longer. "A dark, cool, dry place like a pantry is probably the best place to store your oats, away from moisture and heat," says Taub-Dix. "You can store oats in their original closed containers or transfer them to airtight containers made of glass, ceramic or stainless steel."