I like to microwave oats for a quick meal, but I used to get so frustrated when my microwave made my oats overflow like a Year 3 science experiment. Then I discovered a life-changing way to prevent a mushy mess in the microwave: All I had to do was switch the power setting.
Image by thebittenword.com
Whether you’re using whole rolled or instant oats, simply input your normal cooking time (plus a little extra) and lower your power settings to low or 50 per cent power before hitting go. Some microwaves may need to go even lower still. It’s so painfully simple, yet makes you feel like you’ve just discovered sliced bread, especially if you eat oats as often as I do.
Sure, you can also make oats on the stove or even prepare it overnight to avoid this problem altogether, but some mornings it’s a matter of convenience (and I admit, laziness). I’m happy to report that since I’ve started doing this, I haven’t had an exploding oats mishap since. (Steel cut oats, on the other hand, probably need to be cooked the old-fashioned way.)
No oats left behind, I always say.
Comments
4 responses to “An Easy Way To Make Oats In The Microwave Without It Exploding”
Agree with reduced power. We run at 600w. BUT, more importantly, you must use a bowl with high sides for cooking. Ours has sides that are more than 5x the depth of porridge and water before cooking. As the porridge cooks, you can see the rolling boil rising up almost to the top of the bowl.
The porridge comes out perfectly. I/2 level cup of rolled oats, 350ml water, pinch of salt, 600w, 7 minutes, perfect!
I’ve been eating Oats for breakfast for years now and I always use the microwave. The trick I’ve found for fast, convenient creamy and tasty Oats is full cream milk. I use chopped Oats and you can get them cheap pretty much anywhere. The one thing most people might have an issue with is that I use about a cupful, where most people like less, Oats are quite filling. Add a pinch of salt measure out enough full cream milk to just cover the Oats and microwave on high for 90 seconds. Next mix them thoroughly until it’s all blended in and then back in the Microwave for anther 90 seconds. Then add a bit of milk and sugar to taste, I find a teaspoon is fine, mix and add milk untill it’s at a texture you prefer. Thick creamy oats in less than five minutes, you can’t beat it.
Or you could just use a bigger bowl.
A friend puts his on 15% power or something then goes to have a shower and get ready for work. I think he cooks them for 20 minutes or so. Claims they come out creamier for being cooked for longer at a lower temperature than boiling.