The Best Way to Make Oatmeal

The best way to make oatmeal! All about different types of oats, their abundance of health benefits, and my favorite super simple way to prepare them.

Why you should eat oatmeal

If you’ve been around here for a bit, it’s no secret that I LOVE oats.

Not only are they incredibly nutritious, they’re super versatile and taste amazing. You’ve got so many options when it comes to preparation methods, toppings, and even types of oats!

When it comes to a whole food plant-based diet, oats are a staple that I recommend to all my clients. They’re a great way to jump start the day on a tasty, satiating, nutritious note.

Oats have so many health benefits, but here are just a few:

• they’re a gluten free whole grain
• they have a type of fiber called beta-glucan, shown to aid in lowering cholesterol and blood sugar control
• oats are a great source of many vitamins and minerals, especially manganese and thiamin
• oats are also the only source of the antioxidant group avenanthramides, which can help lower blood pressure
• due to their soluble fiber, oats are extremely satiating, meaning you’ll feel full and satisfied after eating. This means oats can help with easy weight loss and healthy weight maintenance

Different types of oats

There are many types of oats, but the most popular are steel cut, rolled oats, and quick-cooking oats.

• Steel cut oats: steel cut oats are the least processed variety, roughly chopped with steel blades. As a result, they take much longer to cook than the other types. They have a more coarse, chewy texture and more nutty flavor compared to other oats.
• Rolled oats: rolled oats (sometimes called old fashioned oats) are oats that have been steamed and flattened after being cut. They cook much more quickly than steel cut, and the texture is softer.
• Quick-cooking oats: quick-cooking oats are rolled oats that are flattened even thinner, so that they cook very fast. This results in a much softer, sometimes mushy texture after cooking.

I personally love the rolled oats, but go with whatever type you like and will enjoy eating the most!

Different cooking methods

When it comes to prepping and cooking oatmeal, you’ve got lots of options. Here are a few of the most common:

• Stovetop: involves adding liquid (like water or nondairy milk) to oats in a saucepan and cooking until thick. I don’t love this method because I prefer my oats room temperature, and the texture is a little too mushy for me. But if you love really warm, soft oats, this may be the way to go for you!
• Microwave: similar the stovetop method, just adding the liquid + oats to a bowl and cooking in the microwave rather than in a pot. Again, I’m not a huge fan of this because I don’t like my oatmeal super hot. Also, the texture can get weirdly mushy/gummy after microwaving.
• Baked: usually involves mixing oats, liquid, and potentially a few other ingredients for flavoring, then baking in the oven. I love this method for when I’m feeling like changing it up, or want to make a larger batch to have in the fridge ready to go during the week, like these banana blueberry coconut baked oats or caramel apple baked oatmeal. But, you can also bake a single serve portion, like in this recipe for peanut butter banana baked oatmeal, or pineapple banana baked oatmeal.
• Overnight: this method only requires adding the oats and some liquid to a bowl, then setting in the fridge for a few hours, or overnight, to thicken. I love overnight oats for the creamy, rich texture, and they’re great for busy mornings. A few of my favorites for this method are chocolate protein zucchini overnight oats, and cookie dough overnight oats!
• Soaked: hands down, my favorite of all the different methods! This simply involves pouring super hot water (heated in the microwave) over oats in a bowl, setting a plate on top, and letting them soak for at least an hour. This results in the oats taking on an amazing thick, fluffy, soft texture. I love that there’s no real cooking necessary (fewer dishes is always a win), and the texture is seriously so good.

My favorite way to make oatmeal

Now that we’ve gone over why you should definitely include oats in your daily diet, I want to share my favorite super simple oatmeal recipe! I use this 2 ingredient recipe every single morning, and I can change it up depending on the season with whatever extra flavors and toppings I’m feeling.

It’s as simple as mixing the oats and ground flaxseed in a bowl, heating up some water in the microwave until it’s bubbling, and pouring it over the oats. Cover that with a plate, set it aside for at least an hour, mix it up, and top away.

My personal favorite toppings are some sort of fruit, usually thawed frozen berries (but banana is amazing, too!). Then I typically do some sort of sauce, usually with peanut butter powder + a bit of nondairy milk that I drizzle on top. SO GOOD.

I seriously look forward to my bowl of oatmeal every morning, and I genuinely believe this is the BEST way to make oatmeal. I hope you guys try it out if you haven’t used this method already!