How to Make the Best Oatmeal You’ve Ever Had
I’m going to take you step by step through the process of making the best bowl of oatmeal you’ve ever eaten. I just ate one and man, was it good. Honestly, there’s nothing revolutionary here, but it’s made my life better and so I want to share it with you.
First, let me share my perspective with you: I like oatmeal plain. I don’t put anything on it. No sugar, no fruit, no nothing. I don’t know if they still sell Grape Nuts, but I used to eat those plain with just milk as well. (Another thing that is better without anything added is peanut butter, by the way. I used to think I hated peanut butter, because it would induce a gag reflex, and then I learned about natural peanut butter without salt or sugar added. Turns out that stuff is great. But I digress.)
The key to the whole thing is Trader Joe’s Unsweetened Almond Beverage, and steel cut oats. (Don’t be thrown by the “beverage” name; they likely call it “almond beverage” instead of “almond milk” to avoid lawsuits from dairy producers, like this one.) Another brand of almond milk could work, I guess, but a) it has to be unsweetened, and b) I really like the vanilla flavor they add to this mil–to this beverage. I think it adds 90% of the value to the end product. So I really recommend trying it. The steel cut oats are key to texture; if you want a bowl of mush, heat up your instant oatmeal and skip this post.
So here’s the blow by blow. You take a giant saucepan and fill it with three cups of water and three cups of the unsweetened vanilla almond milk. Add two pinches of kosher salt. Don’t skip this part. (It adds to the flavor and as long as it’s just a couple of small pinches it does not make the final result salty.) Bring it to a boil and add two cups of steel cut oats. At this point I reduce the heat to medium while keeping everything on a strong boil, stirring quite a bit for five minutes. Then you can reduce heat to low and simmer for about another thirty minutes. You’ll have to stay on hand and give everything a good stir every few minutes.
That’s pretty much it, but now you have eight servings, roughly. What do you do? Roughly divide it into eight equal parts — I find that about 1/2 cup of tightly packed oatmeal, not heaping but rounded, is about an eighth of the whole. You’re going to eat one serving now — maybe two, to reward yourself. Then pack up the rest, ideally in seven (or six, if you ate two servings today) separate containers. This is your breakfast for the next week. It’s breakfast time? You grab your individual container of oatmeal heaven and reheat.
Now: the reheating. On Day Two, you dump your brick of oatmeal into a bowl. Give it a splash of the beverage (or half and half if you like) and heat in the microwave for thirty seconds. Take your spoon and chop up the brick and fluff it up some. Then give it another splash or two of your beverage and nuke it for another minute and a half to minute and 45 seconds. You’ll find the sweet spot for amount of splash and nuking time after a few tries. Stir and fluff and you’re done.
The result? An incredibly aromatic blend of vanilla/almond flavored oatmeal that has a slightly chewy texture. To me, it’s hearty, and very satisfying.
I will warn you: to my family, who see oatmeal as a blank canvas for their fruits and sugars and whatnot, the process described above is not worth the trouble. They don’t see what the big deal is. To me, a pure oatmeal lover, it’s the best oatmeal I have ever had.
If you try it, let me know how it turned out.
This stuff is fun to make and fun to eat.
Patterico (115b1f) — 4/11/2020 @ 10:25 amI’m with your family. By itself, it’s simply a globby, unattractive canvas crying out to be festooned with fruit and seeds and honey.
Dana (0feb77) — 4/11/2020 @ 10:34 amThat’s because you’ve never had the good stuff.
That said, I like the taste all by itself, even the globby stuff.
Patterico (115b1f) — 4/11/2020 @ 10:36 amI love plain oatmeal and eat it several times a week. I will definitely try this, as soon as I can buy the almond beverage. Buying things in my town isn’t easy right now, especially if you only use delivery/curbside as we do.
DRJ (15874d) — 4/11/2020 @ 10:46 amI thought for sure you were going to say “bacon”, because everything tastes better with bacon.
Paul Montagu (f57f23) — 4/11/2020 @ 10:47 amWhen I am old, and losing my teeth,
nk (1d9030) — 4/11/2020 @ 10:50 amMaybe just some years from now,
I’ll come back to this recipe,
When I tire of trahana, fava, pligouri, and bread soaked in milk.
Absolutely agree, pure oatmeal is heaven.
I’ll never be able to make it as well as mom did tho.
Yep, gotta stir it plus let it cook if you use real (non-instant) oats, and a pinch of salt is a must – it’s totally different without it.
That’s it.
Maple sugar on Sundays and sourdough toast if you want a feast.
When I was a kid I liked a spoon of heavy whipping cream on top like Gramps did but haven’t done that in years.
But I still put half & half on my cereal instead of milk, habit I picked up from my rancher neighbors.
Peanut butter? Laura Scudder’s All Natural Nutty plus Knott’s blackberry preserves on wheat bread.
On the other end of the breakfast flavor spectrum is the Dutch Baby. If you’ve never had one you’re in for a treat:
https://www.southernliving.com/recipes/dutch-baby-pancake
harkin (b64479) — 4/11/2020 @ 10:51 am_
That’s just too much trouble for oatmeal. The Steel cut is better than any other kind but spending 30 minutes cooking oatmeal…well, i just don’t like oatmeal that much. My favorite is just Old fashioned Quaker oats, with some warm milk, some walnuts and a few raisins. Or just put 1/3 cup raw oatmeal in some yogurt, let it sit overnight, and then eat with some walnuts.
Grapenuts used to be favorite as a kid, but then I poured a ton of sugar in the bowl.
rcocean (1a839e) — 4/11/2020 @ 11:04 amI am a steel cut oatmeal fan. I will try your recipe as soon as my current supply runs out. You might consider adding a sliced Medjool date before eating. The dates are available at Trader Joes.
Stu707 (52fdfe) — 4/11/2020 @ 12:03 pmThe thing is, the trouble you go through is a) fun and b) only once a week.
Patterico (115b1f) — 4/11/2020 @ 12:06 pmI’ll give this a try. I have the steel cut oats. I have unsweetened almond milk but it’s plain not vanilla. I could add a drop or two of vanilla extract. I might add in some chopped walnuts and or pecans. Raisins too.
Mattsky (55d339) — 4/11/2020 @ 2:27 pmOn second thoughts, I’ll give it a try. Can you cut the recipe in half and eat it for 4 day?
rcocean (1a839e) — 4/11/2020 @ 3:10 pmNo one loves oatmeal as much as the Scottish B & B owners. Everywhere one goes the quality of oatmeal is the gold standard. Some of the places had 3-4 selections of oatmeal. Loved it.
mg (8cbc69) — 4/11/2020 @ 3:45 pmTou have it absolutely correct! Steel-cut Scottish oatmeal is all the proof one needs to understand how simple things can be excellent. Good oatmeal is fine without the frippery of nut milk and vanilla, although salt (sea salt or kosher salt) is required. If you want to get fancy, sprinkle on a bit of ground cinnamon when you serve it. It tastes every bit as good when cooled as it does when it comes out of the pot.
A short glass of Fuller, Smith and Turner’s Winter Ale goes perfectly with the oatmeal.
Add Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” and you have the perfect breakfast for Reformation Sunday.
John B Boddie (678895) — 4/11/2020 @ 4:23 pmMy condolences for your friend, Kevin.
nk (1d9030) — 4/11/2020 @ 4:31 pmAbsolutely. 1 1/2 cups water, 1 1/2 cups almond milk, one pinch of salt, 1 cup oats. Same cooking time.
Patterico (115b1f) — 4/11/2020 @ 4:42 pmMore of a purist than I am! I like it.
Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it though.
Patterico (115b1f) — 4/11/2020 @ 4:43 pmI thought I had steel cut oats. I have rolled oats. Is that an oatmeal fopaux?
Mattsky (55d339) — 4/11/2020 @ 4:55 pmHere you go, Mattsky.
felipe (023cc9) — 4/11/2020 @ 5:11 pmThanks Felipe.
Mattsky (55d339) — 4/11/2020 @ 5:24 pmFor extra work, you can make your own almond beverage. For less work, you can cook oatmeal in your pressure cooker.
TDM (7c513e) — 4/11/2020 @ 5:55 pmI don’t know about all that stuff felipe just linked. All’s I know is that I think you can microwave the rolled oats straightaway but with the steel cut you go through the stove process. It’s the only way. And the result is, with rolled oats you get a glob (a tasty glob, OK, but still a glob) whereas with the steel cut stuff you get the tasty and chewy almost crunchy texture that makes the stove process worth it once a week.
Patterico (115b1f) — 4/11/2020 @ 9:36 pmI guess you could grow your own oats too. There are limits to my patience and willingness to work.
Patterico (115b1f) — 4/11/2020 @ 9:38 pmI’m telling you guys you have to try this.
Someone mentioned bacon. I got into this habit of having bacon for breakfast. You know, avoiding the carbs and all that. Good stuff, but I have become skeptical. I know plenty of healthy older people who eat oatmeal regularly and I guess I want to be like them, especially given how yummy oatmeal is, especially this stuff.
Patterico (115b1f) — 4/11/2020 @ 9:40 pmThe best way to eat oatmeal is to make it into muesli. Add whatever nuts and seeds and dried fruits you have, and unsweetened coconut. If you have some granola on hand, toss a little in for more crunch & sweetness. I eat it dry, in smallish amounts.
Peanut butter: I grew up on Adams brand. Now I buy the unsalted crunchy, and sometimes add a bit of salt when I’m stirring the oil on. I alternate with Trader Joe’s unsalted crunchy Valencia for a different flavor/texture profile. If it’s got any ingredients besides peanuts, forget it.
Radegunda (39c35f) — 4/11/2020 @ 10:04 pmI think some people have a taste for oatmeal and some don’t. Some studies suggest food preferences may even be genetic.
DRJ (15874d) — 4/11/2020 @ 10:21 pmAdded bonus: oatmeal is good for heart health and can help lower LDL (bad cholesterol). But it still needs a little fruit and seeds to make it yummy.
Dana (0feb77) — 4/11/2020 @ 10:49 pmTeddie Peanut Butter is all natural and the best I’ve had.They have been around since 1925.
mg (8cbc69) — 4/12/2020 @ 4:05 amSince the shutdown I have noticed a woman sitting on my couch. Apparently she is my wife. She seems nice and eats oatmeal every day.
I do not but have been working on tuna salad. Don’t seem to have it perfected yet. Open to suggestions. Thus far it involves:
Several cans of tuna
Chopped hard boiled egg
Chopped celery
Chopped dill pickle
Mayonnaise
Seasonings: fresh ground pepper, salt, pinch celery salt, onion powder, garlic powder, Coleman’s mustard powder. A dash of fresh lemon juice
Still it is not quite right.
Needs more kick I think.
Echo (e92c55) — 4/12/2020 @ 8:49 amfresh herbs and smoked jalapeño will give it a boost
mg (8cbc69) — 4/12/2020 @ 9:02 amJust made the oatmeal with Silk almond and cashew milk. Pretty darn good. I like it a little less chewey.
mg (8cbc69) — 4/12/2020 @ 9:04 am“Smoked jalapeño”
Agree – Tuna salad has to have a chopped hot pepper or it’s just not right. Not enough to make it hot, just enough to give a hint of a kick.
We use the Golden State brand small yellow peppers, most Mexican mercados carry them. We’ve also used hot wax peppers.
harkin (b64479) — 4/12/2020 @ 9:14 amIt turned out pretty good. Thanks for sharing Pat.
Mattsky (55d339) — 4/12/2020 @ 9:52 amAs for tuna salad. My old college favorite was:
1 Can Albacore Tuna
Celery
2 Tablespoons miracle Whip
Dijon mustard
Onion (Green or Yellow)
AND…
1/2 bag Lays Potato chips and 1 ice-cold Pepsi for desert.
rcocean (1a839e) — 4/12/2020 @ 6:36 pmThese days I skip the lays Potato chips and the Pepsi.
rcocean (1a839e) — 4/12/2020 @ 6:37 pmNot a fan of almond drink, but I’ll give this a shot when I’m done with my keto program. Needed to drop some unwanted pounds picked up over the winter.
NJRob (4d595c) — 4/12/2020 @ 7:05 pm