Whenever we want to eat breakfast, the first our minds go to is oatmeal. This is a meal that is well-loved by people thanks to its versatility and enormous nutritious value. The process of cooking oatmeal may be the major reason that may stop you from eating it for breakfast severally within a week.
What if you cook surplus or ahead of time so that you can store and reheat later? Now, you want to ask how possible that is, right? Yes, oatmeal can be reheated and the two recommended methods are by using a microwave or a stovetop. The texture you want to achieve determines the type of method you are going to use. The best method to use is the stove if you want to be picky because using a microwave may turn the oatmeal to goo.
You are advised to continue reading this article to find out how best you can reheat your oatmeal.
Reheating Oatmeal: Is It a Good Idea?
Many people use oatmeal for breakfast and though it might be unappealing or too simple to some people, if you add the right supplements like syrups, fruits, and nuts, it becomes something to really crave for. What about making oatmeal ahead of time or if you made excess when making it?
Depending on your oats type, cooking oatmeal could take about 25 minutes and it is not everyone that has that time to do that every morning. However, you can prepare your oatmeal once and reheat it as you need in the days to come. You will not spend too much time reheating and you will still get your filling and nutritious meal.
As long as you didn’t leave your oatmeal out warm overnight, you can safely reheat it. People have the misconception that dishes that do not have animal products in them will likely not go bad and then people leave their warm oatmeal dish on their counter overnight with the belief that it will not get spoilt. It is not wise to leave your cooked oatmeal dish out overnight because the oats contain bacteria, they will grow on the meal overnight and then result in you having some health problems. Also note that once a dry product such as oats comes in contact with water, you have to be attentive to where to store it.
The Best Way to Reheat Oatmeal
It is quite easy to reheat your oatmeal, it is even easier than when you cook it after just working out or as you feel sleepy. You can reheat your pre-cooked oatmeal using two methods:
The Microwave Method
Using the microwave method is very easy and it is good for those people that are rushing, you will reheat your cooked oatmeal within two minutes. What you should do when you want to reheat your oatmeal in your microwave is to put the oatmeal inside a microwavable bowl, pour a bit of water to it, or use milk and then cover your bowl. Allow it to microwave for a minimum of 45 seconds before you check to stir and continue to heat it for some more seconds. Repeat the process until the temperature is satisfactory to you. If you want the porridge to heat faster, mush your oatmeal to the container’s sides so that it can be evenly heated.
The Stove Method
The thing you need when you want to reheat your oatmeal on a stove is to put it inside your pot and allow it to simmer for about 10 minutes. The heat should be on low or medium so that the porridge can warm up evenly. To get the texture back, add a bit of water or milk to get a creamier texture.
How to Prepare and Store Oatmeal for the Week
You will need up to 45 minutes to prepare the oatmeal you will use for the weeks and you can get your delicious meal for a few days ready without much problem.
To start with, take two-and-a-half cups of your oats and add five cups of water before you allow it to boil. Remember to put a bit of salt. Allow the oatmeal to become cook once it is ready and then you can divide the meal into several portions as you need. Store your oatmeal in Mason jars or containers. You will get amazed when you want to prepare your breakfast by how fast it can be. What you should do is for you to put the daily portion you want to eat on your saucepan to reheat or in a microwave.
Peradventure, you wouldn’t like to eat oatmeal severally for days, check below for how you can prepare it differently every day thanks to the versatility:
- Add dried or fresh fruits, seeds, raisins, or nuts to the oatmeal to get a classic genre.
- Mix in spices like cinnamon to get some breakfast that is spicy and sweet.
- Top the oatmeal off with brown sugar. You should also use your kitchen torch for a crispy layer on the porridge.
- To get protein, put fried eggs on your oatmeal.
When you store precooked oatmeal in your fridge, your preparation time for breakfast will be cut by half and it will give you the luxury of diverse options. You can also use them for lunch as well as for dinner.
Related Questions
Can You Freeze Oatmeal?
You may love to freeze your food so that they will not spoil, you can also freeze your oatmeal dish if you want to. Your oatmeal dish can stay fresh inside your freezer for about three to six months and the method of freezing can be used for both the instant oatmeal and the steel-cut oats. Ensure that the plastic bag or container that you use to store your oatmeal is airtight or tightly sealed irrespective of whether you use a plastic bag or an air-tight container, this will help you keep your oatmeal fresh once you reheat. When you want to warm up your frozen oatmeal, place your oatmeal inside the microwave for two minutes or more until you are satisfied with the temperature of the food and always remember to add a spritz of milk or water as needed.
How Long Can You Keep Oatmeal in the Fridge?
Oatmeal can be kept inside the refrigerator for about six days and this makes it perfect to make ahead of time for you to eat daily in a week. Ensure you store your oatmeal in an air-tight container or in a plastic bag that is well sealed if you want to properly store the precooked oatmeal nicely inside the fridge.
Does Oatmeal Change Texture When Reheated?
The texture of oatmeal changes and it also becomes thicker as it cools after it has been cooked. Oatmeal will absorb more liquid the longer it is kept inside the fridge this is the reason we recommend that you should add milk or water when you want to reheat it so that you will get a creamy and smooth texture of oatmeal.
Can You Reheat Baked Oatmeal?
Eating baked oatmeal can become your favorite dish if you love to have a warm casserole as your breakfast. You can also make it ahead of time and reheat it later if you are also the busy type who rarely has time to make breakfast in the morning. You can warm your baked oatmeal inside the microwave. Irrespective of if you make your baked oatmeal with water or milk, you should keep it in the fridge covered with a plastic wrap or foil. Keeping it in cold storage will extend the shelf life of the baked oatmeal. If you want to store it inside the freezer, you will find it convenient to divide the baked oatmeal into squares and then store it in portions.
Can You Make Oatmeal in Advance?
Yes, you can make oatmeal ahead of time if you are usually busy in the morning that you rarely get the time to prepare your breakfast, you should consider cooking yourself some oatmeal ahead of time. The porridge can be made five days ahead of time whether you will like it old-fashioned or you want it to be the quick-cooking type. Prepare it by following the instructions and allow it to cool before you divide it into portions as you desire. If you will need to use a portion the next day, select the one you need, if you prefer the quick-cooking type, do it by mixing the quantity of liquid that was suggested and allow it to stay inside the fridge overnight
All the liquid will be soaked up by the oats and you will only need some minutes to complete the cooking process in the morning. You can microwave it to boiling for two to three minutes and you can also use the stovetop method. Always remember to stir the oatmeal and add a little bit of liquid as needed. You can eat the meal with some fruits such as a favorite syrup.
