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The 3 Easiest Ways to Make Hearty, Healthy Oatmeal in a Flash

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Porridge, rolled oats, oatmeal — whatever you call this traditional breakfast dish, the fact still stands: it is extremely healthy, delicious, and comforting (particularly on cold and dreary mornings).

Oatmeal has been around for millennia, and there are so many different versions enjoyed all around the world. There are two types of oats you’ll find most frequently in stores: traditional rolled oats (best cooked on the stove) and quick oats (best cooked in the microwave). Both options are low-GI and highly nutritious.

How to Make Oatmeal on the Stove

Ingredients

  • 1 cup traditional rolled oats
  • ½ cup milk, plus extra to serve
  • Honey or brown sugar, to serve
  • Pinch of sea salt

Instructions

  1. For an extra creamy oatmeal, soak oats in 1 cup water overnight. Combine soaked oats and 1 cup water, or dry oats and 2 cups water, in a small, heavy-based saucepan.
  2. Add a good pinch of sea salt and stir continuously over medium heat until mixture boils, then simmer, stirring, for 3-5 minutes or until thick.
  3. Add milk and stir until heated through. Divide oatmeal among bowls. Top with honey or sugar and serve with extra milk on the side. Serves 2.

2. How to Make Oatmeal in the Microwave

Quick oats are the best for the microwave as they cook quickly and evenly, and don’t need to be constantly stirred. Nutritionally speaking, quick oats are exactly the same as regular oats except that they have been cut into thinner, smaller pieces that heat up quickly in the microwave.

Just be sure to buy a brand that doesn’t contain any additives such as skim milk powder or sweeteners. If the ingredient list says 100 percent oats, you’re good to go. The only real difference you’ll notice is texture, as microwave oatmeal is usually smoother than a traditional bowl of stove-cooked oatmeal.

To make a single-serve of oatmeal in the microwave using quick oats, combine 1/2 cup of quick oats and 1 cup of water in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 90 seconds. If you prefer a creamier consistency, replace the cup of water with a cup of milk.

3. How to Make Overnight Oats

Overnight oats are great for those who are time-poor in the morning. It might seem a little extreme to prepare your breakfast the night before, but once you realize how quick and easy it is, you’ll never go back to leaving the house on an empty stomach.

Simply place a cup of traditional oats into a bowl, and add enough milk to just cover the oats. Cover and place in the fridge. In the morning, all you need to do is add your topping of choice and head out the door.

This article originally appeared on our sister site, Homes to Love.

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