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For years I hated oatmeal. I mean, I really hated it.
I thought it was bland and it tasted like wallpaper glue.
I absolutely refused to eat it as a teenager and when I was an adult and moved out on my own I wouldn’t even buy it. I knew it was a pretty healthy breakfast and it’s crazy cheap but I was NOT budging. Oatmeal was gross and that was the end of it.
About 5 years ago (when I was slightly more mature!) I decided that I needed to start trying more foods. I started trying new things as well as things that I didn’t like when I was a teenager with an open mind. Shockingly, I learned that there were lots of foods that I liked.
But I still wasn’t cooking oatmeal. I was sure that there was no possible way to make it edible, with the exception of oatmeal raisin cookies.
My husband loved oatmeal though and he would eat it all the time. Plus, it’s a pantry staple and it was a breakfast that would actually fill up my teenagers and their bottomless stomachs!
So, I went on an adventure to learn how to make oatmeal that I actually wanted to eat. And I actually found some tricks that not only made it edible, but actually made it taste really good!
Here are my top five tips to make oatmeal that you actually enjoy eating.
Don't overcook it!
When you overcook oatmeal it gets all gluey and sticky. Nobody wants sticky gluey oatmeal! It’s gross!
Old fashioned oatmeal only needs to boil for about 5 minutes and then sit (off the heat!) for a couple more minutes. It really just needs to get soft and hot all the way through.
If you want steel cut oats to get soft it takes about fifteen minutes of simmering. I like my steel cut oats to still have a bit of crunch so I usually only cook them for about five to ten minutes.
Also if you’re adding fruit to your oatmeal you can add it now too, it softens the fruit a little bit and helps the oatmeal to absorb the flavor.
Try steel cut oats
If you are anything like me, one of the biggest problems with oatmeal is the sticky gluey texture. If you can’t get past the texture, even when you don’t overcook them, then steel cut oats are the answer!
Seriously, this was the first thing that got me to start eating oatmeal. Steel cut oats have a really crunchy texture that keeps them from going mushy and sticky when you cook them.
I like to barely cook them and eat them with milk and raisins. They kind of remind me of Grape Nuts cold cereal when they’re prepared that way.
You can also cook them more and they still don’t tend to get as mushy and sticky as regular oatmeal. Or use them in overnight oats and they’ll stay a little bit firmer than regular oatmeal.
Add some flavor
When I was younger I always had oatmeal plain or with just a little bit of maple syrup. No wonder I hated it!
Oatmeal is super bland on its own but that also means it goes with lots of different flavors really well. I love to add a big handful of berries to my oatmeal with a little bit of milk and some fresh mint leaves. It’s absolutely amazing!
Also, don’t forget to add a little bit of salt to your oats. Even if you’re going to make it sweet, the salt will bring out the other flavors and make the oatmeal taste so much better.
Other yummy flavors combinations are-
- cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins and brown sugar
- raisins and brown sugar
- apple, brown sugar, and cinnamon
- peaches and cream
- strawberries, banana and peanuts
- dried apricots and ginger
- blueberries and peaches
Give overnight oats a try
This has the big benefit of being super-fast in the morning in addition to tasting amazing!
In case you’ve never heard of overnight oats, you basically put your oats, milk, and flavorings in a mason jar the night before. Then in the morning you have a super easy grab and go breakfast. Since the oats have been soaking up the flavors all night long they have so much more flavor than normal oatmeal.
Any of the flavors I listed before can be used for overnight oats, just mix them to taste with ½ cup steel cut or old fashioned oats and ½ cup milk in a jar and place in the fridge overnight. Steel cut oats will be crunchier the next morning than old fashioned oats.
In the morning you’ll have breakfast ready to grab and go!
Make granola
If all else fails turn old fashioned oats into granola and use it to top yogurt, use it in trail mix, or make granola bars with it.
Making homemade granola is really simple and you can adjust the flavor to your preference. I really like to make cinnamon and brown sugar granola and mix it with dried apples.
It’s really good on yogurt or as a snack by itself. Not to mention, it’s super portable. This makes it great to take hiking or camping, or even as a snack for kids when you have tons of errands after school.
Plus everybody likes granola, it’s pretty much required!
Since I started using these tips not only have I learned to tolerate oatmeal, but I’ve actually began to enjoy eating it. My favorite use of oatmeal will always be oatmeal raisin cookies, but oatmeal for breakfast is something I really like now and when I make it into homemade granola it’s absolutely amazing. I’m lucky if I get to eat any of the granola before my husband and the kids inhale it!
What are your favorite ways to eat oatmeal? Comment below and don’t forget to pin and share!
