How to make the perfect stovetop oatmeal

Is there anything better than waking up and making yourself a delicious bowl of warm oatmeal? Probably not. Here’s how to make the perfect stovetop oatmeal every time!

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What are stovetop oats?

Stovetop oatmeal is just oatmeal that is cooked on the stove. I have always been a microwave oats type of girl. Microwave oatmeal is so appealing because of how quick and convenient it is to make.

That was until I tried stovetop oatmeal. I refuse to have oats any other way now! My stovetop oats are super creamy and delicious EVERY TIME! And the best part is, cooking oats on the stove doesn’t require much more time or effort than oats cooked in the microwave.

Is Oatmeal good for weight-loss?

Oats are among the healthiest sources of grains, and are packed full of nutrients. People always assume that oats are good for weight loss and can help them shed x amount of pounds. This isn’t necessarily true.

The reason oats are so good for those on a weight loss journey is not because they will magically make you shed 10 pounds in a week. It’s actually because oats contain a lot of fiber which helps you remain full for longer.

Oats are also fairly low in calories making them great for weight loss. I usually have around 50g of oats for breakfast which only contains 184 calories!

Tips on how to make the perfect stovetop oatmeal

Stovetop oats are actually superrrr easy to make. You could probably make the perfect stovetop oatmeal with just the ingredients list! But here are a few tips for making them perfect and creamy every single time.

• Instant oats for creamy oatmeal – If you want super creamy oatmeal, instant porridge oats are the way to go. Instant oats are finer and make for creamier oats!
• Use water instead of milk – I have always used milk for my oats but recently found water to actually make them creamier! I know this sounds strange but trust me. Plus, water has 0 calories – win win! I still like to add a dash of milk at the end though!
• Use boiled water that has slightly cooled. I know how easy it can be to just add the oats and cold water in a saucepan and heat. But trust me, boiling the water before adding to the oats and then SIMMERING is the way to go for ultra creamy oatmeal.
• Leave the sweetness for the toppings. I love love loveee my oatmeal sweet! I like to drizzle a little golden syrup over my oats instead of cooking them with sugar. If you’re not going to use any toppings, I would suggest mixing the sugar or syrup in AFTER the oatmeal has been cooked!

Ingredients

• 50g oats
• Dash of ground cinnamon
• 300ml boiled but slightly cooled water

If you’re not adding toppings:

If you don’t like adding toppings to your oatmeal, you can add a dash of sweetness.

• 50g oats
• Dash of ground cinnamon
• 300ml boiled but slightly cooled water
• 20g golden syrup

Chocolate oatmeal

• 50g oats
• 1 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
• Dash of ground cinnamon
• 300ml boiled but slightly cooled water

Instructions on how to make the perfect stovetop oatmeal

1. Boil water in a kettle and allow it to cool for a few minutes. Alternatively, you can bring the water to a boil in the saucepan then reduce the heat to a simmer.
2. Stir in the oats and ground cinnamon (also stir in the cocoa powder if making the chocolate oatmeal).
3. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Transfer the oatmeal to a bowl and add your toppings. For really creamy oatmeal, pour 100ml of milk over the hot oatmeal and let it soak!

* If you’re not adding toppings, stir in the golden syrup after the oatmeal is done cooking.

The best stovetop oatmeal toppings

My favorite part. I love experimenting with my oats and having different toppings and add-ins everyday. Here are a few of my favorite combinations.

Fruit

A classic oatmeal topping. I love adding fruit to my oatmeal. Especially in the spring/summertime (if I’m being honest though, I have it year round its so good).

Here are some of my favorite fruit combos:

• Berries + golden syrup
• Banana & strawberries
• Blueberries, yogurt & golden syrup

Peanut butter and chocolate

The ultimate combo! I love the peanut butter and chocolate combo in any and everything. I love to cook a tablespoon of cocoa powder into my oats and top with peanut butter and a sliced banana.

Here are the best ways to enjoy this combo:

• 1 dark chocolate square & 15g peanut butter
• Chocolate oatmeal & 15g peanut butter

Nuts & chocolate

A mix of nuts and a little chocolate taste absolutely delicious with oatmeal!

• Mixed nuts & 1 chocolate square

Caramelized banana

Whenever I have a little extra time, I love to make caramelized banana to add to my oats! It’s super easy to make and all you need is a little ground cinnamon and a banana.

• Caramelized banana & a chocolate square

How to make a caramelized banana:

1. Cut your banana down the middle (from the top to the bottom, not sideways).
2. Sprinkle the bananas with a little cinnamon.
3. Place the banana slices onto a non-stick pan and cook for 2-4 minutes before turning over and doing the same to the other side.

More oat recipes…

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