The ratio of water to rolled oats to make oatmeal is always 2:1, so you can easily scale this recipe up to make more servings. For example, use 1 cup (90 g) of rolled oats and 2 cups (500 mL) of water to make 2 servings. A pinch of salt is about 1/8 tsp (0. 75 g) or a little less. The salt is optional, but it helps bring out the flavor of the oats when you cook them on the stovetop. You can substitute milk for some or all of the water to make your oatmeal creamier.
You can also add the oats to the water at the beginning and bring everything to a boil at once. It doesn’t really matter, but it might take a bit longer to boil initially.
You might have to play with the heat on your specific burner to get the oatmeal to simmer perfectly. If it’s not bubbling over low heat, try turning up the heat to medium-low or medium.
You could use this time to start preparing all your tasty toppings.
If you scaled the ratio of oats and water up to make more than 1 serving of oatmeal, divide it accordingly among several bowls. For instance, if you doubled the recipe, divide the oatmeal evenly between 2 bowls.
You can use milk instead of water or use a mixture of milk and water for creamier oatmeal. Make sure the bowl has a capacity of at least 2 cups (500 mL), so the oatmeal doesn’t spill over the rim when it bubbles up. You can scale up this recipe by keeping the ratio of oats to water the same. For example, you can use 1 cup (90 g) of rolled oats and 2 cups (500 mL) of water to make 2 servings. Just make sure you also scale up the bowl accordingly.
Always cook rolled oats uncovered in the microwave or you might end up with a mess in there.
Rolled oats shouldn’t ever require more than 3 minutes to fully cook and thicken in a microwave.
Microwaves have hot and cold spots, so this ensures that your bowl of oatmeal is evenly warm throughout.
Feel free to mix sweeteners if you want! For example, you could use 1⁄2 tsp (2. 5 mL) of maple syrup and 1/2 tsp (2. 29 g) of brown sugar for a delicious combo.
You can also substitute your favorite non-dairy milk, such as almond milk, if you don’t do dairy or prefer the taste of a milk alternative. If you’re on a diet, go for something like low-fat or nonfat milk.
You can combine this with a splash of cream and a sprinkle of sea salt for a nice savory bowl of oatmeal.
Get creative and experiment with combining different spices to create a unique blend that suits your tastes. You can also use store-bought warm spice blends, such as pumpkin spice.
You can also use dried fruits like raisins, cranberries, and dried apricots as toppings. It’s totally up to you and your personal preferences.
Try thinking about your favorite pastries or desserts and the flavor combinations they use to pair nuts with other ingredients. For example, pecans go very well with maple, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
If you’re using creamy peanut butter, you could add a small handful of roasted peanuts for some crunch. You could also use another nut butter like almond butter if you prefer.
You could also try stirring in a spoonful of cocoa powder to infuse your whole bowl of oatmeal with chocolatey flavor.
You can use flavored protein powder like chocolate or strawberry protein powder to add more flavor to your oatmeal as well.
