Old-Fashioned Oatmeal (no more gummy oatmeal, ever again)

Here’s the thing about oatmeal: You’re doing it wrong.

I was doing it wrong too for a while, just merrily following the instructions on the package (after all, they make it, they must know what they’re talking about). The finished result of my oatmeal was pretty much one large ball of snot, which isn’t a very appetizing breakfast.

My Dad taught me how to make good old-fashioned oatmeal the right way. It’s supposed to be pretty dry, not at all snotty. A perfect oatmeal flakes apart slightly in your bowl. You can still pick out individual oats, and there’s a nice texture that contrasts with the creaminess of the milk (or, well, the cream. My Dad prefers it with straight cream). Most of all, when making perfect oatmeal you should never, ever stir it.

Not sure if oats are gluten-free? Check out this article on gluten-free oats and where to buy. 

Old-Fashioned Oatmeal

 

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Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

10 mins

Total time

15 mins

 

Here's the thing about oatmeal: You might be doing it wrong. This is my Dad's recipe for making oatmeal right. The resulting oatmeal is flaky, not too wet, textured, and not at all gummy.

Author: Linnaea

Recipe type: Breakfast

Cuisine: Oatmeal

Serves: 2 servings

Ingredients

• 1½ cups water
• 1 cup of gluten free old fashioned whole rolled oats (do NOT use quick-cooking oats)
• For topping: cinnamon, raisins, brown sugar/coconut sugar, nuts, a drizzle of blackstrap molasses.
• Milk or cream

Instructions

1. Bring the water to a boil in a small saucepan on high heat.
2. Pour the oats in. Here you might have to add more oats depending upon how much water has already boiled away. Eventually you'll learn to eyeball it and go by feel for "the perfect oatmeal." Until then, 1 cup is about right. You can stir now to mix in the oats, but after this no more stirring. We prefer to not stir at all and just sort of swirl the oats and water around in the pan.
3. Turn the oatmeal to low heat and allow to cook down for about 5-10 minutes. DO NOT, DO NOT stir.
4. As the oatmeal cooks down, the water will slowly cook away. Cook until the water is gone and there are no little bubbles of water at the top of the oatmeal (see pictures). If you don't have enough oats, the water will take too long to cook away and the oatmeal will be slightly gummy.
5. When the oatmeal is done, remove from heat. Sprinkle with toppings and drizzle on milk. Enjoy.

3.5.3208

Bring water to boil.

Pour in oats.

Stir or “swish” oats in, turn to LOW

Allow water to boil away slowly.

Until all the bubbles start to disappear…

And are finally gone completely.

Remove from heat and enjoy!

Summary

Recipe Name

Gluten Free Old Fashioned Oatmeal

Published On

2016-01-10

Preparation Time

5m

Cook Time

10m

Total Time

15m