How to Make Oats with Milk: 3 Quick & Easy Recipes

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Plus, outrageously delicious flavor ideas and toppings
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Oats are a quick, easy, and delicious breakfast. They’re so versatile, and with hundreds of flavor combinations, you can make them however you’d like! But, you do have to start somewhere. In this article, we’ll teach you how to make oatmeal with milk on the stovetop, in the microwave, or overnight in the fridge. Plus, we’ll even give you some sweet and savory topping combination ideas to power up your bowl of oats.

How to Make Oatmeal with Milk

  1. Boil 1 cup (250 mL) of milk on the stove.
  2. Turn down the heat and add ½ cup (45 grams) of rolled oats.
  3. Stir occasionally and cook for about 5 minutes (or until oatmeal is desired consistency).

Ingredients

Stovetop

  • 1 cup (250 mL) of milk
  • ½ cup (45 grams) of rolled oats
  • Salt (optional)

Serves 1

Microwave

  • 1 cup (250 mL) of milk
  • ½ cup (45 grams) of rolled oats
  • Salt (optional)

Serves 1

Overnight Oats

  • 1/2 cup (125 mL) of milk
  • 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
  • Salt (optional)

Serves 1

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Making Oatmeal on the Stovetop

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  1. Measure 1 cup (250 mL) of your favorite type of milk into a small saucepan. Place the saucepan on the stovetop at a high heat and wait for it to boil. [1]
    • You can use any type of milk for this recipe! Try almond, coconut, soy, and oat milks for dairy-free alternatives, or stick to cow’s milk if you prefer.
    • Multiply the ingredients by the number of people you’re serving. For example, if serving 5 people, add 5 portions of each ingredient.
  2. Measure the oats and carefully pour them into the hot milk. Use a wooden spoon to the mix the oats and milk until they are thoroughly combined. [2]
    • Rolled oats are sometimes labeled as old-fashioned oats.
    • Add a pinch of salt, if desired. This can help bring out the oats’ flavor.
    • If you don’t have rolled oats: Quick oats and steel-cut oats can also work for this recipe; however, quick oats will cook more quickly while steel-cut oats will take longer.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Oats with Milk
    Turn the heat down to medium-low to stop the oats from sticking to the bottom of the saucepan. [3] Stir the oats approximately every minute to ensure they cook evenly. [4]
    • Continue cooking until your oatmeal reaches your desired consistency. The longer the oats cook and bubble, the thicker they’ll be.
    • Cook quick oats for around 1 minute and steel-cut oats for 20 minutes. [5]
    • If you cook the oats for too long, no problem! Simply add another splash of milk or water to help loosen them up. [6]
  4. Remove the saucepan of oats from the heat and transfer them to the bowl you’ll eat out of. Then, let the oats rest for around 3 minutes. This helps the oats soften and makes them a more palatable temperature to eat. [7]
    • Use this cooling time to top or flavor your oatmeal with your favorite toppings, like bananas, strawberries, honey, and/or nuts.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Making Oatmeal in the Microwave

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make Oats with Milk
    Measure the rolled oats and milk into a microwave-safe bowl that can hold at least 2 cups (500 mL) of liquid. Stir the rolled oats and milk with a spoon until thoroughly combined. [8]
    • Use your favorite type of milk for this recipe. Full-fat milk gives oatmeal the creamiest taste, but nut and soy milks are a great alternative.
    • Multiply the ingredients by the number of people you are serving. For example, if you are serving 4 people, add 4 portions of each ingredient.
    • Try adding in a pinch of salt to bring out the oats’ natural flavor.
  2. Place the bowl of oats into the microwave, and set the microwave to cook on the hottest setting. Heat quick oats for 1½ minutes, rolled or old-fashioned oats for 2 ½ to 3 minutes, and steel-cut oats for 5 minutes. [9]
    • Keep in mind that the longer you microwave your oats, the thicker your oatmeal will be.
    • Know that steel-cut oats are the toughest oats and will take the longest to cook in the microwave, which could give them a gummy texture.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Oats with Milk
    Remove the cooked oats from the microwave and use a spoon to stir the mixture until the liquid is evenly distributed through the oats. [10] If the oats are at your desired consistency, top with your favorite toppings and dig in! If they’re not, pop them back in the microwave in 30-second increments.
    • For steel-cut oats: Microwave for an additional 5 minutes after stirring to ensure they’re cooked all the way through. [11]
    • Use an oven mitt when touching the hot bowl to avoid burns.
    • Be careful—the oatmeal will be very hot straight out of the microwave. Let the oats cool for a minute or two before eating.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Making Overnight Oats

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make Oats with Milk
    Add ½ cup (125 mL) of milk and ½ cup old-fashioned oats into a mason jar or food storage container. Use whichever milk you prefer—full-fat milk will give a creamier texture, while low-fat milk will be lighter. [12]
    • Multiply the ingredients by the number of people you are serving. For example, if you are serving 3 people, add 3 portions of each ingredient.
    • Try using a ¼ cup (62.5 mL) of milk and a ¼ cup (62.5 mL) of your choice of yogurt. This adds extra flavor to your overnight oats and gives them a thick and creamy consistency.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Oats with Milk
    Stir the ingredients together until the oats are completely dispersed through the milk. Make sure to stir the oats at the bottom of the container. [13]
    • If you’re having trouble mixing the oats, put the lid on tightly and shake the container.
    • Make sure to add any flavorings or add-ins to your oats during this step.
    • Check out overnight oat recipes from wikiHow users on the “Best overnight oats recipe ideas” forum .
  3. Put the lid on the container of oats, and put it in the fridge. Leave the oats in the fridge overnight (or for at least 3 hours). Enjoy the oats cold in the morning, or transfer them to a microwave-safe dish and heat up. [14]
    • This recipe is perfect for meal prepping! Make enough overnight oat containers at the start of the week to last the entire work week. This way, you won’t have to worry about preparing breakfast on busy mornings.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

What to Put on Your Oatmeal

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  1. Chop your favorite seasonal fruit into slices and place it on top of the oats. Alternatively, use tinned fruit to add a fresh flavor to your breakfast. [15]
    • Blackberry and apple are a delicious flavor combination.
    • Chopped bananas add natural sweetness to the oats.
    • Freshly sliced plums and apples are a sweet and refreshing choice.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Oats with Milk
    Choose a runny honey or a syrup, such as maple or golden syrup. Pour a small amount of the sweetener into the oats while they’re cooking or over them to add a deliciously sweet flavor. [16]
    • Maple syrup pairs well with sliced plums and pears.
    • Honey tastes delicious with apples, berries, and nuts.
    • If you don’t have honey or syrup on hand, you can also add a spoonful of brown sugar for a similar flavor.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Oats with Milk
    Adding extra liquid can help cool down your oats while providing an extra layer of flavor. For an extra creamy flavor, opt for cream. If you prefer a lighter flavor, use milk instead. Experiment with different flavored yogurts, such as Greek, fruit, or honey-flavored, to find what you like best. [17]
    • Greek yogurt, honey, and berries are a delicious combination on top of oats.
  4. Nut butters are filling, tasty, and so creamy, making them a perfect addition to any bowl of oatmeal! Try topping your hot oats with a spoonful of peanut butter, almond butter, or chocolate hazelnut spread.
    • Pair peanut butter with strawberries and a dash of cinnamon for a PB&J-inspired oat bowl.
    • Drizzle chocolate hazelnut spread over bananas and almonds for a decadently sweet breakfast.
    • Shake nut butter into overnight oats before refrigerating to distribute the creamy goodness.
  5. For some, oatmeal can be a difficult texture to swallow. Add variety to your oats by giving them a crunch with your choice of nuts and/or seeds. For instance, pumpkin seeds taste amazing with berries and walnuts pair wonderfully with bananas and maple syrup.
    • Top your oats with apples, dried cranberries, and shredded coconut. [18]
    • Go with blueberries, crushed cashews, and maple syrup.
    • Try adding chia seeds to overnight oats to give them a thick, pudding consistency.
  6. If your oats are a bit too bland, try sprinkling in some cinnamon or nutmeg. These spices can be added before or after cooking to give your oats a hint of fall flavor.
  7. Who says oats have to be “healthy”? If you’re craving chocolate in the morning, try adding a few chocolate chips or slices of chocolate to your oatmeal. These melt beautifully in hot oats and make a delightful crunch in cold ones.
    • Add chocolate chips to a strawberry and peanut butter oat bowl for a richer flavor. [19]
    • Place a square of dark chocolate in the center of warm oats with raspberry to favor your sweet tooth.
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Oats with Milk Recipes

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  • Question
    Is it better to make oatmeal with water or milk?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    It depends on what you’re going for. Using milk will increase the amount of calories in your oatmeal, but milk is also full of healthy nutrients, like calcium, protein, and vitamin D. Milk will also give you creamier oatmeal than water.
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  • Question
    Is it good to eat oats with milk every day?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    As long as you’re eating a balanced diet overall, this can be a healthy everyday meal. Oatmeal is rich in fiber, and the milk is a good source of calcium, protein, and vitamin D. However, you might want to skip the milk or use a dairy-free alternative if you have any sensitivities to dairy.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    Does eating oats with milk increase weight?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Milk will add extra calories to the oatmeal, so it could potentially cause you to gain some weight. However, you can avoid this problem by cutting calories elsewhere in your diet or increasing the amount of exercise you do each day. Milk and oats can be a healthy and nutritious part of your diet if you eat it in moderation.
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      Tips

      • Oats are highly nutritious! Eating oatmeal regularly can help manage weight, control cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and provide a great source of fiber. [20]
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      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • Oatmeal is very good with frozen berries. Just add the berries to the bowl before cooking in the microwave. Cooking time is 30 seconds to 1 minute more. It tastes somewhat like a pie!
      • You can keep overnight oats for up to 5 days.
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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.eatingwell.com/article/153357/the-right-way-to-prepare-oatmeal-and-5-tips-for-making-it-better/
      2. ↑ http://www.eatingwell.com/article/153357/the-right-way-to-prepare-oatmeal-and-5-tips-for-making-it-better/
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/VZOHHCosuzY?t=100
      4. ↑ https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1431/perfect-porridge
      5. ↑ http://www.eatingwell.com/article/153357/the-right-way-to-prepare-oatmeal-and-5-tips-for-making-it-better/
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/VZOHHCosuzY?t=113
      7. ↑ http://www.eatingwell.com/article/153357/the-right-way-to-prepare-oatmeal-and-5-tips-for-making-it-better/
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/VZOHHCosuzY?t=145
      9. ↑ http://www.eatingwell.com/article/153357/the-right-way-to-prepare-oatmeal-and-5-tips-for-making-it-better/
      1. ↑ http://www.eatingwell.com/article/153357/the-right-way-to-prepare-oatmeal-and-5-tips-for-making-it-better/
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/MgIv4EOsiug?t=17
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/NeBf5ewmI0A?t=157
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/NeBf5ewmI0A?t=243
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/NeBf5ewmI0A?t=256
      6. ↑ https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/fruit-recipes/porridge-lots-of-ways/
      7. ↑ https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/fruit-recipes/porridge-lots-of-ways/
      8. ↑ https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/fruit-recipes/porridge-lots-of-ways/
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/lzekIRmvsfQ?t=214
      10. ↑ https://youtu.be/lzekIRmvsfQ?t=111
      11. ↑ https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/start-your-day-with-healthy-oatmeal

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Making oats with milk is an easy way to make a quick breakfast. Start by mixing together 1 cup of milk and ½ cup of rolled oats in a microwavable bowl. Then, microwave it for 3 minutes, and stir the oats before eating. If you’d rather make overnight oats, place ½ cup of milk and ½ cup of old fashioned oats in a container. Mix them together, then put the container in the fridge overnight. In the morning, your oats will be ready to eat! To learn how to add toppings to your oat recipe, read on!

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