How to Cook Oatmeal
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
In a pot, bring the water to a boil.
Gradually stir in the oatmeal.
Simmer
Let it boil until it thickens, then reduce the heat to a simmer.
Cook for at least 30 minutes, preferably up to 2 hours.
Avoid stirring frequently to prevent sliminess.
For best results, use a double boiler.
Transcribed from a scanned cookbook and modernised for today's kitchens. Where the book gave no heat or time, or said "a moderate oven", the temperatures and times here may be modern equivalents rather than the book's own figures.
Explore the science
What each ingredient does
- Oatmeal
- Provides the body; its starches thicken the liquid as it cooks.
- Water
- Hydrates the oats so they soften and their starch can gelatinize into a thick porridge.
The step that matters
Avoid stirring frequently. Frequent stirring rubs the oat starch and releases it into the liquid, which makes the porridge gluey or slimy. Stir gently and only as needed.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
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