How to Cook Old-fashioned Oatmeal in a Microwave

Oatmeal is a healthy choice for breakfast.

Old-fashioned oats are whole oats that have been rolled to flatten them. "Instant" and "minute" oats are different from the old-fashioned kind in that rather than being rolled, the oats cut into smaller pieces so they cook quicker. If you prefer the texture of a rolled oat, use your microwave oven to cook up a bowl of old-fashioned oatmeal for breakfast.

Things You'll Need

• Rolled oats
• Salt
• Brown sugar
• Honey
• Walnuts
• Maple syrup
• Cinnamon
• Raisins

Instructions

1. Pour about a 1/2 cup of old-fashioned oats into a medium-sized, microwave-proof cereal or desert bowl. If you make this recipe often enough, you can easily "eyeball" this amount as about a third to a half of the bowl, depending on its shape.

2. Add a pinch of salt for flavor, if you'd like.

3. Add just enough water to the bowl to reach the top of the oats.

4. Microwave the oats on high for 2 to 3 minutes.

5. Let your oatmeal cool a few minutes. Stir in any extras you like, such as honey, brown sugar, raisins or banana slices, and serve.

Tips & Warnings

• This recipe makes rather thick oats with lots of texture. If you prefer the porridge/gruel kind of oatmeal, add more water and microwave longer.

• You can microwave raisins or other dried fruits with the oats for a tasty variation.

• If your oatmeal doesn't come out "done enough" or is too thick, add a tablespoon or two of water and microwave it again for a minute to 90 seconds.

• Don't use a bowl that is too shallow. The liquid bubbles while the oats cook, and if the sides of the bowl aren't high enough, it will spill over and make a mess in your microwave.

References

• The Cook's Thesaurus: Oats