How to Cook Steel-Cut Oatmeal in a Thermos

Oatmeal can help reduce "bad" cholesterol.

The microwave may be the most common and an undeniably easy way to cook oatmeal, but preparing it in a thermos adds the aspect of portable convenience. Whether you're camping, rushing off to school or getting a jump-start on your commute to work, your breakfast can "cook" in the thermos until you're ready for a steaming hot bowl of steel-cut oats that keeps you full for hours. Does this Spark an idea?

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1/2 cup steel-cut oats
1 1/4 cups water
Pinch salt
Desired toppings (maple syrup, brown sugar, nuts, fruit, etc...)

Instructions

- 1
  
  Fill your thermos with boiling water, put the lid on it and set it aside for about 10 minutes. The oats cook faster and stay hot longer in a pre-heated thermos.
- 2
  
  Measure your ingredients and boil 1 1/4 cups of water. Prepare as much or as little oatmeal as you want, using a 1:3.5 ratio of oatmeal to water.
- 3
  
  Empty the water from the thermos. Add the pre-measured steel-cut oats. Pour the boiling water into the thermos and close the top.
- 4
  
  Let the oats steep for at least 40 minutes and up to overnight. Adjust the timing depending on how thick or thin you like your oatmeal; it can't get overcooked with this method. Shake the thermos after 40 minutes to determine the consistency of the oatmeal.
- 5
  
  Pour the oatmeal into a bowl or the thermos lid. Sprinkle it with the salt, and top it with maple syrup, brown sugar, berries and/or nuts, as desired.

Tips & Warnings

Toast your oats in a dry skillet or on a cookie sheet in a 350-degree F oven first for a sweet, slightly caramelized flavor.
Store leftover prepared oatmeal in the refrigerator. Reheat it in the microwave.