Cooks quickly and digests easily, instant oatmeal has the same nutritional value as regular oats. Additionally, the taste or nutritional values do not change when cooked in the microwave.
Whether it is maple and brown sugar or fruit flavor, instant oatmeal topped with fruits and nuts afterward, microwave is convenient cooking or reheating method to start the morning with.
How do you microwave instant oatmeal? Transfer the instant oatmeal package into a microwave-safe bowl. Pour instructed amount of unheated water or milk. Give it a thorough stir to mix the ingredients.
Microwave on high for 60 seconds. Stir well and let it stand for 2 minutes before serving.
Instant oatmeal requires no meal prepping or special tools, however the water ratio and cooking time plays an important rule. Depending on the serving size and wattage of your microwave, cooking time will vary slightly.
All you need is proper bowl to microwave oatmeal that has more space to can handle expansion and bubbles that can keep the porridge inside.
In this article, we are going to answer frequently asked questions about microwaving instant oatmeal. Included below are the best tips and ways to cook instant oatmeal without exploding in the microwave.
Can you microwave instant oatmeal?
Yes, you can microwave instant oatmeal. It is an easier and more convenient way to cook instant oatmeal instead of using the stove top.
Even reheating oatmeal is perfectly fine in a microwave oven. When reheating instant oatmeal in the microwave, consider pouring additional liquid to avoid to dense consistency.
Is it bad to microwave instant oatmeal?
No, it is not bad to microwave instant oatmeal. In fact, microwave is suitable and widely used to cook instant oatmeal.
Easy as it sounds, microwaving instant oatmeal may cause boiling over or even exploding due to uneven heat. Therefore, it is crucial to know the desired consistency to justify the microwave time to avoid these issues.
How do you keep instant oatmeal from exploding in the microwave?
Oats have a high content of starch and low boiling point, which leads to thick bubbles and tends to boil over in the microwave. As a result, you may experience instant oatmeal that keeps exploding in the microwave.
In order to prevent this from happening, shorten the intervals and stir the oatmeal every 15 seconds to break up the bubbles. Also, placing a cinnamon stick or chopstick over the top helps to prevent boil over from the container when microwaved.
Instead of using milk as a base liquid, replace with water to prevent from exploding. However, using milk in instant oatmeal will achieve a creamy oatmeal in the microwave that is even more enjoyable.
Check the microwave, lower the power level and stir frequently. A slower cooking time will prevent the instant oatmeal from exploding while microwaving.
Tips to microwave instant oatmeal
From stove top to microwave, there are multiple ways to cook instant oatmeal. Microwaving is quick and easy method to cook instant oatmeal without affecting the taste and texture.
Here are fool-proof useful tips to microwave instant oatmeal:
- Use microwave-safe oatmeal bowl that is deep enough to prevent overflow.
- Add milk or plant based beverage instead of water to create a rich taste.
- Do not cover with a lid, instead place chopstick across the opening of the bowl to prevent from boiling over.
- Follow the cooking time and do not nuke longer than 2 minutes.
- Stir frequently between the intervals to evenly distribute the heat.
- Let it sit for a couple minutes before serving.
Best way to microwave instant oatmeal
Already flavored with salt, vanilla, brown sugar and toppings, instant oatmeal is convenient way to serve breakfast in minutes.
Pour all ingredients from the instant oatmeal package into a microwave-safe bowl and add as suggested liquid amount of water or milk.
For creamy and less starchy taste, choose milk, and achieve a gooey and thick consistency by adding water instead. Stir thoroughly to mix before placing in the microwave.
Set the appliance on high and run for 1 minute to 1 minute and 15 seconds. Give a nice stir and let it sit for 2 minutes before consuming.
Evaluate based on the serving size and microwave wattage to lengthen or shorten the cooking time to achieve the best result when making instant oatmeal.
Microwaving Instant Oatmeal: Conclusion
Microwaving instant oatmeal is safe and quite easy in meal prep. No wonder why it is the most used method to prepare instant oatmeal.
Without proper water ratio, minor technique and power adjustment, instant oatmeal can explode and create a mess in the microwave. However, there are ways to prevent this incident from happening.
Lowering the power, breaking at short intervals and placing a chopstick across the top to stop the bubbles from overflowing are keys to preventing instant oatmeal from boiling over.
Always use a microwaveable bowl instead of plastic or paper bowl when heating instant oatmeal.
For more flavor, use dairy or non-dairy milk, this does help to eliminate the starchiness from oats but does increase the frothiness of the porridge.
When in doubt, follow the manufacturer instructions to microwave your favorite instant oatmeal. When instant oatmeal is microwaved correctly, there won’t be any difference in how it is cooked and the consistency will be perfect every time.