We know we don’t have to remind you about how hurried mornings can feel. So we’ll cut right to the chase and fill you in on a little trick we just discovered that can make these chaotic morning hours feel just a tad easier: frozen oatmeal.
It may seem like instant oatmeal has filled the need for the quick breakfast fix. And sure, in some ways it has. But if we’re being honest, instant oatmeal is the least satisfying of all the oat options. It quickly becomes gummy and is not entirely satisfying. Plus, the sugar-filled flavor options quickly make it a not-so-smart breakfast choice.
If you make a big batch of oatmeal ― we recommend steel cut because it’s just so good, but rolled works too ― you can freeze individual servings into muffin tins and store them in a zipper-lock plastic bag in the freezer. Then you just reheat them in the morning when you’re ready for breakfast.
We first saw this idea over at Popsugar and had to try it for ourselves. Is it really worth the effort? After we tried this and enjoyed a bowl of steel cut oats in just a matter of minutes in the morning, the answer was a resounding yes.
Ready to give it a try? Here’s how to make it happen:
1.Cook the oatmeal according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. We did a big batch of steel cut oats.
2. Lightly grease your muffin tins. Divvy up the oatmeal into them (each regular-sized tin takes about 1/2 cup of cooked oats).
3. Add flavors and toppings. The flavors we used included:
- Coconut Chocolate: Add 1/4 cup of cocoa to the oatmeal mixture, and stir well. Top each oatmeal-filled tin with a pinch of shredded coconut.
- Peanut Butter. Top each tin with a small dollop of peanut butter.
- Cinnamon Raisin: Add 2 Tbs of cinnamon to the oatmeal mixture, and stir well. Top each oatmeal-filled tin with raisins.
- Health Nut. Top each oatmeal-filled tin with chia and sunflower seeds.
4. Place in the freezer for three hours, or until completely frozen. Remove from tins using a knife to release the pucks and store in a freezer bag.
5. To eat, take a puck or two and reheat either in the microwave or on the stovetop. One to two minutes in the microwave with a stir in the middle should do the trick. Or just a couple of minutes in a pan on the stove, with a little bit of water.
It’s quick work for a delicious bowl of nutty, steel cut oats in the morning.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article said to use 1/4 cup of cinnamon when it should be 2 Tbs.