Quick Answer
Yes, you can absolutely make oatmeal ahead of time and reheat it later. Oatmeal lends itself very well to being prepared in advance and reheated. There are a few different ways to go about making oatmeal that will hold up to reheating while still retaining great texture and flavor.
How Should You Make Oatmeal Ahead to Be Reheated Later?
There are three main methods for making oatmeal in advance for reheating:
1. Cooked Oatmeal
One easy method is to fully cook the oatmeal, then refrigerate or freeze it for later. Steel cut oats and old fashioned oats hold up the best using this method. Be sure to slightly undercook the oatmeal, since it will continue to thicken and set as it cools. Allow the cooked oatmeal to cool completely before portioning into airtight containers or bags. Refrigerate for 3-5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
To reheat, add 2-3 tablespoons of milk or water per portion and reheat gently over medium low heat on the stovetop or microwave until warmed through, 1-2 minutes. Stir while reheating to maintain texture. Add any additional toppings after reheating.
2. Overnight Oats
Soaking oats in liquid overnight allows the oats to soften and thicken naturally. Overnight oats make for an easy grab-and-go breakfast. Use old fashioned rolled oats or steel cut oats. Combine the oats with milk, yogurt, fruit, nuts, spices, sweeteners or anything else you like in your oatmeal. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Transfer portions to individual jars or containers for an easy breakfast you can take on-the-go.
3. Uncooked Oatmeal Mix
For another make-ahead option, you can prepare dry oatmeal mixes. Combine uncooked oats with dry ingredients like nuts, seeds, spices, coconut and dried fruit in an airtight container. When ready to eat, add milk, water, yogurt or fruit and heat as usual. This can help streamline breakfast during a busy work week.
Tips for Reheating Oatmeal
– Stir frequently when reheating oatmeal to maintain texture and prevent scorching on the bottom.
– Add a bit of extra liquid like milk or water when reheating to loosen up the oatmeal as needed.
– Heat oatmeal slowly over medium-low heat when reheating on the stovetop.
– Cover oatmeal when reheating in the microwave for more even heating. Reheat in 30 second increments, stirring between.
– If oatmeal is too thick after reheating, stir in additional hot water or milk to thin it down.
– Top just-reheated oatmeal with fresh fruit, nuts, brown sugar, preserves or anything else you like for extra flavor and contrast in texture.
Does Oatmeal Change in Texture When Reheated?
Oatmeal can thicken up and become a bit firmer after being refrigerated or frozen then reheated. This is especially true for steel cut oats and old fashioned oats. The oats will continue to absorb moisture and soften over time.
Stirring frequently while reheating and adding a bit of extra liquid as needed will help maintain the original texture of the oats. The oatmeal may not get quite as creamy after reheating compared to just-cooked, but it can still have a pleasant, hearty texture.
Rolled oats tend to hold up a bit better to reheating without becoming too thick. The quick cooking time also makes rolled oats easy to make fresh. But rolled oats can successfully be made ahead and reheated if desired.
What is the Best Way to Reheat Oatmeal?
The best way to reheat pre-made oatmeal is on the stove top. Add a couple tablespoons of milk or water per portion before gently reheating over medium low heat, stirring frequently. The stovetop allows you to rehydrate and heat the oatmeal gradually for the best consistency.
Microwaving is another easy reheating method. Cover the oatmeal while microwaving to prevent splatter and promote even heating. Microwave in 30 second increments, stirring between, until hot. The microwave tends to heat oatmeal more unevenly, so stir well.
Avoid reheating individual instant oatmeal packets in the microwave. The packets are not designed for reheating after the oatmeal has fully set. They can overheat, boil over, and degrade the texture. Cook fresh or make your own microwaveable oatmeal portions instead.
What Kinds of Oats Work Best for Making Ahead?
The oat varieties that hold up best to refrigeration and reheating are:
Steel Cut Oats
Also called Irish oats, steel cut oats are sliced rather than rolled. So they maintain their chewy, hearty texture even after reheating. Steel cut oats can be fully cooked then stored for later reheating.
Old Fashioned Oats
Also called rolled oats, old fashioned oats hold their shape and texture reasonably well for reheating. Their heartier thickness compared to instant oats helps prevent mushiness.
Quick Oats
While not quite as substantial, thinner quick oats can also be made ahead and reheated. They may turn out a little softer but still retain good flavor.
Instant Oatmeal Packets
Pre-made instant oatmeal cups or packets don’t reheat too well on their own. The oats become quite thick and pasty. You’re better off using regular quick oats or old fashioned oats to make your own ahead of time instead.
Avoid Reheating These Varieties
Steel Cut Oatmeal
Steel cut oats are best when cooked fresh, as the texture can become gluey and inedible when reheated after soaking and cooking. Refrigerating overnight oats made with steel cut oats also makes them too thick.
Oat Groats
Whole oat groats take even longer to cook than steel cut oats. Attempting to reheat cooked groats turns them quite dense and clumpy. Make a fresh batch instead.
Oat Flour or Oat Bran
Ground oat products like oat flour and oat bran quickly turn into a pasty, rubbery texture when cooked, cooled and reheated. Don’t attempt to make large batches ahead of time.
Can You Reheat Oatmeal in the Microwave?
Yes, reheating oatmeal in the microwave works well. Be sure to cover the container to prevent splattering. Microwave oatmeal in short 30 second bursts, stirring between each one, until heated through. This helps prevent overcooked or unevenly heated spots.
Allow extra time for denser steel cut oats and stir thoroughly. If microwaved oatmeal ends up too thick, stir in additional liquid as needed after reheating.
For a more hands-off approach, transfer oatmeal portions to shallow microwave-safe dishes before refrigerating or freezing. Then pop the dish straight into the microwave to reheat.
Can You Eat Overnight Oats Cold?
Absolutely! While overnight oats are commonly eaten warmed up after soaking, they can also be enjoyed chilled. The oats will soften significantly after soaking 8+ hours, so they are easy to chew when cold.
To make overnight oats intended for eating cold, add a liquid with more flavor impact like fruit juice rather than plain milk. Yogurt also helps overnight oats achieve a creamy consistency when cold. A touch of honey or maple syrup brings out more sweetness that’s enjoyable chilled.
Overnight oats make for a refreshing and portable breakfast on warm summer days. The chilled oats and cold milk or yogurt are almost like a savory smoothie you can eat with a spoon.
Can You Freeze Cooked Oatmeal?
Cooked oatmeal freezes very well for later reheating. Allow oatmeal to completely cool first before transferring to containers or resealable bags for the freezer. Make sure to portion it out into serving sizes that work for your breakfast needs.
Steel cut oats and old fashioned oats hold their texture best when cooked, frozen and reheated. Quick oats may turn out a little mushier but still taste good.
Seal oatmeal airtight before freezing. Label bags or containers with the date and oatmeal variety. Oatmeal can be kept frozen for 2 to 3 months before quality starts to decline.
Thaw oatmeal overnight in the fridge before reheating on the stove or in the microwave along with a bit of milk or water. Stir thoroughly while reheating to maintain a creamy texture.
Can You Reheat Oatmeal Overnight?
It’s best not to reheat oatmeal overnight or let it sit out at room temperature for long periods. Bacteria can grow rapidly on cooked foods like oatmeal left at room temperature.
For food safety, leftovers like oatmeal should not be left out over 2 hours. Reheat it fully within this time frame until steaming hot, then refrigerate any remaining portions immediately.
You can reheat a large batch of oatmeal over very low heat on the stove while you get ready in the morning. But don’t leave oatmeal reheating unattended overnight.
Should You Add Liquid When Reheating Oatmeal?
Adding a small amount of milk, water, yogurt, juice or non-dairy milk when reheating oatmeal can help thin it out and restore moisture. This prevents the oatmeal from being too thick and pasty.
About 1 to 3 tablespoons of liquid per portion is usually enough. Avoid adding too much liquid or the oatmeal may become soggy.
Stir in additional milk or yogurt after reheating as needed to adjust the consistency. Fruit juice concentrates can also add helpful moisture plus flavor.
What is the Best Milk for Reheating Oatmeal?
The best milk varieties to use when reheating oatmeal include:
- Whole Milk – Adds creaminess
- 2% Milk – Balances flavor and texture
- Non-Dairy Milk – Like almond or oat milk for creaminess
- Half and Half – Adds richness if you like your oatmeal extra creamy
Lighter milk like skim can water down the flavor of oatmeal. But it can work well mixed with heartier non-dairy milk if a thinner, lower calorie consistency is preferred.
Avoid reheating oatmeal with milk varieties that curdle easily, like buttermilk, to prevent splitting. Steaming the milk can cause curdling.
Yogurt and cottage cheese can also be excellent dairy additions when reheating oatmeal for extra protein, tanginess and body.
Can You Make Overnight Oats with Warm Milk?
It’s best to use cold or room temperature dairy when making overnight oats. The enzymes in warmed milk cause it to thicken more rapidly. This gives overnight oats a pasty, gluggy texture.
Chilled milk allows the oats to absorb moisture slowly without thickening too much. For creamier chilled overnight oats, try using yogurt or a vanilla flavored non-dairy milk like almond or oat milk.
You can make overnight oats with warm non-dairy milk as long as it is allowed to fully cool in the fridge before adding oats. But cold is easier.
If you want to eat warm overnight oats in the morning, reheat them gently on the stove or microwave right before eating. Don’t use hot milk in the initial overnight soak.
Should You Salt Your Oatmeal Before or After Cooking?
Adding a pinch of salt before cooking oatmeal enhances the natural flavors of the oats. Stirring in a tiny bit of salt with the oats, milk and water helps balance and amplify the nutty taste.
Sprinkling extra salt on after cooking also works if you want a more concentrated salty kick or sprinkled texture on top.
Sweeteners, spices, fruit or nuts added after cooking can also better retain their fresh flavors rather than getting diluted during the cooking process. So seasoning both before and after produces tasty results.
Can Oatmeal Be Reheated Twice?
For food safety, it’s best to avoid reheating oatmeal more than once. Bacteria accumulates over time as food is heated, cooled and reheated. Multiple rounds of reheating greatly increase the risk of foodborne illness.
Cook fresh batches of oatmeal in smaller portions to ensure leftovers get consumed after reheating just once.
If you cooked a large pot of oatmeal to last several days, divide it into portions to refrigerate or freeze immediately after the initial cooking. Reheat single portions as needed.
Avoid letting pre-cooked oatmeal sit at room temperature for prolonged periods before refrigerating. Follow safe handling procedures to prevent bacterial growth.
Conclusion
Oatmeal has a wonderful ability to retain its taste and texture when made ahead and reheated later. With minimal effort, you can wake up to a hot, hearty bowl of your favorite oats any morning. Use proper handling and reheating methods to keep your pre-cooked oatmeal safe and delicious for easy breakfasts throughout the week. Whether enjoyed hot, cold, savory or sweet, oatmeal offers a satisfying and wholesome start to your day.