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What can I do with old oatmeal?

Oatmeal is a versatile and nutritious breakfast staple enjoyed by many. However, like most foods, oatmeal does eventually expire and go bad. When this happens, many people are faced with the dilemma of what to do with leftover or old oatmeal. Fortunately, there are many great uses for oatmeal even after it has passed its prime. Here are some of the top ways to use up that old oatmeal:

Check the Expiration Date

First things first, double check the expiration or “best by” date on your oatmeal. Oats and oatmeal generally stay fresh for around 6-12 months when stored properly in a cool, dry place. The expiration date will give you a good idea of just how old it is. If it’s just a month or two past the date, your oatmeal is likely still fine to eat. Give it a look and smell test first before tossing it out. Old oatmeal will smell stale, musty or sour.

Use it for Baking

One of the best and most common ways to use up old oatmeal is in baking recipes. Oats add great texture, fiber and flavor to all kinds of baked goods from cookies, bars and muffins to loaves of bread. Here are some tasty baked treats to try using that over the hill oatmeal:

  • Oatmeal cookies – Add up to 1 cup oats per batch
  • Oatmeal banana bread or zucchini bread
  • Oatmeal raisin muffins
  • Granola bars with oats, dried fruit and nuts
  • Oatmeal apple crisp – Use as topping
  • Energy bars or balls held together with oats
  • Oatmeal spice cake

When baking with old oatmeal, keep in mind it may result in a coarser texture versus using fresh oats. But the wonderful flavor will still come through. Reduce any liquid in the recipe slightly to account for extra moisture from stale oats.

Use as Breadcrumb Substitute

Old or stale oats work great in place of traditional breadcrumbs for coating and topping savory dishes. Simply pulse old oats in a food processor until they reach a fine, crumb-like texture. Use oat crumbs to:

  • Coat chicken, fish or tofu before pan frying
  • Top casseroles, gratins or bakes
  • Bulk up meatballs, meatloaf or burgers
  • Bread pans for frying cutlets like chicken parm
  • Make crispy oven fried chicken

The oats add fiber, nutrients and crispness to savory dishes in the same way breadcrumbs do. Adjust seasonings as needed for the dish.

Use as Filler in Meat dishes

Uncooked old oats can also be mixed right into the raw ground meat for dishes like meatloaf, burgers, meatballs and chili. This adds bulk and stretches the meat slightly while also amping up the nutrition. Use around 1/2-1 cup oats per pound of ground meat. Some options include:

  • Meatloaf – Mix into beef and turkey loaves
  • Beef or turkey burgers – Adds juiciness
  • Meatballs in pasta dishes or subs
  • Chili – Mix into the ground beef
  • Stuffed peppers or cabbage rolls filling

The oats will mostly absorb any flavors of the seasoned meat and spices. Just be sure to account for the extra moisture by cutting back slightly on other liquids.

Make Overnight Oats

While fresh oats are ideal, overripe oats can still work great for making no-cook overnight oats. This frugal breakfast requires letting oats soak overnight in milk or yogurt to soften. Simply mix:

  • 1/2 cup old oats
  • 1/2 cup milk of choice
  • Pinch of cinnamon
  • Spoonful of yogurt (optional)
  • Fruit like berries or banana (optional)
  • Nuts, chia or flax seeds (optional)

Refrigerate overnight, then enjoy for breakfast. The moisture helps soften old oats. Feel free to add more milk or creaminess as needed. Customize with your favorite mixins like honey or nut butter too.

DIY Oat Milk

Outdated oats can be turned into homemade oat milk, a great dairy-free milk for drinking, baking and more. Simply blend:

  • 1 cup old oats
  • 4 cups water
  • Pinch of salt
  • Optional sweetener or vanilla

Then strain through a nut milk bag or cheesecloth. Use the oat milk in place of dairy milk, on cereal, in smoothies or however you’d like. Store refrigerated for up to 5 days.

Feed it to Livestock

If you live on a farm or homestead, old or expired oats make excellent animal feed for livestock like chickens, cows, goats and horses. The fiber and carbs in oats provide energy and nutrients. Just mix leftover oatmeal, raw oats or baked goods with their regular feed or grains. Limit to small portions of their diet.

Here are some options for using old oatmeal to feed livestock:

Animal Oatmeal Use
Chickens Mix into feed or scratch grains
Cows Mix with hay/silage
Goats Sprinkle on hay
Horses Mix with regular oats
Pigs Cook into slop meals

The fiber will help all animals with digestion when included as a small part of their overall diet. Just introduce slowly to be sure they tolerate it well.

Compost It

Like most food scraps, expired and spoiled oatmeal can be added to a compost pile or bin. The grains provide nitrogen and carbon which helps create nutrient-rich compost for gardens. Simply mix old oats into your compost along with other “green” and “brown” materials like fruit and vegetable scraps, leaves, grass clippings and more.

Avoid adding dairy, meat or fat products which can attract pests and rodents. Turn and water the compost pile to help accelerate decomposition. In a few months, you’ll have wonderful compost loaded with minerals and nutrition all thanks to that old oatmeal.

Make Play Dough

Let kids get creative with a batch of homemade play dough using stale oats. Simply mix together:

  • 2 cups old oatmeal
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup salt
  • 2 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • Food coloring

Cook over medium heat until thickened then let cool. Knead the dough until smooth. The oats help create a textured, non-sticky dough that’s perfect for imaginative young minds. Store covered at room temperature.

Conclusion

Rather than throwing out those last few spoonfuls of oatmeal in the container, consider these clever ways to use it up. Old oats still have a place in the kitchen and around your homestead. Use them for baking sturdy cookies, coating meat dishes, making milk, feeding animals and beyond. With a little creativity, that over the hill oatmeal takes on a new life in all kinds of recipes and projects.