rice maker, part 1,000, how to make oatmeal

[lazydays]

So I bought this fancy rice cooker and it makes fantastic rice. Really pleased with it. I read online that lots of people like to make oatmeal in their rice cooker so I thought it'd give it a try since mine has a porridge setting anyway. What I got was a soggy lump of something I didn't want to eat. Tried various water amounts. Tried the hard rice setting. Still no luck. My wife wants to oatmeal to be like when it's cooked on the stove, kind of light and not soggy at all. So, any experts out there that can tell me how to do this?

[mattkime]

what kind of oatmeal did you use?

i've been cooking steel cut (irish) oatmeal in a plain old rice cooker. I still need to try soaking the oats the night before for quick cooking.

rolled (quaker) oats might not do so well.

which rice cooker did you get?

[August West]

1/2 cup Bob's Red Mill steel cut oats, 2C water, 1/3C milk, pinch salt, cinnamon. Porridge setting, works great for me.

[lazydays]

Ah, I was using quaker oats so maybe that is the problem. I've got a fancy Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 5-1/2-Cup Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer.

[TheTominator]

I cook my oatmeal in the microwave in a Pyrex bowl. Choose a single-serving bowl (and a microwave heat setting) so that it doesn't boil over while cooking unattended.

Pour boiling water from the electric kettle onto the Quaker's Old Fashioned rolled oats.

Microwave, 4 minutes on 20% power with no lid. Vary water/oat proportions, microwave power and cook time to suit your microwave, bowl, and consistency prefs. If you start in the microwave with cold water, your oatmeal will be mushier.

Add flavorings and eat the oatmeal out of the same bowl. Note that you can add some flavorings prior to cooking such as cinnamon and raisins. I prefer mine plain cooked with milk and maple syrup added afterward.

No pot to wash. The bowl is dishwasher-safe.

Every morning. Simple, fast, reliable. Tasty.

[NewtonMP2100]

....the steel cut is better for you...as it hasn't been as processed as the Quaker (rolled oats).....steel cut is the way to go.....and I enjoy the taste too......

[freeradical]

You shouldn't use Quaker Oatmeal for anything but Granola and Oatmeal cookies.

[graylocks]

steel cut oats rock! i use the stovetop and the quick cooking (5min) kind. started with the classic McCann's but now buy Trader Joe's. there's an instant steel cut but i didn't like it. either regular or quick cooking.

STF for steel cut oats threads about a year ago.

[volcs0]

Every morning for the past year:

1.5c water
0.5c McCann's steel-cut oats
= two servings

Porridge setting on our Zojirushi.

Awesome oatmeal - I eat it with Fage 2% and cashews.

[Paul F.]

Quaker oats ain't for eating... they're for baking into things.

Go to a good grocery store and get some steel cut oats!

My favorite slow-cooker oatmeal recipe (may or may not be adaptable to a rice cooker.. no idea...)

4 cups steel cut rolled oats (not the "quick" variety)
4 cups milk
9 cups water
(yes, it really does take 13 cups of liquid for 4 cups of oats!)
3 tsp salt
cinnamon to taste (a not-full teaspoon is good, two is a LOT).

Fruit;
We used approximately 3 cups of fresh and dried fruit.
1 apple, cut up in small chunks
about 1/2 cup each of the following;
dried apricots, chopped.
raisins
dried cranberries
dried cherries
chopped walnuts

Put in the slow cooker on "low" for about 6 hours.
Makes 12-13 servings of 1 cup size.