Porridge pots - can I make a copy?

[PlaymobilPirate]

I often take a porridge pot to work for breakfast but the waste of the tub every day is bothering me.

I have to get to work early to get parked so I have time available there so don't want to get up earlier to eat at home.

I have access to a kettle but not a microwave.

I presume it's just a porridge / dried milk combo? Does anyone make their own??

@NauseousNancy has it!

Was it trial and error?

Yes you can. Blend some oats in a food processor so they crumb size then add some milk powder. it’ll be just like them. Cost about 5p per portion too.

Ooh. Alternatively I would take a little tubs with this, oats (I would go for usual rough rolled oats rather than the powdered stuff), and my personal fav, honey and broken walnuts. Should works treat with boiling water.

Alternatively, is there such a thing as powdered almond milk?? Surely seeing as that is 98% water you can do your own with boiling water????? I make my porridge with almond milk. Superior to cow's milk in my opinion.

Some people make their porridge with water only. No milk. I'm not too keen. There again, oats are quite milky..... Maybe a little powdered almond would create extra milkiness???

Normal sized oats will only work if you have a microwave. If your only bit of a equipment is a kettle then you’ll need to blend them up a bit, other wise by the time they’ve ‘cooked’ the water is cold.

Take ready brek in a cup type tupperware, it takes about a minute to microwave?

Get a food thermos, I got one from argos for £13. Stick some porridge in the microwave at home depending on how early you are at work you could cook it the night before, them pour into the thermos and it keeps warm for 9 hours.

SORRY I read you don't have a microwave!

Ground almonds!!

I make this. Use a jam jar.

5 tablespoons oats
3 tablespoons dried milk powder (or follow the ingredients breakdown ratio on the one you currently buy)
Then add a teaspoon cocoa powder if you fancy chocolate, or a handful of raisins or nuts or whatever

Add boiling water and stir and leave for a few mins.

It looks nice in the jar and is known here as "layers of loveliness"

Experiment with content and amounts - you might want sugar or an do with less milk powder or whatever. Works out super cheap and no waste.

I have always wondered how the pots are done as some are very like the real thing. Others not so much. I had assumed that the good ones are actual porridge made the normal way and then dried and I had assumed the not so good ones are a bit like the home recipes people have shared here. They just don't taste cooked to me. But then I like my porridge well cooked.

Have you considered Bircher as an alternative? You soak oats in fruit juice overnight. Normally apple juice but I like tangy juice like blackberry. In the morning you add natural yoghurt or flavoured yoghurt and dried fruit if you fancy.

Some people soak overnight in milk. Here is a recipe

www.carolinescooking.com/swiss-bircher-muesli/

Just make some at home and heat it up at work in the microwave?

The OP stated that she doesn't have access to a microwave at work.

sorry I couldn't resist!

This thread demonstrates perfectly that many people just don't read an OP properly before posting.

I have a little Thermos Thermocafe food flask that’s great for soup and pasta. If you have time in the morning just make it at home and throw it in one of those. Wasn’t expensive.

Bircher muesli is really lovely though. I soak mine overnight in apple juice and add a handful of frozen berries (they defrost overnight. In the morning I grate an apple i to it and add a dollop of plain yogurt. I was trying to replicate the gorgeous one that Eat sell and it’s not exactly right but still lovely.

Heat it up in the microwave is the latest equivalent to

Cancel the cheque

and

Speak to HR

How about cooking it at home and decanting into a thermos.

I add a few tbsp of Allen muesli to plain instant porridge, add boiling water (the porridge and muesli both have powdered milk in) and it's lush.

I also use those sistema lidded pots. I wish I'd bought shares in sistema!!

Alpen

Yes total trial and error. I looked at the ingredients on the pot, and tried to work it out. Took a few attempts, got there in the end and I think that one is pretty close to the pots!

Evilharpy - good idea about frozen fruit. I know some people who add them to their pot porridge too.

@NauseousNancy that's actually genius. Thank you for that. I spend a small fortune on the instant pots.

Do you think it would keep if I made up a big container full and used it as and when?

I do 4 parts oats to 1 part dried milk and 1 part sugar. I make enough for several portions and store in an airtight container, shake well.

A portion is 60 grams, place in a bowl/mug top up with 120 mls boiling water, stir well, cover and leave for several minutes.

This works better with a smaller oat or give the mix a quick blitz in a processor. Add dried fruit, nuts, seeds etc as you fancy. You can use dried skimmed milk or full fat dried milk.

All that is in the pots is oats and dried milk.
As for the sachets they are just oats.

Get some powdered milk and practice!

DH works away a lot and doesn't want a full English breakfast in the hotel. So he takes some oats and raisins with him in a plastic tub. Just pours boiling water on from the kettle and lets it sit. Stirs through a tsp of Peanut butter and it's good to go. Much healthier and costs next to nothing.