How do you make the perfect porridge

[ChuckMater]

I never normally eat porridge but I can't stop thinking about it tonight so that's tomorrow's breakfast sorted but I don't remember how to make it. There's so many different ways on Google so mumsnet, what's your foolproof way to make Porridge?

Let it cook for twice as long as you think. Keep stirring it

I agree with all of this

We have Jersey gold top in the fridge, I'm making porridge for breakfast after this thread! DS has porridge or overnight oats most days. I don't very often but this thread has made me really want it.
Also got some stewed apple with cinnamon in the freezer from next door's apple tree, think I'll have some of that on top...

On the hob- a handful of oats then I keep adding full fat milk until it's thick and creamy.

One cup of oats+ one cup of water + one cup of milk.
Stir it continuously until bubbles start popping through then put the lid on and leave to rest for 5 mins.

I agree with the poster above. Use Flahavans
It's been a game changer. I ate porridge because its cheap and healthy but it wasn't great
Flahavans is amazing. Just follow the instructions and you have perfect porridge in 2 minutes

30g of porridge oats to 150ml of milk. Heat 2 mins in microwave, stirring half way. Heat a bit more until it’s just about to explode. Leave 3 mins, stir in toppings/maple syrup.

Porridge perfection is in the eye of the beholder. I much prefer it made with water! Soak the oats overnight, cook through slowly in the morning. You'll be surprised at how creamy the porridge is.

Oh and cook on the hob.

Life is too short to stand stirring porridge over a hob and dirtying more than one item. Microwave is much more efficient, and you can heat it in the same bowl you eat from.

Just stay away from the oatso simple rubbish and just use proper porridge oats. Big bag lasts ages. I love porridge, have it every day. It's the only breakfast that keeps me full all morning itll lunchtime - I never need a snack between breakfast and lunch if I have a decent bowl of porridge first thing.

35-40g is enough for me. I put the oats in a deep noodle bowl, pour on around 200ml of milk or water (I'm trying to cut down on dairy at the mo so don't mind water as long as I throw in some bananas or berries afterwards). Then I microwave it for a minute. Give it a stir, put a small plate over it to stop it bubbling over, put it back in the microwave for another 50 seconds and leave to stand for a minute. Take it out, give it a stir, wait for it to cool a bit (I add a bit of cold water if I'm in a hurry, to cool it down quicker). Job done.

Sweeten with whatever you like and add whatever you like. I like it with milk and a bit of sugar and will happily it that without fruit. Or if I am just using water I will slice up some banana small and put that in, or some berries, or dried apricots. Kids are fussy with textures etc though, sometimes so if it's for them I'd just do it with milk and a bit of sugar first and ask if they want any fruit in it.

I bet a dollop off nutella mixed in would go down well with kids.

Always in the pan, 40g oats to 220ml of milk. Stir on a low heat until thickened but not too thick because it also thickens as it cools and you’ll end up with flapjack 😉

Favourite toppings in this house;

grated apple with cinnamon (or stewed apple if I can be bothered)
banana and honey
a blob of jam

or my favourite, plain old teaspoon of sugar.

I want porridge now!

I'm barred from making porridge on the hob after I destroyed 3 pans 😫

I use boiled water from the kettle and make it quite thick I don't like my porridge watery and thin ( am I the only one who does it like this 😂)
I then add a teaspoon of flaxseed, a teaspoon of chia seed and sprinkle cinnamon on top

Wait until they try it with Biscoff..

Jumbo oats, full fat milk, on the hob on a low heat just adding milk until thick and creamy, takes about 15 mins then serve with honey or brown sugar, berries, chia seeds, Greek yoghurt and a teaspoon of peanut butter

I do 40g porridge, 200ml and heat on the hob. Only use Mornflake Superfast Oats

The same at ours - DD and I both can cook porridge (and we do sometimes) but only DH can do it right.

by making many errors until you discover a mixture you prefer @ChuckMater

Personally I hate hot milk in any context (including tea and coffee!) so I go with water, but agree it needs to be quite thick. If I'm having banana, I cook it in the porridge then it sort of blends in rather than adding hard slices at the end. Otherwise I often cook it with a handful of sweet frozen cherries in. And adding a couple of squares of dark chocolate or a teaspoon of Biscoff at the end makes it God tier!

As someone mentioned upthread, the ultimate porridge (or overnight oats or bircher muesli) is made with full cream Jersey milk. Yum!

On the hob. Always milk. I have no strict measuring quantities. Only essential ingredient to good porridge is time. The longer you leave it to simmer the better. And add additional milk if it starts to look gloopy.
To stop a skin forming while I am eating, I always leave the porridge to cool a bit in the pan before pouring into a bowl. And then I sprinkle sugar on top. If you get your timing right, some of it melts around the outside and the middle bit stays crunchy.

Your post reminded me of a Ladybird book I used to have as a child called, 'The Magic Porridge Pot'. In it the porridge was left to simmer a very long time. Probably why I do this.

It’s traditionally made with water. The oats are creamy enough if you cook it properly. A little sugar, salt, oats and water.

I'm Scottish and I prefer mine with sugar. I haven't known anyone here to have salt since my grandparents' generation tbh.

Half a cup of oats to 1 cup of milk is enough for me (I'm usually only making it for myself) and I cook it until it's super thick. I stir it with my late MIL's spurtle (and yes I go clockwise with my right hand, I do stick to some Scottish traditions at least!)

Then served in a nice deep bowl with golden sugar (nicer flavour than white) sprinkled over the top to make a crunchy top and then some cold milk in the bowl like you'd do with cereal so you get a mixture of hot/cold, thick/runny and (with the sugar) soft/crunchy together in each spoonful.

For one: 1/3 cup oats, 1/3 cup water and 1/3 cup whole milk. 2 mins on 900w in the microwave, remove, stir, then another 30s in the microwave. I do make it on the hob too but it's not any better imo and the pan is a pain to clean!

I sometimes add a couple of tsp ground mixed seeds or almonds. It's nice cooked with a few dates stirred in too. I use a flat bowl and serve with a little brown sugar if no dates, and extra full fat milk round the outside (my mum used to use top of the milk, showing my age here!)