Does anyone use the microwaveable porridge packets....

[TellerTuesday]

..... and can tell me what the hell I am doing wrong?

Yet again I have had to clean up the carnage created in the office microwave!

I don't understand why they do it, I put in the correct amount of milk, mix well, put the microwave cover on and it's like it just explodes in there.

This morning I even put a sheet of kitchen roll on top of the bowl and under the cover to limit the damage but now it's all down the sides of the bowl 😩

You need a bigger bowl.

porridge will really expand up when it cooks, so you do need a really big bowl/jug to cook it in - much larger than e.g. a cereal bowl. Also, sometimes they say too much milk, and you end up with thin porridge. so, you could try a larger cooking pot, less milk, and also stir halfway.

You're gonna need a bigger bo...wl
⛴🦈

Bigger bowl, heat on medium for longer and watch it like a hawk for the last minute. Also, don't use packets - just mix up oats, milk/water and flavourings of choice in a suitable (o-ringed) container and it works just as well without all the additives from packets. Plus the extra soaking time makes the oats cook more quickly!

I usually have to stir half way through otherwise it gets too hot and overflows

I cook for 1 minute in a tall bowl, let sit for a minute or so, cook 1 minute more. Never cover it, but you can’t just whack it on for the full cooking time.

I used to use a tall 2 pint Pyrex jug to microwave enough porridge for one small bowl for my mother. Demonic. But tasty.

Thank you all. Larger bowl and a stir halfway through it is tomorrow.

I just use a normal cereal bowl 900w 2mins 30secs. I do get a bit edgy towards the end of the time as it has obviously gone up near the top of the bowl but it hasn’t gone over yet and I watch it pretty much solid for the last minute and half just incase it looks like it’s going to go over the edge

If it’s “Oat So Simple” I do them in the microwave at work. It’s 1000w and I do mine on high for 1minute 50 and it’s perfect. No explosions.

I use a big bowl and the minute it's risen up near the top I stop it and it's always fine

Must admit I just used Flahavan's progress oatlets, not anything newfangled.

There aren’t any additives in Oatso Simple or the Asda ones which look similar - just oats.

Oats so simple. Normal size not 'big bowl' size.

Normal flattish bowl, not as much milk as suggested, about 5mm below the line.
Pour it in round the sides and on top so all covered, no stirring.
Don't cover the bowl.
2mins 10sec at 900W.
It rises and sinks again but doesn't overflow.

But they're a really expensive way to buy oats.

About £10 a kilo vs £2 for the same oats in a bag.

Just use something like an egg cup to measure out the oats - one measure of oats to two of milk and you can set the portion size exactly as you like.

People are allowed to pay more for things if they want to. Especially for convenience.

Why don't you just buy oats? You can get a small container (tupperware or the like) and take some oats into work that way, if you don't want to keep the whole bag/box in the office. Put into bowl, add milk, put into microwave.

My porridge is simple and quick (no milk or microwave needed):

Put rolled oats, a handful of raisins and a teaspoon of linseeds into a bowl.
Add very hot water, stir.
Leave for 5 minutes, stir.
Eat.

I'm Scottish and we never made porridge with milk. You can add milk to serve if you like.

It’s massively expensive though for just oats I only eat plain porridge so just put a handful of oats in a big Tupperware bowl. I leave the lid on but unfastened. Two minutes check and then watch like a hawk.

I use a Sistema noodle bowl. Has the added advantage of a valve at the top and a handle.

I don’t dispute that - just the comment that they have additives in which isn’t true.

You could equally say why do people buy single croissants to take to work when it’s much cheaper to buy a bag of 5, or a coffee from Costa when they could make their own before they leave home. People can spend their own money how they choose.

I stand there watching it and when it starts bubbling up I ping it open, stir and then when it’s gone down again bung it back in. And repeat until it’s the consistency you like.