Porridge basics

[user1471523870]

I can't believe I am asking this, but perhaps I can be excused as I am foreign? I didn't grew up eating porridge, in fact it's a new thing for me and I am even surprised I like it so much!

Soooooo.....how do you make porridge? I am using sachets in the microwave for now, but I would like to go for the real thing.
Do you cook it on the stove every morning? Is it ready in 5-10 minutes or does it need to stay on for longer (I saw someone on Instagram slow-cooking it overnight, does it need that long?).
What about overnight porridge? I like my porridge creamy and hot, not cold from the fridge. What's the benefit from putting it to soak overnight in the fridge if I still need to put it on the stove in the morning?

Sorry, so many questions for such a simple task! I am happy to pay back by answering questions on how to boil pasta :)

The "real" oats are better, yes. You get various versions of scots oats, milled oats, rolled oats etc. From my understanding, they're all slightly different but equally good.

I cook ours on the stove. About 1/2 a cup oats per person with a tiny pinch of salt. I then add 1/2 cup full fat milk per person and then top up with water so that the oats are fully and generously covered by about 2cm of water. Put on low and stir occasionally. Takes 10-15 minutes or so I think? If you want it extra creamy, use all milk and no water. Or add a few spoons of cream at the end. Growing up we'd put a knob of butter in but I don't like that any more.

I know people who prefer to soak the oats overnight, softening them up, then cook them much harder and faster in the morning.

I buy a big bag of oats, but I make mine with water in the microwave with no soaking, so I am probably going to be shunned, but if you soak it overnight in milk it absorbs some of the liquid. It makes it creamier and the oats are softer so won't need as much cooking time. You just need to warm it through on the cooker, so I imagine 10 mins is enough to get it piping hot.

Overnight oats in this house is porridge mixed with yogurt and fruit, and left to soak up the yogurt over night in the fridge, and eaten cold. Not at this time of year, I need my hot breakfast.

If you end up microwaving - 2 mins is long enough I find. After the first minute, I add berries and stir it up, then pop in for a 2nd minute. At the end I add some chopped nuts.

I am tight, so I use the 74p per kilo basic oats from Tesco. This is per serving:

40g oats
200ml water
100ml milk

Heat on the hob, stirring regularly.
Once it boils, stir constantly for 3 minutes. Do not walk away!
Sprinkle with a little sugar and a lot of cinnamon.

Creamy and delicious!

1 part oats
1 part water
1 part milk

I put it on a medium heat while I wake the kids, come back and stir it. Leave it on for 5 minutes or so then take it off the heat for 5 minutes or so.

For three people, I use about 120g of oats (but it usually ends up nearer 130g and about 1 1/4 pints liquid (one third milk, the rest water). Bung in microwave for five mins. Stir. Microwave for another five mins. If it's still a bit liquidy, add a minute at a time until it seems right. If it boils over, it's probably done! Leave to stand for a minute.

Serve with banana and raisins and a bit of syrup or honey, or stewed apple and sugar, or a big blob of jam.

I would do oats and all milk. Simmer on stove until the desired thickness and viscosity. I then would add something sweet like honey with maybe a squeeze of lemon or jam when it is in the bowl.

As for quantities it is the same as cereal in a bowl for one person.

40g of oats with 300ml of milk
Bring to boil then simmer for 5 mins and keep stirring
Dust with sugar and serve

Or if traditional as above with water instead of milk and season with salt instead of sugar.

25-30g porridge oats (I use Lidl's own brand). 150ml semi skimmed milk. Put in a small pan on the hob with a pinch of salt. Bring to the boil (keep stirring) and then simmer for a couple of minutes.
I add various toppings:

Honey

Maple syrup and chopped pecan nuts

Banana

Grated apple and cinnamon

Carrots, raisins, nutmeg and cinnamon (tastes like carrot cake!)

40g oats
300ml milk

Place in bowl and pit in microwave for 3-4 minutes

Serve with-
Frozen fruit - defrosted (blueberries are my favourite)
Apples - chopped
Honey
Etc

Lots of different answers !

So, @user1471523870, pasta.

Big pan, full rolling boil, salt, & cook until al dente.
Love to know if there's a trick or two to it

Toppings -
Brown sugar
Cinnamon
Any fruit compote
Fruit
Cook sultanas in it they become be really soft
Dates/figs

Btw those sachets - I make really easy pancakes with them sometimes.
1 sachet
1 egg
Few (2 or 3) tablespoons milk (or water)
I add in some frozen berries
Stir
Cook.
Eat.

Porridge is really quick.

40g oats
Cover in enough water/milk (amount changes depending on whether you like it thick, gloopy, or runny)

1.Put the ingredients into a pan on the stove.
2.Bring to the boil & keep it boiling for 2 minutes
3.Take it off the heat, and let it sit for 5 minutes (this is important!).

1. Add toppings and enjoy!

My favourite toppings are:
grated apple, raisins, brown sugar and cinnamon
or
chopped banana, almond butter and milk.

Salted for me! Bag of Scots oats, 2 cups of milk, 4 minutes in the microwave. Yip up with cold milk to cool it down.

@Wearywithteens I also cook my porridge with coconut milk and it is delicious defo not wrong

I don't know exact quantities but they usually have it on the packet. Oats into a pan, cover with milk (we use oat milk) and heat gently while stirring. If it starts looking too thick add some water, too thin I might add some more oats. Simmer for a few minutes, the longer you simmer the thicker and creamier it is. Add lots of toppings like honey, berries, chopped bananas, seeds etc.

Never had overnight oats as I'm not keen on the idea of cold porridge but the idea is that all the ingredients have time to soak into the oats and taste of things like carrot cake etc. Might give it a try in summer.

Almond milk is nice, hazelnut milk is amazing. Preferably with cinnamon, a dash of maple syrup, and a scattering of raisins.

I do
1 1/2 cup of oats
2 cups water
1 cup milk
Put on stove on medium heat.
Stir occasionally while making school lunches.
Feeds 3 medium sized kids & a little left over for a greedy dog.
The kids like it with frozen fruit, applesauce & cinnamon, spoonful of jam, syrup, honey or peanut butter.

The overnight oats in the fridge is not the same as porridge, but just as tasty. Put oats plus enough yoghurt (any yoghurt, flavoured is good) and milk to cover. Add anything you like to it - grated apple, berries, nuts, banana, raisins. Allow to soak overnight and eat cold in the morning. Probably better for warmer months when porridge is too hot

For me it is Flahavans Irish quick oats - you can microwave or hob cook. I do half water half milk.

Now for the bad bit (but oh so nice) - dark brown sugar and cream.

Once you’ve tried it you will see why it’s the only way!

Regular porridge oats.

Half a tea mug of oats, a full mug of milk, in a small pan on the job. Gently heat for 5/10 mins and it will thicken, stir regularly.

Serve! I like a large teaspoon of honey in mine.

On the job?! On the HOB.

Lots of different answers indeed!

I put half a cup of oats, covered in just enough milk to cover, and a very few raisins, in the fridge to soak overnight.
I then microwave for 90 seconds in the morning.

I used to make overnight oats with grated pear in them but then in came to winter and I wanted hot breakfast... and then grating a pear every night seemed like a faff... so this is me now! Most certainly not the traditional way but suits me

Oats soaked in milk overnight. Then a quick blitz in the microwave. The soaking means it needs barely any cooking.