Comments on: Dealbusters: Frugal, homemade instant oatmeal

By: Katy L

Katy L — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:37:37 +0000

I found that using a rice cooker to cook the oatmeal in the morning gives you the perfect oatmeal. I am lucky to have a grocery store that sells things like oats, rice and so on in bulk. It is usually even cheaper that way than the packaged “tube” boxes. I like the “old fashioned” type not the quick oats. It takes about as long as white rice to cook (about 15 minutes). You put one measure (like a cup) in the rice cooker, then an equal measurement of water or milk if you want, then push down the plunger. When it is done, some butter and molasses and maybe honey.

I also make dinner “savory” oats using oatmeal. I love this. I mix oats and small grains of varying kind (quiona, buckwheat groats etc) then add chopped onion, pepper, some chili powder, salt and so on, and then cook. It makes a fantastic savory pilaf for pennies. Real cheap!

By: Lisa

Lisa — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 09:00:23 +0000

I just made this for my boyfriend, who loves instant oatmeal but is frustrated by my lack of enthusiasm to go to the grocery store and spend money we don’t have. I doctored mine with some raisins, vanilla and almond extract and it tastes like oatmeal COOKIES! Thanks SO much for sharing! We love it!

By: jack

jack — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:02:25 +0000

I make a big batch of cinnamon oatmeal on the stove (3 cups oatmeal and 7-8 cups of water and put it in the fridge when cool. We add about 1 cup of cooked oatmeal to a 48 oz blender of fruit smoothies each morning. That’s it till lunch. If you have or find fresh mint leaves – a dozen or so is wonderful in it.

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:30:45 +0000

We’ve been making this recipe all summer – for the camping family reunion, for my son’s big “road trip”, for “summer oatmeal” like one of your readers dubbed it, and now finally, as a big batch of cheap but nourishing breakfast food to send to college with my daughter!
I love that my kids are chow-ing on this oatmeal where as they rather snub regular, traditional oats. The quick and easy aspect of making it up in the morning has something to do with that.

By: Leigh

Leigh — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:23:19 +0000

We also eat a lot of oatmeal, and I usually find the instant packets way too sweet. We’re going to Burning Man this August and I’ll be bringing some of this oatmeal with me. I’ll also be on the look out for whatever other easy camp food ideas you have.

xoL

By: Danielle

Danielle — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 18:15:20 +0000

I’m new to the site, and I love it! To avoid mold, simply store the mix in an airtight container in the fridge. Problem solved!

By: Colleen

Colleen — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 02:25:13 +0000

This sounds so good! I will definitely try this for my next trip to the cottage, and for camping too. Actually, now that I think of it, this sounds like a great option for summer oatmeal, as it requires less cooking time than the regular stuff so it wouldn’t heat up the kitchen as much in the morning.

Thanks!!

By: Kay

Kay — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 19:40:31 +0000

Ahaha, I’m SO sorry about that! I meant to yell at him about those darn baggies. You’re doing it right!

By: rob

rob — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:04:28 +0000

This stuff is amazing.LOL I couldn’t wait to make it, went to the store and bought some oatmeal in the bulk bins- I had everything else. I did use brown sugar twin instead of brown sugar- that is due to the fact I am diabetic, but it still turned out wonderfully! (P.S. I put mine in a storage jar that I had sitting around that came with pepperoni “short stops” that I won in a raffle years ago!)

By: Patricia

Patricia — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:57:17 +0000

I eat a lot of oatmeal, both the steel cut and rolled, but my husband is not a big fan. This recipe sounds tasty and easy and I will try it and see if he likes it. I know I will. Thanks for the recipe and cost breakdown.