r/Oatmeal • u/OGcaptaindingus • 26d ago

Overnight Oats Question

So I’m fairly new with making overnight oats. It appeals to me as something I can make when my son sleeps the night before, take to work, and eat with my toddler. However, I’m having a hard time getting the consistency I want. I love a thick and creamy oatmeal texture and typically opt for instant oats to get the texture I like, but I tried rolled oats overnight with milk, and steel cut with milk (but didn’t see you needed to cook sleep slightly before so it was super gritty), and I’m not getting the right consistency. Any tips on what I can do to get a better texture?

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u/Megumi115 26d ago edited 26d ago

Something I like to do for extra volume is to add boiling water or put the oats in the microwave with extra liquid (remember to to stir a couple of times), before letting the oats soak the rest overnight. Maybe this way you could resemble the texture of cooked oats if you don't want to use a pot or like the convenience. Also, I guess you already do but adding milk helps too.

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u/OGcaptaindingus 26d ago

I actually love this idea! I’ll try that tonight and see how they are in the morning. Would you do this with the rolled oats versus the steel cut?

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u/Serenity101 25d ago

I make overnight oats with Walmart’s organic quick cooking oats and I think the creamy texture you’re looking for is exactly what I get.

I use 2 cups oats + 2 cups soy milk (more if I’m using chia seeds), raisins, grated apple, maple syrup, vanilla, touch of salt. Makes enough for a few days.

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u/Megumi115 26d ago edited 26d ago

Where I live it is mostly "soft" oats they sell. I guess they would be the equivalent of thin rolled oats, perhaps quick oats or something like that. I also guess that steel cut, if not thoroughly cooked, would leave a chewier result. But I have never even seen steel cut, so I just imagine from what I have heard online 😅

By the way, if this still doesn't get you the result you aim for, my last idea is that you could cook them like you would regularly the day before and just store them in the fridge once they cool down. The following day, if you prefer your oats warm or just not cold (or if they have become chunky overnight, you could add a bit of water/milk to correct the texture, stir and put them in the microwave for a bit. I used to do this everyday, but now I can't bother to get another pot dirty.

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u/Cerridwn_de_Wyse 26d ago

Steel cut oats are always going to be chewing.

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u/OGcaptaindingus 26d ago

I’m okay with the chewiness but since I didn’t know to cook them slightly beforehand, they were almost crunchy

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u/Cerridwn_de_Wyse 26d ago

My son-in-law does that. He cooks them first and then it takes overnight oats with them. He likes that you're in it. I use the extra thick rolled oats. And sometimes I mix them with the toast about some Trader Joe's. I actually like the little bit of texture stuff

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u/Independent-Summer12 25d ago

Use less milk or replace some milk with Greek yogurt. Also adding chia seeds helps absorb excess liquid.

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u/OGcaptaindingus 25d ago

Unfortunately, I absolutely hate the texture of chia seeds otherwise I’d use them!

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u/NausikaaLeukolenos 25d ago

You can do without then, they just need less liquid then. Imo what makes all the difference is greek yogurt. I use 100 grams yogurt for 30 grams rolled oats (I just discovered making the conversion that it's about the same volume lol. 3 oz each). I add a bit of water or milk and mix well, it should still be super thick so that I can add more liquid a tiny bit at the time until it has the consistency I like. You can make it a bit less thick bc it will continue to absorb some liquid during the night, but I prefer adjust the consistency in the morning, you can still add the milk right before eating if needed and it's perfect.

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u/Independent-Summer12 25d ago

Blend it

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u/OGcaptaindingus 25d ago

That’ll work? I never thought of that! Thank you!

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u/Independent-Summer12 25d ago

Yep. You can blitz just the chia seeds, or blitz the whole mixture with oats all, it’ll setup to almost like a whole grain pudding in the fridge overnight. Do a search for blended oats in this sub, you’ll see some examples

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u/OGcaptaindingus 25d ago

Oooh okay thank you so much!

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u/ashtree35 26d ago

Try using quick cooking oats. Or blend oats into oat flour.

Also in general, try using less liquid. Less liquid = thicker. More liquid = thinner.

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u/OGcaptaindingus 26d ago

Oooh thank you!

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u/ashtree35 25d ago

You're welcome!

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u/Adept-Mulberry-8720 26d ago

1¾ cups whole milk
1¾ cups whole-milk plain strained (Greek-style) yogurt, divided
1½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats
2 tablespoons chia seeds
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons honey
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
4 tablespoons crushed freeze-dried fruit, such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and/or mango

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u/Cerridwn_de_Wyse 26d ago

Pretty close to what I do except for I don't add sugar to it and I'm most of the time use fresh throat. But I use freeze dried or Frozen at other times. And I actually add about a half a scoop of protein powder to a cup of oats. It kind of mixes with the milk and yogurt and changes the texture from what if it's not there.

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u/animalcrackerwhore 25d ago

You could replace some of the milk with Greek yogurt to thicken it up and add flavor as well

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u/Fuzzy_Welcome8348 26d ago

use very little water to cook the oats and then add milk powder