Hot cereal in crockpot?

[sapphirestar]

Has anyone ever made hot cereal in the crockpot? I am talking oatmeal or cracked wheat or other such grains, putting it in the crockpot the night before and having it edible in the morning?

I am looking for a way for us to eat more whole-grain hot cereals, but don't often have the time to cook it in the morning. My kids love oatmeal and Cream of Wheat, and I'd like to make those more mornings. My fear is that I'd end up with something overcooked and inedible by morning if I use the crockpot.

Any ideas, tips or suggestions... or any ideas of hot cereal combinations you've enjoyed.... all would be appreciated! Thanks!

[Melman]

HA! Someone has to say it. :-) Alton Brown did an Oatmeal show a few weeks ago. One of his recipes was actually oatmeal cooked in a crock pot. A friend of mine tried it...but she substituted some other dried fruit than what he suggested. She wasn't thrilled but she was also pretty certain it was HER selection of fruit that made it just so-so.

The recipes are on the foodtv site...or go to goodeatsfanpage.com to see the whole transcript. I thought it was a very informative show! I've bought the oatmeal...I just need to make the recipe.

[m4star]

Overnight Oatmeal



Recipe courtesy Alton Brown

1 cup steel cut oats
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup dried figs
4 cups water
1/2 cup half-and-half
In a crock-pot, combine all ingredients and set to low heat. Cover and let cook for 8 to 9 hours.

Stir and remove to serving bowls. This method works best if started before you go to bed. This way your oatmeal will be finished by morning.


Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 9 hours
Difficulty: Easy

Calories per serving- 369
Fat- 3.5 grams
Sodium- 7.75 mg
Fiber- 10.75 grams

[cookinator]

I tried to put my morning cereal in the crockpot but found that it did get too dry for my taste. What I find works for me is to boil 3 cups of water with 1 cup raisens and a dash of cinnamon on the stove before I do anything else. Then just throw in 2 cups of oatmeal(regular oats) stir and turn the heat off. Be sure the lid is on and go about your other business. In no time (5 mins) it will be ready to go..I also do this with rice as someone always needs a ride here and my cooking is often interupted. I have found that I can start these grains (oatmeal, rice, even did split peas this way) and the best part is I NEVER BURN IT! If you knew me you would be proud. Oh by the way I am a former big time lurker who is now trying to be more of a participant..;)

[wallycat]

I never measure...I use soymilk instead of water...
I have a tupperware container of pre-mixed oatmeal, rolled rye, raisins, cinnimon...and anything else I may wish to use (sometimes it's just plain oatmeal and raisins)...

place in a bowl; cover with soymilk...zap in microwave for about 1 minute (depending on how much you use) and let sit for about 1 minute...voila....it works for us and it's easy ....of course, some people prefer crunchier or chewier cereal and others want real porridgy type...so adjust cooking time .....:D

[bobmark226]

Originally posted by m4star
Overnight Oatmeal



Recipe courtesy Alton Brown

1 cup steel cut oats
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup dried figs
4 cups water
1/2 cup half-and-half
In a crock-pot, combine all ingredients and set to low heat. Cover and let cook for 8 to 9 hours.

Stir and remove to serving bowls. This method works best if started before you go to bed. This way your oatmeal will be finished by morning.


Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 9 hours
Difficulty: Easy

Calories per serving- 369
Fat- 3.5 grams
Sodium- 7.75 mg
Fiber- 10.75 grams

Thought I'd bump this up because the oatmeal AB episode was rerun yesterday, Saturday, and I made the crockpot "Overnight Oatmeal" for the first time last night. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven when I had it this morning. It was like a super rich, creamy, dense rice pudding, absolutely luscious.

BUT..

The TV version was slightly different in that AB used one cup of heavy cream instead of the half and half. Had I seen the printed version (1/2 cup half and half), I would have made the switch and I'll probably try this with 2% evaporated milk next time. Instead of the figs, which he only used half a cup of on the show, I used a half cup of chopped dried apricots. The two fruits were plentiful and their flavors permeated the oatmeal, which still had considerable texture. I'll probably reduce the cranberries by half next time to cut the sugar, but then there were no other sweeteners or fats needed.

Anyone else who's had problems with this recipe or didn't like it, I'd have to think did something wrong. I've never had a better oatmeal or hot cereal!

BOB

[Guest]

Crockpot steel cut oats is a breakfast staple in my house. I find that a 1 part oats/ 4 parts water works best. I throw in in the corckpot on the low setting and turn it on right before I go to bed.

[Sami]

What I do with steel cut oats, is to put it in a pan with water, raisens and a little salt, cover and let it sit on the counter overnight. In the morning I put it on the stove until the water boils, less than 5 minutes, and it is done.


If I plan to cook it with milk, I put the pan in the refrigerator overnight.

If I use regular oatmeal, it cooks in a minute or 2 in the microwave.

[Rae]

Well, I just promoted another food magazine on a different thread and I'm going to do it again here (I really do LOVE Cooking Light!). "Eating Well" magazine published a recipe last month for crockpot oatmeal. They said that they key was to use steel cut oats because they will hold up better overnight. Their recipe included craisins and apricots. I'm not a big fan of dried fruit but thought that I might play around with it and try some apples and cinnamon etc.

[Terrytx]

here is the Eating Well one-


* Exported from MasterCook *

Overnight Oatmeal

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 8 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Breakfast

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------

8 cups water
2 cups steel-cut oats (see Ingredient Note)
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup dried apricots, chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Combine water, oats, dried cranberries, dried apricots and salt in a 5- or 6-quart slow cooker. Turn heat to low. Put the lid on and cook until the oats are tender and the porridge is creamy, 7 to 8 hours.

Makes 8 servings, 1 cup each.
203 calories per serving; 3 g total fat (1 g sat, 0 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 37 g carbohydrate; 6 g protein; 6 g fiber; 80 mg sodium.

Oatmeal Unplugged

Halve the above recipe to accommodate the size of most double boilers.

Combine 4 cups water, 1 cup steel-cut oats, 3 tablespoons dried cranberries, 3 tablespoons dried apricots and 1/8 teaspoon salt in the top of a double boiler. Cover and cook over boiling water for about 1 1/2 hours, checking the water level from time to time.

Steel-cut oats, sometimes labeled "Irish oatmeal," look like small pebbles. They are toasted oat groats—the oat kernel that has been removed from the husk—that have been cut in 2 or 3 pieces. Do not substitute regular rolled oats, which have a shorter cooking time, in the slow-cooker oatmeal recipe.


Description:
"You can assemble it in the slow cooker in the evening and wake up to
a bowl of hot, nourishing oatmeal.Serve this porridge with your choice
of toppings, such as brown sugar, maple syrup or yogurt."
Source:
"Eating Well-winter/04"

[Tiger]

I did the EW one last week. Although I LOVE oatmeal I wasn't so crazy about this. Too thick and bland. I think I'm going to try again tonight using soymilk instead of water. I'll do the 1 cup/4 cup formula and throw in some dried fruit.
Do you think it'll be ok to let soymilk cook all night?

[mobear]

Don't mean to hijack the thread completely, but since there are alot of soy milk fans here....

I have tried soy milk in coffee (was recommended by an article) and it tasted horrible. Anyway, I was wondering if you guys could recommend your favorite ways to use your soymilk? Other than on cereal? I would like to try introducing it into my diet. Thanks!

[unvrslrmte]

I made the Eating Well recipe Christmas morning for my family. Everyone ate it to be kind except me (who didn't have to eat it because I made it!) It was weirdly slimey and very bland. Reminded me of wallpaper paste. I definately will not make that again.

[fudi2000]

I have some regular oats in the cupboard and would love a quick Maple and brown sugar recipe if anyone has one. I'm a slacker when it comes to breakfast and I need something, in the immortal words of my father, "Fast and simple"

[ande]

unvrslrmte--

we thought exactly the same thing about the AB recipe. we just made it earlier this week...yuck. except we had the added benefit of having it burn all around the edges so I got to spend lots of quality time chiseling the charcoal off my crockpot. never again!

[bobmark226]

Originally posted by ande
unvrslrmte--

we thought exactly the same thing about the AB recipe. we just made it earlier this week...yuck. except we had the added benefit of having it burn all around the edges so I got to spend lots of quality time chiseling the charcoal off my crockpot. never again!

I've now done this three times, and it has been perfect every time. No slime, no burned crusty edges. I guess this means that, gauging by Alton and me, men are better cooks? ;) ;)

BOB

[PamN]

I've now done this three times, and it has been perfect every time. No slime, no burned crusty edges. I guess this means that, gauging by Alton and me, men are better cooks?

Or it could be that your crockpot/slowcooker cooks at a lower temperature. There are different wattages, and my new crockpot seems to get things done in less time than the old one.

That doesn't address the taste issue, of course. ;)

[Lynn B]

Originally posted by bobmark226


I guess this means that, gauging by Alton and me, men are better cooks? ;) ;)

BOB

Whoooooaaaaaa, Bob! You better watch it, you are definitely of the minority gender around here! Them's fightin' words! ;) :) :D

(Totally teasing!) :cool:

Lynn

[Gilgamesh37]

Well, count me in the No column as well--I did the Alton recipe and thought it was AWFUL--gummy, flavorless, and just plain nasty. Plus of course, I had used my lovely special-ordered steel cut oats, so I was just plain mad it turned out poorly--and I really tried to make myself eat it, but no go. Definitely NOT a repeater in our house.