Overnight oats have become a popular breakfast in recent years, thanks to their convenience and health benefits. The basic recipe involves soaking oats and mix-ins like milk, yogurt, and fruit overnight in the fridge so that the oats soften and absorb the liquid, resulting in a creamy, pudding-like texture.
While overnight oats are commonly eaten cold straight from the fridge, some people prefer to heat them up before eating. So are overnight oats still good when heated up? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons.
Benefits of heating up overnight oats
Here are some potential benefits of heating up overnight oats:
Warms the oats up
This is the most obvious reason to heat up overnight oats – it warms them to a hot breakfast temperature. Eating any food warm can be comforting and satisfying on a cold morning. Overnight oats are known for being creamy and cold, so heating them provides some temperature contrast.
Enhances the flavor
Heating overnight oats enables the ingredients to warm up and meld together even more. This can allow the flavors to become more infused and pronounced. The heat helps to soften any chunks of fruit and blend all the tastes.
Changes the texture
While overnight oats are meant to have a soft, pudding-like texture from soaking overnight, heating them transforms the texture even further. Warming the oats makes them even softer and creamier. The heat causes the oats to further absorb any liquid.
Thickens the oats
In addition to softening the oats, heating them can also thicken up the liquid in the overnight oats. As the oats absorb more liquid, it reduces the moisture and makes the oats creamier and thicker. This gives them a more substantial texture.
Increases the nutritional value
Some studies have found that heating oats increases the antioxidant availability and overall nutritional quality of the grains. The heat seems to increase the release and absorption of certain nutrients in oats. So heating up overnight oats may actually make them even more nutritious!
Downsides of heating up overnight oats
However, there are also a few potential downsides to consider when heating overnight oats:
Changes the intended texture
Since overnight oats are meant to be soaked and served cold, heating them changes the original creamy chilled texture. For overnight oat purists who prefer that texture, heating them can seem like an undesirable change.
Risk of overcooking the oats
If overnight oats are heated too long or at too high of a temperature, the oats can become overcooked. This results in a mushy, porridge-like texture that some people may not like. Proper heating is important to simply warm the oats while maintaining the overnight texture.
Loss of freshness
Part of the appeal of overnight oats is their fresh, cold flavors straight from the fridge. Heating them can diminish some of that bright, crisp freshness. The chilled flavors become muted.
Cooking alters some ingredients
Certain overnight oats mix-ins don’t work as well heated up. For example, heating causes delicate fruits like berries to become mushy and lose their texture. Yogurt can also lose its creaminess when cooked. So the ingredients may need to be adjusted for heated overnight oats.
Not ideal for hot weather
When it’s sweltering out, a cold breakfast can sound more appetizing than a hot one. Heating up chilled overnight oats may make them less appealing in hot summer weather when a cold breakfast sounds best.
Tips for heating up overnight oats
If you want to try heating up your overnight oats, here are some tips:
– Use a low heat. Microwave on half power or gently warm on the stovetop over low heat. High heat can make them overflow or get mushy.
– Heat oats in 30 second intervals, stirring between each. Check frequently to prevent overcooking.
– Use milk or water in the oats rather than yogurt, which can curdle when heated.
– Add fresh fruit after heating, rather than before, to preserve the texture.
– Sweeteners like honey, maple syrup or brown sugar can be added after heating for better incorporation.
– Flavor with spices like cinnamon and vanilla extract after heating to intensify the flavors.
– Allow oats to cool slightly before eating if they get too hot.
How to make heated overnight oats
To make overnight oats that are intended to be heated up, follow this recipe:
Ingredients:
– 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
– 3/4 cup milk of your choice
– 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
– 1 tbsp chia seeds
– 1 tsp cinnamon
– 1 tsp vanilla extract
– Pinch of salt
– Sweetener like honey or maple syrup to taste (optional)
– Fruit like bananas, berries, peaches, etc. (optional)
Directions:
1. Combine oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, cinnamon, vanilla and salt in a bowl or jar. Mix well.
2. Cover and refrigerate overnight or for at least 5 hours to allow oats to soften.
3. When ready to eat, heat oats on the stove or microwave until warmed through, 1-2 minutes.
4. Stir heated oats and adjust consistency if needed by adding more milk.
5. Mix in any sweetener and fruit toppings after heating.
6. Enjoy your hot overnight oats!
The yogurt helps give creaminess while the oats soak up the liquid to achieve a thick, pudding-like texture. Chia seeds add thickness too. Cinnamon, vanilla and salt enhance the flavor. You can customize the ingredients to your taste.
Conclusion
Heating up overnight oats can be controversial among oatmeal fans. On one hand, it can provide a comforting, flavorful hot breakfast. But it also changes the intended chilled texture of overnight oats. There are reasonable pros and cons to heating or not heating overnight oats.
In the end it comes down to personal preference. If you don’t like cold oats, find overnight oats too thick, or want a hot breakfast, then try heating them. But if you love the fresh, creamy chilled texture, keep enjoying your unheated overnight oats. You really can’t go wrong either way!
Heated or not, overnight oats make for a convenient, healthy breakfast. The best way to eat them is however you enjoy them most. So don’t be afraid to experiment to find your personal perfect bowl of overnight oats.
| Pros of Heating Overnight Oats | Cons of Heating Overnight Oats |
|---|---|
| Warms up the oats | Changes original texture |
| Enhances flavor | Risk of overcooking |
| Makes texture creamier | Loss of fresh, chilled flavors |
| Thickens up liquid | Can alter more delicate ingredients |
| Increases nutritional value | Not ideal in hot weather |
FAQs
Are heated overnight oats safe to eat?
Yes, heating properly prepared overnight oats is safe. Just avoid extreme high temperatures that could burn the oats. As long as they are gently warmed through, heated overnight oats can be safely enjoyed.
Can overnight oats be heated up twice?
It’s best to only heat up a batch of overnight oats once. Heating and re-heating can degrade the texture and moisture content, resulting in drier, mushier oats. For best quality, cook the intended portion once.
Do overnight oats need to be refrigerated after heating?
If you don’t eat all the heated overnight oats right away, it’s a good idea to refrigerate the leftovers. The cooled oats can keep for 2-3 days this way. Reheating cooled oats a second time is not recommended.
What is the best way to heat overnight oats?
The best heating methods are microwave and stovetop. Microwave in 30-second intervals on half power, stirring between each. For stovetop, warm over low in a small pot, stirring frequently. Avoid high heat from any source to prevent overcooking.
Should milk or water be used in overnight oats that will be heated?
Water or regular dairy milk is best for heated overnight oats. Non-dairy milks can curdle with heat. Yogurt also doesn’t heat as well. For the most consistent heated texture, stick to water or regular milk.