This lesson is 661 words, a 2 min and 38 sec read. It is included in How to Boil Water & the Breakfast Collection. 📍 IntroductionThick but not mushy, fluffy but not chewy, oatmeal can please even the pickiest of eaters. Additionally, with its neutral flavor and customizable texture, it’s the ultimate blank canvas for building a hearty, satisfying, & economical breakfast. The most important thing to remember about oatmeal? It’s best the way *you* like it. Go ahead and experiment. Your scrumptious bowl of whole-grain goodness awaits. 🧂Ingredients: * Oats  * Water or milk (2:1 for rolled, 4:1 for steel cut) * Salt (recommended) * Add-Ins & Toppings (see reference guide)✅ Instructions: * Bring 1 cup of water or milk to a simmer.  * Add a generous pinch of salt (optional). * Stir in oats & add-ins/flavorings* Reduce heat to a low simmer. Stir occasionally for 5 min. ~25-30 for steel cut. Add more water if necessary to avoid scorching. * When grain is tender & water fully absorbed, add toppings & serve. 📝 Notes Tips & TricksCooking: * For creamier oats, start them in cold water. For chewier, wait until the water is boiling.  * To test for doneness: run a wooden spoon across the bottom of the pot. If thick enough, the displaced oatmeal will take a few seconds to cover the bottom.  * To soften dried fruit (e.g., plump the raisins), add towards the beginning of cooking.  * For next-level flavor, toast the oats first in some butter or coconut oil until slightly browned.* Don’t over-stir the oats. They will become gummy. * Rice cookers make cooking oatmeal hands-off & essentially fail-proof. They are also nonstick & temperature controlled (less scorching, easier to clean). Add all ingredients (reduce water by ~1/3rd) and set to quick cook. For a more developed flavor & softer texture, use the porridge setting. A popular hack is using the timer feature. Add ingredients at night and set the timer for breakfast time. Your home will smell delicious when you wake up. * To skip cooking entirely, try “overnight oats.” Soak raw oats in milk, water, or yogurt + flavorings overnight). Cover to keep from drying out. Storage: * Cooked oatmeal lasts for ~ five days. * To meal-prep oatmeal, make a batch and store it in a large container or individual jars in the fridge.* Dry oats last approximately one year in a cool dark place.  Varieties of Oats: * Instant (aka quick oats): trades speed for lack of texture & depth of flavor; often includes added sugar & flavorings * Rolled (aka old fashioned or whole): traditional varietal, most common* Steel-cut (aka Scottish or Irish): requires longer cooking time, richer/nuttier flavor * Muesli: rolled oats with nuts, seeds, & dried fruit added. (Fun fact - this was developed in 1900 by a Swiss doctor for his hospitalized patients). Nutrition & Cost: * Serving sizes vary by type of oatmeal (e.g., ½ cup of rolled oats is 150 calories, ¼ cup of steel cut is 160) * USDA recommends ~6 oz of grains per day (2x amount in photo below) * Oatmeal has ~5 grams of protein per serving (compare to 6g in an egg) * Bought in bulk, oatmeal costs ~18 cents per serving. 📓Toppings & Add-Ins Reference Guide* Spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, turmeric, vanilla extract * Sweet: maple syrup, brown sugar, honey, fruit (e.g., berries, bananas, apples), jam, dried fruit (e.g., raisins, cherries, chopped apricots) * Creamy: milk, half/half, butter, yogurt, nut butter (e.g., almond, cashew) * Crunchy: nuts (e.g., slivered almonds, walnuts, pecans), seeds (pumpkin, sesame, flax, chia), toasted coconut, salt flakes * Savory: bacon, egg, cheese, sauteed veggies (spinach, mushroom, onion), hot sauce🛍 Shopping Recommendations:* Oats: Bob’s Red Mill Steel Cut ($0.31 per serving) * Rice Cooker: Zojirushi 5 cup ($$ & $$) 🗂 Recipe Box: * Banana & Almond Butter: ⅓ frozen banana (no need to chop) + 2 T nut butter * Cinnamon Raisin: A few dashes of cinnamon & a handful of raisins* Apple Pie: Diced apple, nuts (e.g., pecans/walnuts), maple syrup, cinnamon* Peaches & Cream: diced peaches topped with greek yogurt or half & half🎓 Further Study* How Much Oatmeal Should I Eat? [Livestrong]* What’s the Difference Between Steel-Cut, Rolled, and Instant Oats? [Kitchn]* Why Oatmeal Made in a Rice Cooker Is Awesome [Kitchn]* The Best Rice Cookers [Wirecutter]* 7 Ways to Make Leftover Oatmeal [Food52]——————————————————👨‍💻 Know anybody who would make a great researcher or writer? We’re hiring! 🎁 Email us an oatmeal picture for a chance to win a prize. ✏️ Did you like this lesson? Loved it! ⭐️ · Pretty good 🤷‍♂️ · Could be better 😐🎧 Prefer to listen? Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, or Overcast. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.trylifeschool.com