Can You Use Frozen Fruit In Overnight Oats?

Fruits are one of the best toppings for oatmeal, including overnight oats. They add color, flavor, and a lot of nutrients to this versatile breakfast dish. 

Can you use frozen fruit in overnight oats too? Yes, you can use frozen fruit in overnight oats. Berries, cherries, mango, and pineapple chunks are some of the best options. When using frozen fruit for overnight oats you need to reduce the amount of liquid you use for the oats. 

Continue reading to learn how to make overnight oats with frozen fruit to achieve the perfect consistency, if overnight oats with frozen fruit are healthy, and which frozen fruits work well for overnight oats.

We will also give you tips for making the perfect oatmeal using frozen fruit!

Are Overnight Oats Good For You?

Some people think overnight oats are the lazy way to make oatmeal and that they are not as healthy as cooked oats. But while overnight oats don’t involve any cooking, they are still a great meal to include in your diet.

So long as you keep the add-ins and toppings healthy, overnight oats are not only easy but also nutritious. 

Here are some of the benefits of overnight oats:

• Overnight oats are an easy and nutritious make-ahead breakfast. They take only a few minutes to prepare and can last up to 5 days in the fridge.
• Overnight oats are very versatile. You can use water, milk, non-dairy milk alternatives, yogurt, and even juices to prepare them. As for the toppings and add-ins, the possibilities are countless. 
• Overnight oats are high in fiber and improve digestion. 
• As overnight oats are soaked and not cooked through heat, the starches in oats break down even more. This helps the body absorb the nutrients in oats better. 
• Overnight oats are a great breakfast option for people who are trying to keep their weight under control. As overnight oats are high in fiber, they keep you full longer. 

Can You Use Frozen Fruit In Overnight Oats?

Fruits are the most popular add-in for overnight oats. And while you can add any fresh fruit to oatmeal and it will turn out delicious, you may not always have them at home. 

Additionally, there should be another easy way to use up frozen fruit aside from making smoothies, right?

Luckily, you can use frozen fruits in overnight oats. But if you do, make sure to consider two important things. 

First, frozen fruits in overnight oats will have a softer texture. As the fruits thaw, they soften. So, don’t expect them to be as crisp as fresh fruits. 

And second, you will need to use less liquid for overnight oats with frozen fruit. As the fruit thaws, it produces liquid.

It will add up to the liquid you have for the oats to absorb. A rule of thumb is to use 4 teaspoons less liquid when adding 1/2 cup of frozen fruit to the oats. 

With this said, if you are using yogurt for overnight oats, you don’t need to reduce its amount. Only reduce the amount of the main liquid ingredient you are using, i.e. milk, water, juice, etc. 

Fresh Vs Frozen Fruits In Overnight Oats – Which One Is Better?

One of the main benefits of using frozen fruit for overnight oats is that you can add them to the oats at night when preparing your morning oatmeal.

With fresh fruit, it is recommended to add it to the oatmeal in the morning to prevent the fruits from becoming mushy. 

So, if you are someone who wants a grab-and-go breakfast and no additional steps, consider adding frozen fruit to your overnight oats. 

Are Overnight Oats Made With Frozen Fruit Healthy?

Similar to thinking that overnight oats are not as healthy as cooked oatmeal, some people believe that frozen fruit is not as healthy as fresh fruit. 

However, the truth is that the nutritional value of frozen and fresh fruits is nearly identical. Unlike some frozen vegetables, fruits don’t undergo blanching and any heat treatment that may cause them to lose some of their nutrients.

Moreover, freezing helps retain the vitamin and mineral content of fruits. 

Also, fruits that are going to be frozen are typically harvested at the peak of their ripeness. This is when they have the highest amount of nutrients.

On top of this, frozen fruits have a much longer shelf life and you can have your favorite fruits year-round. 

So, overnight oats with frozen fruit are just as healthy as oatmeal with fresh fruit. 

Overnight Oats With Frozen Fruit – How Do You Make Them?

If you want to use frozen fruit to make overnight oats but are not sure how to do it, here is a recipe you can try.

1. Mix ½ cup of rolled oats with 1/8 cup of yogurt and ½ cup minus 4 teaspoons of your favorite milk. 
2. You can also add sugar, maple syrup, or another sweetener of your choice. Peanut butter can also be added to the mixture at this point. 
3. Transfer the oats mixture into a mason jar or another sealable container. 
4. Add ½ cup of frozen berries (or other fruits of your choice).
5. Seal the container and place it in the fridge. 
6. Let the oats sit in the fridge overnight. In the morning, give the mixture a good mix and enjoy. 

Which Frozen Fruits Are Best For Overnight Oats?

All fruits can be good for overnight oats so long as you maintain proper oats to liquid ratio.

Many people enjoy using a mix of different berries, including blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries.

Other great fruits to use for overnight oats are frozen mango, pineapple, peach, and plum. Frozen bananas used in overnight oats may be too mushy. 

Aside from the type of fruit, we recommend you also consider the size of fruit chunks. Fruits other than berries are usually frozen in chunks.

When making overnight oats with frozen chunks of mango, peach, pineapple, and other fruits, make sure they are neither too large nor too small. 

Large chunks may not manage to fully defrost by the time you eat your breakfast especially if you prepare the oats rather late at night. Small chunks, on the other, may become too mushy. 

5 Tip For Making Overnight Oats With Frozen Fruit

As making overnight oats with frozen fruit can be a little tricky, we have come up with five tips to help you better your make-ahead breakfast. 

1. Add Some Crunch 

Defrosted fruit has a softer texture. So, we recommend you always add some crunchy toppings to your overnight oats before you eat them in the morning. 

Granola, chopped nuts, and seeds are great add-ins that will add texture, flavor, and more nutrients to overnight oats. 

2. Use Fresh Fruit 

The fact that you have used frozen fruit to prepare overnight oats is not a reason to skip adding fresh fruit to your oatmeal. 

Add your favorite fruits to the oatmeal when you are ready to eat it. Fresh fruits will add color and texture to the overnight oats. 

Defrosted fruits don’t always look appealing. So, we recommend you add fresh fruit to the top layer of the overnight oats right before you serve them.

3. Find Your Favorite Frozen Fruit Combination 

If you have tried to make overnight oats with frozen fruit but didn’t enjoy the results, don’t give up. You simply haven’t found the combination that works for you yet. 

Frozen berries are what some people choose to use for their instant oats. Others also like to use cherries, peach, mango, pineapple, and even bananas. 

Try various food combinations depending on which fruits you like in their defrosted form and create your winning frozen fruit combination that you can always go for when making overnight oats. 

4. Use Properly Frozen Fruit 

One of the main reasons people dislike overnight oats with frozen fruit is that some fruits become too mushy when they thaw. In some cases, their flavor changes are significant too. 

This being the case, it is highly important to use fruit that has been frozen properly. If you are freezing your own fruit, take your time to flash-freeze it first to maintain the texture of the fruit as much as possible.

Also, make sure to store the fruit in the freezer in airtight containers or bags so that it doesn’t absorb any odors and doesn’t get freezer burn. As you may know, freezer burn affects the flavor and texture of frozen food significantly. 

If you’re not sure how to flash freeze fruit, here’s a great video on the subject!

5. Always Use Rolled Oats 

The key to delicious overnight oats is using the right types of oats. Never reach for instant oats when making overnight oats no matter what add-ins you will be using. 

Old-fashioned rolled oats are the best for overnight oats as they make oatmeal with the perfect creamy texture.

Instant oats become too soft and mushy. Steel-cut oats, on the other hand, are too thick and tough for soaking and make chewy oatmeal when used for overnight oats. 

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