How To Thicken Oatmeal
If you’re like most people, oatmeal is a go-to breakfast meal. It’s quick, easy, and relatively healthy. But what do you do when your oatmeal turns out thin and watery? Don’t worry — we’ve got you covered.
How to thicken oatmeal? The best way to thicken oatmeal is to add a thickening agent, like protein powder, coconut flour, milk, egg whites, or flax meal. If you want the oatmeal to be extra healthy, you can also add mashed bananas, yogurt, or even silken tofu.
In this blog post, we’ll teach you how to thicken oatmeal using a few different methods. So whether you use steel-cut oats or old-fashioned oats, your oatmeal will be thick and satisfying every time. Let’s get started!
Ways To Thicken Oatmeal
Nobody likes thin, watery oatmeal — it’s an easy way to set your day off on the wrong foot. If you have a mushy, watery pot of oatmeal, here are some ways that you can thicken it to create the perfect texture!
1. Use The Right Oats
First things first: One important factor in deciding how well your oatmeal will turn out is the type of oats you use. Steel-cut or old-fashioned oats will take longer to cook, but they will also be less mushy than quick oats.
Steel-cut oats are small pieces of whole oat groats, while old-fashioned oats are rolled oats that have been steamed and flaked.
Quick oats are made from old-fashioned oats that have been cut into even smaller pieces and steamed for a longer time. That extra steaming makes them softer and more likely to turn into mush if they’re not cooked correctly.
If you are looking for perfectly cooked oatmeal, it is best to use steel-cut or old-fashioned oats.
However, quick oats are still a viable option if you are short on time — just be aware that they may not turn out as fluffy and light as the other options.
2. Let The Oatmeal Simmer
If you’re using the right type of oats, but the oatmeal is still too watery, simply let the pot simmer uncovered for a few minutes to let all the liquid evaporate, which will thicken the oatmeal’s consistency.
Make sure to stir the pot thoroughly so that the oatmeal doesn’t burn at the bottom!
After a few minutes, you can turn off the heat and continue to stir the pot. The residual heat will still work to get rid of the excess liquid, and you’ll get the perfect oatmeal consistency.
3. Protein Powder
Protein powder is a great additive to thicken your oatmeal and add some extra protein to your diet. Protein powder can absorb excess liquid, so it’s an ideal ingredient for thickening oatmeal.
Just add a tablespoon of protein powder to your oatmeal and stir until it’s evenly mixed in. Any protein powder is great, but whey protein powder is particularly effective at thickening oatmeal.
Protein powder also comes in different flavors, like chocolate and vanilla, so it can make your oatmeal more flavorful as well!
If your oatmeal is still watery after adding protein powder, you can add more until it reaches a creamy consistency. Just be sure to add it gradually so you don’t end up with a bowl of thick sludge!
4. Coconut Flour
Coconut flour is made from ground-up coconuts. It is a key ingredient in many gluten-free and Paleo recipes, as it is both grain-free and nut-free. In addition, coconut flour also contains lots of healthy fats.
Unlike other types of flour, coconut flour is very high in fiber, containing about 40% dietary fiber. This makes it highly absorbent, which is why it is often used as a thickener for sauces, soups, and oatmeal.
Since coconut flour is highly absorbent, adding a tablespoon of coconut powder is enough to thicken a serving of oatmeal. Just add the flour to your pot and mix well, and you’ll see the result almost immediately!
If you don’t have coconut flour, you can also substitute it using similar starchy flour, such as all-purpose flour, tapioca powder, corn flour, xanthan gum, or arrowroot powder.
However, keep in mind that each of these types of flour has a different level of starchiness, so make sure to add a little bit at a time to make sure that your oatmeal doesn’t turn out too thick.
5. Flax Meal
Flax meal, which is made from ground flaxseeds, is another thickening agent that can be used to thicken watery oatmeal.
Flax meal is a good source of fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, so adding flax meal will not only make your oatmeal more delicious, but it also adds plenty of health benefits.
The fiber in flax meal can help to promote regularity and prevent constipation, while the omega-3 fatty acids can help to reduce inflammation.
To thicken your oatmeal, simply stir in a tablespoon of flax meal per serving, and watch as the water starts to thicken.
6. Egg Whites
Adding egg whites will thicken your oatmeal and also add extra protein.
Just whisk together two egg whites per serving, and then stir into your oatmeal when it’s still hot (but removed from direct heat). The egg whites will be nicely blended with your oatmeal without turning into scrambled eggs.
Since egg whites tend to overwhelm the flavors, you can also add some flavor by stirring in a teaspoon of vanilla extract or honey.
You may wonder if you can use a whole egg to thicken your oatmeal, but the answer is, unfortunately, no.
The egg yolk will cook when it meets the heat of the pot, and you’ll end up with an oatmeal soup filled with scrambled eggs rather than pleasantly thick oatmeal.
7. Nut Butter
If you have your favorite nut butter, you can also add a tablespoon to your runny oatmeal to thicken it.
The thick texture of the nut butter will blend with the runny oatmeal, giving it a heartier consistency. Plus, you can enjoy the delicious flavors of the nut butter in your oatmeal as well.
In addition, nut butter is a great source of healthy fats, protein, vitamins, and minerals, so adding it to your oatmeal can give it an extra nutritional boost.
Whether you’re using almond butter, peanut butter, or another type of nut butter, simply add a spoonful or two to your oatmeal while it’s still hot and enjoy.
If you find that the nut butter is too sticky and difficult to stir in, you can add a few drops of hot water or warm milk to loosen up the butter before mixing it in with your oatmeal.
8. Mashed Banana
A healthy option to help thicken your oatmeal is to mash a banana and stir it into the oatmeal. The banana will add both sweetness and creaminess without the addition of fat or sugar.
In addition, bananas are filled with potassium, which can help to keep blood pressure in check. For a thicker and more delicious bowl of oatmeal, adding a mashed banana is the way to go!
You can mix mashed banana with your oatmeal while it is still hot. If you want a delicious twist, you can add a dash of cinnamon to enhance the flavors even more.
9. Milk
Milk is also an effective thickening agent that almost everyone has in their fridge.
Just add some milk to the pot and simmer for a few minutes. The liquid will thicken as the water evaporates, making the oatmeal richer and more flavorful.
You can also add other ingredients to the pot, such as cinnamon and brown sugar, to complement the hearty taste of milk.
If you don’t have any milk, you can substitute milk with another liquid such as coconut cream or any nut milk you have in your fridge.
10. Yogurt
Adding yogurt to oatmeal is an easy way to thicken it up. When your oatmeal is cooked, simply stir in the yogurt until it reaches the desired consistency. This method works best with plain yogurt, but flavored yogurts can also be used.
The type of yogurt you use will determine the final flavor of the oatmeal, so be sure to choose one that you enjoy.
Greek yogurt is a good option for adding creaminess and body, while non-fat yogurt will give the oatmeal a slightly tart flavor.
If you want to sweeten your oatmeal, try using fruit-flavored yogurt or honey to thicken the consistency.
11. Silken Tofu
This might seem a bit unusual when talking about oatmeal, but silken tofu is a great vegan alternative to milk and yogurt. Make sure to use soft tofu instead of firm tofu — firm tofu comes in big pieces that you won’t be able to break up.
Tofu is a rich source of vegan protein, and it won’t change the flavors of your oatmeal. Simply whip a quarter-cup of silken tofu per serving of oatmeal and then add it to the oatmeal when the oats are cooked.
The tofu will cook very quickly, so you can add it in the very last step of cooking to thicken it. This will give the oatmeal a creamy consistency and boost its nutritional profile.
You can sweeten the tofu by adding a bit of honey or maple syrup, or you can keep it savory by stirring in some salt or cinnamon.
