Can I Heat Up Overnight Oats? | The Miller's Kitchen

Overnight Oats Hot or Cold?

Since overnight oats have made their way on the scene, they have been traditionally eaten cold. You simply take old-fashioned oats (rolled oats), milk, fixings (fruit, nuts, seeds, a sweetener), and mix it all together. Then store in the fridge overnight (hence overnight oats) to enjoy in the morning---cold.

But! Did you know you can actually warm these babies up? Overnight oats do not have to be eaten cold. I prefer my oats warm, so I warm them in the microwave before I get ready to eat them.

Microwave times can vary. You can heat it as much or as little as you like. I typically heat mine for 1 minute and 30 seconds.

Simple Overnight Oats Recipe + Tip Sheet! (Free download)

Can You Eat Uncooked Oatmeal?

Yes, it is safe to eat uncooked oatmeal. Old-fashioned oats (rolled oats) have been steamed and rolled to make them "rolled" oats. Since they have been heated, this means that any bacteria has been destroyed, making them safe to eat raw. Check out this article on raw oatmeal for more information.

Tips For Eating Overnight Oats

WHEN EATING OVERNIGHT OATS IN MASON JAR

If you want to heat up overnight oats done in a mason jar, please remove the lid first!! You only need to microwave the jar. Nothing else. The lid should not be microwaved.

If you want to eat them cold, give it a good stir once you take it out of the fridge and enjoy!

WHEN EATING OVERNIGHT OATS DONE IN MULTIPLE BATCHES IN A BOWL

Making overnight oats in a big bowl with a lid is a pretty cool way to do them. This is if you don't want to make individual servings like when using the mason jar.

With this approach, you would just want to measure out your oats in the morning. The amount you would need depends on your appetite, and energy needs (carbohydrates, protein, fat). Most people would scoop out between ½ cup - 1 cup for a serving.

HOW MUCH MILK DO YOU NEED FOR OVERNIGHT OATS?

I usually start with 4 ounces of milk for ⅓ cup or ½ cup of oats. I'll add more in the morning if it's needed. This amount of milk is usually enough to get the oats soaked overnight.

FAQ

Are Overnight Oats Healthy?

Absolutely! Overnight oats provide whole grains, fiber, protein, and healthy fats (when adding nuts or seeds). It's the epitome of a balanced breakfast. They also tend to have nutritious carbohydrates like fruit!

One word of caution when making overnight oats is sugar.

A lot of recipes tend to tell you to add a tablespoon or more of sugar. That's a lot! That can be approximately 12 grams of sugar which is already meeting 50% of the amount of recommended sugar per day for women. Women should stay under 25 grams of added sugar per day and men should stay under 36 grams of added sugar per day. The American Heart Association has additional information on added sugars.