Instant Oatmeal like Starbucks'?
May 3, 2012 1:54 AM Subscribe
Instant oatmeal connoisseurs: what brand is the most similar in taste and texture to the Perfect Oatmeal at Starbucks?
As a kid I thought I loved my Quaker instant oatmeal but it was such a sad little thing compared to the Starbucks instant stuff.
I prefer my oatmeal on the thicker side with some texture but even when the barista puts in too much water the Starbucks oatmeal still has a nice thickness to it.
I recently tried going back to instant Quaker to save money but every time I make it I end up with a thin, powdery paste.
I'd imagine I could have better luck cooking non-instant oatmeal, but, if it takes longer than 3 minutes I'd rather get in my car and drive to Starbucks.
I'm also not really into flavors--I usually just add a bit of sugar.
Any suggestions?
As a kid I thought I loved my Quaker instant oatmeal but it was such a sad little thing compared to the Starbucks instant stuff.
I prefer my oatmeal on the thicker side with some texture but even when the barista puts in too much water the Starbucks oatmeal still has a nice thickness to it.
I recently tried going back to instant Quaker to save money but every time I make it I end up with a thin, powdery paste.
I'd imagine I could have better luck cooking non-instant oatmeal, but, if it takes longer than 3 minutes I'd rather get in my car and drive to Starbucks.
I'm also not really into flavors--I usually just add a bit of sugar.
Any suggestions?
Why not make enough steel-cut oats (in a Thermos, even) for the week and heat it up when you want some?
posted by SillyShepherd at 4:04 AM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by SillyShepherd at 4:04 AM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
If you have Wegman's where you live, they have frozen instant steel cut oatmeal which take about 4 mins to make, so it's a good compromise between SillyShepherd's recommendation and the convenience of instant oatmeal. I also like Kashi hot cereal, which I guess isn't technically oatmeal.
posted by jshort at 4:24 AM on May 3, 2012
posted by jshort at 4:24 AM on May 3, 2012
Get some Quaker regular (non-instant) oatmeal. You can still add some water and nuke it for about three minutes, and it comes out just fine, much thicker and richer than Quick oats do. Of course, you'll have to flavor it yourself, but a little brown sugar, a pinch of salt, and some dried cherries do wonders.
posted by jferg at 4:34 AM on May 3, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by jferg at 4:34 AM on May 3, 2012 [4 favorites]
Yep, Quaker Old Fashioned. If you do it on the stove with water and heat it all together, it will turn into creamy goodness. Or if you let the water boil firsthand then add the oats, it will be more chunky like Starbucks. Also, Trader Joes has a really yummy multigrain oatmeal if you want to branch out.
posted by dawkins_7 at 5:03 AM on May 3, 2012
posted by dawkins_7 at 5:03 AM on May 3, 2012
I frequently make instant oatmeal for breakfast (as in, almost every morning of my life.)
If you like your oatmeal "chunky" or "clumpy", the trick is to add very little water and stir. I've never had Starbucks oatmeal, but I gather from other commenters that this is how it comes out.
If, like me, you like your oatmeal to look and feel like cement, you add just slightly more water, stir just enough to ensure that all oat flakes have been at least touched by liquid, smooth down in the bowl to a level consistency, and then nuke for 30 seconds. (This assumes the water you added was already at or close to boiling - I make my oatmeal at work, and use the hot water spigot thing on the coffee maker.) What results is a solid brick of oatmeal of incredibly thick consistency (so thick, in fact, that metal utensils are a must - I've broken plastic ones). I use the most generic of generic instant oatmeal.
posted by namewithoutwords at 6:18 AM on May 3, 2012
If you like your oatmeal "chunky" or "clumpy", the trick is to add very little water and stir. I've never had Starbucks oatmeal, but I gather from other commenters that this is how it comes out.
If, like me, you like your oatmeal to look and feel like cement, you add just slightly more water, stir just enough to ensure that all oat flakes have been at least touched by liquid, smooth down in the bowl to a level consistency, and then nuke for 30 seconds. (This assumes the water you added was already at or close to boiling - I make my oatmeal at work, and use the hot water spigot thing on the coffee maker.) What results is a solid brick of oatmeal of incredibly thick consistency (so thick, in fact, that metal utensils are a must - I've broken plastic ones). I use the most generic of generic instant oatmeal.
posted by namewithoutwords at 6:18 AM on May 3, 2012
I used to do regular old fashioned Quaker oats-- water and oats in the microwave for two minutes: done! Now I put one cup of steel cut oatmeal, three cups of water, and a cup of milk into the crock pot around supper time, put it on low, and turn it off before bed. Oatmeal for a week, no effort.
posted by instamatic at 6:20 AM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by instamatic at 6:20 AM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
Trader Joe's has a quick cooking steel cut oats that you might like.
posted by BibiRose at 6:28 AM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by BibiRose at 6:28 AM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
You might try Quaker Quick Oats.
3/4 c water, 1/2 c oats, pinch salt, 1:30 in the microwave. Stir in brown sugar.
It's not as texture-riffic as normal oatmeal made with extra thick rolled oats on the stove (what I like), but it's got more texture and less awful gloppiness than Quaker instant oats.
And it's significantly cheaper than buying packets of instant, and just as easy if you've got a microwave.
posted by leahwrenn at 8:57 AM on May 3, 2012
3/4 c water, 1/2 c oats, pinch salt, 1:30 in the microwave. Stir in brown sugar.
It's not as texture-riffic as normal oatmeal made with extra thick rolled oats on the stove (what I like), but it's got more texture and less awful gloppiness than Quaker instant oats.
And it's significantly cheaper than buying packets of instant, and just as easy if you've got a microwave.
posted by leahwrenn at 8:57 AM on May 3, 2012
The Instant Quaker instructions say to put in way too much water/milk. I put in I think half of how much milk they say to and it always comes out fine for me. I like my oatmeal so thick a spoon will stand up in it.
posted by Sidhedevil at 10:47 AM on May 3, 2012
posted by Sidhedevil at 10:47 AM on May 3, 2012
I like Bob's Red Mill and Coach's. They're both available at Costco or on Amazon. NOM NOM NOM
posted by spunweb at 10:55 AM on May 3, 2012
posted by spunweb at 10:55 AM on May 3, 2012
It's been my experience that Quaker Quick Oats is closest to the Starbucks perfect oatmeal. I just add boiling water, stir and cover. Works just fine. Add toppings as desired.
posted by patheral at 3:29 PM on May 3, 2012
posted by patheral at 3:29 PM on May 3, 2012
I am underwhelmed by Starbucks oatmeal.
Steel-cut oats are great--you can make a big batch on Sunday and reheat through the week, adding more liquid each time--but if that's too much of a production, do this: Mix half instant oatmeal, half old-fashioned (or 5-minute) oatmeal. This will give you instant thickening when you add hot water, but will have more texture and bite.
posted by elizeh at 7:59 PM on May 3, 2012
Steel-cut oats are great--you can make a big batch on Sunday and reheat through the week, adding more liquid each time--but if that's too much of a production, do this: Mix half instant oatmeal, half old-fashioned (or 5-minute) oatmeal. This will give you instant thickening when you add hot water, but will have more texture and bite.
posted by elizeh at 7:59 PM on May 3, 2012
Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions! I'm slowly working my way through them to see which I like best. So far the BetterOats Good'n Hearty instant stuff is really thick and chewy. I'm digging it.
posted by simplethings at 12:18 PM on May 5, 2012
posted by simplethings at 12:18 PM on May 5, 2012
A little late to the game, but Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal is Quaker brand.
posted by secrethandshake at 8:37 PM on May 8, 2012
posted by secrethandshake at 8:37 PM on May 8, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by birdherder at 2:04 AM on May 3, 2012 [1 favorite]