How to make perfect porridge and which oats to choose from is a personal choice. Here I explain the difference and show you how to make perfect porridge from either oats, oatmeal or pinhead oats.
Whatever your preference you can’t deny the fantastic health benefits of this versatile cereal!
All porridge oats are whole grains. They're high in fibre and can help lower your cholesterol level eaten as part of a healthy diet.
In fact research into the nations favourite breakfasts shows that porridge for breakfast is more popular than ever!
Nowadays it's so convenient to buy any form of instant porridge, pre-packaged and/or ready flavoured porridge from your local supermarket.
However it's so easy to make your own perfect porridge. There is no need for any expensive branded product. All you really need is packet of oats!
Also pre-packed porridge often contains extra additives and sugar that you don't need.
Make your own perfect bowl of porridge and you'll be helping to save the environment by not buying individual containers of single serve porridge too!
I’d eat a bowl of porridge for every meal, if I could. I love it that much.
Living in Scotland its kind of traditional too. Porridge has been around since the Middle Ages. Very often the best meal of the day for the poor was a good bowl of porridge.
Traditionally, here in Scotland we made Scottish porridge with oats that had been ground. This type of oats was known as Oatmeal.
So put aside your instant oats and read on to find out how to make porridge. How to make the perfect porridge. And how you can make perfect porridge on the stove or in the microwave.
Jump to:
What is porridge?
What is porridge? Porridge is a traditional dish made by boiling ground or crushed starchy plants, usually grains, in water or milk.
Whilst I cover many other different types of grains made into porridge elsewhere for example my semolina breakfast porridge, or my banana millet porridge, here we're focussing on a traditional porridge recipe made with oats.
Is Porridge Good For You?
A bowl of this fantastic cereal every morning fits into your active 80/20 lifestyle because oats are cheap, versatile and make a great quick healthy and easily prepared meal.
Porridge oats are typically low in fat, high in fibre and protein and mostly have a low glycaemic index (GI).
Oats are just the thing for excellent source of slow release energy, which will keep you going throughout the day.
Porridge oats are proven to lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease. You can add your own naturally sweet fruit toppings, contributing towards your 5-a-day like berries or dried fruit too.
So, in summary oats are THE perfect start to the day.
🔪 How To Make Perfect Porridge
Whether it's porridge oats, pinhead oats or oatmeal, this guide will show you just how to make the most perfect porridge to suit your own tastes!
And how to make porridge perfectly every time!
This guide discusses the different types of oats you can use.
How to make porridge with those types of oats on the stove.
Or how to make perfect porridge in the microwave.
I'll also cover my favourite toppings and other suggested toppings you might like to try too.
See recipe card below for each individual recipe instructions.
Porridge Oats
Porridge oats, often known as instant oats or quick oats are the easiest and quickest to cook.
These are generally rolled oats, which means they have already been partially steamed, flattened, pre-cooked then dehydrated during the milling process so they won’t take long to re-cook.
As these oats have been pre-cooked they’re often softer and finer giving a creamy porridge texture and taste.
Make these breakfast oats by cooking them for as little as 3 minutes in the microwave or 4 – 5 minutes in a saucepan. (See recipe card below)
Being able to microwave these at work in a large microwave-safe bowl makes them ideal for me as a quick meal after an early morning gym visit!
I also make sure I add lots of extra cinnamon as this helps to aid recovery after a good workout. Hot porridge is a great way to quickly fill up when you're hungry.
So if you're looking for how to make porridge quickly. Using porridge oats and cooking in the microwave is the answer.
Pinhead Oats
Pinhead (traditional Scottish or Irish oats) or steel-cut oats as they are also known as in the U.S. take the longest to cook.
Pinhead oats are the least processed variety; they are simply the whole groats cut into slightly smaller pieces.
The texture of these oats can be described as somewhat "nutty" and being the roughest of all oats they do have a "chewy" bite to them and never quick achieve a creamy consistency.
Nevertheless these are the least processed oats.
Traditionally in Scotland porridge would be cooked with a pinch of salt. Indeed that's the way my mum still loves her porridge.
I don't cook my porridge with salt at all. It's not my preferred or chosen breakfast bowl. But the important thing is to make porridge the way you want to make it!
To cook them, I soak mine overnight in milk then gently cook them in a saucepan over a medium heat for 20 -30 minutes. Giving them a good stir every now and then.
I generally enjoy these at the weekend. (See recipe card below)
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is available in coarse, medium or fine varieties. The variety I prefer to use is fine oatmeal.
Oatmeal is made by stone grinding Pinhead oatmeal.
I find the texture of oatmeal provides for a satisfying thick and tasty bowl of deliciousness.
This type of oats cooks quicker and has a creamier consistency. It's by far my most favourite type of oat!
Similar to oats, oatmeal takes as little as 3 minutes in the microwave or 4–5 minutes in a saucepan. The difference being l find that less milk is required. (See recipe card below)
💭 What Toppings For Your Perfect Porridge?
After cooking your chosen oats all that remains is to place them into a serving bowl, add your preferred toppings and enjoy!
The toppings I used in the recipes above were :-
- Porridge Oats – chopped strawberries, blueberries, chopped nuts and a little Greek yogurt
- Pinhead Oats – sliced banana, chopped nuts, flaxseeds and runny honey
- Oatmeal – sultanas, pumpkin seeds and flax seeds
Other suggested toppings for your own perfect porridge could be :-
- Maple syrup.
- Fresh fruit of your own choice.
- A sprinkling of brown sugar.
- Cinnamon
🍽 Equipment
For These Porridge Recipes You May Need….
The following links and any links in the recipe card below are affiliate links.
This means that if you click on it and then buy that product, I’ll get a small commission (at no extra cost to you of course).
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- Saucepans (if not using a microwave)
- Kitchen scale
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring jug
- Wooden spoon
This is the measuring jug I use for all my recipes.
Great value for money it's high quality and easy to use.
A perfect measuring jug, easy to clean and suitable for oven and microwave use too!
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🥣 Other Popular Porridge Oat Recipes You Might Also Like
📋 Perfect Porridge Recipe
The following links and any links in the recipe card below are affiliate links.
This means that if you click on it and then buy that product I’ll get a small commission (at no extra cost to you of course).
If you do click through then thanks for being a part of Neil’s Healthy Meals!
Ingredients
Porridge Oats
- 30 g / ⅓ cup porridge oats / instant oats / quick oats
- 200 ml / 1 cup skimmed milk
- 1 tablespoon flax seeds optional
Pinhead Oats
- 50 g / ¼ cup pinhead / steel-cut oats
- 200 ml / 1 cup skimmed milk
- 1 tablespoon flax seeds optional
Oatmeal
- 30 g / ⅓ cup porridge oats
- 150 ml / ⅔ cup skimmed milk
- 1 tablespoon flax seeds optional
Instructions
Porridge Oats
- Stove – place the oats, skimmed milk and flax seeds into a saucepan and gently simmer, stirring constantly for 4 – 5 minutes until the porridge is cooked to a creamy consistency.
- Microwave – place the oats, skimmed milk and flax seeds into a tall bowl and microwave for 3 minutes, uncovered stopping after each 1 minute interval to stir the porridge.
Pinhead Oats
- Soak the oats in the milk overnight in the refrigerator
- In the morning place the soaked oats, skimmed milk and flax seeds into a saucepan and gently simmer, stirring constantly for 20–30 minutes until the porridge is cooked/softened.
Oatmeal
- Stove – place the oats, skimmed milk and flax seeds into a saucepan and gently simmer, stirring constantly for 4–5 minutes until the porridge is cooked to a creamy consistency.
- Microwave – place the oats, skimmed milk and flax seeds into a tall bowl and microwave for 3 minutes, uncovered stopping after each 1 minute interval to stir the porridge.
Notes
Nutrition
⭐ Rate The Recipe
If you’ve made any of these perfect porridge recipes, or any other recipes on Neil's Healthy Meals, then please let me know.
I’d love to hear what you think of my recipe in the comments below and please do rate my recipe 5* if you like it! 🙂
Lauren
Can't wait to try all these different kinds if porridge recipes!
Neil
You're welcome Lauren. Who would know there are so many different variations you can make? Porridge is never boring! 🙂