How to Cook Rolled Oats in a Crock-Pot

Cooking rolled oats in a crock pot yields a creamy, delectable porridge that makes for a decadent breakfast. Even though it takes just 10 minutes to cook old-fashioned oat on the stove top, giving them 8 hours in a slow cooker is worth it.

You might choose the method of cooking rolled oats in a crock pot if you have a crowd to feed in the morning. It's an efficient way to put out a nourishing, hot breakfast that people can eat on their own time. If you don't have access to a stove at the moment — say during a kitchen renovation —the slow cooker can save you from the drive-through.

Another great advantage of cooking rolled oats in the crock pot is the resulting dish. The oats become creamy, rather than chewy and fluffy like oats prepared on the stove top. The soft oatmeal feels luxurious, and doesn't need any real "doctoring up" with dried fruit and nuts. Instead, you can be satisfied with a splash of cream or milk and a smattering of brown sugar.

Instead of boring old oatmeal, you have a warm, comforting breakfast waiting for you when you hop out of bed in the morning — provided you have the foresight to set the oats to cook the night before.

Crock Pot oatmeal with old-fashioned oats is the way to go. This form of rolled oats, explains the Whole Grain Council, is prepared by steaming oat grouts and rolling them into flakes. This process allows the healthy oils in the oats to stabilize, extending the oats' shelf life. Rolled oats have a greater surface area that steel cut oats, so they get creamier in the crock pot.

Avoid using quick-cooking or 1-minute oats in the crock pot. These oats are cut even thinner than the old-fashioned kind, and are steamed longer before packaging. This changes the texture, which makes them perfect for a fast meal, but could turn them to mush when subjected to long hours of heat in the slow cooker.

Read more: What is the Nutritional Value of Oatmeal?

All types of rolled oats are considered a whole grain that makes a healthy addition to your diet. Whole grains, explains the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, contain the bran, the germ and the endosperm. The bran and germ contain nutrients and fiber that, when included as a regular part of your diet, can reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.

You can even think of oats as medicine for conditions such as heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes and hypertension, explains Medline Plus.

Use three parts water to one part oatmeal. Add a pinch of salt, and stir quickly to combine. Cover the oats, and set the slow cooker to low. Let the oats cook for 8 hours, or overnight. Do not stir the oats while they cook. Let them do their magic without your intervention.

To each serving, add cream or milk and brown sugar or honey to taste. Plant-based milk, such as coconut or almond, also make delicious additions.

Other possible toppings, if you desire, include fresh berries, sliced banana, nut butter, chopped apple, toasted pecans, raisins, flaked coconut or dried cranberries. Only add these after the overnight cooking process. Alternative sweeteners include coconut sugar and maple syrup.

Read more: The Four Best Instant Oatmeals (and Five to Avoid)

If you've made crockpot oatmeal for a large group that's eating in staggered shifts, switch the slow cooker to warm. Overcooking dries out the oatmeal.