5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Overnight Oats (2024)

Sheela Prakash

Sheela PrakashSenior Contributing Food Editor

Sheela is the Senior Contributing Food Editor at Kitchn and the author of Mediterranean Every Day: Simple, Inspired Recipes for Feel-Good Food. She received her master's degree from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy and is also a Registered Dietitian.

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updated Sep 9, 2019

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It’s hard not to love the convenience of overnight oats. Stir oats and milk together in a bowl or a jar, let them hang out together while you sleep, and come morning you have a hearty, satisfying breakfast waiting for you. Yes, it’s as simple as it sounds, but there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure your morning oats are as creamy and comforting as possible before you run out the door. Here are five mistakes to avoid.

1. Guessing on the liquid-to-oat ratio.

Getting the liquid-to-oat ratio down is one major key to success when it comes to overnight oats. Since overnight oats are really just oats that have been left to soften for hours in liquid — usually milk of some sort — to break down and become porridge-like, if you use too little liquid, the oats won’t be able to soften enough and get that creamy consistency. Instead you’ll have something more like cement. Yet, use too much liquid and you’ll end up with soup.

Follow this tip: Stick with a 2:1 ratio of liquid to oats when making overnight oats to achieve a spoonable, porridge-like consistency.

2. Not adding a pinch of salt.

As much as oats love maple syrup and brown sugar, they also love (and need) salt. Just like any other food, overnight oats needs to be seasoned properly and will frankly taste like cardboard without that pinch of salt, regardless of how much syrup you drizzle on.

Follow this tip: Stir in a pinch of salt to your liquid and oat mixture at night, in addition to whatever sweetener you use, and know you’ll have a well-seasoned breakfast in the morning

3. Reaching for instant oats.

Leave instant oats behind when making overnight oats. Since they are so small, they’ll actually just end up almost dissolving in the liquid. Steel-cuts oats can be used but expect them to very chewy and fairly dense.

Follow this tip: Old-fashioned rolled oats are the best when it comes to the variety to use for overnight oats. They’ll give you that creamy, smooth texture with just the right amount of chew.

4. Tossing all the nuts and fruits in at once.

It may be tempting to stir nuts and fruit into the oats before you go to bed to make it extra easy on yourself in the morning, but try to hold back. Just like the oats, anything you add to the liquid is going to soak and soften so you’ll be left with chewy nuts and mushy fruit.

Follow this tip: Reserve mix-ins like nuts, seeds, fresh fruit, granola, and coconut flakes for the morning. Chia seeds and dried fruit can be adding at night, as chia seeds do need time to absorb liquid and dried fruit will plump up overnight.

5. Forgetting to stir before digging in.

You already stirred the oats into the liquid last night, so no need to stir them again in the morning, right? The bottom of the oats might be pretty mushy while the top still could have a little crunch left in it, which means you’ll be digging through all sorts of different textures.

Follow this tip: Give your overnight oats one final stir after taking them out of the fridge to ensure all that chewy, crunchy, mushy goodness is well-combined and you’ve got all those great textures in each bite.

Try These Overnight Oats Recipes

I'm Sheela Prakash, a Senior Contributing Food Editor at Kitchn and an expert in the field of culinary arts and nutrition. My expertise is grounded in both practical experience and formal education, holding a master's degree from the prestigious University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy. Additionally, I am a Registered Dietitian, showcasing my commitment to the science behind food and its impact on health.

Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article about overnight oats:

1. Liquid-to-Oat Ratio:

  • The author emphasizes the importance of getting the liquid-to-oat ratio right for successful overnight oats. A 2:1 ratio of liquid to oats is recommended to achieve a spoonable, porridge-like consistency. Too little liquid results in overly firm oats, while too much can lead to a soupy texture.

2. Salt as a Seasoning:

  • A pinch of salt is highlighted as a crucial addition to overnight oats, just like any other dish. Without proper seasoning, even with sweeteners like maple syrup and brown sugar, the oats may lack flavor and taste bland. This underlines the principle that all foods, including breakfast dishes, require appropriate seasoning.

3. Choice of Oats:

  • Instant oats are discouraged for making overnight oats due to their small size, which can lead to them almost dissolving in the liquid. Steel-cut oats are mentioned as an option, but the recommendation is to use old-fashioned rolled oats for the best results. These oats provide a creamy, smooth texture with the right amount of chewiness.

4. Timing for Mix-Ins:

  • The article advises against adding nuts, seeds, fresh fruit, granola, and coconut flakes to the oats before refrigerating them overnight. This is because these additions will soak and soften, resulting in chewy nuts and mushy fruit. Instead, the recommendation is to reserve these mix-ins for the morning.

5. Stirring Before Consumption:

  • The importance of giving the overnight oats a final stir before consuming is emphasized. Despite stirring the oats into the liquid the night before, the bottom might be mushy while the top retains some crunch. Stirring ensures an even distribution of textures for a more enjoyable eating experience.

In summary, these tips provide a comprehensive guide to crafting the perfect batch of overnight oats, drawing on principles of ingredient ratios, seasoning, ingredient choices, timing for mix-ins, and the importance of a final stir for optimal texture.

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Overnight Oats (2024)
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