Choose your oats: rolled oats, quick oats, or steel-cut oats
Measure oats and water/milk
Use a basic ratio:
Rolled/quick oats: 1/2 cup oats to 1 cup liquid
Steel-cut oats: 1/2 cup oats to 2 1/4 cups liquid
Add liquid to a pot (or microwave-safe bowl)
Bring liquid to a simmer (stovetop)
Stir in oats
Cook and stir as needed:
Rolled oats: 5–7 minutes
Quick oats: 1–3 minutes
Steel-cut oats: 20–30 minutes
Adjust thickness by adding more liquid if needed
Turn off heat and let stand 1–2 minutes to thicken (optional)
Stir in toppings or mix-ins, such as: salt, cinnamon, honey/maple syrup, fruit, nuts, seeds, yogurt, nut butter, or milk
Serve hot