I have a big ole pot of steel cut oatmeal on the stove right now. What I’ve done in the past is put it in individual serving sized sealable containers and toss them in the fridge.
This time I thought I might pre mix some fruit into the oatmeal before refrigerating (but after it’s cooled off).
I’m not so worried about the raisins but I’m a little concerned about adding apples. I’d like to dice some apples; but I don’t want to create a disgusting mess when I go to heat and eat.
Is this a bad idea to do with apples?
If not, what type of apples? I have Fuji here in the house, but granny smith’s are a little hardier. Would that matter since this isn’t going to be cooked as much as an apple pie?
Other suggestions? Should I just do it like the olden way… and add my fruit at reheat time? That makes it a little more inconvenient for taking to work.
I really don’t think it will be a problem. If you cooked the oatmeal with salt, a little water will draw off from the apples, but nothing you can’t stir in. The apples will probably oxidize though, and look brownish. Not as pretty, but completely edible.
You might as well try it on one or two containers, and see what happens. SCIENCE!
All for naught. While I was letting it cool on the stove a little bit; I went to run an errand, when I came back my ultra-efficient wife had portioned it into individual serving size containers; and cleaned up the pot and the oatmeal I left out; and pretty much everything else. Not sure that’s a or a . I’m thinking :).
I tried cooking it in the crockpot and hated it. Mush. I like my oats with some fight in 'em.
For work, I like to eat mine with applesauce, walnuts and cinnanmon on top. It requires keeping applesauce at work, though —unless — idea! Buy some of those little containers of it meant for lunchboxes.
I get terrific results from my rice cooker. I like my grains al dente, which is why I prefer steel cut oats in the first place. I use a 3:1 water ratio and add fruit when it’s getting towards the end of its cooking cycle.
DH cooks dried fruit along with the oats. I think cooked and reconstituted raisins are an abomination, but other fruits are good. You could try dried apples instead of fresh.
I also use my rice cooker and love the results. It’s creamy but still has some chew. Like Ellen Cherry I tried the slow cooker and it came out like wheat paste. Foul.
I think my crockpot is too hot. Which is a horrible situation to be in, since I used a dying crockpot for years, which I think had the cooking power of a lightbulb.
It only takes 30 minutes to cook per the directions on the can. Four cups a water per 1 cup of cut oats. Bring to boil until it begins foam over, then simmer stirring regularly. Done.
I only cook it about 20 and use whatever proportions are on the rolled oat box. I buy it in bulk and never have any directions. Well, I did once long ago, but I got rid of the can. If there were only … some … way to look up recipes and other information. Handy, easily searchable using a handheld or desktop device …
or a 
. I’m thinking :).