For the first time in 4 years I printed a recipe that worked for me but flopped for a bunch of you.
Yes, a few weeks ago I published my “Overnight Crockpot Oatmeal” recipe-a recipe that I have made myself both recently and in the past with excellent results. Some of you didn’t have the same luck:
Monica: “Wow….I just made this and it was a disaster. I woke up to brown soup (and I did not use quick oats!) It seemed like a lot of liquid for only a cup of oaatmeal, but I followed the recipe exactly. I wonder what went wrong????”
Menda: “I did have a problem with the oats kind of disintegrating by the next morning. I used regular oats, but not steel-cut ones. I fixed the problem by microwaving up a serving of the regular oats and stirring them into my crockpot. It thickened up nicely and added some texture. I think next time I might add another half cup of oats at the beginning, though. And a sweeter apple. I used a granny smith and it was just too tart.”
Allison: “I made this last night and had the same problem – soupy oatmeal. I used regular oats (not quick). I made another 4 servings of oatmeal on the stove top and added it to the slow cooker oats. That seemed to work. It is pretty tasty.”
Candrin: “Yeah I just made this over the weekend and I got soup, icky runny soup. Yes I used regular oats and the crockpot was on low for 8 hrs. Was not the happy morning I had been hoping for!”
Yeah-how’s that for a kick in the pants? I wanted to share something that worked well for me and it turned out terrible for a bunch of you.
And I still don’t know why!
It could be several things. I have been using steel cut oats rather than regular oats-although I swear I’ve made it with regular in the past. Also my crockpot is older-apparently the older models actually cook at a lower temperature than the new ones-so that might have been a factor.
I am determined to figure this out-but I need your help! I need several folks to agree to be “recipe testers” for me-over the period of a couple of days I’d like to have all of us make half batches of the same recipe trying a few variations to get it “right”. Folks can blog about it on their own blogs if they want, but you don’t have to be a blogger at all to help out.
So, who is in? Drop a note in the comments and we’ll coordinate-I really want us all to do the exact same things so we can compare results scientifically. Or at least quasi-scientifically.
Victoria says
Hey, Jen, funnily enough, l used your recipe last night and had it this morning!
l used an older crockpot, and steel cut oats, and used your recipe (with a handful of raisins) and it turned out just great! l did need to add salt this morning, as it wasn’t in your recipe.
l usually soak my organic steel cut outs (the only kind l use) overnight before l cook them, otherwise l always have them boil over no matter how l cook them or how low the temp is.
l’d be happy to try it again to see if l get the same results if you like.
Lissa says
Hey Jenn!
I’ve made this oatmeal using a similar recipe (Alton Brown’s, if I recall) and didn’t have problems. I just wish I could get more of the family to eat oatmeal!
Maybe the size of the crockpots is a factor? Just a thought…
Candirn says
I am willing to try again, but I am out of some of the ingredients. It will be probably a couple days before I can try again. I intend to either double the oats or half the water content, haven’t decided which to try.
And if the crock pot cooked at a lower temperature, it would mean even MORE liquid left in the morning based on my initial results so I do not think that was the problem. With regard to size, yes that can effect the outcome of any slow cooker recipe. I used a crockpot that was over half full with this recipe. If the pot had been too large, the recipe would have scorched and that is not the result I achieved.
Mary says
Can the problem be the milk? Can it be heated in a crock pot for 8 hours or longer?
I didn’t try this recipe when you posted it because I’ve tried it before (or something quite similar) with old fashioned oatmeal. In the morning, the liquid was brownish and seriously over cooked. I did use the low setting.
I do hope you and your readers are able to solve the crockpot oatmeal mystery.
Mary says
I have had wonderful success using this recipe and old fashioned oatmeal (instead of steel cut oats) and a bit less water than the recipe calls for.
We love this crockpot recipe version:
http://annkroeker.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/overnight-crockpot-steel-cut-oatmeal/
Allison says
I’m willing to help out to. I’d love to see what this recipe is actually supposed to taste like.
Teresa says
If you need another hand I’d be willing to help out!!
I’ve tried this twice this week. I used old fashioned rolled oats cooked in a 7 qt crockpot. The first time I followed your recipe exactly. I had scorching all around the edges of the crockpot while the center was complete liquid.
I figured I might have been working with a larger crockpot than you were, so I quadrupled your recipe. I didn’t quadruple it exactly–I scaled back the liquids. This time I had less scorching and the center was more edible, but I still had too much liquid.
Jenny says
I’m willing to test it. I had success with it last week, but I did use steel-cut oats, a 1980s-era crockpot, and didn’t add the 1/2 cup milk to the recipe. I have a small 1.5 quart newer crockpot, my ancient one and some more steel-cut oats so I am ready to experiment!
Daniel B. says
I’ve been meaning to try the recipe since you first posted it. I have a large-ish oval slow cooker (maybe 5-6 quarts) and have steel-cut oats on hand.
So just drop me a line if I can be of help.
You know the first question IT people are supposed to ask a user’s computer isn’t working? “Is your computer plugged in?”
Just a thought.
Stacey says
I’d be willing to help you out with this Jenn. I would use my older 3 1/2 quart crockpot with regular oats. Please email me.
Thanks!
SewCalGal says
I’d be happy to be a tester. Just email me if you want me to test and let me know the recipe you want me to try. Our weather is rainy right now, so overnight oatmeal would be fun to try!
SewCalGal
http://www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
SewCalGal {at} live {dot} com
Nancy says
I’d be interested in testing, too! I use steel cut and I have a newer but non-fancy model slow cooker that is on the large size. I’d have to measure it but I’m going to guess 5-6 quarts.
Maryann says
Wow – your recipe worked great for me. I’ve made two batches now and LOVE IT. I’m curious like you what the difference could be. So just for the record: I am also using steel cut oats, and all the ingredients exactly as you listed them. The only thing I found was that 6 hours in the slow cooker was more than enough. The first batch started to stick to the pot. I wonder if the steel cut oats simply have the capacity to absorb more moisture???
Jenn @ Frugal Upstate says
Ok, bear with me guys! I’m going to compile a list of all the folks who are willing to help and send out a list of variations by the end of this week. If you could try one or two by, oh, let’s say mid Feb (15th) and report back to me, I’ll compile it all in a blog post. And of course, if you have a blog and write about it I’ll be all over the link love 🙂
Jenny says
I used steel cut oats and it came out mushy for me too. It still tasted good though. I think my crock pot must be hotter than yours. I will try this again but I will reduce the amount of water I use.
Stephanie says
it is funny that so any people were trying it again right after you posted it;) i, too, did it. I doubled the amount of old-fastioned oats, since i didn’t have steel-cut on hand and had read some of the comments. i had scorching and some liquid but it wasn’t too soupy. I’d definitely be happy to try again. Dh loves oatmeal for breakfast!
Cindy Brick says
I used steel-cut oats, and didn’t have any trouble…although the mixture was a bit thick. (I don’t care for raisins, so didn’t include them.) Maybe the difference between steel-cut and regular is a big one, in this case!
Sure, ask away if you need more recipe testers. I’d be glad to help out the author of the ‘all day mac and cheese’ and ‘pizza hut clone recipe’ that has been such a big hit in my house!
Jenn @ Frugal Upstate says
Glad to have so many folks willing to help out-I’m going to get my act together and email you all a choice of “assignments” to figure this all out. It should be an interesting Blog experiment eh?
Karen says
I tried your original recipe last night, and we had the best oatmeal ever! I have a really old crockpot and cooked on low for at least 12 hours. 1 cup steel cut oats + 4 cups water.
Thanks!
Jenn @ Frugal Upstate says
So glad it worked for you Karen. No one who has tried it with steel cut oats has had an issue yet 🙂