Need Crock Pot oatmeal cooking tips?

Question

Greetings :-)... I have some oatmeal trouble. I am new to crockpot cooking.

Twice I tried making the non-instant rolled oats in the morning (recipe from about.com: crock pot oatmeal) both times it came out nasty mushy gray and gelatinous. The fruit kinda disintigrated.

I had the crock pot on low, first time 8 hrs w/the fruit in it like the recipe said, next time I tried it for 6 hrs and withheld the apples thinking I'd throw them in in the moring. Didn't help-- fresh apples & gray mush were no better.

It looks like it's cooking too long... I suppose I could try it for 4 hrs, but it kinda defeats the purpose of the crock pot because I'd end up having to get up at 4 am to put it on.

I'm thinking I might have better results with steel-cut, but the kids prefer rolled. So I wanna give it one more try with the rolled oats.

Maybe leaving it on the "warm" setting instead of on low? Or will the rolled oats just make it impossible?

Advise me, please, veteran crock-potters.

Edit-- the regular rolled oats take 20-25 minutes to prepare. We love oatmeal but as the mornings get more rushed, and as I work late and am not really fully awake at 7 or 8 AM, I find myself not making it as much as we like-- we'll eat it 3 or 4 times a week when we have time, but only 1 time or so when we don't. I've seen cooking shows and recipes where they use the crockpot and thought it would be nice to wake up to a steaming bowl of oatmeal without having to cook but I'm beginning to wonder if it can be done. I don't like the instant kind.

Answer 1

You could try Alton Brown's recipe:

1 cup steel cut oats
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup dried figs
4 cups water
1/2 cup half-and-half

In a slow cooker, combine all ingredients and set to low heat. Cover and let cook for 8 to 9 hours.

Stir and remove to serving bowls. This method works best if started before you go to bed. This way your oatmeal will be finished by morning.

Answer 2

CROCK POT BREAKFAST OATMEAL

1 c. oatmeal
1/3 c. raisins (opt.)
2 1/4 c. water

(Other options, apples, cinnamon, nuts.) Spray crock pot with non- stick spray. Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours. When the raisins cook with the oatmeal it sweetens it. So adjust the amount of sugar or sweetener.
Great for families on the run in the mornings. Last 1 out, remember to turn off the crock pot. 4 servings.

Answer 3

I would think cooking oatmeal for that long is inevitably going to break it down to mush unless, like you said, it's steel cut since they're heartier.

Oatmeal is so quick and easy to make on the stove, why bother with a crock pot?