Air-Fryer Oatmeal: Quick, Easy, And Healthy Breakfast

Air fryers are a great alternative to making oatmeal as they cut cooking time and create a warm, fluffy, and slightly crisp treat. The process is simple: combine your oats and liquid of choice in the air fryer and cook for 15 minutes. This hands-free method is perfect for those busy mornings when you don't have time to stir or worry about milk boiling over. Plus, with an air fryer, you get a creamy texture that's hard to achieve with other cooking methods.

Ingredients and preparation

Ingredients

• Oats – Old-fashioned, rolled oats are recommended for the best results. Steel-cut oats are not suitable as they have a longer cooking time and won't achieve a creamy texture. If you want to make the recipe gluten-free, be sure to use gluten-free oats.
• Liquid – Milk (dairy or non-dairy) is often used, but water can also be added. For a thicker consistency, use more milk than water.
• Sweetener (optional) – Maple syrup, brown sugar, honey, or any other sweetener of your choice can be added to taste.
• Salt – A pinch of salt will enhance the flavour of the oatmeal.
• Toppings (optional) – Fresh fruit (such as bananas, strawberries, or blueberries), nuts (such as almonds or walnuts), cinnamon, or other spices can be added on top.

Optional Additional Ingredients

• Baking powder – This will give the oatmeal a cake-like texture and a little height.
• Banana – This can be used as a binder instead of an egg, although the mixture may need extra sweetness.
• Peanut butter or other nut butter – This adds protein, flavour, and a nutty hint to the oatmeal.
• Vanilla extract – This adds depth of flavour to the oatmeal.
• Cinnamon – This enhances the flavour of the oatmeal.
• Chocolate chips or fresh fruit – These can be added for extra flavour and texture.

Preparation

• Grease a 6-inch round cake pan or a single-serve ramekin with non-stick spray or coconut oil.
• Add the oats, liquid (milk and/or water), salt, and any other dry ingredients (such as baking powder, cinnamon, or sweetener) to the pan and stir to combine.
• If using banana, peanut butter, vanilla extract, or other wet ingredients, blend them together with the dry ingredients in a blender until smooth.
• Transfer the pan into the air fryer.
• Cook at 300°F to 350°F for 10 to 15 minutes. There is no need to stir during cooking.
• Once cooked, carefully remove the hot pan using kitchen towels or oven mitts and place it on a wire rack.
• If desired, stir in brown sugar, cover the pan, and let the oatmeal rest for 5 minutes to allow the oats to soften further and thicken.
• Top with your choice of fresh fruit, nuts, or other toppings and serve.

Air fryer settings

Firstly, preheating your air fryer is essential for even cooking. Set your air fryer to 290°F-350°F. This temperature range is ideal for cooking oatmeal, ensuring it cooks slowly and remains moist and fluffy.

For oatmeal prepared in the air fryer, the cooking time generally ranges from 10 to 15 minutes. However, it's important to monitor the oatmeal closely to prevent overcooking. Check the oatmeal after 7 minutes, and if it's browning too quickly, cover it with aluminium foil to prevent burning. The oatmeal is ready when it's slightly browned on top with crispy edges.

If you're preparing a single serving of oatmeal, a smaller air fryer basket should be sufficient. Most air fryers can accommodate up to three ramekins, so you can easily double or triple the recipe if needed.

Additionally, the size of the baking pan or ramekin is important. For one cup of oats, a 6-inch baking pan is ideal. Using a smaller pan may cause overflow, while a larger pan may result in drier oatmeal.

Lastly, remember that all air fryers are different, and some may be more powerful than others. Adjust the cooking time as needed, and always keep an eye on your oatmeal to ensure it doesn't burn.

Serving suggestions

Fruits

• Fresh fruits: bananas, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries.
• Dried fruits: raisins, dried cranberries, or chopped dates.

Nuts and Seeds

• Toasted almonds, walnuts, pecans, or peanuts.
• Pumpkin or sunflower seeds.

Sweeteners

Honey, maple syrup, brown sugar, coconut sugar, or plain white sugar.

Decadent Ideas

Chocolate chips, grated dark chocolate, whipped cream, Nutella, or sprinkles.

Spices

Ground cinnamon, nutmeg (freshly grated), ground cardamom, or pumpkin spice.

You can also try the following flavour combinations:

• Banana nut: Stir in chopped bananas, walnuts, and cinnamon.
• Pumpkin spice: Stir in brown sugar, canned pumpkin puree, pumpkin puree, and a splash of cream.
• Chocolate peanut butter: Stir in peanut butter, cocoa powder, and honey or maple syrup.
• Chocolate almond butter: Stir in almond butter, cocoa powder, honey, and sliced bananas.
• Maple and brown sugar: Stir in maple syrup, brown sugar, chopped toasted pecans, and ground cinnamon.
• Strawberries and cream: Stir in chopped strawberries, a splash of heavy cream or coconut milk, and honey.
• Carrot cake: Stir in finely grated carrot, golden brown sugar, raisins, chopped walnuts, and ground cinnamon. Top with lightly sweetened Greek yoghurt.
• Pina colada: Stir in finely chopped pineapple, shredded coconut, and a dash of coconut milk.
• Black forest cake: Stir in chopped fresh Bing cherries, cocoa powder, sugar, a dash of cherry liqueur, and whipped cream.
• Birthday cake: Stir in sugar, vanilla extract, and sprinkles.

Storage and reheating

Storing and reheating your air fryer oatmeal is simple and convenient.

For short-term storage, you can keep your air fryer oatmeal in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, simply pop it in the microwave for around a minute or so until warmed through.

If you want to store your oatmeal for longer, you can freeze it. Wrap your ramekin with plastic wrap and place it in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. When you're ready to enjoy it again, reheat it in the air fryer at 350°F for about 15 minutes, or in the oven or microwave.

It's worth noting that baked oatmeal is best enjoyed fresh, but if you have leftovers, you can certainly store and reheat them to enjoy later!

Customisation ideas

There are endless ways to customise your air fryer oatmeal. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Flavours

• Banana nut: Stir in chopped bananas, walnuts, and cinnamon.
• Pumpkin spice: Mix in brown sugar, canned pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and a splash of cream.
• Chocolate peanut butter: Combine peanut butter, cocoa powder, and honey or maple syrup.
• Chocolate almond butter: Almond butter, cocoa powder, honey, and sliced bananas.
• Maple and brown sugar: Stir in maple syrup, brown sugar, chopped toasted pecans, and ground cinnamon.
• Strawberries and cream: Add chopped strawberries, a splash of heavy cream or coconut milk, and honey.
• Carrot cake: Combine finely grated carrot, golden brown sugar, raisins, chopped walnuts, and ground cinnamon. Top with lightly sweetened Greek yoghurt.
• Pina colada: Mix in finely chopped pineapple, shredded coconut, and a dash of coconut milk.
• Black forest cake: Stir in chopped fresh Bing cherries, cocoa powder, sugar, a dash of cherry liqueur, and whipped cream.
• Birthday cake: Add sugar, vanilla extract, and sprinkles.

Toppings

• Fresh fruits: Banana, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries.
• Dried fruits: Raisins, dried cranberries, or chopped dates.
• Spices: Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cardamom, or pumpkin pie spice.
• Nut butter: Almond butter, peanut butter, or sun butter.
• Nuts: Toasted almonds, walnuts, pecans, or peanuts.
• Seeds: Pumpkin or sunflower seeds.
• Decadent ideas: Chocolate chips, grated dark chocolate, whipped cream, Nutella, or sprinkles.

Frequently asked questions