Can you really refrigerate oatmeal? If you ask the same question, then this article is for you.
The answer to this question is yes, you can refrigerate oatmeal. Refrigerating oatmeal isn’t a bad idea when there are leftovers, just put it in an airtight container.
Refrigerating oatmeal won’t change its flavor or texture, though it may cause a slight thickening of the oatmeal.
In case your oatmeal has been sitting out, or is in a buffet, refrigerating it is one of the steps you can take to prevent bacteria from multiplying rapidly.
Refrigerate oatmeal within 2 hours of serving. However, refrigerating oatmeal for more than a day will potentially change the texture and flavor.
Refrigerating oatmeal for over 3 days is not recommended. It could cause bacterial spoilage.
How long does oatmeal last in the fridge?
Refrigerating oatmeal can help it last longer, but how long does oatmeal last in the fridge exactly?
Oatmeal can last in the fridge for up to three days.
Refrigerating oatmeal can help it last longer because the oats will be kept cold and away from things that cause it to go bad.
The refrigeration process can also extend its shelf life because bacteria cannot grow as fast in cold temperatures.
While the oats will stay fresh for a little longer, they will still need to be eaten within three days of refrigeration.
It is also important to remember that refrigerating oatmeal is only beneficial if the pot or container is left tightly sealed.
Refrigerating oatmeal in an open container can make it go bad faster because the moisture will be allowed to escape, making the oats dry.
Refrigerate your oatmeal in a tightly sealed container to help it last longer.
Does baked oatmeal need to be refrigerated?
Yes, you should refrigerate baked oatmeal if you can’t consume it all at once.
Refrigerating oatmeal actually allows you to make more servings at once, cutting down on prep time for busy weekday mornings.
Baked oatmeal that has been stored in the refrigerator should be allowed to come to room temperature before being eaten.
Oatmeal can also be frozen for up to 3 months, after which time its texture will begin to suffer.
Refrigerating baked oatmeal overnight also causes the dish to thaw, so it should be allowed to come to room temperature before being eaten.
Oatmeal that has been refrigerated should be eaten within 4-5 days, or it can be frozen for later use.
If you can’t eat all of the oatmeal at once, bake it in smaller portions and refrigerate or freeze the leftovers.
Refrigerated or frozen baked oatmeal should be reheated in the microwave at 50% power for approximately 60 seconds per serving.
Can I refrigerate uncooked oatmeal?
I do not recommend refrigerating uncooked oatmeal. This is because refrigerating uncooked oatmeal can change the texture and taste to something no one wants to eat.
Refrigerating oatmeal will make the texture grainier and chewy instead of soft and creamy.
Refrigeration will cause oatmeal to have a starchy flavor, not a sweet flavor that is enjoyable.
Refrigerating oatmeal can also change the color. The refrigeration process causes oatmeal to turn gray in color instead of its normal cream or tan color.
Can you put Quaker oats in the fridge?
Refrigerating oatmeal might be a good solution for dealing with clumpy oatmeal, but it turns out that Quaker oats are not supposed to be refrigerated at all.
Refrigerating them will actually cause them to go bad faster than if you leave them out on the counter.
The cold temperature of a refrigerator causes the Quaker oats to clump together even more than they already do.
If you’re looking for an easy solution to clumpy oatmeal, you should try microwaving the leftovers for a few seconds before serving.
You can also try stirring in a little more milk or water and letting it sit for a few minutes before serving.
If you need to reheat your oatmeal, you should just heat it up in a saucepan on the stove.
This will give you hot, clump-free oatmeal every time.
Final Thoughts
Oatmeal can be stored in the fridge perfectly if you have some leftovers.
However, I do not recommend freezing oatmeal because it could potentially detriment the overall quality of the oatmeal.
Even the refrigeration process can negatively affect the quality of the oatmeal if not done properly.
So if you refrigerate your oatmeal, make sure that you do it correctly.
I hope that the tips shared in this post will help. Thank you for reading.
Learn more about refrigerating foods here.