no-cook refrigerator oatmeal

Overnight, No-Cook Refrigerator Oatmeal

A healthy breakfast made in mason jars in six different flavors!

This easy, no-cook "summer porridge" has make-ahead convenience and is packed with nutrition

to get your day off to a healthy start. Make it in individual mason jars for a perfect serving size

and an easy grab-and-go breakfast straight from the fridge (it's eaten cold). Take it along to

work or anywhere. Great to serve on a breakfast or brunch buffet. High in protein, calcium &

fiber; low in fat & sugar.

I played around with some different flavor combos, and created single portion recipes that will fit

in a half-pint mason jar. I've been pulling these out of my fridge and eating them for breakfast all

week. LOVE the convenience of having them made ahead. They are filling and packed with

nutrition, too.

In addition to chia seeds, this refrigerator oatmeal has protein- & calcium-packed yogurt and

fiber-rich oats. It's hard to find a healthier breakfast than this.

Step-by-step photos for making

Refrigerator Oatmeal

First, I'll show you the basic procedure for making refrigerator oatmeal. (All 6 recipes follow the

same basic formula.) Then, I'll share ingredients, nutritional information and tips for the 6

specific recipe flavors.

THE BASIC PROCEDURE

Step 1. Assemble these ingredients & supplies:

old fashioned rolled oats (not instant, quick, or steel-cut)

Greek yogurt (regular yogurt is thinner; if you use it, you'll need to reduce the amount of

milk); Or strain regular yogurt. Cover top with plastic wrap, and put in fridge to allow liquid to drain out. drain for 1 hour to remove 20% of the liquid. drain for 3-4 hours to remove half of the liquid. drain overnight (8 hours or so) to remove all of the liquid. (closest to consistency of sour cream)

milk (I used skim, but any kind will work)

chia seeds; I bought mine at Whole Foods; also available on Amazon

half pint (1 cup) mason jars, find them at Walmart and grocery stores; also available on

Amazon

Specific amounts of ingredients are listed with the individual recipes for each of the 6 varieties

of flavored refrigerator oatmeal ; they are further down in this post. Click on the big teal bar

below each flavor and that links to the recipe with detailed ingredients and instructions.

Step 2. Add oats, milk, yogurt, and chia seeds to jar, along with desired sweeteners or flavors

(see options below).

Step 3. Put a lid on the jar and shake to combine. I use white plastic jar lids sized to fit canning

jars--they last longer than the metal tops and rims that come with the jars, and they are easier to

screw on and off; some Walmarts carry them, and they're available on Amazon.

Step 4. Add fruit and stir gently until combined.

Step 5. Place in fridge overnight and up to 2 days; maybe longer depending on the type and

ripeness of the fruit. The non-banana varieties have been good after 4 days for me.

During the overnight soak, the oats and chia seeds absorb the liquid and soften. They have a

great eating texture by the next day.

FAQs There have been over 670 comments & questions (Yowzer!) on my original refrigerator oatmeal

post. To save you the time of reading through all of them, I've answered some of the most

frequently asked questions here.

Can these jars of oatmeal be frozen? Yes, these freeze well. Prepare it in the jars as directed in

the recipe, put on the lid, and freeze it. Be careful not to overfill the jars; 3/4 inch of space is

needed at the top of the jar to allow for expansion when frozen (and avoid exploding jars!).

Move frozen jars from the freezer to the fridge the night before, and your oatmeal should be

thawed and ready to eat for breakfast. I've frozen them for up to a month. You may be able to

freeze them longer than that, but I haven't personally tested it.

Can you heat them? Yes. Although the recipe is designed to be eaten cold, if you prefer, you

can heat these jars of oatmeal. Remove the lid from the jar and heat in microwave for approx. 1

minute (assuming they aren't frozen) to take the chill off and warm it slightly. Microwave longer,

if you prefer it hotter. Microwaves and heating times required may vary.

Do I have to make these in mason jars? No. You can use any container you like that holds at

least 1 cup. Half pint (one cup) mason jars or containers are the perfect size to hold one full

http://www.theyummylife.com/Refrigerator_Oatmeal

http://www.theyummylife.com/Refrigerator_Oatmeal

recipe (1 serving) and are convenient for a quick, grab-and-go breakfast or snack. Yummy

readers have also recommended these plastic freezer jars and drinking glasses that come with

lids.

Is this the same thing as muesli? Yes. I've heard from a number of readers from around the

world who say this cold, soaked oatmeal is known by a variety of names: muesli, Beechers

muesli, Birchermüesli, summer porridge, yogurt oats, and most likely more!

Can I make substitutions in the recipes? Sure, feel free to experiment. Although I haven't

personally tested these, here are some suggestions of Yummy readers:

substitute ground flax seeds for the chia seeds

omit the chia seeds ( you may need to reduce the liquid a bit, since they absorb liquid as

they soak)

substitute regular plain or flavored yogurt or non-dairy yogurt (soy, coconut, rice) for

Greek yogurt

omit the yogurt (you may need to experiment with the amount of oats and liquid to

achieve a consistency you like)

substitute other liquids for the skim milk: coconut milk, almond milk, soy milk, rice milk,

juice, etc. (this may change the flavor, but it can still be good with these substitutions--

taste and make necessary adjustments to get it to your liking)

substitute agave syrup for honey, or any sweetener you prefer

substitute fruits (use fresh, frozen, dried, or canned); swap out different fruit flavors to

create your own favorite variety

Substitute quick, instant oats or steel-cut for rolled oats. The instant oats aren't quite as

nutritious, but they'll still work just fine. Steel cut oats are much harder and don't soften

as much when soaked, so the resulting texture is nuttier and chewier. Some have left

comments indicating that they can use steel cut oats if they're pre-cooked, or if only a

small quantity of raw steel-cut oats are mixed into the rolled oats.

Mango Almond Refrigerator Oatmeal

Easy, no-cook oatmeal with make-ahead convenience; packed with nutrition to get your day off

to a healthy start. Make it in individual mason jars for a perfect serving size and an easy grab-

and-go breakfast.

Ingredients

1/4 cup uncooked old fashioned rolled oats

1/3 cup skim milk

1/4 cup low-fat Greek yogurt

1-1/2 teaspoons dried chia seeds

1/8 teaspoon almond extract

1 teaspoon honey, optional (or substitute any preferred sweetener)

1/4 cup diced mango (approx. half of a small mango)

Directions

In a half pint jar or container, add oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, almond extract and honey. Put

lid on jar and shake until well combined. Add mangoes and stir with fork until mixed throughout.

Return lid to jar and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days. Eat chilled.

Nutritional Info: 207 calories, 4g fat, 47g carbs, 7g fiber, 12g protein; Weight Watchers PtsPlus:

7

Blueberry Maple Refrigerator Oatmeal



and-go breakfast.

Ingredients


1/3 cup skim milk



2 teaspoons maple syrup (more or less to taste)

1/4 cup blueberries (or enough to fill jar)

Directions

In a half pint (1 cup) jar, add oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, and maple syrup. Put lid on jar and

shake until well combined. Remove lid, add blueberries and stir until mixed throughout. Return

lid to jar and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days. Eat chilled.


7

Apple Cinnamon Refrigerator Oatmeal



and-go breakfast.

Ingredients


1/3 cup skim milk



1/2 teaspoon cinnamon


1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce, or enough to fill jar

Directions

In a half pint (1 cup) jar, add oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, cinnamon and honey. Put lid on jar

and shake until well combined. Remove lid, add applesauce and stir until mixed throughout.



7

Banana Cocoa Refrigerator Oatmeal



and-go breakfast.

Ingredients


1/3 cup skim milk



1 tablespoon cocoa powder


1/4 cup diced ripe banana, or enough to fill jar (approx. half of a small banana)

Directions

In a half pint (1 cup) jar, add oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, cocoa powder and honey. Put lid on

jar and shake until well combined. Remove lid, add bananas and stir until mixed throughout.


Nutritional Info: 245 calories, 5g fat, 56g carbs, 10g fiber, 13g protein; Weight Watchers

PtsPlus: 8

Banana Peanut Butter Refrigerator Oatmeal



and-go breakfast.

Ingredients


1/3 cup skim milk



1 tablespoon peanut butter (may substitute PB2 powdered peanut butter)


1/4 cup diced ripe banana, or enough to fill jar (approx. half of a small banana)

Directions

In a half pint (1 cup) jar, add oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, peanut butter (or PB2), and honey.

Put lid on jar and shake until well combined. Remove lid, add bananas and stir until mixed

throughout. Return lid to jar and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days. Eat chilled.

Nutritional Info (using PB2 and no honey or sweetener): 264 calories, 5g fat, 55g carbs, 8g fiber,

15g protein; Weight Watchers PtsPlus: 8

Mandarin Orange Refrigerator Oatmeal



and-go breakfast.

Ingredients


1/3 cup skim milk




1 tablespoon orange marmalade

¼ cup drained canned mandarin oranges (or fresh chopped orange)

Directions

In a half pint (1 cup) jar, add oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, honey and marmalade. Put lid on jar

and shake until well combined. Remove lid, add oranges and stir until mixed throughout. Return


Nutritional Info (no honey): 236 calories, 4g fat, 53g carbs, 8g fiber, 12g protein; Weight

Watchers PtsPlus: 7

Cherry Chocolate Chunk Refrigerator Oatmeal



and-go breakfast.

Ingredients


1/3 cup skim milk




1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon finely chopped dark chocolate

¼ cup chopped cherries (fresh or frozen)

Directions

In a half pint (1 cup) jar, add oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, honey & vanilla. Put lid on jar and

shake until well combined. Remove lid, add chopped chocolate and cherries and stir until mixed



9

Mocha Refrigerator Oatmeal



and-go breakfast.

Ingredients


1/3 cup skim milk



2 teaspoons honey, optional (or substitute any preferred sweetener)

1 teaspoon cocoa powder

½ teaspoon instant espresso powder dissolved in 1 tablespoon hot water

Directions

In a half pint (1 cup) jar, add oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, honey, cocoa powder, and dissolved

espresso. Put lid on jar and shake until well combined. Refrigerate overnight or up to 3 days. Eat

chilled.


7

Pineapple Coconut Refrigerator Oatmeal



and-go breakfast.

Ingredients


1/3 cup lite coconut milk




1/4 cup chopped pineapple (fresh, frozen, or drained canned)

Directions

In a half pint (1 cup) jar, add oats, coconut milk, yogurt, chia seeds, and honey. Put lid on jar

and shake until well combined. Remove lid, add pineapple and stir until mixed throughout.



6

Pumpkin Pie Refrigerator Oatmeal



and-go breakfast.

Ingredients


1/3 cup skim milk



½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

2 teaspoons maple syrup (or substitute any preferred sweetener)

¼ cup pumpkin puree (unsweetened canned pumpkin)

Directions

In a half pint (1 cup) jar, add oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, pumpkin pie spice, and maple syrup.

Put lid on jar and shake until well combined. Remove lid, add pumpkin and stir until mixed



7

Peach Melba Refrigerator Oatmeal



and-go breakfast.

Ingredients


1/3 cup skim milk



¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

1-2 tablespoons raspberry jam

¼ cup chopped peaches

Directions

In a half pint (1 cup) jar, add oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds,vanilla extract and jam. Put lid on jar

and shake until well combined. Remove lid, add peaches and stir until mixed throughout. Return


Nutritional Info (with 1 tablespoon jam): 234 calories, 4g fat, 53g carbs, 8g fiber, 12g protein;

Weight Watchers PtsPlus: 7

Cranberry Pecan Refrigerator Oatmeal



and-go breakfast.

Ingredients


1/3 cup skim milk



Teensy pinch of ground cloves


2 tablespoons whole cranberry sauce (or jellied)

1 tablespoon chopped pecans

Directions

In a half pint (1 cup) jar, add oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, cloves and honey. Put lid on jar and

shake until well combined. Remove lid, add cranberry sauce & pecans and stir until mixed



9

Apricot Ginger Refrigerator Oatmeal



and-go breakfast.

Ingredients


1/2 cup skim milk




1/8 teaspoon almond extract

3 dried apricots, diced (or ¼ cup fresh)

1 teaspoon crystallized ginger, minced

Directions

In a half pint (1 cup) jar, add oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, almond extract and honey. Put lid on

jar and shake until well combined. Remove lid, add apricots & ginger and stir until mixed



8

no-cook refrigerator oatmeal

Documents

packed yogurt

chia seeds

individual mason jars

healthy breakfast

cup mason jars

basic procedure step

greek yogurt regular

canning jars