What To Do With Leftover Oatmeal? Try These 10 recipes

Oatmeal is a staple breakfast for many people around the world. Nothing beats cooking a pot of creamy oatmeal. When it comes to a healthy, wholesome and nutritious breakfast, oatmeal comes to mind right away. It is a favourite food for the breakfast table, offering high nutritional value and versatility. 

So imagine you're sitting there with a pot full of oats. It would be a waste to throw the leftover oatmeal away. Instead of tossing it out, you can use it to make muffins, porridge, pancakes, cookies, and much more.

Have you ever wondered if you could reheat oatmeal? As long as you store cooked oatmeal properly, you can reheat it safely. Microwaves and stovetops are good ways to reheat oatmeal, and the results will vary depending on which method you use. Microwaves are the fastest. However, oatmeal can become gooey if not monitored carefully, so the stovetop is your best option if you're a picky eater.

Check out our list of creative uses for leftover oatmeal. We’ve pulled together ten delightful options that won’t disappoint.

Oatmeal muffins

Baking with oats adds fibre that keeps you full for a long time, so oatmeal muffins are a great choice. Check out these healthy blueberry oatmeal muffins, an easy and delicious muffin recipe perfect for your breakfast or a tasty snack. These muffins are so light and hearty that you will make extra oatmeal just to have an excuse to make them.

Overnight oats

In recent years, overnight oats have become one of the most popular breakfasts due to their ease and health benefits. Overnight oats are simply oats soaked overnight instead of being cooked in the morning, providing a quick, filling, and nutritious breakfast. The result is creamy oatmeal that has absorbed the flavours of whatever you have mixed it with. Check out our step-by-step method for overnight oats with tips on how to add optional ingredients and toppings.

Porridge 

Are you looking for healthy breakfast ideas? Make yourself a warm bowl of delicious berries and banana oatmeal. With a healthy, filling breakfast that can be made in less than 30 minutes, here’s the perfect recipe to fuel your morning – this tasty breakfast will set you up for a productive day.

Oatmeal cookies

It's hard to beat a batch of homemade oatmeal cookies. These gooey leftover oatmeal cookies are the perfect way to use up your leftover oatmeal. Easy to make with a few pantry staples, these cookies from Bucket List Tummy are soft, chewy and make the best snack to satisfy your cookie cravings.

Oatmeal pancakes

Making homemade pancakes is easy with this recipe from The Gracious Pantry. These leftover oatmeal pancakes are the perfect way to repurpose leftover oatmeal before it goes bad – when you need to use it up quickly, this is a delicious way to do it. Pancakes made from 100% oat flour are great for gluten-free people, and oat flour has a lower glycemic index than regular flour, so it's a little more blood sugar-friendly.

Oatmeal bread

This hearty recipe from Comfortably Domestic makes a pretty and delicious loaf of bread that stays soft and chewy. Bread made from leftover oatmeal is a fantastic way to repurpose leftover oatmeal. Since this bread is so good and satisfying, you may "unintentionally" make too much oatmeal to justify baking it. It makes excellent toast, delicious sandwiches, and really tasty French toast. 

Oatmeal bars

When you make oatmeal bars, you probably use raw oats as the main ingredient, but you may have never considered using cooked oat pulp to make them. Breakfast and snacking have never been easier with this oatmeal bar recipe. Homemade oatmeal bars are more nutritious and healthier than prepackaged versions, and you can add different ingredients according to your tastes.

Granola

You'll want to make extra oatmeal next time to turn into granola after tasting this delight from Briana Thomas. The oatmeal leftovers won’t stay long in your fridge or freezer after this recipe. This granola is delicious and easy to make and only requires a few ingredients. It is crunchy, but it softens beautifully in regular or plant-based milk without getting soggy. You can add more flavour with the extracts or spices you prefer.

Oatmeal waffles

Waffles. These fluffy pieces of heaven can be made and enjoyed in various delicious ways. With a waffle maker and a few staple ingredients, you can make fresh waffles every time the craving strikes. And if you’re looking for ways to re-use leftovers and turn them into some kind of magic, check out this toothsome and easy recipe from New Scandinavian Cooking. 

Oatmeal cakes

There's nothing more inviting than a cake baked in butter until it's crunchy on the outside, moist on the inside, and flavoured precisely to your liking, all while being healthy and filling at the same time.  With tons of nutrients and minimal cost, this recipe from Don’t Waste The Crumbs may be the easiest way to use up leftover oatmeal. It will be a hit with your friends and family, so be prepared to make it a lot.

How to store leftover oatmeal

Despite not containing animal products, oatmeal's starchy grain can go bad. Once prepared, oatmeal can be a breeding ground for bacteria that will cause foodborne illnesses. Cooked oatmeal should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer. In the fridge, oatmeal can be kept for up to five days, while frozen oatmeal can be kept for up to three months.