Porridge oats are something you will always find in my cupboard, and they are usually the ones made by Quaker. They are nutritious, tasty, filling and cheap, and if you eat them regularly your body will benefit in several different ways.
What brand of oats you buy makes little difference to all the factors listed above. I think I tend to go for Quaker because that's what I was brought up on, and there's something about that traditional red and blue box with the kindly Quaker man on the front that reminds me of all the best, most comforting things about my childhood. They're not the cheapest at around £1.30 for 1 kg, but you'll get many meals out of a kilogramme so it's hardly an extravagance to buy a brand name.
Porridge oats are oats that have been rolled and broken down into smaller pieces than in their natural state. I prefer them this way, as I find them easier to digest, but if you want to buy them in their natural state, look for the 'jumbo' variety.
To make your porridge, you mix your oats with either water, water and milk, or just milk. Then heat them up either in the saucepan or microwave. Making porridge is one of the very few things I use a microwave for as it is quick and far less messy than a pan.
I won't give weights, measures and times, because how you like your oats is your own affair. The longer you cook your oats, the more they break down and the creamier your porridge becomes. Obviously, milk produces a creamier taste and texture than water. Personally, I like mine slightly undercooked and made with half milk and half water. A general rule is to use at least double the amount of liquid to porridge, measured in a mug.
Then comes the contentious bit - how you adorn your oats. For many Scots, there is no accompaniment other than salt, and anything else is a bastardization. I can't stand salty oats, though, so for me it has to be a good sprinkling of sugar. If I'm feeling slim, I'll also bung a knob of butter on the top and let it melt in for that flapjacky flavour. Other popular additions are dried fruits, nuts, cold milk, syrups and bran.
Porridge is very filling and very low in fat, so it's a dieters delight (especially when made with skimmed milk or water). It is also high in soluble fibre, meaning that it not only keeps your bowels turning over but it can also reduce your cholesterol level if you eat it regularly.
But never mind that. Porridge tastes fantastic and that's the bottom line.
Buying cheaper oats than Quaker will produce all of the same results, but I'm sticking with the brand because it never disappoints on quality and flavour, and because I like the old man on the box.
More details
Smell
Very nice
Evaluate this review
How helpful would this review be to someone making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
very helpful
very helpful
very helpful
