Travelling On

Alchemilla

After reading this I am worrying I might have to get rid of the Labrador flap!

Baileys_Babe

themadvix said:

KC, 5-6 minutes in the microwave for porridge? That seems a long time. What’s the power of your microwave? Mine only takes 2m 40s for one portion @ 800w. I leave it to stand for 5 mins afterwards to thicken. 

The size of the oats makes a difference, we use jumbo oats which take longer but give the consistency we like.

Our GF porridge oats and they take about the time you say or less.

Also, the ratio of oats to liquid will affect how long they take and the quantity you make.

apple_muncher

Would soaking the oats overnight lessen the microwave time?

Karmacat

themadvix said:

I think we might look at replacing some more radiators before next winter - in the two rooms that we have modern double panelled ones (as opposed to old-style double or single panelled ones) we really notice the difference. As this house will likely move to an AHSP for heat at some point (our boiler is still in warranty, so it pains me to think it might be soon!), this will be necessary anyway.

Infra red radiators seem to be a thing - although they rely on mains electricity, unlike an AHSP.

themadvix said:

KC, 5-6 minutes in the microwave for porridge? That seems a long time. What’s the power of your microwave? Mine only takes 2m 40s for one portion @ 800w. I leave it to stand for 5 mins afterwards to thicken. 

The 5 minutes will definitely make it better than mine - I'm a bit hungry by the time it's out I checked the power.  On the front of the model it says 700W.  On the label taped to the inside of the "door jamb", for want of a better description, it rabbits on about 1100W.  I'll check the model number and come back.  Yours is 800W?  I might be overdoing it then!

Karmacat

I don't soak overnight, but I do pour boiling water on in the morning - it kind of bursts the cell walls (I'm sure thats not biologically accurate, but ... hey ho).  When I did overnight, even though I stuck it in the micro for the same time, it didn't thicken up, I didn't like it.  Might try overnight with boiling water, though I'm a little concerned about it going "off" overnight, or is that me worrying too much?  Weird the way these things are interesting!  But cutting in half the time I use to cook my oats could be useful.

Karmacat

This was good!  It's definitely 700W, I read the Amazon reviews for it (I didn't buy it on there).  Good, basic, small, blah, fine.  Power category C - it ranges from A to E, so its slap in the middle   I'm still using up fine-milled oats (aka the dust that makes up Asda smartprice oats  ) so I'll go with 4 minutes tomorrow.

Baileys_Babe

apple_muncher said:

Would soaking the oats overnight lessen the microwave time?

Yes, it does, we usually soak ours overnight.

One of the children don't like soaking theirs "as it makes it taste too oaty" 😂

edwink

Karmacat said:

themadvix said:

I think we might look at replacing some more radiators before next winter - in the two rooms that we have modern double panelled ones (as opposed to old-style double or single panelled ones) we really notice the difference. As this house will likely move to an AHSP for heat at some point (our boiler is still in warranty, so it pains me to think it might be soon!), this will be necessary anyway.

Infra red radiators seem to be a thing - although they rely on mains electricity, unlike an AHSP.

KC  

I'm afraid the ASHP's do use electricity although it is a small amount the pumps won't run without it, sadly

Interesting posts about porridge on here, never thought about soaking the oats overnight. Think I might try that next time I have porridge. 

Edwink x

Karmacat

Still interested in the porridge!  I cooked it for 3 mins, rested, then did another 30 seconds.  I think I need to roughly measure the amount of water - I measure the oats, roughly, but not the water. I need to get a bit of a grip on that, I'd like to get it down to 3 mins.  And if I could overnight it on 3 mins *and* still like the texture, that would be even better, but I'm not prepared to do overnight to save energy if I don't like what I'm eating.  Crazy times, and such a little thing, but minimising means minimising *everything*.

Edwink - thanks for that on the pumps, I should have realised that.

themadvix

I didn't find overnighting it made much difference to cooking time and I felt it was a bit of a different texture too. I use 40g normal porridge oats (don't like the jumbo texture either), 100 ml milk (oat for preference as it's creamier) and 140 ml water. Stir when it's finished and then leave for a few mins (depending on how hungry I am, how distracted by kitchen tasks I get in the meantime!).

I have to thank you for putting me onto cooking it in the microwave in the first place Karma, as it was your suggestion a few years ago that set me in that direction. Since then, custard has also become a microwave dish and I'm going to keep experimenting with other things (and how to cook them in the microwave without Mr MV complaining about it - he thinks things taste nicer on the hob). My latest success is the milk for Mr MV's hot chocolate - much quicker and less wasteful than on the hob (normally we buy instant, just-add-water stuff but this was a Christmas present).