Air Fryer Chef: Old-Fashioned Oatmeal for One

To date, the best dish which I’ve cooked “from scratch” in my small air fryer is, “Old-Fashioned Oatmeal for One.” Hands Down — my recipe makes the most awesome oatmeal. It is so tasty that my husband and I now eat this cereal for breakfast almost everyday. It is a very simple recipe to make in the air fryer. The oatmeal is smooth, soupy with a wonderful, aromatic and nutty flavor. Why make oatmeal in an air fryer? I gifted my bachelor grandson an air fryer for Christmas. Since he has moved into his first apartment, I thought that perhaps I should supply some recipes for things which are easy to prepare with a minimum of ingredients and fuss. I have experimented with so many recipes and have had a great time concocting dishes. Healthy “Old-Fashioned Oatmeal” is one of my success stories.

Nutritional Value of Oatmeal

Oatmeal is such a nutrient-dense food. It especially is high in soluble fiber. That type of fiber lowers cholesterol which is important for heart health. This fiber also aids in gut health and digestion. The soluble fiber helps to manage blood sugar levels in diabetes. Oatmeal contains high levels of the antioxidant, avenanthramide, a type of polyphenol which exists almost exclusively in oats. Antioxidants help prevent inflammation and chronic diseases. Oatmeal contains plenty of vitamins and minerals including magnesium, iron, phosphorus, zine, copper, and the vitamins of folate, Vitamins B1 and B5. We can all benefit nutritionally from eating oatmeal

Small Chefman Air Fryer

I’m using my small, 2-quart Chefman brand air fryer for this recipe. The air fryer is simple and easy to use. The basket accommodates just enough ingredients for one or two people. Great for my husband and myself or for someone who is cooking for just themself.

This model has a dial on top to set the oven temperature. The dial on the front is the timer. Set the timer and the oven starts to heat and cook. When the time is up, the timer “ding” and air fryer fan and heat turns off. Impossible over-cook a dish if you forget that you have the air fryer going.

An “air fryer’ is actually a convection oven. In this model, a fan in the top of the appliance circulates hot air around the food which speeds up the cooking time. Put the food to be cooked — in a single layer — directly on a grate which fits in the air fryer basket or in a small pan or oven-proof casserole dish which fits on the grate.

Air Fryer pans for this small appliance

Although you can heat up many leftovers and frozen entrees directly on the air fryer basket grate, some foods — such as oatmeal — require a cooking pan. On Amazon, I located coated, stainless steel baking pans which are 4″-diameter and 5″-diameter and fit in the basket. This basket is only 6″ in diameter, so many of my kitchen pans and casserole dishes won’t fit into the basket. I did locate several other ceramic dishes in my cabinets. Plus, I purchased silicone muffin cups which I plan to try to use. NOTE: Anything placed in the air fryer must be oven proof — as you are heating it up to potentially 400 degrees.

The coated, stainless steel pans shouldn’t be washed in the dishwasher. It is easy to wash them by hand. Immediately, after cooking, fill with water and let the pans soak. Then wash by hand with mild dish soap and a sponge.

Recipe

Here are the ingredients for my recipe, “Old-Fashioned Oatmeal.”

Oatmeal — I used old-fashioned oatmeal, not quick cooking, instant or steel-cut oats. I believe that the old-fashioned variety has the best flavor and texture.

Milk – A little milk adds flavor and nutritional value. Since I am lactose-intolerant, I use Fairlife milk brand which is lactose-free. (The lactose has been removed by a special filtration process.) However, regular, low-fat milk or other milks such as almond or oat milk can be substituted.

Water – I use milk for only part of the cooking liquid, Most of the liquid in this recipe is water.

Salt – Just a pinch of salt intensifies the flavor of the oatmeal.

Brown sugar – While this ingredient is optional, a little brown sugar definitely ramps up the flavor in my opinion. Yum.

Making the Recipe

To make the oatmeal recipe, place the dry oatmeal, salt and brown sugar into the small 4″-diameter pan. Stir to distribute the salt and brown sugar. Add the milk and water. Turn the air fryer grate upside-down to create a flat surface and place into air fryer basket. Place the pan with the oatmeal on the grate into the air fryer basket. Cook, uncovered, for 20 minutes at 300 degrees. Carefully remove the pan from air fryer basket using tongs — holding the the tongs firmly. (You will never get your hands or a hot pad into the air fryer basket.)

A milk and sugar foam will probably harden on top of the oatmeal. Just take a spoon and skim it off and remove it. Give the oatmeal a stir. It will be soupy. (That’s part of the appeal of this recipe.) However, if you prefer — let the oatmeal cool to room temperature; it will absorb moisture and thicken up. Your choice of how to eat it — (thin or thick).

If I’m making a serving for just myself, I eat the oatmeal directly out of the pan. I have also included a recipe for a 5″-diameter pan which will serve 2 to 3 people. (It cooks in the same amount of time — 20 minutes — but I do increase the air fryer temperature to 325 degrees.)

I love this aromatic — slightly sweet and slightly nutty — soupy oatmeal. It is a satisfying breakfast. It is the perfect recipe to make in my small air fryer.