Is It Possible To Make Oatmeal In An Air Fryer?

Air fryers are versatile cooking tools, small but mighty ovens that fry, roast, broil, and bake food without the extra oil needed for deep-frying, boasts Honest Food Talks. From ravioli to pumpkin seeds, lava cakes to hard-boiled eggs, Taste of Home recognizes the many ways home cooks can use air fryers to make delicious meals and snacks. And while there are some items best left outside of the air fryer's cooking compartment – Reader's Digest recommends steering clear of using the air fryer to cook battered foods, fresh greens, cheese, and popcorn — there are plenty of other foods waiting to come out of the air fryer hot and ready to eat. 

One such recipe, oatmeal, may sound like a questionable air-frying decision, but if you're looking for breakfast-making shortcuts for exceptionally busy mornings, an air fryer may be just what you need to whip up a delicious and comforting meal with minimal effort. 

It makes sense to be skeptical about cooking oatmeal in the air fryer, but once you try it, you may never go back to baking it in the oven. Hayl's Kitchen was unsure as well, but after trying air-fried oats they were converted: It was just as tasty as if it was baked in an oven — plus, an air fryer requires less fuss and less time. To make oatmeal in the air fryer, first butter an oven-safe dish to set into the air fryer's basket and set the fryer to 300 degrees, per Real Simple. In 15 minutes, your mixture of oats and milk (or water) will be cooked and ready to eat without much attention. 

Plus, you can customize oats according to your liking, explains Bites of Wellness, by including your choice of nut butter, chocolate, or nuts to make the perfect breakfast. While cooking time and temperature can vary from machine to machine, the process is fairly straightforward. Think of how easy it is to make overnight oats: Simply mix your ingredients, place them into a jar, and set them in the fridge to chill. Air-frying oatmeal is similar, except you're guaranteed a hot, comforting breakfast instead of a chilled treat.