There’s something special about toasted oats, isn’t there? When you toast oats, the flavor becomes stronger and so much more enjoyable!
Not to mention, some recipes specifically call for toasted oats. It doesn’t matter which reason you want for toasted oats, you just want it done!
You can toast your oats using a number of methods. This includes using a pan and stovetop, oven, air fryer, or even a microwave!
Read on to find out how to toast your oats using each of these methods below.
Why Would You Want To Toast Your Oats?
Toasted oats can be used for a number of things! The smell of toasted oats is one of the best things about it, but it has great uses as well.
You can make your own homemade granola by adding nuts, berries, and honey if you want something nice in the morning.
Alternatively, toasted oats are often used in baking recipes. You might find toasted oats in cookies, especially.
You may also choose to toast your oats if you want to make overnight oats, but aren’t too keen on the “raw” oat flavor.
If you don’t like the flavor, texture, or smell of raw oats, you can simply toast them and use them instead. They will probably make the recipe taste even better, anyway!
How To Toast Your Oats
Using A Pan
This is probably the quickest and easiest method you can use for toasting your oats – and it works the best, too!
All you need is a good skillet, your oats (whole, steel cut, or rolled oats works well), and a hot stove. The process takes around five minutes and gives the best results, so give it a try!
Start by measuring out the oats you want to toast.
This can be for a recipe you’re following, or you can measure it with your heart if you’re making something without a recipe!
Place the oats in the skillet, and turn the stove onto a medium-high heat. Make sure to shake and toss the oats as it toasts to ensure the heat is distributed evenly.
Keep doing that until the oats are sufficiently toasted, and you’re done!
It’s really as simple as that.
Using Your Microwave
You could also try toasting your oats in a microwave. This method isn’t the best, and it would be the last recommendation on this list.
However, if you don’t have an air fryer, and your oven and stove are broken, this will get the job done.
All you need to do is measure out your oats, then lay it out on a microwave safe plate. You will get the best results if it is all in one single layer.
Set the microwave onto a high setting for around two minutes and start running it. Check on the oats at 30-second intervals to check on the process.
You may need to stir the oats halfway through and flatten it all out again before continuing. This should ensure that both sides are nice and toasted.
Be careful when removing the oats from the microwave, as they will be super hot. Allow them to rest a minute before using, or you could burn yourself.
Using Your Air Fryer
You can toast your oats using an air fryer if you have one! This method works very well, and always gets great results.
You aren’t limited to only toasting oats, here, either.
You can make granola by just adding in a couple of other ingredients like honey and nuts.
Either way, all you really need to do is measure out your oats and put them in your air fryer.
If you are adding other ingredients like honey, make sure to add some parchment paper to protect the machine.
If you aren’t using any other ingredients, this shouldn’t be necessary.
For the best results, the oats should be laid into a single layer in the air fryer. This will help ensure that they are evenly toasted.
If you need to make larger quantities, you will need to check on the granola every few minutes to stir.
The air fryer should get set to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, then put on for around 10 minutes. Check in on your granola until the time is up.
If it looks like it needs to toast more, give the air fryer a few more minutes. You shouldn’t need any extra time, though, as oats will brown very quickly. Keep an eye on it!
Using Your Oven
Oats can also easily be toasted in the oven! This is another method that gets amazing results if you want to toast your oats quickly.
Out of the four methods listed here, this is easily in second place, behind only the pan toasted oats.
As always, start off by measuring out the oats you want to use. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and get a large oven tray for the oats.
Place a baking sheet over the tray, then pour in your oats and flatten it into one layer. When the oven is nice and hot, simply slide the tray into the oven for 10 minutes and allow it to toast!
You might want to give the oats a stir halfway through to try and flip some over. This will allow both sides to get toasted evenly, but isn’t usually required.
After the 10-minute mark, you should be left with beautiful golden oats that smell divine.
Final Thoughts
There you go! Oats can easily be toasted using a skillet, microwave, air fryer, or oven! The best method is the skillet, and the worst is the microwave.
However, if your usual devices are broken, and you only have a microwave to use, it will get the job done!
Whether you want to use your toasted oats for your homemade granola, or for a cookie recipe, it’s super easy to do.
If you don’t fall in love with the fragrance, you will definitely fall in love with the flavor!
