{"id":1741231,"date":"2022-02-17T08:09:54","date_gmt":"2022-02-17T14:09:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?post_type=listicle&p=1741231"},"modified":"2025-04-01T01:11:36","modified_gmt":"2025-04-01T06:11:36","slug":"best-instant-oatmeal","status":"publish","type":"listicle","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/collection\/best-instant-oatmeal\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Instant Oatmeal to Kickstart Your Morning"},"content":{"rendered":"[SINGLE_AFFILIATE_PRODUCT superlative=\"Best Hearty Oatmeal\" product_name=\"Bob's Red Mill Brown Sugar & Maple Instant Oatmeal\" pros=\"Great texture thanks to oats and flaxseed\" pros1=\"Not overly sweet\" cons=\"Consider these factors before you buy:\" image=\"2014329\" image_credit=\"VIA MERCHANT\" pr_name=\"Target\" pr_url=\"https:\/\/goto.target.com\/XxoaPy\" pr_display_text=\"Shop on Target\" retailers_2_name=\"Amazon\" retailers_2_url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Bobs-Red-Mill-Oatmeal-Packets\/dp\/B08XN7CB5N\/ref=asc_df_B08XN7CB5N?tag=tohmke-20\" retailers_2_display_text=\"Shop on Amazon\" \/]\r\n\r\nThis review tells you everything you need to know about\u00a0Bob's Red Mill Instant Oatmeal<\/strong><\/a>. Per the Test Kitchen's Sarah Farmer<\/a>, \"This is a more grown-up version of instant oatmeal.\"\r\n\r\nBob's Red Mill oatmeal is a touch more sophisticated than most instant oats because it includes flaxseed which really takes the texture to the next level. It adds a bit of crunch while still maintaining the tenderness of the oats. The flavor is also relatively mild and not overly sweet. You'll get just a whisper of brown sugar and a touch of maple syrup<\/a> going on here.\r\n\r\nIt's worth noting that these are not your typical 90-second oats. You'll want to let them sit for about five minutes for the oats to really absorb the water and give you a nice consistency. In the end, you'll end up with a consistency that's closer to traditional stovetop oats<\/a>.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n[SINGLE_AFFILIATE_PRODUCT superlative=\"Best Instant Oatmeal for Kids\" product_name=\"Quaker Maple & Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal\" pros=\"Great maple and brown sugar flavor\" pros1=\"Easy to find; Quaker is at nearly every grocery and big box store\" cons=\"Add less water than the packet instructs for best results\" image=\"2014331\" image_credit=\"VIA MERCHANT\" pr_name=\"Target\" pr_url=\"https:\/\/goto.target.com\/XxoaPy\" pr_display_text=\"Shop on Target\" \/]\r\n\r\nSpooning up bites of\u00a0Quaker Maple & Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal<\/strong><\/a>, our Test Kitchen's Shannon Norris<\/a> remarked, \"This reminds me of my childhood.\"\r\n\r\nIt's those nostalgic flavors that make Quaker instant oatmeal a favorite at\u00a0Taste Recipes<\/em>. This quick breakfast is jam-packed with maple and brown sugar flavor which has this oatmeal veering more towards sweet than hearty\u2014perfect for kiddos.\r\n\r\nAnd while this hot cereal does have that brown sugar flavor kids of all ages love, you can still feel good about this oatmeal; it has no artificial preservatives, flavors or colors.\r\n\r\nOne thing our Test Kitchen team did note during this test was that the amount of water called for on the box made the oatmeal a bit loose. For a thicker morning bowlful, use a bit less than directed and let stand for 90 seconds.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n[SINGLE_AFFILIATE_PRODUCT superlative=\"Best High Protein Oatmeal\" product_name=\"Kodiak Cakes Maple & Brown Sugar Protein-Packed Oatmeal\" pros=\"12 grams of protein per bowl\" pros1=\"Good balance of maple and brown sugar\" cons=\"Added pea and whey protein gives this oatmeal a starchier consistency\" image=\"2014332\" image_credit=\"VIA MERCHANT\" pr_name=\"Walmart\" pr_url=\"https:\/\/www.walmart.com\/ip\/Kodiak-Cakes-Oatmeal-Unleashed-Maple-Brown-Sugar-1-76-Oz-6-Packets\/447583207\" pr_display_text=\"Shop on Walmart\" retailers_2_name=\"Amazon\" retailers_2_url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Kodiak-Protein-Packed-Oatmeal-Unleashed-Protein\/dp\/B0BGHD9K2Y\/ref=asc_df_B0BGHD9K2Y?tag=tohmke-20\" retailers_2_display_text=\"Shop on Amazon\" \/]\r\n\r\nSupercharge your breakfast with\u00a0Kodiak Cakes Protein-Packed Oatmeal<\/strong><\/a>. A single serving packs 12 grams of protein\u2014that's three times the amount of your average packet of instant oats and enough to keep you fueled up all morning.\r\n\r\nThese powerhouse oats have a hearty consistency thanks to a slightly thicker cut of instant oat. In fact, even when completely cooked, they have a \"nice, crunchy little bite,\" according to Sarah. For a filling breakfast, this is just the texture you want.\r\n\r\nAs for flavor, Kodiak Cakes oatmeal has definite maple and brown sugar notes with a hint of vanilla. Despite the brown sugar, this instant oatmeal isn't very sweet which makes it feel a bit more adult.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n[SINGLE_AFFILIATE_PRODUCT superlative=\"Best Steel-Cut Oatmeal\" product_name=\"McCann's Maple & Brown Sugar Irish Oatmeal\" pros=\"Great brown sugar and maple flavors\" pros1=\"Thicker consistency\" cons=\"Steel-cut oats have a polarizing texture; be sure you enjoy Irish oats before purchasing\" image=\"2014333\" image_credit=\"VIA MERCHANT\" pr_name=\"Amazon\" pr_url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/McCanns-Irish-Oatmeal-Instant-Packets\/dp\/B0087GL7RY?tag=tohmke-20\" pr_display_text=\"Shop on Amazon\" retailers_2_name=\"Walmart\" retailers_2_url=\"https:\/\/www.walmart.com\/ip\/McCann-s-Maple-Brown-Sugar-Instant-Irish-Oatmeal-Instant-Oatmeal-Kosher-10-Count-Box\/29909017\" retailers_2_display_text=\"Shop on Walmart\" \/]\r\n\r\nSteel-cut or Irish oats have a different texture than flat, flaky oatmeal. This different grind can make a big difference to particular oatmeal eaters. If you prefer the texture of steel-cut oatmeal, grab a box of McCann's Irish Oatmeal<\/strong><\/a>.\r\n\r\nUnlike many other instant oatmeals, McCann's stirs up to just the right consistency veering on the thicker side if you let it stand. Prefer looser oatmeal? Mark Neufang<\/a> in our Test Kitchen suggests a splash of milk or cream.\r\n\r\nWhen it comes to the flavor, McCann's delivers. The maple and brown sugar are very pronounced here, so there's no need to doctor up your oatmeal with an additional splash of maple syrup or a sprinkle of sugar.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n[SINGLE_AFFILIATE_PRODUCT superlative=\"Best No-Fail Oatmeal\" product_name=\"KIND Maple Almond Protein Oatmeal\" pros=\"Homemade appearance\" pros1=\"Hearty texture\" pros2=\"10 grams of protein\" cons=\"Not very sweet (not great for kids)\" image=\"2014337\" image_credit=\"VIA MERCHANT\" pr_name=\"Walmart\" pr_url=\"https:\/\/www.walmart.com\/ip\/KIND-Protein-Oatmeal-Maple-Almond-10-grams-of-Protein-1-5-Ounce-6-Packets\/636581783\" pr_display_text=\"Shop on Walmart\" retailers_2_name=\"Amazon\" retailers_2_url=\"https:\/\/us.amazon.com\/Kind-Maple-Almond-Protein-Oatmeal\/dp\/B08R4W1NF1\" retailers_2_display_text=\"Shop on Amazon\" \/]\r\n\r\nFor instant oatmeal with a little something extra, try KIND Maple Almond Protein Oatmeal<\/strong><\/a>. This brand popped to the top in the blind test thanks to the unexpected addition of almonds.\r\n\r\nAs we all know, achieving the right texture for oatmeal can be hard to do. But you don't need to fret with KIND's oatmeal, per Maggie Knoebel<\/a> in our Test Kitchen: \"Even if you overcook the oats, the almonds save it.\r\n\r\nThat's right, even when our testers let their samples sit too long or added too much water, every bowlful had \"a nice chewy crunch,\" according to Shannon.\r\n\r\nBut this oatmeal was so much more than crunch. Testers got nice notes of maple\u00a0and vanilla. If you prefer a sweeter breakfast, you may want to stir in a little extra syrup, but overall, this instant oatmeal is much beloved.\r\n\r\n[dam-video dam-id=\"49501\"]\r\n

How We Tested Instant Oatmeals<\/h2>\r\nLike all our taste tests<\/a>, our team of experts<\/a> collected the most in-demand products on the market. For this instant oatmeal test, our shoppers grabbed maple and brown sugar oatmeal\u2014the standard in most pantries.\r\n\r\nFor this test, our team prepped the oatmeal exactly as specified on the box and sampled each blindly with these criteria in mind.\r\n