• In a small saucepan, heat up the oats with the water and salt. Bring to a boil then quickly reduce to a simmer over medium heat for 3-4 minutes.
• Add the milk, stir, and cook for a further 1-2 minutes.

  By adding the milk at this point you don't have to worry about it scalding in the pot and you still get wonderfully creamy results but with only a fraction of the calories. You could alternatively start the process with half water and half milk or all milk - Feel free to reduce the liquid to 1 cup in total if you prefer thicker oats.
• Once it's cooked to your desired texture, pour the oatmeal into a bowl and top with your toppings of choice (like this easy mixed berry compote).

How To Store

• I prefer to cook oatmeal freshly every day. However, cooked plain oatmeal can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days (or even frozen for up to 3 months!). Make sure to refrigerate it within an hour or two of making it though, otherwise, bacteria can start to grow.

  Reheat the oatmeal either in the microwave or on the stove. You may need to add an extra splash of water or milk to get it back to the creamy texture. The same goes for the berry compote.