How to Keep Oatmeal From Boiling Over in the Microwave

Quick answer: Use a bowl much larger than the ingredients, reduce the power and heat oatmeal in shorter bursts with stirring breaks.

Choose the bowl

Oats foam and rise when heated. A deep microwave-safe bowl provides more headroom than a cereal bowl.

Start with less power

Try medium or medium-high power rather than full power, especially for milk-based oatmeal.

Heat in intervals

Microwave in 30- to 60-second bursts, stirring carefully between intervals until oats are tender. Times vary substantially by microwave.

Prevent messes

Do not cover tightly. Place a microwave-safe plate under the bowl to catch possible spillovers.

If it gets too thick

Stir in a splash of water or milk after heating and let stand for a minute.

The bottom line

Use a bowl much larger than the ingredients, reduce the power and heat oatmeal in shorter bursts with stirring breaks.