How To Make Porridge In A Pressure Cooker (perfect every time!)

I love to eat porridge in the morning, especially in winter. It fills me up and is a super-cheap way to have a nutritious start to the day.

Porridge can be a bit tricky to get right. If you cook it on the stove you have to constantly stir it to stop it from sticking. If you cook it in the microwave you need to keep an eye on it so it doesn’t boil over.

If you are thinking that making porridge in a pressure cooker could be an easy way to cook it, then let me tell you, you’re correct! Once you get the quantities and timings right it becomes automatic.

I like to have all the ingredients ready in the morning. When I get up I switch on the pressure cooker. In a few minutes, it reaches pressure and then I turn it off and it cooks by itself while I have my morning shower. The great thing is that it will stay warm for as long as I need it to in the morning.

Many of the directions I found involved using an electric pressure cooker. So I have adapted this recipe to work with my manual pressure cooker (the type that cooks on the stove top). So if you have one too, then this post is for you!

If you don’t have time to read the full post. Here is the quick answer:

For one serving of porridge mix 40g of rolled oats with 200ml of milk or water. Put the mixture in a heat-safe bowl inside the cooker. Pour water into the bottom. Set the pressure cooker on high and bring it up to pressure. Then turn off the heat and wait 10 minutes. Your porridge will then be ready to eat.

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How to cook porridge in a pressure cooker

Cooking oats in a pressure cooker is much the same as cooking them on the stove in that the ingredients are the same.

But there is one big difference.

You must cook your oats in a bowl within the cooker and add some water to the bottom.

This is because pressure cookers need a certain amount of moisture to cook properly and there isn’t enough in the porridge ingredients alone. If we were to add the optimal amount of water to the oats, they would turn out too runny.

Ingredients for pressure-cooked porridge

(for one serving)

• 40g rolled oats
• 200ml milk or water

These jumbo oats by Quaker are my favorite oats to use to make yummy porridge. When cooked they still have a lovely texture to them.

Method for making porridge in a pressure cooker

The method for making porridge with oats in a pressure cooker is super easy.

However, you will need some extra items for it to cook perfectly:

• One heat-safe bowl that fits easily inside the pressure cooker with enough space around to get it in and out.
• Trivet to raise the bowl above the bottom of the pressure cooker.
• Extra water (2 cups) for the bottom of the pressure cooker.

Step 1 – Prepare the pressure cooker for safe cooking

First off, pour 2 cups of water into the bottom of the pressure cooker so that the water is a couple of inches deep. Then lay your trivet over the top.

Step 2 – Add the ingredients

Add the rolled oats, water, and milk to your heat-safe bowl. You can use any type of bowl as long as it fits inside the cooker with space around and above the bowl.

If you think you may have trouble getting the bowl out of the pressure cooker, make a handle with some aluminum foil to make it easier to get out.

Step 3 – Bring the pressure cooker up to high pressure

Now select the highest heat pressure on your pressure cooker. This will be different depending on the type of cooker you have. For mine, I turn my pressure dial to the number two position.

Set your hob to medium heat and then let the cooker come up to pressure fairly slowly.

I found that setting the hob to maximum and bringing the cooker up to pressure too quickly led to the oats not being cooked properly at the end.

As soon as the pressure valve comes up, turn off the heat.

Step 4 – Allow pressure to release naturally

Now let your pressure cooker release pressure naturally, which will take about ten minutes. It is important to do this because it is all part of the cooking process. Don’t be tempted to do a quick release.

After ten minutes remove the lid and lift out your dish. Your porridge is now ready to eat.

Related reading:

• Are Pressure Cookers Worth Buying?
• How To Cook Jumbo Oats! | Quick, Easy & Delicious
• Cheap and Filling Foods for Every Mealtime
• Cheap Foods You Can Buy In Bulk To Save Money
• 30 Cheap Foods With High Nutritional Value And What To Cook With Them

Pressure cooker recommendation

My pressure cooker is quite old now. But it is still working beautifully. I have a stainless steel version made by Tower and it works perfectly on my induction hob. Due to its age, I couldn’t find it for sale anywhere.

If I were to buy another one soon, this is the one I would buy. It comes in two sizes and it is made of stainless steel which in my opinion is better than aluminum.

Presto 01362 6-Quart Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker

Buy at Amazon

Topping ideas for your pressure-cooked oatmeal

I usually like to sprinkle on some brown sugar for a bit of crunch along with some cinnamon. But there are loads of other options if you are more adventurous than me!

Here are some ideas:

• Maple syrup
• Honey
• Flax or chia seeds
• Dried fruit such as raisins, sultanas, and cranberries
• Nuts such as pecans and walnuts
• Chocolate chips
• Fresh fruit such as strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries

Frequently asked questions

How Much Oats Per Person For Porridge?

Typically you would need 40g of oats per person.

Can you make porridge in a pressure cooker?

Yes, you can make porridge in a pressure cooker!

Simply add the ingredients (see above for the quantities) and bring your cooker up to pressure and then immediately turn it off and let the pressure release naturally. When you cook your porridge in a pressure cooker, make sure you cook the oats in a bowl inside and add some water to the bottom of the cooker. This will stop the milk from burning.

How long to cook oatmeal porridge in a pressure cooker?

Bring your pressure cooker up to high pressure and as soon as it reaches pressure, turn off the heat and let the pressure release naturally for ten minutes. By the time the pressure has released your oatmeal will be perfectly cooked.

How much water to cook porridge in a pressure cooker?

This depends on which type of oats you will be using to make your porridge. For jumbo oats or rolled oats, you would need five times the amount of milk or water than oats. So for a single 40g serving of oats, add 200ml of milk or water.

How to make porridge without a pressure cooker?

If you don’t have a pressure cooker, don’t worry because you can easily make porridge on the stove top or in your microwave. Here’s a useful post on how to cook jumbo oats both on the stove top and in a microwave.