Porridge - making it in advance?

[goldenoldie]

My babies love porridge, but when I make it fresh it always takes ages to cool, by which time the DTs are going ballistic.

Can I make it the night before, using formula milk, chill in the fridge, and just lightly warm-up in the microwave the next morning?

Or is this a sure-fire way to food poisoning?

[nicnack2]

we are all great porridge eaters and tbh to does not look quite so appetzing if it has been left in the pan. You could try pouring it into glass container and placing in bowl of cold water. HTH

[jamiesam]

Or make it in the microwave using less milk than you need and then use remaining milk to help cool it down.

[Gillian76]

SOmeone on her makes it overnight in their slow cooker, I'm sure.

If you took it out as soon as you got up it might be quicker?

[FillyjonktheFluffy]

yes, you can soak it overnight in milk, stick it in the fridge and microwave it, it will be lovely. we do this often.

[NotQuiteCockney]

I used to add a cube or two of frozen pureed fruit, to sweeten it, and also cool it.

[soapbox]

No - anything that has been previously cooked must be heated up thoroughly before serving - otherwise you just breed bacteria by warming it.

I'd just put it in the micro a little earlier than you need it for and if they are ravenous stir some cold milk into it.

[FillyjonktheFluffy]

ah no, sorry, you cannot make it in advance, what you do is to just soak the uncooked oats in milk overnight, then cook it for really not long, just to heat it up. Thats all cooking oats is, accelaterated soaking...I think...

[notanotter]

i have an ice maker on my fridge - i just cover the top of bowl in the crudhed stuff and then 10 seconds later stit through - cool and lovely !

[goldenoldie]

Thanks for the tips. I will try soaking overnight and if that does not work, I'll do the crushed ice cooling method.

BTW - can you freeze porridge?

[Gloworm]

yes you can freeze it
and re-heat it in the microwave

very handy for babies who only have small portions. you can make a big batch and freeze it.

i used to add pureed fruit before freezing it.

goldenoldie...it will probably be a bit dried out/stodgy if you cook it the night before.
just cook it in the morning, put in bowl, keeping it towards the edge of the bowl, then put it in the freezer for a few mins, cools down really quick.