The Best Instant Oatmeals In 2022
artgray/Shutterstock By Taylor Murray/Updated: Jan. 25, 2023 1:29 pm EST
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. There’s a lot to consider when it comes to your morning breakfast choices. Many people in America love to eat oatmeal for its health benefits, but not all oatmeal is created equal. Depending on your morning routine, the choice between instant oatmeal and traditional rolled oats or steel-cut oats can come down to a variety of factors. Making oatmeal from scratch at home can be a tricky and time-consuming endeavor that turns a lot of people off from this breakfast option altogether. For those who choose instant oatmeal for its convenience and ease, there are many convenient to-go cups available for every preference and price point.
There are a multitude of brands on the market offering instant oatmeal with everything from ultra-premium ingredients to eye-catching designer packaging. We checked every corner of the market to highlight the best of the best, with options available at your local grocery store as well as direct-to-consumer. To see what great instant oatmeals are out there today, read on. All the prices quoted in the article were accurate as of June 2022.
How we chose
Oksana Mizina/Shutterstock
Many Americans love the convenience of a tasty instant oatmeal. To round up the best options available, we looked at all the top brands and manufacturers currently making instant oatmeal. There are tried-and-true brands that have stood the test of time, such as Quaker and McCann’s, as well as new brands like Mylk Labs and Kreatures of Habit. Even the established brands are always coming out with new products and innovations.
We tried to provide a good combination of instant oatmeals that come in disposable cups as well as packets that you mix in your own container. Depending on your lifestyle, one may be better for you. Those that need to eat on the go will love the disposable cups. If you just want a quick breakfast at home, it might be easier to apply toppings in one of your own bowls. To choose the best, we analyzed everything from customer reviews to ingredient composition to determine the best offering for any kind of buyer.
Best brandless instant oatmeal
Public Goods
Some people are just looking for the stripped-down instant oatmeal experience. Public Goods offers just that with its instant oatmeal cups that contain just one ingredient: oats. The plus side with instant oatmeal without added ingredients is that you are free to customize each cup with anything your heart desires. Having total control of every ingredient you put in your body is key to avoiding harmful preservatives and artificial flavorings and colorings.
Public Goods is a brandless brand, a direct-to-consumer company that aims to eliminate packaging and flashy graphics in favor of low prices and top quality. You can also buy an annual membership to Public Goods to keep costs even lower. The packing is all recyclable so this oatmeal isn’t just good for you — it’s good for the planet too.
The Best Instant Oatmeals In 2022
artgray/Shutterstock
By Taylor Murray/Updated: Jan. 25, 2023 1:29 pm EST
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. There’s a lot to consider when it comes to your morning breakfast choices. Many people in America love to eat oatmeal for its health benefits, but not all oatmeal is created equal. Depending on your morning routine, the choice between instant oatmeal and traditional rolled oats or steel-cut oats can come down to a variety of factors. Making oatmeal from scratch at home can be a tricky and time-consuming endeavor that turns a lot of people off from this breakfast option altogether. For those who choose instant oatmeal for its convenience and ease, there are many convenient to-go cups available for every preference and price point.
There are a multitude of brands on the market offering instant oatmeal with everything from ultra-premium ingredients to eye-catching designer packaging. We checked every corner of the market to highlight the best of the best, with options available at your local grocery store as well as direct-to-consumer. To see what great instant oatmeals are out there today, read on. All the prices quoted in the article were accurate as of June 2022.
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
There are a multitude of brands on the market offering instant oatmeal with everything from ultra-premium ingredients to eye-catching designer packaging. We checked every corner of the market to highlight the best of the best, with options available at your local grocery store as well as direct-to-consumer. To see what great instant oatmeals are out there today, read on. All the prices quoted in the article were accurate as of June 2022.
How we chose
Oksana Mizina/Shutterstock
Many Americans love the convenience of a tasty instant oatmeal. To round up the best options available, we looked at all the top brands and manufacturers currently making instant oatmeal. There are tried-and-true brands that have stood the test of time, such as Quaker and McCann’s, as well as new brands like Mylk Labs and Kreatures of Habit. Even the established brands are always coming out with new products and innovations.
We tried to provide a good combination of instant oatmeals that come in disposable cups as well as packets that you mix in your own container. Depending on your lifestyle, one may be better for you. Those that need to eat on the go will love the disposable cups. If you just want a quick breakfast at home, it might be easier to apply toppings in one of your own bowls. To choose the best, we analyzed everything from customer reviews to ingredient composition to determine the best offering for any kind of buyer.
We tried to provide a good combination of instant oatmeals that come in disposable cups as well as packets that you mix in your own container. Depending on your lifestyle, one may be better for you. Those that need to eat on the go will love the disposable cups. If you just want a quick breakfast at home, it might be easier to apply toppings in one of your own bowls. To choose the best, we analyzed everything from customer reviews to ingredient composition to determine the best offering for any kind of buyer.
Best overall instant oatmeal
Purely Elizabeth
Best brandless instant oatmeal
Public Goods
Some people are just looking for the stripped-down instant oatmeal experience. Public Goods offers just that with its instant oatmeal cups that contain just one ingredient: oats. The plus side with instant oatmeal without added ingredients is that you are free to customize each cup with anything your heart desires. Having total control of every ingredient you put in your body is key to avoiding harmful preservatives and artificial flavorings and colorings.
Public Goods is a brandless brand, a direct-to-consumer company that aims to eliminate packaging and flashy graphics in favor of low prices and top quality. You can also buy an annual membership to Public Goods to keep costs even lower. The packing is all recyclable so this oatmeal isn’t just good for you — it’s good for the planet too.
Public Goods is a brandless brand, a direct-to-consumer company that aims to eliminate packaging and flashy graphics in favor of low prices and top quality. You can also buy an annual membership to Public Goods to keep costs even lower. The packing is all recyclable so this oatmeal isn’t just good for you — it’s good for the planet too.
Best low-ingredient flavored instant oatmeal
Mylk Labs
At $4 per cup, the jury’s out on whether it’s a good deal or not. Some reviewers are willing to pay a bit more for premium (and unprocessed) ingredients, while others may prefer to stick to a more generic brand. If you are the type of person who wants to add toppings such as blueberries or fresh bananas as well, that may add to the total cost of your breakfast and is something to keep in mind when thinking about the cost.
Best high-protein instant oatmeal
Kreatures of Habit
Best overnight oatmeal
Mush
A company called Mush simplifies the process even more by selling premade overnight oats in convenient plastic tubs, eliminating the need to soak your own oats. Its overnight oats come in 6 tasty flavors like blueberry and coffee coconut that are all dairy-free and without preservatives.
Best unflavored instant oatmeal
Bob’s Red Mill
Best instant oatmeal for kids
Quaker
Best steel-cut instant oatmeal
Aside from the plain flavor, there are three other flavors available, including apple cinnamon and vanilla honey. These cups are perfect for a complete, filling breakfast and don’t need any additional ingredients to be consumed — other than water (or milk, if you prefer that).
