Alternative Uses For Oatmeal

Every year during the holidays I buy a big container of old fashioned oatsl for baking and then end up tossing half of it out because to be honest, neither my husband or I eat oatmeal for breakfast. I know it’s super good for you and in a pinch I’d eat it but… anyway, instead of tossing it this year I found some other ways I could use it, which of course will save money. And even if you do eat your oatmeal, you could always use these tips, especially since you’ll have it on-hand.

*These tips are meant for oats and not the instant oatmeal that comes in packets and have added flavors and sugars.

CLEAN CAST IRON –

Using soap on cast iron cookware is a no-no but you can easily clean grease and small food particles from your pots and pans with a bit of oatmeal, which doesn’t cost a lot of money or require a lot of scrubbing. Simply sprinkle some oatmeal (about 2 tablespoons,) in the pan, add a little water, and rub with a stiff brush, washcloth or even your fingers. Rinse and dry. The oatmeal will not only absorb any grease, but will also gently scrub away those stubborn food bits.

THICKEN SOUPS –

I like to make homemade soups and stews with leftovers or seasonal produce, which is inexpensive and filling. To thicken your homemade pot of goodness without adding a lot of extra fat and calories, like you do with heavy cream, butter and flour; simply grind up oatmeal to use as your thickener. Add the ground oatmeal a tablespoon at a time until you get the desired consistency. You’ll end up with a thicker soup/stew with a creamy texture and as an added bonus, you’re adding good-for-you fiber.

NEUTRALIZE ODORS –

Who knew? Oatmeal can actually neutralize odors just as effectively as baking soda. Place a bowl of oats in the fridge to absorb nasty smells or add to the bottom of ashtrays, which will help trap the smoke odor. You can also sprinkle oatmeal in smelly sneakers overnight, which will freshen them up. I’ve read where some people swear by adding oatmeal to litter boxes to help absorb odors too.

RELIEVE MINOR BURNS –

For quick relief from a minor burn, mix 1/2 cup of oatmeal and 1/4 cup of water and let sit for a minute. (While the oatmeal is sitting for that minute, run cold water over the burn if you can. Apply the wet oatmeal paste on the burned spot and let sit for 5 minutes. Because oatmeal has anti-inflammatory properties, you’ll feel less pain quickly.

GET RADIANT SKIN –

Exfoliate and get moist skin with this easy, natural and inexpensive facial mask:

Grind 1 tablespoon oatmeal and mix with 2 teaspoons honey and 3/4 teaspoon water. Apply to face and let sit for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water and pat dry. I used this on my super-chapped hands and it made a huge difference!

ABSORB OIL SPILLS –

Oatmeal will absorb oil spills quickly and efficiently and can be used on cooking oils or even car oil. Just cover the spilled oil with the oatmeal, let sit for 30 minutes and then sweep the mess up.

REMOVE SAP FROM SKIN –

We have tons of pine trees in our yard and during the winter months I like to clip branches off and bring them into the house for inexpensive and aromatic decorative arrangements. But I always end up with sticky sap on my hands when I cut the branches and there have been some pretty funny moments of me trying to get the sap off while having paper towel, or anything else I touch getting stuck to my fingers. An easy fix and quick way to get that sap off is to simply add some oatmeal to your hands BEFORE washing them with soap and warm water. Because the oatmeal is slightly abrasive it will scrub off the sap and keep your hands soft without using harsh chemicals.

MAKE INEXPENSIVE DRY SHAMPOO –

Washing oily hair every single day can actually strip the nourishing natural oils your hair needs and if you have dry hair, well, daily washing can make it even drier. You can buy dry shampoo, which can be expensive, or make this DIY dry shampoo which you can use in between shampoos to keep your hair oil-free, fresh smelling, and add volume. Grind 1 tablespoon of oatmeal and massage the powder into your scalp. Let sit for about 5 minutes and then brush out. Another mixture I’ve used is equal parts baking soda and ground oatmeal, which you apply in the same way. If you have dark hair, you can use unsweetened cocoa powder with the oatmeal.

SOOTHE DRY, ITCHY SKIN (For humans and dogs) –

When the heat gets turned up in your home, you can start itching and develop really dry skin. (This can happen to dogs too.) An easy way to relieve that dry skin is with an oatmeal bath, which can also help with chicken pox. Grind oatmeal into a fine powder and pour into a piece of cheesecloth. You can also cut one leg off an old pair of panty hose and use that in place of the cheesecloth. Tie around the spout of your tub and let the warm water run through the oatmeal “sachet.” This will help soothe your skin and get rid of the itch. I personally like grinding oatmeal into a super, super fine powder and adding it directly to my bath water.

CUT THE COST OF MEATLOAF/BURGERS/MEATBALLS –

You can stretch ground beef when making meatloaf, burgers or meatballs by adding oatmeal to your mixture. I typically add about 1/8 to 1/4 cup oatmeal to every pound of ground beef. Not only does this save you money but it lowers the calories and saturated fat.