Oat Water: Recipe, Ratios & How to Make It

Oat water is a strained infusion of rolled oats and water that takes 2 hours 5 minutes to make and yields about 3½–4 cups (830–950 mL). For another custom ratio, try the AI infused water generator.

What is oat water?

Oat water is made by soaking oats in drinking water, then straining out the solids. It has a mild oat flavor and may look slightly cloudy from fine particles or starch. It is one option in the broader category of spice and seed water.

This recipe makes a light infusion rather than a blended oat drink. The amount of oat material in the finished water depends on the oats and how finely you strain them.

What ingredients and ratio do you need for oat water?

For approximately 3½–4 cups (830–950 mL), use:

40 g (½ US cup) dry rolled oats
1,000 mL (4¼ US cups) drinking water

The starting ratio is 40 g of oats per 1,000 mL of water. Some water remains with the strained oats, so the final yield is a little less than the amount you start with.

You will also need a clean covered pitcher or jar, a fine-mesh strainer, and a clean container for the finished oat water. Check the oat package and follow any preparation instructions it gives.

How do you make oat water?

Add the rolled oats to a clean pitcher or jar.
Pour in the drinking water and stir to wet the oats.
Cover the container and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Strain the oat water through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean container. Serve cold or return it to the refrigerator.

Allow about 5 minutes of hands-on preparation, plus the 2-hour refrigerated steep. Stir the finished oat water before serving if fine particles have settled at the bottom.

How long should oat water steep?

Steep oat water in the refrigerator for 2 hours for this recipe. For a longer infusion, you can leave it for up to 4 hours before straining.

Keep the container covered and cold throughout the steep rather than leaving it on the counter. Strain when the time is up; leaving the oats in longer can change the texture, and there is no established need to steep them longer for health benefits.

How should you store oat water?

Keep strained oat water refrigerated in a clean, covered container and drink it within 24 hours. Make a smaller batch if you do not expect to finish it in that time.

Some cloudiness is normal when oat water is first made. Discard it if it becomes newly or unusually cloudy, develops a sour smell, becomes slimy, or otherwise seems spoiled.

What variations can you make with oat water?

For a gently spiced version, add 1 cinnamon stick to the pitcher before refrigerating. For a citrus note, add a few strips of well-washed lemon peel instead.

Use the same 2-hour refrigerated steep and strain out the additions along with the oats. If using lemon peel, avoid extending the steep beyond 4 hours because citrus pith can make the water bitter.

What are the benefits of oat water?

Oat water supplies fluid, which helps you stay hydrated. Whole oats contain fiber, but the amount that passes into strained oat water is uncertain; some oat material remains in the strainer. See more about oat water benefits.

Oat water is not a detox treatment. The liver and kidneys do most of the body’s detoxification, while the lungs and gut help eliminate waste; sweat removes only trace amounts.

There is no established evidence that this particular drink causes weight loss. For more context, read about oat water for weight loss.

Who should avoid oat water?

Avoid oat water if you have an oat allergy. People with celiac disease or a medical need to avoid gluten should choose certified gluten-free oats and ask their clinician if they are unsure whether oats are suitable for them.

Oat water is not a replacement for breast milk or infant formula. If you experience symptoms after drinking it, stop and speak with a clinician; seek emergency care for trouble breathing or swelling of the mouth or throat. Read more about oat water side effects.