11 Surprising Ways to Use Oatmeal

Oats are an excellent source of fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, thiamine, iron, and beta-glucan (which may help regulate blood sugar). It can also reduce harmful cholesterol levels and even boost the immune system.

But what happens when you have too much of a good thing? Don't throw it out! Oatmeal has many great uses besides filling up your family.

Suffer from acne? Oatmeal might help remove dead skin cells and soak up oil, acting as a natural remedy to acne. One easy recipe is to cook some up, let it cool until it's lukewarm, and apply to the affected areas. Let stand for several minutes, then rinse.

Place an open container of oatmeal in your fridge to neutralize smells. Some people use oatmeal to line ashtrays, and claim the flakes help neutralize the smell of smoke.

Oatmeal can provide soothing relief from sunburn, poison ivy, and other irritations, and can heal skin and open pores. (In fact, many store-bought moisturizers and beauty products have oatmeal in them, both ground up and in flake form.)

Just like people, dogs often get dry and itchy skin. Luckily, it's easy to care for them: Try an oatmeal bath or DIY rub to alleviate their itch.

A soothing way to unwind at the end of a long day is to take a bath with oatmeal: While running a lukewarm bath, add one cup of milk, two cups of uncooked oatmeal, and a tablespoon of honey. Soak for 10 to 20 minutes for moisturized and rejuvenated skin. (You can also use colloidal oatmeal.)

Create your own scrub by grinding two tablespoons of oatmeal into a grainy consistency. (Use a blender or food processor.) Add one teaspoon baking soda and very small amounts of water until the mixture has the consistency of paste. Spread that on your cleansed and dry face. Leave on for 10 minutes and gently remove with cool water.

You can turn old oatmeal into a nontoxic crafting clay for kids to get their creative energies flowing. The Playdough-like clay stays moist for hours, but hardens overnight, making it good for sculpting figurines, bowls, beads, and other goodies you can think of. Combine one cup of instant or rolled oats with flour and a little water. You can also add food coloring for a rainbow of possibilities.

Researchers found that oatmeal can help increase endurance when eaten about three hours before working out. There's also some evidence that oats help the body burn fat more quickly, and some doctors have noted that a diet rich in them may help prevent cancer.

Oatmeal is well known for imparting a yummy heartiness to breads, cookies, and even beer. But it also works great in crusts, cobblers, and for meats as a binding agent.

Replace regular flour with homemade oat flour (simply grind oats in a processor), and use that for baking pancakes and breads. You get twice the fiber, so you feel fuller, but fewer calories.

Reuse old oatmeal containers as organizers for yarn, beads, buttons, batteries, coins, nails, pens, office supplies, or any number of other items. In the kitchen you can store other dried goods in them like rice, noodles, and breadcrumbs.

Decorated, used oatmeal containers make nice holders for homemade baked goods. You can also decorate an oatmeal container and put it in your bathroom to hold toilet paper rolls. (They fit perfectly.)

Scientists tested samples of rolled oats that were 28 years old and they discovered that they were still perfectly edible, still contained some nutrients, and even tasted okay. As long as there are no obvious problems, eat as much old oatmeal as you want.