The World Porridge Championships, held annually in Carrbridge in the Scottish Highlands, has crowned its latest champion. The competition, established in 1996 to promote the village and porridge as a healthy food, attracts participants from around the globe. This year's winner, an app developer from Aberdeenshire, triumphed after a scientific approach to porridge-making.
The champion, who first entered in 2022, refined his technique by studying the gelatinisation of oats. He used a thermometer to keep his porridge under 92°C, preventing a wallpaper paste texture, and opted for Himalayan pink rock salt for its slight sweetness. His victory came in the traditional porridge category, which allows only water, oats, and salt.
The event features two competitions: traditional porridge and a speciality category where any oat-based dish is permitted. Competitors cook on camping stoves with a 30-minute time limit. Judges evaluate based on taste, texture, colour, and seasoning. The champion will defend his title in October, experimenting with vegan cheese fondue made from oats and blended salts.
The championships draw hundreds of spectators in person and thousands via live stream, with an atmosphere likened to a football match. A film about the competition, 'The Golden Spurtle', is set for release this month.
