How to Cook Steel Cut Oats

Steel-cut oats are whole grain oat groats that have been chopped into a few pieces, rather than rolled. They require a much longer cooking time than rolled or quick oats, but their chewy texture and rich, nutty flavor makes them well worth the extra wait. Steel-cut oats can be made on the stovetop or baked in the oven and enriched with spices, fruit and maple syrup. Read on for instructions on how to make basic stovetop steel-cut oatmeal, baked steel-cut oatmeal, and overnight steel-cut oatmeal.

Ingredients

Basic Stovetop Steel-Cut Oatmeal

1 cup steel-cut oats
3 cups water
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon salt

(optional)

Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg or ground cloves
Maple syrup or brown sugar
Fruit such as berries, chopped apples, or chopped bananas

Baked Steel-Cut Oatmeal

1 cup steel-cut oats
1/2 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups boiling water
1 1/2 cups milk

(optional)

1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 apples, cored, peeled and diced
1/3 cup brown sugar

Overnight Steel-Cut Oatmeal

1 cup steel-cut oats
1 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt

(optional)

2 apples, skinned, cored, and cubed
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 and 1/2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Basic Stovetop Steel-Cut Oatmeal

1
Boil the water. Pour the three cups of water into a small pot, and bring to a boil. You may also boil the water in the microwave if desired.
2
Add the steel-cut oats to the pot, along with a pinch of salt, and bring back to a boil. Stir the oats with a wooden spoon.

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3
Reduce the heat to medium low and cook uncovered for about 20 to 30 minutes. Start checking for doneness at about the 20-minute mark.^{[1]
X
Research source} For chewier oats, cook less. For more done oats, cook more.
- Do not stir the oats as they simmer. Allow them to rest in place as the water cooks them.
- Turn the heat lower if the oats seem to be drying out too quickly.
4
Add the milk to the oats. Stir the mixture well using a wooden spoon. Let the oatmeal simmer for another 5 to 10 minutes.
5
Remove the oatmeal from heat. Spoon into bowls for serving. Sprinkle with cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, maple syrup, or fruit.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Baked Steel-Cut Oatmeal

1
Preheat oven to 375 °F (191 °C).
2
Boil the water. Pour the water into a small pot, and bring to a boil. You may also boil the water in the microwave.
- Remember that a little bit of water will get lost through evaporation as you boil it. If you want 2 cups of boiling water for your oats, think about bringing about 2 1/4 cups of water to a boil.
3
In the meantime, set a medium pot on the stove over medium heat. Place the butter in the pan and let it melt.
4
Add the steel-cut oats to the pan. Use a wooden spoon to toss the oats with the butter. Toast the oats, stirring occasionally, for about three minutes, or until brown.
5
Pour the boiling water into the pot with the oats. Stir the water into the oats with a wooden spoon.
6
Stir in the cinnamon, apples, salt, and milk.
7
Scoop the mixture into a greased glass or metal baking dish. Place the dish in the preheated oven.
8
Bake the oatmeal for 50 minutes to one hour. Check on it after 30 minutes to make sure it isn't burning. The oatmeal is ready when the top has browned.
9
Serve with cream, fresh apples, or the toppings of your choice.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Overnight Steel-Cut Oatmeal

1
Grease your slow-cooker with a little bit of vegetable oil cooking spray. If you don't grease your pan first, you'll have a mighty tough time extracting the oats from the slow-cooker in the morning.
2
Place the steel-cut oats, salt, milk, and water in a crock pot or slow-cooker. Optional: Place the apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, and/or nuts in the crock pot or slow-cooker along with the oats, salt, milk, and water.^{[2]
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Research source}
3
Mix all the ingredients together until incorporated.
4
Put the lid on the slow cooker and turn the setting to low. Let the oatmeal cook overnight.
5
In the morning, remove the container from the slow cooker and stir the oatmeal. Spoon into bowls and stir in the toppings of your choice. In order to avoid overcooking the oats, try these tips and tricks before you cook your first batch of overnight oats:
- Try the same recipe in your crock pot or slow-cooker during the day, not overnight. Keep an eye on the oats and begin checking for doneness after 5 hours. This way, you'll learn how long it takes to cook oats using your hardware. If you have a slow-cooker with a clear top, you can eyeball the oats. If you have to open the pot in order to check for doneness, know that this will add approximately 30 minutes to your cooking time.
- Plug your crock pot or slow-cooker into an on/off light timer if you don't have a programmable slow-cooker. Set the on/off timer to the time it usually takes you to cook your overnight oats, and you have a life-hacked programmable slow-cooker.

Community Q&A

Question

Can steel cut oatmeal be eaten raw (without cooking)?

Community Answer

Absolutely; the only thing to remember is to pre-soak them before consumption in order to avoid becoming dehydrated! You can use water, milk, juice, etc. to soak the oats and add flavor.
Question

How do I know when the oats are done?

Community Answer

They're done when you like the consistency. Normally the mix looks thick and the grains have puffed up.
Question

Is it okay to only cook the oats for five minutes?

Community Answer

Sure. You can cook them however long you'd like to depending on your desired consistency.

Warnings

Some recipes suggest soaking the oatmeal all night. This may not be safe, because of bacteriological concerns.

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