Perfect Steel Cut Oats (25 Minutes!)

Here’s how to make oatmeal! It only takes 25 minutes to easily whip up a bowl of creamy oatmeal: the perfect healthy breakfast.

Are you a fan of steel-cut oats? These fluffy oatmeal have a mushy texture and feel like a cuddly cuddly toy in the morning. It’s a fun way to mix up standard old-fashioned oatmeal, and they may have some slight advantages over them: although both are incredibly healthy ways to start the day! Alex and I used to avoid this type of oat because it takes longer to cook. But here’s the thing: You can make a big pot of oatmeal in 25 minutes and eat leftovers all week! They come out nice and creamy and are a suitable canvas for savory toppings.

What is steel cut oatmeal? What is the difference to oatmeal?

Steel cut oats are whole grain oats cut into pieces: the grains look like brown rice or barley. Rolled oats are oat groats that are rolled in steel rollers: this gives them a flat shape and allows them to cook much faster. Both varieties have very similar nutritional profiles: lots of protein and fiber for a great start to the day! See Steel Cut vs. Oatmeal for more information.

A potential benefit of steel oatmeal is that because it’s processed as little as possible, it can have a lower glycemic index than oatmeal. This can leave you feeling fuller and less energetic after eating. (Source)

How to cook steel oatmeal: tips!

Steel oatmeal may look intimidating, but it is very easy to cook. You will simply simmer them in a mixture of milk and water for about 25 minutes until they become creamy and tender. Here are some notes on the process:

• Bring the water and milk to a simmer (and watch carefully). The water and milk mixture can quickly go from almost simmering to boiling. Look out!
• Add the oatmeal and simmer for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. You want the low heat where it’s bubbling. Keep it close so you can stir occasionally, otherwise the oatmeal will stick to the bottom and a film will form on the surface.

That’s it! It’s really easy. It’s a great make-ahead breakfast that you can keep in the fridge all week.

Alternative Method: Instant Pot!

You can also make oatmeal in an Instant Pot. As a result, the method is completely self-contained and results in an excellent creamy texture. These steel-cut pressure cooker oats make a large batch of 8-10 servings: perfect for entertaining or eating all week long. Speaking of…

Storage information for Steel Cut Oatmeal

Store your cooked steel oats in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Here’s the thing: Steel-cut oats become very thick when refrigerated. To reheat it, follow these instructions:

• Add some milk or water.
• Microwave or heat on the stovetop over low heat for a minute, stirring until creamy.

Vegan variant for steel cut oats

Steel Cut Oats are easy to make vegan! Just boil them with your favorite plant-based milk. Here are some non-dairy options we recommend (all unflavored):

• oat milk: It has a great creamy body and a neutral taste. This is our top choice for oatmeal.
• Almond milk: This type of milk also works, but the texture is thinner and almost water-like. You might want to consider using whole milk instead of the milk and water combo.
• I am milk: You can also use soy milk for steel oats. We don’t usually buy it because we prefer the oatmeal or almond flavor.

Note: In this case, avoid coconut milk: it has a very strong coconut flavor and is high in fat. Best used in curries and to make vegan whipped cream.

Steel oat toppings

Once you have a big bowl of creamy goodness, here’s the fun part: adding toppings! Here are some of our favorite oatmeal filling ideas:

• nut butter: Try any type of nut butter, like peanut butter, almond butter, pecan butter, or cashew butter.
• Berry: Garnish with raspberries, blueberries or sliced ​​strawberries.
• Sliced ​​fruit: Try slices of banana, apple, mango, pear or plum.
• Roasted Nuts: Roasting nuts brings out their flavor! Try toasted walnuts, toasted pecans, or toasted almonds.
• Coconut: The toasted coconut adds great texture and flavor, especially the large flakes.
• seeds: Try salty nuggets or chia seeds.
• Jam or compote: Try strawberry jam, blueberry compote, raspberry compote, raspberry sauce, strawberry sauce, healthy strawberry puree or blueberry sauce.

It’s best to combine the flavors in an interesting filling! Attempt PB&J Oats with peanut butter and berry jam, or Oatmeal with banana and nuts with bananas, roasted nuts and a dash of honey.

More popular oatmeal recipes

Do you love oatmeal as much as we do? This is hands down our favorite healthy breakfast idea. Here are a few more of our best oatmeal recipes to try:

This oatmeal recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.