How to Make Easy Steel Cut Oats in the Rice Cooker {or Instant Pot}
This post is about how to make rice cooker steel-cut oats.
I’ve been raving about rice cooker oatmeal for YEARS, but it wasn’t until recently that I developed a love for rice cooker steel cut oatmeal. For the past few months, I’ve been making this easy oatmeal recipe for breakfast almost every single morning! If you have never tried steel-cut oats, now is the time and as The Mandolorian would say...this is the way.
Steel-cut oats (left) old-fashioned (rolled) oats (right)
Steel-cut oats vs. old-fashioned oats
When it comes to oatmeal, you have many different choices at the grocery store. Old-fashioned oats, quick-cooking oats, regular steel cut oats (sometimes known as Irish oatmeal), quick-cooking steel cut oats and flavored pre-packaged options as well.
When it comes to oatmeal, I do prefer to make my own vs. the pre-packaged oatmeal. Old-fashioned {or rolled) oats are simply oats that have been steamed and then flattened out with rollers. Steel-cut oats are cut, but not steamed and flattened.
I use quick-cooking steel cut oats as they cook faster than regular steel-cut oats. I do not notice a difference in taste or texture between the two.
There is a slight difference in taste and texture between steel-cut oatmeal and regular rolled oats. Steel-cut oats have a chewier texture and nutty flavor when compared to rolled oats. Quick-cooking rolled oats have the smoothest texture and cook the quickest.
Its important to note old-fashioned, rolled, and steel-cut oats all have the same nutritional value. So when it comes to deciding on your favorite oatmeal recipe, see what you like best! I personally made the switch to steel-cut oats about a year ago and I haven’t looked back!
Rice Cooker vs. Instant Pot
You might be thinking - RICE COOKER?! But isn’t that just for rice? Heck, no! Your rice cooker is not just a one-trick pony. I use my rice cooker almost daily for everything from brown rice, quinoa, jasmine white rice, and oatmeal!
With a rice cooker, you don't have to stand over the stovetop worrying about your pot boiling over. Just put your oats and liquid in the rice cooker and walk away. Come back in 10-15 minutes and a delicious serving of oatmeal is waiting for you!
Most days I cook my own bowl of oats in the rice cooker. You can make a bigger batch in the rice cooker or instant pot, but I do not like to make an individual serving in the instant pot as it is such a small amount.
If you only own an Instant Pot, you may prefer to meal prep a larger batch of your steel-cut oats ahead of time and reheat as needed.
When it comes to your Instant Pot, I prefer not to use the porridge setting or oatmeal setting (if yours includes this option) and instead use the manual setting. While the Instant Pot method will definitely take longer than the rice cooker method, it is great for a big batch.
I personally find the rice cooker is SO easy to use. You will get perfect oatmeal in less time and I feel it is one of the best countertop appliances you can invest in when trying to eat healthier! Its an easy way to start your day with the health benefits of some heart healthy whole grains!
Water Ratio
When making steel-cut oats it is important to know the water proportions are different than regular old-fashioned or rolled oats.
Steel-cut oats require a 1:3 ratio of dry oats to water and rolled oats only require a 1:2 ratio. This means you’ll use 3 cups of liquid for every 1 cup of dry oats. For one serving I use ¼ cup of steal-cut oats and ¾ cup water.
If you prefer, you can substitute 1 cup of milk for each cup of water, as well. However, I find using the rice cooker makes a creamy oatmeal, even just using water.
This easy oatmeal recipe is the perfect hot breakfast any day of the week!
Easy Rice Cooker {or Instant Pot} Steel Cut Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup quick cooking steel-cut oats
- 3/4 cup water
- Easy Slow Cooker Baked Apple Slices
- Fresh Fruit
- nut butter
- chopped nuts
- ground flax seed
- almond milk
- real maple syrup
- brown sugar
- 1 cup steel-cut oats
- 3 cups water
Instructions
- Add steel-cut oats to rice cooker pot.
- Pour water over oats.
- Press rice cooker "cook" button.
- Oats are ready when cook button switches to "warm" setting.
- Leave on warm setting until ready to eat (no longer than 30 minutes or it will dry oat).
- Top with your favorite toppings and enjoy.
- Add one cup of steel-cut oats to instant pot.
- Pour 3 cups of water over oats.
- Set for manual high-pressure 5 minutes.
- Allow to natural-release (NR) for 20 minutes.
- Serve with your favorite toppings.
Adding rice cooker steel cut oats to your meal plan is an easy way to get in a nutritious and healthy breakfast without any fuss! Take the stress out of meal planning with my 15 Minute Meal Planner.
