Foolproof Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats (with Overnight Instructions) | Tested by Amy + Jacky (2024)

When I need some warm, hearty, & comforting food especially on a cold morning, Instant Pot to the rescue!!

Whether it’s making Steel Cut Oats or Congee (Chinese Porridge), I just love the fact that I can be brushing my teeth while Instant Pot quietly cooks our hot breakfast in the kitchen!How awesome is that?!😀

No more standing by the stove, babysitting the pot of healthy hot breakfast!

What is Steel Cut Oats?

All oats come from oat groats – the whole, unbroken grains. They’re thenprocessed into different varieties of oats.

Steel Cut Oats, aka Irish Oats or Coarse Oatmeal, is a type of oats with the least amount of processing compared to Rolled Oats and Instant Oats. They’rejust coarsely chopped 2 or 3 times, and neither steamed nor rolled.

Steel Cut Oats vs. Rolled Oats vs. Instant Oats

The main difference between Steel Cut Oats, Rolled Oats, and Instant Oats is how much the original oat groat has been processed.After processing, each varietyhas their distinct texture and varies in cooking times.

Steel Cut Oats:

• Takes the longest to cook
• Doesn’t absorb as much liquid during cooking
• Still holds its’ shape after cooking
• Very nutritious and chewy in texture

Are Steel Cut Oats Healthier than Other Oats?

Yes and No.

Though Steel Cut Oats are the least processed, the differences in nutrition are very minor.

• For example, Steel Cut Oats is abit lower in calories than Rolled Oats, but equal in protein, identical carbohydrate count, similar fiber, hardly any sugar (slightly less sugar than Rolled Oats).

Then, Why Eat Steel Cut Oats?

The key difference is Steel Cut Oats islower on Glycemic Index (a measurement of the rise in blood sugar) than other oats varieties.

Since Steel Cut Oats has less surface area than other oats, it slows digestion and causes the stomach to work longer to break down the grain.

Simple English: Steel Cut Oats makes you feel fuller longer & helps control your appetite! 😀

*Note:Be sure to buy Steel Cut Oats with no added sugars, flavorings, or preservatives if your purpose to eating Oatmeal is to be healthy. 😉

You’ll Enjoy Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats Because:

• Easy & quick to make this healthy breakfast or snack
• No more standing by the stove & babysitting your pot of oatmeal
• You can make-ahead or make it the night before (have it hot & ready when you wake up!)
• Consistent result (perfect chewy texture & creamy mouthfeel)
• Lowers cholesterol levels & reduces the risk of heart disease among many other health & beauty benefits

Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats Experiment

What we look for in Perfect Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats?

• Chewy, al dente oats that’s fully cooked to the core
• Creamy & thick oatmeal
• Not too watery or dry

We conducted 6+ tests with Steel Cut Oats using different amounts of water:oats ratio, and cooking time in our Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker.

Here are the Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats Experiment Results:

*HP = High Pressure; NR = Natural Release

Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats Experiment Conclusion

We enjoy Steel Cut Oats that are al dente with creamy & thick consistency, so our desired Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats Method isTest #4.

Our Recommendations for Other Steel Cut Oats Preferences:

• Slightly more moist:follow the method of Test #1.
• Quite soft & really creamy:follow the method of Test #6.

Which texture & consistency do you prefer?

Time for cooking Steel Cut Oats in Instant Pot!

Step-by-Step Guide: Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats

Tools for Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats

• Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker
• Silicone spatula

Optional Overnight Step

If you want hot steel cut oats ready when you wake up: Pour everything in the night before and set the delay timer to roughly 30 minutes before you wake up the next morning.

How to Set the Delay Timer on Instant Pot?

To set the delay timer on most Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cookers:

1. Press “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” button
2. Adjust the cooking time with “+” & “-” buttons
3. Press “Delay Start” or “Timer” button
4. Set the delay cooking time with “+” & “-” button

*Note: We have set it to start cooking in 8 hours in the above picture.

It is all set!

1

Pressure Cook Steel Cut Oats

Add 80g (½ cup) steel cut oats in the pressure cooker. Pour in 313 ml (1 ¼ cup) – 375 ml (1 ½ cup) cold water and make sure all the steel cut oats are submerged in the water.

Close lid, then turn Venting Knob to Sealing position.

• Pressure Cooking Method: Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 10 minutes, + Full Natural Release (~12 minutes)

Open the lid carefully.

2

Thicken Steel Cut Oats

The steel cut oats will look watery when you first open the lid (as shown in photo below). Don’t panic! It’s normal.

Give it a few quick stir with a silicone spatula to combine and thicken the steel cut oats.

3

Serve Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats

For a basic recipe, drizzle some maple syrup, add in some of your favorite toppings or fruits on the steel cut oats and serve 🙂

Cooking Tips for Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats

1. ServingPortion:

As a reference, eating ¼ cup (20g) of steel cut oats per person without any additional toppings for breakfast can keep us full for roughly 3 hours.

2. Can I Double the Recipe?

Yes! You can double or triple this Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats Recipe by using the sameOats:Water Ratiowithout changing the cooking time.

3. What is the Maximum Amount of Steel Cut Oats I Can Make in the Instant Pot?

Do not fill your pressure cooker more than half way full with steel cut oats, as it is a foamy food.

4. I Want Creamier Steel Cut Oats!

The longer you cook the Steel Cut Oats, the creamier it will get, but the trade-off is you’ll lose some of the chewiness texture.

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