Pressure Cooker Steel Cut Oats
If you are a lover of a bowl of healthy steel cut oatmeal in the morning, todays post is for you. The recipe for Pressure Cooker Steel Cut Oats is virtually hands-off. It cooks in a matter of minutes with the help of my Instant Pot. With the perfect ratio of steel cut oats to liquid, this Instant Pot steel cut oats recipe can be made any time of year. Make a big batch, top it off with your favorite nuts and fruit, and enjoy it throughout the week for a hearty weekday breakfast!
Although the warmer months are upon us here in Vermont, the early, sun-filled mornings make me crave a comforting, nutritious breakfast. And with summer berries at their peak, all I want to do is enjoy them first thing in the morning over a bowl of warm instant pot oats.
That was the inspiration for this quick steel cut oatmeal recipe. If you have been following me for a while, you probably know I am a huge fan of steel cut oats for breakfast. I have already shared my two other favorite ways of cooking it: Overnight Steel Cut Oats and Steel Cut Oats in Slow Cooker.
Can I Make This Instant Pot Oatmeal With Frozen Fruit
I recommend stirring in frozen fruit after the oatmeal has finished cooking. You can leave the oatmeal on the Instant Pots keep warm setting for a few minutes to thaw the fruit.
If you add frozen fruit before cooking the oatmeal, it will turn really soft. I sometimes add frozen peaches to my steel cut oats before cooking to flavor the oatmeal. The peaches become very soft and some of them break up during the cooking process. Delicate berries would disintegrate during the pressure cooking cycle.
If you decide to add frozen fruit before cooking, decrease the amount of liquid by 1/2 cup to account for the extra moisture from the fruit.
Whats Your Favorite Oatmeal Flavor
Since the possibilities are truly endless with oatmeal, wed love to hear from YOU! What do you like to add to your oatmeal to make it flavorful? Add your favorite combo in the comments below!
This recipe is brought to you in partnership with Bobs Red Mill. As always, all opinions are my own. I only share companies I love and trust, so thank you for continuing to support Simply Quinoa!
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Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats A Handsfree Way To Cook Oatmeal
Steel cut oats can be cooked on the stove top, in the slow cooker, and in the Instant Pot.
- Stovetop. See my original Steel Cut Oats. It includes everything you need to cook the perfect bowl. This method requires nothing but a pot and a spoon, but you do have to keep an eye on it, so its not a set it and forget it situation, the way the Instant Pot is.
- Slow Cooker. These Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats cook in the crock pot while you sleep. Theyre hands free but take hours, compared to the 25 minutes youll need for the Instant Pot.
- Instant Pot. The best of all words! They taste like stovetop steel cut oats, but the cooking method is completely hands free.
You also can prepare steel cut oats by making these Overnight Steel Cut Oats, which soak in the refrigerator to soften up. These are served cold, and while I adore them, today Im focusing on hot steel cut oatmeal, which is a cozier option in cooler months, or for those who havent quite hopped aboard the overnight oats train yet.
Tips For Making The Best Oatmeal
Whether youre making oatmeal using steel cut oats or old fashioned oats, the additional ingredients and method are the same, its just the ratios that differ. While this oatmeal recipe requires just 3 minutes cooking time and doesnt need any babysitting as it cooks in the Instant Pot, be sure to factor in the time it takes for the pot to pressurize and then natural release for a total cooking time of about 35 minutes.
If desired, you can add more spices to the base oatmeal recipe. I prefer keeping my oats plain so I can doctor them up differently every day to suit my mood, but you do you.
Also, I find that one essential ingredient to any oatmeal is salt, so dont skip it. It brings out the flavor and enhances each nutty bite.
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Ingredients For Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
- Steel cut oats: Steel cut oats are the healthiest oats because they are least processed. Buy organic, if possible. I also included notes for quick cooking steel cut oats which we buy at Costco often.
- Water and milk: Water is for cooking oats and then milk added for creaminess after.
- Butter: Melted butter adds creaminess to porridge. Also coconut oil is great!
- Sweetener: I like to use maple syrup. Honey, sugar, agave, erythritol, stevia etc. will work.
- Seasonings: Pure vanilla extract, cinnamon and nutmeg. Amounts used are merely to add subtle flavor. For more prominent flavors, see suggestions below.
How To Cook Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
- Type of oats: Steel cut oats
- Cooking ratio: For every 1 cup of steel cut oats, add 2 1/2 cups of water
- Cooking time: 4 minutes at high pressure with 15 minutes natural pressure release
Similar to my Instant Pot oatmeal recipe, the primary difference when pressure cooking steel cut oats is that it calls for a longer cook time and more time to let the pressure release naturally. This makes sense since steel cut oats, unlike rolled oats, are not precooked.
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How To Cook Steel
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When cooked correctly, steel-cut oats provide a hearty and delicious breakfast. To make it just right, however, requires a bit of patience. Unlike rolled oats that you might be used to, steel-cut oats take a bit longer to cook.
But steel-cut oats are worth the wait, providing a superior taste and texture to regular oats. Steel-cut oats also provide more fiber and a lower glycemic index than other kinds of oatmeal. Heres how to make them step-by-step.
How To Make Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
Making steel cut oats in the instant pot makes for an easy no-fuss oatmeal ready in minutes. Once the oats and water are added to the insert of the Instant Pot, attach the lid and twist to lock, close the valve to SEALING. Manually set to HIGH pressure and cook for 4 minutes. Let natural release for 15 minutes. Total time from beginning to end is about 2o 25 minutes, depending on how long it takes to come to pressure.
Recommended Equipment: This is the Instant Pot I use and love. Keep in mind if using another model, results may differ.
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Adapting This Recipe For A 3
This recipe is written for a standard 6-quart Instant Pot like this one. That said, you can easily adapt it to different sizes.
- To make steel cut oats in an 8-quart Instant Pot: Reduce the pressuring cooking time to 3 minutes on high. Keep the natural release at 10 minutes. You can double the ingredients if you like, though you do not need to.
- To make steel cut oats in a 3-quart Instant Pot: Cut the recipe ingredients in half .
- To make steel cut oats in a 6-quart Instant Pot: Follow the recipe as directed below.
What You Need For Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
Steel Cut Oats make sure youre using regular steel cut oats and not quick-cooking steel cut or regular rolled oats
Liquid you can use any kind of liquid including non-dairy milk, dairy milk or even water
Cinnamon you can omit if you dont like cinnamon but I find it balances out the flavor nicely.
Vanilla extract for a hint of vanilla sweetness
Peaches feel free to replace with any kind of fruit
Maple syrup honey or other sweetener works well too.
Optional: 1/4-1/2 cup coconut cream for a peaches and cream style oatmeal
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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 a bit lower in calories than Rolled Oats, but equal in protein, identical carbohydrate count, similar fiber, hardly any sugar .
Then, Why Eat Steel Cut Oats?
The key difference is Steel Cut Oats is lower on Glycemic Index 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.
Steel Cut Oats To Water Ratio
When making steel cut oats in an Instant Pot, the ratio I like to use is 1:2.5. Use 1 cup steel cut oats to 2 ½ cups of water. This ratio results in a perfectly creamy and not too soupy consistency. Once done, feel free to stir in ½ cup of almond milk, or your favorite non-dairy milk to thin a bit more.
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Are Steel Cut Oats Gluten
Oats are naturally gluten-free, but they are often processed in facilities that process gluten-containing grains, and therefore you run the risk of cross-contamination. If you need to stay gluten-free, be sure to look for oats with a certified gluten-free label on the package.
Per serving: Calories: 205, Carbohydrates: 35, Fiber: 5, Protein: 8, Fat: 3
Need more healthy Instant Pot recipes? Be sure to check out my cookbook, The Fresh & Healthy Instant Pot Cookbook. You can see a sneak peek here!
How To Make These Steel Cut Oats Your Own
This oatmeal is a blank slate but you can season it and flavor it any way youd like. Here are some ideas:
- Try cooking it with a cinnamon stick for a subtle cinnamon flavor, or you can give it a hearty sprinkle of ground cinnamon when it finishes cooking.
- Sweeten it any way you like! I like a sprinkle of brown sugar or a drizzle of pure maple syrup. A swirl of jam or jelly is delicious too.
- Toppings! Oh you know I love my toppings! Berries are amazing on oatmeal. Some other ideas are sliced bananas, nut butters, sunflower seed butter, a few chocolate chips, sautéed apples, toasted nuts, or shredded coconut. Try stirring in a little pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice for a fun fall oatmeal.
- You can make them a little thinner by adding more water. I wouldnt recommend reducing the water much, if at all, because youll be more likely to get a burn notice on your Instant Pot.
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Do I Use The Instant Pot Porridge Setting To Cook Steel Cut Oats
Which setting do I use when it comes to cooking steel cut oatmeal? This was a question that I had when I first started using my pressure cooker for cooking steel cut oats. I wanted to include it in here just in case you have it too.
As I was getting ready for this post I looked in several websites and two reputable Instant Pot Cookbooks, Instant Pot Electronic Pressure Cookbookand The Essential Instant Pot Cookbook , and found out that they were opting for the manual setting rather than the porridge setting. Therefore, I chose to use the manual setting as well.
Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal
This Creamy Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal is easy to make, heart-healthy, and cooks for only 4 minutes! A perfect breakfast for busy mornings or meal prep.
I love to use my Instant Pot for bulk cooking and Meal Prep, but typically stick to savory things like Rice & Beans or Soups.
Then I found out that you can make Oatmeal in your Instant Pot and it only takes 4 minutes and 3 simple ingredients!
I love the texture and slight bite of Steel Cut Oats, but dont make them often because they take forever to cook on the stovetop.
Thats whats so great about this recipe! You *literally* mix Steel Cut Oats, Non-Dairy Milk and/or Water, and a pinch of Salt together, mix it up, and let the Instant Pot do its thing in a fraction of the time.
Before you know it, you have a big batch of hearty, creamy, and yummy Oatmeal ready for you! This recipe is perfect for Meal Prep, but you can also use it for a large family breakfast or gathering with friends Oatmeal Breakfast Bar, anyone?
Lets be real though eating the same thing for several days in a row can get, well, boring. Thats why I like to make one big batch of plain Oatmeal, and mix in different flavor add-ins every day to switch things up!
The possibilities are pretty much endless, but here are three easy flavor combinations to get you inspired:
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The Best Instant Pot Oatmeal Recipe
Ive made oatmeal fast in the microwave, low and slow in the slow cooker, and overnight in the fridge, but this oatmeal recipe made in the Instant Pot electric pressure cooker makes make-ahead oatmeal such a cinch, and so convenient, that its become my new favorite method. And even better, it works with both steel cut oats and rolled oats, for a healthy breakfast that I can make different every day of a week that doesnt require any babysitting or tending as it cooks.
Today Im sharing how to make Instant Pot oatmeal with both steel cut oats and rolled oats, plus 10 flavor combinationsfrom fruit or kale, to chocolate chips and nut buttersto make this oatmeal totally your own.
My family has a long history of eating oatmeal for breakfast. As a kid, I never even knew you could make oatmeal on the stove top, because my mom would always buy the instant quick oats oatmeal packets, placing them easily within our elementary school arms reach so my little sister and I could boil the water for the packet of oats and mystery ingredients to make our own breakfast before school.
My mom was smart that way. We learned how to fend for ourselves and she earned herself a little extra mom time in the morning with her coffee and the Today Show.
As I moved on in life, I sort of fell off the oatmeal-for-breakfast train and favored scrambled eggs, or cottage cheese and toast, or my fave microwave egg whites and spinach toasted bagel as my made-in-the-office breakfast instead.
A Few Tips For Making The Best Steel Cut Oatmeal In A Pressure Cooker:
- Dont have coconut oil? Substitute it with avocado, olive, or grapeseed oil, or simply omit it altogether.
- Want to add sweetness to your steel cut oats? At the end of cooking, stir in 2-3 tablespoons of unsweetened applesauce, ½ mashed banana, or 2-3 tablespoons maple syrup, or honey.
- Want individual portions of steel cut instant oatmeal? Store the leftovers in 4-5 mason jars or glass meal prep containers for a simple grab-and-go meal.
- Can I freeze quick steel cut oats? You sure can! Simply divide it amongst 4-5 individual airtight containers, seal, label, date, and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to serve, defrost in your fridge overnight and follow the reheating instructions above.
- What kind of toppings do you recommend using for this vegan steel cut oats recipe? The possibilities are truly endless! During the summer months, I really enjoy topping these pressure cooker steel cut oats with fresh berries and maple syrup. And during the fall and winter months, sliced fresh figs or dried fruit work beautifully. Feel free to use your imagination to keep it interesting.A few delicious toppings include a dollop of peanut or almond butter, a splash of vanilla or almond extract, or an array of superfoods. Some of my favorite ones are toasted seeds and nuts such as sesame, flax, chia, hemp, almonds, pecans, or walnuts. With that being said, you can always enjoy it plain as a filling and healthy breakfast.
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What Oats Can You Cook In The Instant Pot
When youre looking to cook oats in your instant pot, the first thing you need to keep in mind is the type of oats youre using. Turns out you cant cook all types of oats in the instant pot.
There different types of oats are basically just the way the oat grain has been rolled/cut. The thicker the oat, the better it is for the Instant Pot. Bobs Red Mill our partner for todays post makes a huge variety of oats, many of which can be used with your Instant Pot.
The types of oats that can be cooked in in a pressure cooker are:
The only types you cant cook in your IP are quick cooking and/or instant oats.
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Can You Use Steel
If you are wondering how to make overnight steel-cut oats, you might want to reconsider. Technically, you can make overnight steel-cut oats, but that doesnt mean you should. Overnight oats are when you let oatmeal soak in milk overnight. Overnight oats are best made with old-fashioned rolled oats, as they absorb more liquid, resulting in a soft and smooth bowl of goodness in the morning. Steel-cut oats will soften in milk somewhat overnight, but the end result will be too hard and grainy for many eaters.
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