Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal Recipe

Forget standing and stirring oats on the stove, this Instant Pot steel cut oats recipe is a quick and easy way to cook and enjoy your oats with minimal hands-on time!

Steel Cut Oats Instant Pot Recipe 

Steel cut oats have the lowest glycemic index of all the types of oats (old-fashioned rolled oats, quick oats, instant oats), but take the longest to cook because they are sliced as opposed to flattened. The instant pot takes all the guesswork out of cooking and is a quick option to make a batch of perfectly textured steel cut oats. It is a true set it and forget it method, no need to worry about a pot overflowing on your stove!

Is steel cut oatmeal healthy?

Oatmeal has a bounty of health benefits, including soluble fiber. They act as prebiotic food and help prepare your gut for digestion. They also have anti-inflammatory effects. Steel cut oats are minimally processed and high in fiber and density, which results in one of the healthiest grains you can eat.

What is the difference between steel cut oats and old fashioned oats?

Oat groats for steel cut oats have been sliced into smaller pieces, while oat groats for old-fashioned oats have been flattened. What is an oat groat you ask? It is what you call the de-husked oat grain (or hulled kernels of the grain). 

Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal Ingredients 

You just need a few simple ingredients to make your steel cut oats in the instant pot. Here’s what you’ll use:

• Steel Cut Oats – the main star of the show, you’ll need 1 cup of steel cut oats.
• Water – for the liquid component, use 2 ½ cups of water (you can substitute dairy-free milk, but avoid using dairy milk, as it often burns in the instant pot).
• Salt – a pinch of salt seasons the oats.
• Banana or Maple Syrup (optional) – for added sweetness and creaminess, add ½ of a ripe banana or 1 tablespoon of maple syrup to the pot.

Ingredients Modifications

• Add a hint of sweetness – before cooking, add ½ of a ripe banana or 1 tablespoon of maple syrup for some sweet flavor.
• Add spices – before cooking, add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, turmeric, and/or cardamom for additional warmth and flavor.  
• Use non-dairy milk – for the water, sub non-dairy milk (but steer clear of dairy milk, as it tends to scald in the instant pot) for creamier oats. 

Supplies Needed to Make Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats

• Instant Pot

How to Cook Steel Cut Oats in Instant Pot

Making your steel cut oats in the Instant Pot is really easy since everything is cooked at the same time. Here’s how you’ll do it:

1. Add ingredients – to the instant pot, add your steel cut oats, water, salt, and optional mix-ins, and stir to mix together.
2. Seal the Instant Pot – close the Instant Pot and turn the valve to seal. Set the Instant Pot to manual, high pressure for 10 minutes.
3. Quick release – once the timer goes off, quick release the pressure by opening the valve to let the steam out.
4. Stir to combine – once you remove the lid from your Instant Pot, there may still be some liquid on top of your steel cut oats. Don’t worry! Simply stir to combine everything together, using a fork to mash the banana (if added), and let the oats sit until they are cool enough to serve. If there is still too much liquid for your taste, you can set it to saute mode and give it a good stir while it warms up.
5. Serve and enjoy – garnish with desired toppings and enjoy!

How long do you cook the steel cut oats in the instant pot?

Ten minutes is all you need to cook the steel cut oats in the instant pot!

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