17 April 2009

The Scoop on Steel-Cut Oats

Georgina just commented on my breakfast post:

What are these steel-cut oats you have mentioned a couple of times?  I had never heard of them before.  Where do you buy them?  Are they ready to go or do they need soaking for a few hours first?

Steel-cut oats are just regular whole oats that have been cut into smaller pieces. I like them because the texture is more nutty and chewy than normal oatmeal (which is more pasty to me). I also think that for whatever reason, they’re more filling than regular oatmeal (and definitely more filling than instant oatmeal, which is actually more like powdered oatmeal).

The downside of going steel-cut is that they take longer to cook if you don’t soak them beforehand (40 minutes to an hour). To make things easier, cook them the night before and make at least four servings so you only have to cook them once a week. Another idea: Before you go to bed, put a half cup of steel-cut oats in a pot and cover with water. The next morning, bring the oats to a gentle boil. They should cook in five minutes!

I love steel-cut oats with a little nut butter and fruit preserves. It keeps me going all morning.