# Talk to me about steel-cut oatmeal **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 26, 2008, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-to-me-about-steel-cut-oatmeal/439165 "2008-02-26T01:16:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-to-me-about-steel-cut-oatmeal/439165/1 "2008-02-26T01:16:20Z")
I really want to start eating oatmeal more regularly for its various health benefits, and I’ve really enjoyed steel-cut when I’ve had it before. Tell me your secrets for buying, cooking, and “doctoring.” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-to-me-about-steel-cut-oatmeal/439165/2 "2008-02-26T01:31:07Z")
I put soy sauce on my oatmeal. It’s fan-fucking-tastic! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-to-me-about-steel-cut-oatmeal/439165/3 "2008-02-26T01:31:36Z")
The only [oats](http://www.mccanns.ie/) you’ll ever need. I started using these to brew with, then started eating them as well. The only oats allowed in the house any more. Depending on mood, I have hit them with: cream, butter, bacon (so much for “healthy”), fruit, brown sugar and cinnamon, and I believe I once had them with a touch of genuine maple syrup. Of course [Lyle’s](http://www.lylesgoldensyrup.com/lylesgoldensyrup/default.htm) is always an option. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-to-me-about-steel-cut-oatmeal/439165/4 "2008-02-26T02:18:28Z")
We had a nice thread on oatmeal here a while back. Some people use the crock pot method for cooking oatmeal overnight so it’s ready in the morning. I haven’t tried it yet myself but I intend to try it someday soon. I’ve haven’t bought instant oatmeal since I first tried steel cut oats. I also use McCann’s I like it with brown sugar and sometimes add fruit. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-to-me-about-steel-cut-oatmeal/439165/5 "2008-02-26T02:22:15Z")
Why cut your oats? Why not just eat [oat groats](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=394009)? ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-to-me-about-steel-cut-oatmeal/439165/6 "2008-02-26T02:31:19Z")
[Here’s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=341342&highlight=Oat%2A) a link to an old thread with tips and recipes. StG ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-to-me-about-steel-cut-oatmeal/439165/7 "2008-02-26T03:52:07Z")
I was using McCanns but I just tried a bag I bought at Whole Foods and it was INCREDIBLE. It was called “Bob’s Steel-Cut Oats” or something like that. I kind of do the Alton Brown thing with toasting them first. I use half milk and half water in the pot. All water is blech. No salt until after they’re done cooking. Ignore the package on this; they’re wrong. I like them with butter and salt, or butter and brown sugar. Sometimes I sauté some apples up and add that, or raisins. But mostly I like them savory. I’ve made them with garlic and onion too, as a side dish. I like them chewy, not mushy at all. I usually make enough for 2-3 meals, although it’s best the first time right out of the pot. I freakin’ LOVE Irish oatmeal. I decry the years I thought oatmeal was gross. So much wasted time. It’s all thanks to a thread here on the boards that I gave it another try. That alone is worth all the subscription fees I’ll ever pay here. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-to-me-about-steel-cut-oatmeal/439165/8 "2008-02-26T04:23:53Z")
Another McCann’s recommendation here. I used to think I hated oatmeal, but I used to not have anything but Quaker Instant oatmeal too, which is really more of a slurry, and tend to be disgusting. And you know what else is good in them? A shot of bourbon and a quarter teaspoon of vanilla extract. Mmmmmmmm… ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-to-me-about-steel-cut-oatmeal/439165/9 "2008-02-26T05:10:59Z")
Yup, McCanns. I just follow the directions on the box for starting it the night before, then add a little maple syrup right before eating. Maybe some crushed toasted pecans. ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-to-me-about-steel-cut-oatmeal/439165/10 "2008-02-26T05:17:25Z")
I cook mine in my fancy fuzzy logic rice cooker on the “porridge” setting. It’s awesome; I just load up the rice cooker the night before, set the timer, and wake up to freshly cooked oatmeal. I don’t like anything on my oatmeal. It’s got such great flavor I only add a little salt. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-to-me-about-steel-cut-oatmeal/439165/11 "2008-02-26T07:46:54Z")
Why do they have to be steel cut. Can’t you cut them with aluminum or some other metal? ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-to-me-about-steel-cut-oatmeal/439165/12 "2008-02-26T14:49:56Z")
I do Alton Brown’s, either with McCann’s or Bob’s. I add in a metric asston of raisins and dried cranberries, and also a lot more brown sugar and cinnamon. (I only do it every so often.) I used to think I hated oatmeal until I tried the real thing. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-to-me-about-steel-cut-oatmeal/439165/13 "2008-02-26T15:20:11Z")
[QUOTE=guizot] Why do they have to be steel cut. Can’t you cut them with aluminum or some other metal? [/QUOTE] Steel’s just the cheapest. From the wiki: > [@](#): > > Steel-cut oats are also known as coarse-cut oats, pinhead oats, Scotch oats, or Irish oats. > [@](#): > > Rolled oats are oat groats that have been rolled into flat flakes under heavy rollers. \ Steel-cut oats are oat groats that have been chopped into smaller pieces and retain bits of the bran layer. ---
**Author:** ![MsFancyPlants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@MsFancyPlants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsFancyPlants)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-to-me-about-steel-cut-oatmeal/439165/14 "2008-02-26T15:33:06Z")
A local health food store sells organic steel cut oats with no brand name. I can’t imagine my mornings without it. Since it takes longer to cook (~30 min.), I usually cook enough for breakfast for the entire week and just reheat in the microwave as needed. A touch of cinnamon is all I add to it. ---
**Author:** ![Plynck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-to-me-about-steel-cut-oatmeal/439165/15 "2008-02-26T17:05:14Z")
[QUOTE=Cluricaun] And you know what else is good in them? A shot of bourbon and a quarter teaspoon of vanilla extract. Mmmmmmmm… [/QUOTE] The REAL Breakfast of Champions. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-to-me-about-steel-cut-oatmeal/439165/16 "2008-02-26T17:18:53Z")
[QUOTE=missbunny] I like them with butter and salt [/QUOTE] OMG, I had never even considered this. That’s pretty much how I eat grits, but it hadn’t occurred to me to try oatmeal this way. I’ll definitely give that a try! ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-to-me-about-steel-cut-oatmeal/439165/17 "2008-03-04T00:36:32Z")
All righty, then. Sunday morning, I made [Alton’s recipe](http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_17140,00.html) for breakfast (with eggs and hot sausage, yum!). I had to use margarine instead of butter, and I think maybe I shouldn’t have put the lid on while it simmered, because it wound up rather soupy. Also, I used _way_ more brown sugar and cinnamon than he calls for. But it was quite a successful little effort, if I do say so myself. Of course, nothing could have prepared me for the high fiber magic this meal worked on me for the remainder of the day, but that’s a different story. Now, I’m getting ready to try [Alton’s overnight recipe](http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_17138,00.html), which involves a slow cooker. I did not purchase a slow cooker, technically, I purchased a rice cooker, but it has a “warm” setting which I think should work the same as “low” on a slow cooker. My question at this point is, I’m not big on figs or cranberries, and I can’t much imagine that dried ones will please me significantly more. I’ve already procured dried cherries to take the place of one of them … any recommendations on a replacement for the other? Oh, and I have yet to try them savory, but that’s on the agenda for next weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-to-me-about-steel-cut-oatmeal/439165/18 "2008-03-04T00:39:13Z")
I have never gotten Alton Brown’s slow-cooker recipe to work. I always end up with a sour, purple, curdled, watery mess. Any tips? ---
**Author:** ![Shryn\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@Shryn\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shryn_King)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-to-me-about-steel-cut-oatmeal/439165/19 "2008-03-04T01:03:48Z")
[QUOTE=KneadToKnow] My question at this point is, I’m not big on figs or cranberries, and I can’t much imagine that dried ones will please me significantly more. I’ve already procured dried cherries to take the place of one of them … any recommendations on a replacement for the other? Oh, and I have yet to try them savory, but that’s on the agenda for next weekend. [/QUOTE] Blueberries?? I don’t think I would put them in until the end though. After reading the recipe, I realize now that if you were going to be a stickler or at least a quasi stickler and go by the recipe by having two fruits included that blueberries (if you could find dried ones) and cherries would not probably be a good mix. I think **just** blueberries or\*\* just \*\*cherries would be good. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2008, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-to-me-about-steel-cut-oatmeal/439165/20 "2008-03-04T02:49:47Z")
[QUOTE=Drain Bead] I have never gotten Alton Brown’s slow-cooker recipe to work. I always end up with a sour, purple, curdled, watery mess. Any tips? [/QUOTE] I don’t use AB’s recipe, as adorable as he is and all, I just do a low tech version. Butter your crock pot to prevent stickage. No additional butter needed, you’ll still get a bit of flavor from it and without it the crockpot is hell to clean. 4:1 liquid to oats (I like 1/4 milk, YMMV) So in my case, 1 c oats, 1 c milk & 3 c water. Dried fruit, a generous handful, maybe a cup. (I like apples, raisins, cranberries, cherries…never used anything purple.) Chopped nuts (usually walnuts here, pecans when I’m feeling flush) 1 tsp vanilla Coupla dashes of nutmeg and/or cinnamon You can toast the oats, the nuts or both. Adds a nice flavor, works just as well without toasting though. We like apple/raisin/cinn/walnut, cran/pecan/nutmeg, so far I haven’t come up with one we didn’t like, but those are the two I make most often. Toss in buttered crock, turn on low, sleep and wake up to fabulosity. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-to-me-about-steel-cut-oatmeal/439165.md?page=2)