Instant Pot Steel-Cut Oats

Last Updated on May 29, 2023 by Heather Reseck

Enjoy the chewiness of steel-cut oats for an easy breakfast, which is made even easier by starting it in the Instant Pot the night before.

How I Discovered Good Steel-Cut Oats

About 20 years ago, my husband and I won a stay at the Salish Lodge overlooking Snoqualmie Falls near Seattle. It included a four-course country breakfast, a signature menu item that they’ve served since 1916.

That breakfast introduced me to the best steel-cut oats I had eaten They served them with stewed dried fruit and toasted pecans.  I would have been satisfied with that one course alone.

The slightly nutty flavor and chewiness of the steel-cut oats combined with the varied textures of the fruits and nuts made it unforgettable.  After repeated experimentation, I came up with a homemade version. Then I adapted it to the Instant Pot to make it easier.

The Secret to the Best Texture

I don’t like gummy oatmeal.   That’s one reason I prefer the texture of steel-cut oats over rolled or quick-cooking oats. But even steel-cut oats can get gluey.

The secret to the best texture?  Rinse the steel-cut oats before cooking. That significantly reduces the gumminess and improves the texture.

The Value of Less Processed Grains

Here’s another reason to favor steel-cut oats over rolled oats: More intact. less processed grains affect blood sugars less than more processed grains. Dietitian Brenda Davis, the co-author of Becoming Vegan, illustrates this with The Whole Grain Hierarchy diagram on her website.

How to Make Instant Pot Steel-Cut Oats

Using an Instant Pot to make steel-cut oats is so much easier than using a pressure cooker on the stove or cooking the oats on the stove.  No tending required. You can take a shower or do other tasks while the oats cook.  Just follow these five easy steps:

1. Rinse the oats in a fine-mesh strainer and drain.
2. Stir the oats, water, and salt together in a 6-quart pressure cooker.
3. Secure the lid and close the pressure release valve. Select the Pressure Cook/Manual setting and set it for 7 minutes.
4. When the cooking is completed, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10-15 minutes. Carefully remove the lid.
5. Stir and serve.

How to Make Overnight Instant Pot Steel-Cut Oats

Here’s how to make Instant Pot Steel-Cut Oats even easier!  Use the delay start feature and start them in the evening.

1. In the evening, stir oats, water, and salt together in a 6-quart Instant Pot.
2. Secure the lid and close the pressure release valve.
3. Select the Pressure Cook/Manual setting and set it for 4 minutes.
4. Immediately select Delay Start and press the Plus button to enter the number of hours to delay the start time.
5. In the morning, when the cooking is completed, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10-15 minutes. Carefully remove the lid.
6. Stir and serve.

If you don’t have the delay start option on your Instant Pot, or if you prefer not to deal with it,  you can simply soak the oats overnight in the Instant Pot and cook them for 4 minutes in the morning.

Meal Prep Steel-Cut Oats

When you make steel-cut oats, prepare extra. It’s easy to double the recipe if you have a 6 or 8-quart Instant Pot. The pressure cooker needs to be large enough so that the oats and water don’t go above the half-full mark.  Oats tend to foam when cooking, so it’s important to not overfill the Instant Pot. See the variations on the recipe card and note that the water is not quite doubled.

How to Serve Steel-Cut Oats

I like to eat steel-cut oats with fruit–fresh, dried, or canned, plus nuts for more texture and hemp seeds or chia seed for omega-3 fats.  For me, it’s perfect breakfast food!

Serve with non-dairy milk.  Or serve with Blueberry Sauce or maple syrup.

How to Reheat Steel-Cut Oats

Pour a small amount of plant milk into a small saucepan. Add the desired amount of cooked steel-cut oats. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through.

Variations:

• Multigrain Steel-Cut Oats: Substitute up to ¼ cup of any combination of buckwheat, quinoa, teff, and/or amaranth.
• Stovetop Steel-Cut Oats: Heat water and salt to boiling in a medium saucepan.  Stir in oats.  Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10-15 minutes.  Turn off the heat and let stand for 10-20 minutes, until oats are tender, and water is absorbed.  If excess water remains, simmer for several minutes.

Tip:

• You don’t need to worry about the steel-cut oats overcooking if the natural release time ends up being longer than 10-15 minutes.  They will be ready when you are!