Tips for Preparing Hearty, Nutritious Steel-Cut Oats in a Crock-Pot
Oatmeal has been a popular breakfast food for centuries, and for good reason: Oats are packed with fiber, protein and many nutrients; they're filling and satisfying, giving you an energy boost to start the day; and they are enhanced by flavorful, nutritious toppings such as fruits and nuts. If your family prefers the more dense, chewy texture of steel-cut oats over softer old-fashioned or quick-cooking varieties, you're probably familiar with the accompanying 30-minute-plus stovetop cooking time. Use your Crock-Pot instead—although the total cooking time increases, it only involves a few minutes of hands-on prep. You can even put everything in the Crock-Pot before bed and wake up to steamy, perfectly cooked steel-cut oats first thing in the morning.
Total Time: 3 to 8 hours | Prep Time: 5 minutes | Serves: 6 to 10
Ingredients:
- 2 cups steel-cut oats
- 7 cups water
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Directions:
- In the Crock-Pot, stir together the oats, water and salt.
- Cook the oats on high for 3 to 4 hours, or low for 6 to 8 hours.
- Stir the oatmeal before serving, optionally with a splash of milk or cream and your favorite toppings.
Tip
- In addition to toppings, such as chopped nuts, dried or fresh fruit, and sweeteners like honey, maple syrup and brown sugar, you can add different flavorings to the oatmeal as it cooks. Add a large spoonful of peanut butter, cocoa powder or chocolate chips, grated apples, cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice.
- For a creamier version of steel-cut oatmeal, substitute some or all of the water with milk, nut milk or coconut milk.
- Steel-cut oatmeal retains its texture even after being cooled and reheated, so make a big enough pot to eat for breakfast for several days.
References
Writer Bio
Joanne Thomas has worked as a writer and editor for print and online publications since 2004. As a specialist in all things food and drink, she has penned pieces for Livestrong, Robert Mondavi and Modern Mom, among other names. She found her first jobs in a series of kitchens before moving on to celebrate food via the written word. Thomas resides in California and holds a bachelor’s degree in politics from the University of Bristol, U.K.