Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
With just a few simple ingredients and about 25 minutes, you can have a big warm bowl of steel cut oatmeal that satisfies the soul. As you get ready for your day, Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats can be cooking in your electric pressure cooker – so handy!
Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal Recipe – Healthy and Nourishing
Howdy! Chef Alli Here. Let’s Get You Cookin’…. Shall We?? 🙂
Let me begin this post by saying that I’m absolutely not a fan of instant or regular oatmeal. I’ve really, really tried to like it over the years, but the TEXTURE just turns me off.
Thankfully, and who knows why, I decided to give steel-cut oats a try, and HALLELUJAH! I’m a total oatmeal convert and now eat them almost weekly.
It’s great to be able to make steel cut oats in minutes in my Instant Pot, instead of having to babysit a pot of oats cooking on the stove.
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What to love about steel cut oatmeal made in your Instant Pot
- The nutty, yet creamy, texture. It cannot be explained – you have to experience it for yourself.
- It’s so convenient to cook steel-cut oats in large batches in an electric pressure cooker! A batch (or even a double batch) only takes 10 minutes under high pressure to cook, followed by a 10 minute natural-release rest before you remove the lid.
- Leftover cooked steel-cut oatmeal stores beautifully in the fridge, reheating like a charm in the microwave whenever you need a speedy snack or light meal.
How to make tender steel cut oats in your Instant Pot Step-By-Step
Using the saute setting on your Instant Pot (or any brand of electric pressure cooker, for that matter), add the dry steel cut oats, cinnamon sticks, and butter to the pot. (No liquids yet)
Stir the oats, allowing the butter to melt, until they smell “nutty” and fragrant, approx. 5 minutes or so….your nose will tell you when they are ready. 🙂
Now stir in the the liquid; combining well. Lock the Instant Pot lid into place, turning the valve to the “pressure” position. Using high pressure, set the timer for 10 minutes; bring the Instant Pot up to full pressure. When the timer sounds at the end of the cooking time, unplug the pot and walk away! Let the pot and the oat rest for 10 minutes…this is called a natural pressure release. (You don’t need to do a thing except leave it alone.)
After 10 minutes, release any remaining pressure in the Instant Pot (though there may not be any at this point) and carefully remove the lid. Give the contents a stir to combine the liquid on the top with the oats below; discard the cinnamon sticks.
Place scoops of warm steel cut oats into bowls, then top with your favorite toppings, such as a splash of cream or milk, chopped pecans or walnuts, chopped fruit, maple syrup, or yogurt – so delish.
Common Questions Asked About This Recipe
Which tools are helpful for making Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal?
Instant Pot – you can make steel cut oats in any type of electric pressure cooker, no matter the brand. Everyone likes the 6-quart Instant Pot (as do I), but my favorite electric pressure cooker is the 6-quart Cuisinart electric pressure cooker. It’s super simplistic and streamlined!
Silicone Spatula Spoons – Of all the tools in my kitchen, silicone spatula spoons are what I use the most. They make stirring and sauteing a breeze and I love all the pretty silicone colors available. Silicone spatula spoons are completely heat-proof so they won’t melt, even when used over high temperatures. I like to have different sizes on hand for different kitchen tasks – soooo handy!
Can I double this recipe? If so, do I need to increase the cooking time?
I double this recipe all the time to make a bigger batch of steel cut oats – it works perfectly. A double batch does not require additional cooking time.
How long will cooked steel cut oats keep in the fridge?
I really like keeping a container of steel cut oats in my fridge to grab some when I need something warm and nourishing. They will keep for 3-4 days, easily.
How should I reheat steel cut oats later?
Place them into a bowl and reheat in the microwave, then top as desired and enjoy. If the oats are too thick, just stir in a little water or milk.
Can I freeze steel cut oats after they are cooked? How long will they keep in the freezer?
Cooked steel cut oats freeze very well. Just thaw and reheat in the microwave. I have kept cooked steel cut oats in my freezer for up to 6 months with no problem.
More favorite breakfast and Instant Pot recipes to enjoy
- SHEET PAN CHOCOLATE CHIP PANCAKES
- INSTANT POT CHEESY BACON EGG BITES
- AIR FRYER BREAKFAST PIZZAS
- CREAMED EGGS ON TOAST
- INSTANT POT STRAWBERRY REFRIGERATOR JAM
Printable Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats Recipe
Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
Ingredients
- 1 cup regular steel-cut oats (not instant steel-cut oats)
- 1 Tbs. unsalted butter
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 1/2 cups water
- 1 generous pinch of kosher salt
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Using the sauté setting on the Instant Pot, add the oats, butter, and cinnamon stick, stirring and cooking for 2-3 minutes until the oats give off a nice, nutty aroma; stir in the water and salt.
- Lock the Instant Pot lid into place. Using the manual button, choose the high pressure setting for 10 minutes, bringing the Instant Pot to full pressure. When the timer sounds, completely unplug the Instant Pot, then use a natural pressure release for 10 minutes. If any pressure remains in the Instant Pot, preform a quick release.
- Unlock and remove the Instant Pot lid; remove the cinnamon stick, then stir the oatmeal to incorporate any liquid that may be sitting on top. When the oatmeal has cooled just a bit, stir in the vanilla extract; taste the oatmeal and adjust the seasonings as needed.
- Serve oatmeal at once, as desired, with your favorite toppings, or transfer the oatmeal to a storage container. When the oatmeal has cooled, cover and refrigerate for up to one week.
- To reheat the cooked oatmeal, transfer the desired amount to a serving bowl and stir in 1-2 Tbs. milk, then microwave on high for 30-60 seconds, stirring half way through.
Notes
Nutrition
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Let’s Get You Cookin’,
Chef Alli
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I haven’t tried this recipe but make steel cut oats in my Breville PC and can tell this is a winner which I’ll try in a couple of days. My PC is a 6 quart and I attempted to make a double batch with 6 cups almond milk and 2 cups oats and had an utter mess. The oatmeal foamed up and impeded the pressure cooking and spewed sticky watery oatmeal everywhere. I’ve never had a problem with a single batch and now figure a double in a 6 quart is a no no, any thoughts? Thanks, Cheryll
Hi Cheryll –
I’ve had the same luck and realized that doubling recipes in the 6 quart is typically not going to work. However, if you get an 8 quart, you can double most recipes and the foaming isn’t an issue. Love the steel cut oats in the electric pressure cooker and I’m like you – love to make a super big batch and store the extra in the fridge to warm up as needed – works great. Thanks for your comment!
Chef Alli
If you’re not a huge cinnamon fan, what else could you include? Peanut butter? What else? And, how could you make this savory? I’ve heard about savory oatmeal but have never had it. Thank you!
Hi Angela –
Just eliminate the cinnamon stick and you’re good to go. Once you’ve cooked the steel cut oats, stir in peanut butter, to taste. It’s delicious. As for savory oats, I’ve been meaning to give that a whirl. I’m tempted to do bacon steel cut oats with a couple of fried eggs on top!