How to Steel Cut Oatmeal Overnight

Typically, people eat rolled oats because they can be cooked in a few minutes.

Sometimes called "Irish oats" or "pinhead oats," steel-cut oats are whole grain oats that have been milled simply by being cut into large, coarse pieces. Instant or "rolled" oats are wet, then rolled in a heavy press into thin flakes. The difference between these two styles of oats is that coarse, steel-cut oats take much longer to cook, but taste better because they haven't been adulterated by par-cooking like rolled oats.

Things You'll Need

• 2 qt. slow cooker
• 8 cups of water
• 2 cups of oats
• 1/4 tbsp. of salt
• 2/3 cup of dried fruit

Instructions

1. Add the water, oats, dried fruit and salt to the slow cooker. This recipe serves four, but the rule of thumb is 1 cup of water per 1/4 cup of oats. Dried fruit and salt can be added to taste. Turn the slow cooker on low.

2. Stir this mixture once or twice in the first hour of cooking. This will help incorporate the flavors more evenly. In the slow cooker, it can cook safely overnight on low for six to 10 hours.

3. Finish the oatmeal with fresh fruit and milk. Milk shouldn't be added to oats while they're cooking, as fresh milk in hot oatmeal is sweeter and more flavorful.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't add sugar to slow cooked oats, as it tends to be too sweet. Milk in a fresh bowl or reconstituted dried fruit imparts enough sweetness. Spices like fresh nutmeg and cinnamon are optional.

References

• Pinch My Salt; Steel Cut Oatmeal; April 2009
• Eating Well; Overnight Oatmeal; 2004