Instant Pot Mini Steel Cut Oats (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Kathryn Rudey

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Topped with apples, almonds and lightly sweetened with maple syrup, these steel cut oats make a warm and healthy meal that's easy to prepare in an Instant Pot, giving you breakfast in less than 30 minutes!

Instant Pot Mini Steel Cut Oats (1)

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This is one of those posts that I thought about for a while and decided not to do because there are so many other posts on how to make steel cut oats in the Instant Pot. Then I tried a few of them and realized that most of them didn't quite work in an IP mini so decided to write it after all.

I've found that most recipes designed for the 6 quart Instant Pot work just fine in the mini but there have been a few exceptions and this was one of them. Not to mention that fact that I've really come to like steel cut oats for breakfast so it was fun to experiment with toppings for this recipe.

While it's not always that much faster to cook in the Instant Pot, one of the things I love about using it is you can pretty much press a button, walk away and let it cook until it's ready. It's much easier than having to keep a constant eye on something that's simmering on the stove top.

Making Steel Cut Oats in the Instant Pot

There are a couple of key tips to achieving great steel cut oats in your Instant Pot every time.

First, make sure you use almond milk instead of dairy milk. The sugars in dairy milk may burn but almond milk gives you great texture and flavor without that risk.

Second, make sure to allow the pressure to release naturally after the initial cooking cycle. If you do a quick release your oats won't be fully cooked and will be runny from the excess liquid.

Steel-cut oats are chewier and coarser in texture than rolled oats because they are less processed. The oats are cut with steel blades which is where they get their name. They also take longer to cook than instant or rolled oats. I also prefer the slightly nuttier flavor you get from steel cut oats.

Instant Pot Mini Steel Cut Oats (2)

Meal Prep Tips

Steel cut oats are a great option to add to your weekly meal prep. You can make a big batch at the beginning of the week and they will keep in the refrigerator for several days. Store the cooked oats only and when you are ready to eat heat them up in the microwave for a minute or so. Then add some milk and your favorite toppings.

things you may want for this recipe

Instant Pot Mini (3 Quart) - I've mentioned before that this is the perfect size Instant Pot if you are regularly cooking for two.

Instant Pot Mini Steel Cut Oats (3)

Steel Cut Oats in the Instant Pot Mini

Author: Kathryn | Urban Foodie Kitchen

Topped with apples, almonds and lightly sweetened with maple syrup, these steel cut oats make a warm and healthy meal that's easy to prepare in an Instant Pot, giving you breakfast in less than 30 minutes!

5 from 6 votes

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Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 3 minutes mins

Total Time 28 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 cup steel cut oats
  • 2 cups vanilla almond milk
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • ½ an apple, thinly sliced or cut into cubes
  • ¼ cup toasted sliced almonds
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • maple syrup, to taste

Instructions

  • Prepare the Instant Pot. Lightly spray the Instant Pot liner with cooking spray. Add the oats, cinnamon stick and almond milk.

  • Cook the oats. Secure the lid and make sure the vent is set to SEAL. Set to manual, high pressure for 3 minutes. The Instant Pot will take several minutes to come up to pressure before the cooking time begins.

  • Natural pressure release. Once the cooking time has ended allow the pressure to release naturally for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes remove the lid and stir. Discard the cinnamon stick and serve.

  • Add the toppings. Top with the apples, almonds, ground cinnamon and maple syrup. Add additional almond milk or regular milk if desired.

Notes

  1. The cooked oats will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat for one minute in the microwave when ready to eat.
  2. This recipe creates a rather thick consistency for the oats as I think it's easier to add more milk after they are cooked instead of ending up with soupy oats!

Keywords : healthy breakfast

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kankana Saxena says

    apple and oats is a such a perfect match, I know it's Spring and I still bake oats with apple 🙂 It's a perfect comfort breakfast!

    Reply

  2. Carol Borchardt says

    Instant Pot Mini Steel Cut Oats (8)
    What a beautiful breakfast! I love that you can make the oats ahead of time and they keep in the refrigerator. Also pinned so I can make for guests this fall.

    Reply

  3. Dea says

    Instant Pot Mini Steel Cut Oats (9)
    Aaah it's such a classic and always so good! Loved your recipe and detailed post thank you 🙂

  4. Sean Berry says

    Instant Pot Mini Steel Cut Oats (10)
    New to the Instant Pot world. Made this recipe twice now and it's been perfect both times. Steel cut oats, unattended in 30 min!!!

    Reply

    • Urban Foodie Kitchen says

      Thanks Sean - glad you enjoyed them!

      Reply

  5. george says

    I have a 3 qt mini IP. Can this recipe be doubled so I can meal prep breakfast for 4 days?
    Thanks.
    George

    Reply

    • Urban Foodie Kitchen says

      Hi George - I haven't tested doubling this recipe in the mini however I think you should just be able to make it under the fill line. Since you are cooking oats you'll want to be sure not to fill the pot beyond the 1/2 fill line. You may also want to increase the cooking time to 4 minutes but I'd try 3 minutes first to see how you like the consistency. Enjoy!

      Reply

  6. Karen says

    Do you mean the lid should be set to “seal”?

    Reply

    • Urban Foodie Kitchen says

      Hi Karen - Yes, you are correct it should be set to seal. I've updated the instructions. 🙂

      Reply

  7. Sandy says

    I would rather use water instead of almond milk. Will water work in this recipe?

    Reply

    • Urban Foodie Kitchen says

      Hi Sandy - Yes, you should be able to substitute water for the almond milk, though it will change the taste and texture of the final dish.

      Reply

  8. Audra says

    Instant Pot Mini Steel Cut Oats (11)
    These turned out great. A lot of other instant pot steel cut oat recipes call for a larger pot, so I’m really happy I found yours. This was my first time trying steel cut oats (didn’t know about them until a couple of days ago) and they’re my new favorite breakfast! Substituted almond milk with plain (not vanilla) but added a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the mix. I had it with banana instead of apple because that’s what I had, added chia seeds. I’ll be making this for years to come!

    Reply

    • Urban Foodie Kitchen says

      Hi Audra - So glad you enjoyed them!!

      Reply

  9. Leanne says

    First attempt and the pot defaulted to burned food and scorched the oats. Any suggenstions?

    Reply

    • Urban Foodie Kitchen says

      Hi Leanne - Did you spray the bottom of the pot with cooking spray to keep any oats from sticking? Given the amount of liquid in this recipe, I've never seen any issues with burn notices.

      Reply

  10. Debby says

    Instant Pot Mini Steel Cut Oats (12)
    So glad to find your recipe with ratios for IP mini! I like to add shredded zucchini into my oats before cooking. Assuming this adds approximately 1 cup to the recipe, would this still work in an IP Mini?

    Reply

    • Urban Foodie Kitchen says

      Hi Debby. While the additional cup of food will fit in the IP mini, since I've not tested it this way, I cannot confirm how the addition will impact the amount of liquid needed, cook time or texture of the final product. Let me know if you decide to give it a try.

      Reply

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Instant Pot Mini Steel Cut Oats (2024)

FAQs

What is the ratio of water to steel cut oats? ›

For every 1 cup of steel cut oats, you'll need 3 1/2 to 4 cups of liquid, depending upon how thick you'd like them to be (less liquid = thicker steel cut oatmeal). I like to do a mix of water and milk to make the steel cut oats extra creamy.

What's the difference between instant steel cut oats and regular steel cut oats? ›

The difference between steel-cut, rolled, and instant oats is simply how much the oat groat has been processed. This also results in each variety having a distinct texture and varying cook times.

Are quick cook steel cut oats still healthy? ›

Note: You may have seen quick cooking steel cut oats - they are simply cut smaller, so they cook faster. Like rolled oats, these are still good, but may have a lesser effect than the longer cooking steel cut oats. Keep them all on hand, if you like.

How long does it take to cook quick cooking steel cut oats? ›

For a delightful hot cereal you'll love, combine our Quick Cooking Steel Cut Oats with 2 cups of water and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Bring your water to a boil, add your cereal and turn heat to medium-low. Cover and cook for 5–7 minutes, then remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 2 minutes.

Is it okay to eat steel cut oats every day? ›

Steel cut oats are a good source of fiber. This is about 20% of your recommended daily intake. Because the American diet today can be so deficient in many ways, eating steel cut oats on a regular basis can help you meet your body's daily fiber requirements and help keep your body healthy and functioning at its best.

How many servings does 1 cup of steel cut oats make? ›

1 serving: 1/4 cup oats, 3/4 cup water, 1/8tsp salt. 2 servings: 1/2 cup oats, 1.5 cups water, 1/4tsp salt. 3 servings: 3/4 cup oats, 2.25 cups water, 3/8tsp salt. 4 servings: 1 cup oats, 2 cups water, 1/2tsp of salt.

Are steel-cut oats any healthier than rolled oats? ›

Rolled oats and steel-cut oats are two minimally processed forms of oats. They have similar nutritional values and health benefits. Steel-cut oats may take longer to digest and therefore help a person feel full for longer. They also have a slightly lower impact on blood sugar.

Is it okay to eat instant oatmeal every day? ›

Yes, it is good to eat oatmeal every day considering its nutritional profile and health benefits, including weight control and heart-healthy effect. As a breakfast food and mid-meal snack, oatmeal is potentially a better option than the majority of foods available in the market.

What is the healthiest oatmeal to eat? ›

Steel-cut oats, also called Irish oatmeal, are the whole oat kernel that has been cut into two or three pieces using steel disks. This type of oats contains the highest amount of fiber, as it is least processed. Steel-cut oats take a little longer to cook, and result in a creamy and chewy porridge.

Why not steel-cut oats for overnight oats? ›

We love the chewy, hearty texture of steel-cut oats, but they're too firm to use for overnight oats. Steel-cut are much better simmered slowly, although if you are short on time, soaking them in water overnight then draining them before simmering will drastically cut down the cooking time.

Do steel-cut oats spike blood sugar? ›

Steel-cut oats are a low-glycemic index food, which means they won't raise your blood sugar if you have diabetes. Research shows that regularly eating oats improves type 2 diabetes. Manage cholesterol. The fiber in steel-cut oats--especially a type of fiber called soluble fiber -- can help to lower your cholesterol.

What is so special about steel-cut oats? ›

Due to their density, steel-cut oats are cooked with a higher ratio of liquid than rolled oats. They yield a larger portion, meaning you can eat less oats and consume fewer calories. Steel-cut oats take longer to digest, helping you to stay full longer and causing less of a rise in blood sugar.

What happens if you don't soak steel cut oats? ›

Soaking not only softens the oats, but it also makes them more tender, quicker to cook, and easier to digest. In a side-by-side comparison, we found that unsoaked oats lacked that fluffy, creamy texture soaked oats provide.

Are quick cook steel cut oats the same as quick oats? ›

Steel-cut oats are most closely related to the original, unprocessed oat groat ( 1 ). Steel-cut oats have a coarser, chewier texture and nuttier flavor than rolled or quick oats. They also take longer to prepare, with average cooking times ranging from 15–30 minutes.

Are there instant steel cut oats? ›

McCann's® Quick & Easy Steel Cut Irish Oats

McCann's® Quick & Easy Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal will give you a delicious bowl of oatmeal in just minutes.

Is steel cut oatmeal better for you than rolled oats? ›

Rolled oats and steel-cut oats are two minimally processed forms of oats. They have similar nutritional values and health benefits. Steel-cut oats may take longer to digest and therefore help a person feel full for longer. They also have a slightly lower impact on blood sugar.

What is the best ratio of oats to water? ›

Read the instructions on the side of your oatmeal container and do what they say to avoid a pasty, sticky mess or a soupy mush. For steel-cut oats, the ratio is 3/4 to 1 cup of liquid per 1/4 cup of oats. If you are using quick-cooking or rolled oats, the ratio is 1 cup of liquid per 1/2 cup of oats.

How much does 1/4 cup of steel cut oats make? ›

The serving size of these oats is ¼ cup dry grain. When cooked with the recommended water portions (usually about a cup), you end up with roughly 1 whole cup of a finished product.

How to make Quaker oats Steel Cut Oatmeal? ›

QUICK 3-MINUTE STEEL CUT OATS

Microwave on 50% Power 2.5 - 3 minutes. ** Stir and allow to cool 2 - 3 minutes before serving.

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