All The Benefits of Steel Cut Oats Made Right In Your Slow Cooker

Oh yes, my ode to oats continues and boy does it taste good. This morning my family and I started our day tucked into steaming bowls of oatmeal made in our slow-cooker. Yes, you did not misread – I did say "oatmeal made in a slow-cooker." Now, I can wax on about how much I love my slow cooker, especially during the long, cold winter months, but I will not torture you with that today (after all I did say "it is going to be a long drawn out winter" so I’ll have plenty of time to bore you later). I do have to tell you, if you haven’t already discovered this for yourself, that the slow-cooker is the perfect solution for preparing steel cut oats – not to mention, the perfect solution for getting breakfast on the table super fast! Steel cut oats, while even healthier than traditional rolled oats, takes considerably longer to cook because it is the whole unadulterated grain – simply not making them a practical go-to solution for most eat-and-run mornings. However, with the slow-cooker, you can mix up a couple of simple ingredients before going to bed, turn the slow-cooker on low and wake-up in the morning to the welcoming smell of breakfast waiting for you and your family. Here’s the (s)low-down:

Slow Cooker Oatmeal

• 2 cups of steel cut oats. McCain’s and Country Choice are the brands I am most familiar with and that I know are available at the supermarket.
• 8 cups of water
• Pinch of salt

1. Spray the inside of the ceramic liner of your slow-cooker well with cooking spray
2. Place all of the ingredients in your slow-cooker


3. Cover and set the slow-cooker on the low setting. Let cook 8-9 hours, or overnight until tender. It will need a good stir when you wake-up


4. Scoop into bowls and serve with an assortment of mix-ins

Everyone in my family has a personal favorite; here are a few of ours:

• Sprinkle of Cinnamon
• Raisins or Dried Cranberries
• Mashed Banana or other fresh fruit like berries
• Brown Sugar or Honey
• Chopped Nuts for a boost of protein

Makes enough for about 4 generous servings.

You can also use traditional rolled oats but the proportions will be a bit different and set-up and cooking will be exactly the same as the steel cut variety:

1. 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick cooking)
2. 4 3/4 cups water
3. Pinch of salt

E.P. Note: Steel-Cut Oats are healthier than rolled oats because they use the whole grain which means they include the bran with all of that good fiber, the germ which is rich in all of the Vitamin B's and iron. They also have a bit of a nutty, crunchy taste, giving the oatmeal a heartier, more satisfying texture.