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How to Make Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal: 2 Basic Cooking Methods

Today I’m going to share two ways to make perfect Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal. Once you see how easy cooking steel cut oats in an Instant Pot is, you’ll be making them all the time!

How to make Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal

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I’ve always loved oatmeal – in fact it’s been my go-to breakfast for years now. While I often just go for overnight oats, every now and then I’d take my time to make a batch of my vegan steel cut oatmeal, and top it with berries, banana slices, cinnamon, etc.

One thing that’s always held me back from making steel cut oatmeal more often is the fact that it can be a pretty hands-on process. The milk (I usually use almond milk) can boil over. The oats can splatter all over the stove if the pot is left uncovered. The oatmeal can stick to the bottom of the pan if not stirred often. Who wants to deal with all that?

Thankfully, all these issues disappear if you use an Instant Pot! You can’t beat steel cut oatmeal when looking for a healthy Instant Pot breakfast. This nifty gadget makes cooking my favorite vegan steel cut oatmeal a breeze.

Today I’ll show you two ways to make it, and better yet, both of those are ridiculously easy!

When talking about steel cut oats, a few questions usually arise. Let’s go through each of them.

This recipe is featured in my list of 15 kid friendly vegan recipes that my 2 year-old daughter loves.

Vegan Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal

What are health benefits of steel cut oats?

Oats are a fantastic source of plant-based nutrition. They contain both soluble and insoluble fiber, protein (as much as 7 grams in 1/4 cup uncooked steel cut oats), B vitamins, manganese, iron, phosphorus, etc.

Soluble fiber in oats is absorbed by our digestive tract, and ‘cleans up’ unnecessary things like cholesterol. It also feeds good bacteria in our gut. Insoluble fiber stays within the digestive tract, adding bulk to our stools and helping things to move along smoothly.

Another benefit of fiber in steel cut oats – it prevents blood sugar spikes, which gives oats a fairly low glycemic index. The less our blood sugar goes up during a meal, the longer we can stay full.

In addition to that, oats are naturally gluten-free. However, in the process of growing and harvesting oats, they often get contaminated with grains of wheat. So if you want to make 100% sure your oats are free of wheat and gluten, buy certified gluten-free steel cut oats. (See more info on this subject here.)

What’s the difference between steel cut oats and old-fashioned rolled oats?

The main difference between steel cut oats and the traditional old-fashioned rolled oats is the way the oat groats (whole oat grains) are processed.

For steel cut oats, the oat groats are cut in two or three pieces using a sharp steel blade. For old-fashioned rolled oats, the groats are flattened and steamed.

Both resulting types of oats are healthy, but the steel cut oats haven’t been treated with steam, so they may be more appealing to those of us looking for the least processed version of every food.

When both types of oats are compared by volume, steel cut oats tend to contain a little less calories and a little more fiber than old-fashioned rolled oats. However, the amounts of carbohydrates, fat and fiber are the same.

Steel cut oats also have a lower glycemic index thanks to a higher fiber content.

How to cook steel cut oats in Instant Pot

How do I make steel cut oats in an Instant Pot?

To make basic Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal, you’ll need only 3 components:

  • 1 part uncooked steel cut oats,
  • 3 parts liquid (my go-to combination is almond milk and water in 1:1 proportion),
  • a pinch of salt.
How to make Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal: measuring the oats before cooking
Measuring steel cut oats before cooking

There are two main ways you can go about cooking the oats: a slower one that produces great-tasting, slightly softer oats, and a quicker one that yields slightly chewier but still delicious oats. But honestly, the difference in chewiness is minimal, so feel free to use whatever method you like.

If you’re new to Instant Pot cooking, check out my foolproof 5-step guide to using an Instant Pot.

You’ll notice below that the quicker method calls for 10 minutes of pressure cooking, and the slower method – for 3 minutes. How come? When you add up the time it takes for the Instant Pot to reach pressure, then release it after cooking, you’ll see that the 10-minute method is in fact quicker.

What about the Porridge setting on my Instant Pot? This button is set to cook things at high pressure for 20 minutes (here’s a more thorough explanation of Instant Pot buttons). However, you’ll see that it’s an overkill for my cooking method below.

Quicker method for cooking steel cut oats in the Instant Pot:

Add all ingredients into the bowl of your pressure cooker. Lock the lid, make sure the vent is closed. Press Manual; set the timer for 10 minutes.

2 easy methods of making Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal. Steel cut oats and almond milk are shown in the Instant Pot before cooking.

The pressure will start building up inside the pot. Once the pressure is reached, the timer will start counting down.

After the pressure gets down to zero and the Instant Pot beeps, press Cancel and do the quick release opening method: carefully turn the pressure knob to Venting position, and allow the steam to escape.

Once the metal pin on top of the lid drops, open the lid carefully.

From beginning to end, this method usually takes about 15-17 minutes.

Slower method for pressure cooking steel cut oats:

Add all ingredients into the bowl of your Instant Pot. Lock the lid, make sure the vent is closed. Press Manual; set the timer for 3 minutes.

After the pressure timer runs out, let the pressure come down naturally (i.e. do the natural release) until the metal pin drops on its own. The oats will continue cooking in the residual steam inside the pot. Note that it may take a while before the pressure comes down – I often wait for 20-25 minutes.

Once the pin drops, press Cancel, and open the lid carefully.

From beginning to end, this method usually takes me about 30 minutes.

What to do with the steel cut oatmeal once pressure cooking is done

When you first open the lid of your Instant Pot, things won’t necessarily look very pretty. You’ll see some goopy-looking mass of oatmeal with extra liquid pooling on top:

How to make Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal: cooked steel cut oatmeal before being stirred.

Don’t let this view scare you – everything is just fine. What you need to do is stir everything until the oatmeal looks homogenous.

It will still be a bit runny, but once again, this is fine.

2 easy ways to make Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal. Shown: cooked oatmeal after being stirred for the first time.

Your delicious and healthy steel cut oats recipe concludes at this point. However, it’s worth noting that your oats will thicken quite a bit as they cool. That’s why we want them to be a little runny when they’re first done.

In the picture below I let my oatmeal sit in my pressure cooker a bit longer with the lid on, and the power turned off. You can see how much thicker it looks after 20 minutes:

How to make Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal: 2 easy ways. Shown: oatmeal 20 minutes after it finished cooking.

How do I store steel cut oatmeal?

Steel cut oatmeal will keep well in the refrigerator for 5-7 days in an airtight container. Note that it will continue to thicken, so you’ll need to add a bit of milk (I usually use some almond milk for this).

Easy steel cut oatmeal Instant Pot

Check out my vegan breakfast recipes page to find more ideas for delicious, family-friendly vegan breakfasts.

Yield: 4 cups

3-Ingredient Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal Recipe

How to make Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal

This easy recipe for Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal yields delicious and healthy steel cut oats that are dairy-free, soy-free, oil-free, made with no added sugar, and call for only 3 ingredients! This healthy vegan oatmeal can be pressure cooked in 2 ways - a quicker and a slower methods explained below, both with minimal hands-on time. For gluten-free steel cut oatmeal use certified gluten-free oats.

Prep Time 1 minute
Cook Time 10 minutes
Additional Time 5 minutes
Total Time 16 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup steel cut oats*
  • 3 cups liquid - I prefer oat milk and water in 1:2 proportion
  • Pinch salt

Instructions

Quicker Cooking Method (15-17 min total):

    1. Add all ingredients into the bowl of your pressure cooker. Lock the lid, make sure the vent is closed. Press Manual; set the timer for 10 minutes.

    2. Once the pressure builds up, let the timer count back from 10 to 0. After it reaches 0 and your Instant Pot beeps, press cancel and do a quick release opening method: carefully turn the pressure knob to Venting position, and allow the steam to escape.

    3. After the metal pin on the lid drops, carefully open the lid. Stir the oatmeal, taste for seasoning.

    4. To serve, enjoy your oatmeal plain, or top with your favorite toppings - banana slices, berries, nuts, maple syrup, cinnamon, etc.

Slower Cooking Method (up to 30 min total):

    1. Add all ingredients into the bowl of your pressure cooker. Lock the lid, make sure the vent is closed. Press Manual; set the timer for 3 minutes.

    2. Once the pressure builds up, let the timer count back from 3 to 0. After it reaches 0 and your Instant Pot beeps, do a natural release opening method: allow the pressure to come down on its own until the metal pin on top of the lid drops. This can take up to 25 minutes.

    3. Once the metal pin drops, carefully open the lid. Stir the oatmeal, taste for seasoning.

    4. To serve, enjoy your oatmeal plain, or top with your favorite toppings - banana slices, berries, nuts, maple syrup, cinnamon, etc.

Notes

*Use certified gluten-free oats if you follow a gluten-free diet.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1 cup

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 119Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 44mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 3gSugar: 6gProtein: 3g

Please note that the provided nutritional information data is approximate.

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author avatar
Alina Zavatsky - Vegan Runner Eats
Alina first made a switch to a vegan diet in 2013 to optimize her athletic performance as a marathon runner. Eventually she embraced veganism as a way to be kinder to fellow living beings and the environment. Alina hopes that this blog helps its readers on their path to becoming vegan and making this world a better place.
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Lisa

Sunday 30th of July 2023

I was wondering if you have to increase the time if you increase the measurements?

Alina Zavatsky - Vegan Runner Eats

Friday 4th of August 2023

No, the same time will work fine.

Bronchain

Thursday 17th of November 2022

Bonjour combien de grammes les flocons et combien millimètres le lait??? car j ai mis 40 gr Et 230 mm de lait et un peu brun brun merci

Alina Zavatsky - Vegan Runner Eats

Thursday 17th of November 2022

You can do any combination as long as the proportions are 1 part oats : 3 parts liquid.

Heather E

Monday 15th of March 2021

Hey there! Have you tried this recipe with any other kind of oatmeal? Wondering if I can use this recipe for the oats I have on hand. Thank you!

Alina Zavatsky - Vegan Runner Eats

Tuesday 16th of March 2021

Hi Heather! I haven't tried other types of oatmeal here but I'm sure this recipe will work just fine with old-fashioned oats. If you have quick-cooking oats on hand, I'd lower the pressure time to 1-2 minutes. If you try this, please come back and let me know how it comes out!

Tish

Tuesday 13th of October 2020

My oats were PERFECT and I used the longer method for a bit more creaminess. I added chopped, dried apricots BEFORE cooking & chopped pecans + some honey after. It was a absolutely delicious and the directions were “spot on.”

Alina Zavatsky - Vegan Runner Eats

Tuesday 13th of October 2020

Thank you Tish, glad this recipe worked out so well for you! I've got to try it with dried apricots too.

Greybeard the Mouse

Wednesday 17th of June 2020

You should really be soaking your oats (and all grains and legumes for that matter!). You wanna ferment the oats to give your kids good probiotics while their immune and digestive system develops. Not to mention there is phytic acid in non fermented oats that can inhibit nutrient absorption. I like to soak my oats 7 days, but 24 hours is also good. It also speeds up cooking and imo it gives the oats a pleasant creamy texture.

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