Steel Cut Oatmeal for the Crock Pot

"I love the texture of steel cut oats. You can make this the night before and breakfast is ready in the morning. I like fruit additions, but my kids do not, so I've listed them as optional. Also, it may sound like a lot of water, but trust me, I've experimented.."
 
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photo by Guessica photo by Guessica
photo by Guessica
photo by Belinda in Austin photo by Belinda in Austin
photo by Belinda in Austin photo by Belinda in Austin
photo by ALH7401 photo by ALH7401
photo by PaulaG photo by PaulaG
Ready In:
6hrs 5mins
Ingredients:
9
Serves:
3-4
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ingredients

  • 1 cup steel cut oats (DO NOT substitute old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats)
  • 4 12 cups water
  • 12 teaspoon salt
  • 2 -3 tablespoons butter
  • 12 cup dried fruit (raisins, prunes, apricots, dates) (optional)
  • Serve with

  • milk, to taste
  • sugar, to taste
  • cinnamon, to taste
  • maple syrup, to taste
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directions

  • Place all ingredients in a 2 quart slow cooker. (If you want to make a smaller amount please use a smaller crock pot or crockette. This won't work in a 6 quart cooker).
  • Cover and cook on LOW 6-8 hours.
  • It might form a "crust" around the outside. Just scrape it down with a spoon and stir.

Questions & Replies

  1. When I make McCann’s steel cut oatmeal, I substitute (skim) milk for water. [When the oatmeal is ready, I throw in some cinnamon and a little brown sugar.] My question: Is it OK to use milk instead of water in this slow-cooker recipe? I suspect it isn’t, but thought I’d check anyway.
     
  2. Can I double this recipe?
     
  3. How long should you cook it if you halve it and make it in a smaller (1.5 qt) crockpot?
     
  4. Which temperature setting for a large amt of steel cut oats, 2 cups oats + 8 cups liquid . Thanks
     
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Reviews

  1. I made this in my six quart crock pot. I put 2 cups steel cut oatmeal 7 cups water, 1 cup of lowfat milk and 1/2 cup of ceylon cinnamon powder and set my crockpot for 10 hrs. Omg the best oatmeal I've ever had. I add cranberries and chopped walnuts to my bowl so yummy. I put in bowls in fridge and take 1 each morning to work. To heat I just add milk and microwave for 2 mins. My husband raves about this oatmeal. I just put on another batch for tomorrow.
     
  2. I have been making this oatmeal since I first saw the recipe on the the recipezaar website in 2007. I use 4 scant cups water (maybe more like 3/4 cup) plus the 1/2 cup, 2T butter, 1/2t salt, and it cooks up perfectly in 8 hours. In fact, after 8 hours if I have time, I usually just turn the crockpot off, stir, and let it sit. Then I put it into a 1.5 quart casserole dish so it can start to cool and set. Then I put the glass top on and pop it into the fridge. After it's totally set, I cut into portions (4-5) and put in containers. It freezes beautifully. Not a big fan of sweet oatmeal so either have plain, or my favorite with a big spoonful of peanut butter mixed in - oh my goodness, it is delicious!
     
  3. I substituted one cup ofapple juice for one cup of water. I put cinamon and vanilla in aso. I have a slow cooker that switches to a warm cycle when it is done cooking. I set the slow cooker right before I go to bed and wake up to yummy oatmeal
     
  4. Did this this morning, after reading all of the reviews last night. I was nervous - would my crockpot cook hotter? faster? Should I add the butter? When should I add the fruit? What fruit? Will it burn? What if I forget the non-stick spray? Oh, there are just so many things to go wrong. I shouldn't be such a doubter. It turned out great! I, of course, forgot the non-stick spray, but it turned out to be ok. Clean up wasn't bad. I cooked 1 cup oats, 4.5 cups water, just a dash of salt substitute, no butter, and 1/2 cup of dried cranberries. Then cooked it on low for exactly 7 hours. Texture was perfect. Creamy with a little bit of snap to some of the oatmeal. I added a little bit of honey to taste. Next time (and there will be a next time after I finish off this batch), I'll probably put the dried cranberries on top after I've served it in the bowl. It seemed like they didn't have much flavor after sitting in the hot oatmeal for 7 hours. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
     
  5. This works very well. A little mushy, but easy. Thank you!
     
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Tweaks

  1. this was very good. i subbed out 1 cup apple juice for some of the water and used raisins and cinnamon. i think next time i'll make it plain - all water, no cinnamon, no raisins, and add some fresh fruit after cooking. def a keeper
     
  2. tripled amount of oats, reduced water amount, added apples, vanilla, brown sugar
     
  3. Originally Reviewed March 2011. Edited May 2012 to add stars (how did I forget?) Excellent! Made with only a pinch of salt in a small crock. Stirred in cinnamon, maple syrup, craisins, and some powdered milk when cooking was finished. I usually make oatmeal with milk instead of water, but didn't want to have milk cooking overnight in a crock because I was afraid it would curdle or scorch. The powdered milk worked perfectly. My whole family loved it. The first recipe I've tried for steel cut oats, and it was delicious! I have successfully doubled the recipe in a larger crockpot. With my husband and I and three young children who love oatmeal, we rarely have more than 1 serving left over!
     
  4. I substituted one cup ofapple juice for one cup of water. I put cinamon and vanilla in aso. I have a slow cooker that switches to a warm cycle when it is done cooking. I set the slow cooker right before I go to bed and wake up to yummy oatmeal
     
  5. i love oatmeal in the morning but hate making it so this recipe was a great find. i keep it in the crockpot for 6 hours, omit the butter, and replace 1/2 cup of water with either half-and-half or soy milk (Silk brand). I also put the dried fruit in at the end of cooking or afterwards so the fruit isn't too soggy. Thanks for an easy and convenient recipe!
     

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

I hate to bake (almost as much as I hate to vacuum!), and I'll go to great lengths to avoid having to make cookies.
 
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