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How to Cook Steel Cut Oats in Instant Pot

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I have no doubt that once you learn how to cook steel cut oats in instant pot, you won’t go back to the stove-top method. But let me be clear, pressure cooker steel cut oats don’t really cook much faster than stove-top, but they are completely hands-off which makes it 100% worth it! All you need to do to make these instant pot steel cut oats is to stir the ingredients together and turn on your pressure cooker. Once your oats are finished cooking, give them a big stir and it’s time to eat and choose your toppings! Below you’ll find 20+ topping ideas for your steel cut oats in instant pot and 5 fun oatmeal topping combinations. Want your oatmeal faster? Try homemade brown sugar oatmeal!

When it comes to make-ahead oat-based breakfasts, healthy apple muffins, baked apple oat bars, banana oatmeal pancakes are in a steady rotation. Not only can these recipes help mornings go so much smoother, but they can also ensure everyone is starting the day out on a nutritious note. And for your caffeine fix? Definitely an iced coffee with homemade cold foam!

Instant pot steel cut oats topped with fruit

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Can you make oatmeal in an instant pot?

Yes, you can make oatmeal in the instant pot. While steel cut oats in the instant pot doesn’t necessarily save you a ton of time, it’s a lot less work and babysitting!

And if you’ve never made steel cut oats, I liken it to risotto, it takes a lot of stirring!

What You’ll Love about Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats

  • Creamy and chewy oats that aren’t mushy
  • Pressure cooker steel cut oats are a filling and nourishing breakfast
  • Easy-to-make, just have to mix and set the timer
  • Hands-off, once you set the timer, your work is done
  • Endless possibilities for toppings, these oats don’t have to be boring

Steel Cut Oats in Instant Pot Ingredients

You can make this steel cut oats instant pot recipe with just 2 basic ingredients, plus water and sea salt:

  • Steel cut oats – Make sure you’re buying steel cut oats and not rolled or old-fashioned or they’ll be over-cooked.
  • Water – You can also use milk, or a combination of water and milk
  • Vanilla – Optional, but adds a subtle sweetness. Skip if you’re making savory oats
  • Sea salt – Adding a pinch of salt helps bring out the nutty flavor in oats, don’t worry, it won’t make it taste salty
Ingredients to make steel cut oats in Instant Pot

How to Cook Steel Cut Oats in Instant Pot

Let’s get to the good stuff…how to cook steel cut oats in instant pot!

  • Mix steel cut oats. Stir together steel cut oats, water (or liquid), vanilla, and sea salt.
  • Cook pressure cooker steel cut oats. Cover and lock lid of pressure cooker. Select ‘Manual’ setting and cook for 4 minutes on ‘High Pressure.’
  • Release pressure. Once cooking is complete, let natural release for 5 minutes and then release pressure.
  • Serve. Give the oats a stir and then serve. Choose some of the topping ideas below, or come up with your own combination.
Cooked pressure cooker steel cut oats with in an Instant Pot

Topping Ideas for Oatmeal

Fruits

  • Dried fruits like diced apricots, craisins, raisins, cherries, dates, pineapple
  • Frozen fruits like blueberries, black berries, mango,
  • Fresh fruits like bananas, strawberries, blueberries, apples, pears
  • Pureed fruits like applesauce, pumpkin,

Toppings to add Sweetness

  • Jam
  • Brown sugar
  • Maple syrup
  • Honey
  • Agave syrup
  • Juice
  • Chocolate chips
  • Whipped cream

Nuts and Fats

  • Chopped nuts like almonds, walnuts, cashews, peanuts, pistachios
  • Nut butter like almond butter, peanut butter, cashew butter
  • Seeds like hemp seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds
  • Shredded coconut
  • Ghee or butter

Other Toppings

  • Greek yogurt
  • Fried egg
  • Granola
Two bowls of steel cut oatmeal instant pot

IP Steel Cut Oats Topping Combination Ideas

  • Cozy Classic – Pat of butter, sprinkle of brown sugar and chopped walnuts
  • PB and Banana – Banana slices, peanut butter, and a drizzle of honey
  • Health Nut – Greek yogurt, blueberries, chopped almonds
  • Double Oats – Berries, granola
  • Savory – Splash of soy sauce, sautéed spinach, a fried egg, hot sauce

Frequently Asked Questions

Is steel cut oatmeal in instant pot faster than on the stove?

No, cooking steel cut oats in instant pot isn’t necessarily faster, but it is easier.

Cooking steel cut oats on the stove takes about 20-30 minutes and it takes a lot of stirring and watching so that it doesn’t bubble over and make a mess on your stove (can you tell I have experience in this!?).

It takes about 20 minutes to reach pressure and cook the 4 minutes it needs, plus 5 minutes to naturally release the pressure. None of the babysitting and stirring required!

Is steel cut oatmeal gluten-free?

While oats are inherently gluten-free, they are a grain that has lots of cross-contamination so you would want to make sure you’re buying certified gluten-free oats if you have a gluten intolerance or Celiacs disease.

Can you make steel cut oats ahead?

Yes, you can absolutely cook steel cut oats ahead and it’s a great meal prep hack. Make up a batch and enjoy it throughout the week.

Can you make instant pot oats with milk?

Yes, you can use milk, water, or a mix of both.

Two bowls of steel cut oatmeal instant pot topped with fruit and granola

Storage Instructions

Store the cooked steel cut oats in a glass storage container for 3-4 days.

How to reheat

Reheat the pressure cooker steel cut oats in the microwave for 30-90 seconds, until heated to desired temperature.

You could also reheat in a saucepan on the stove until hot.

Can you freeze cooked oatmeal?

Yes, cooked oatmeal freezes really well. Freeze in individual portions (like a muffin tin) until frozen solid, then transfer to a stasher bag or freezer bag.

How to Serve Steel Cut Oats to the Whole Family

I get it, feeding kids can be tough! But following the Division of Responsibility and knowing your job and your child’s job makes it SO much more enjoyable. You’ll be able to feed your kids any meal, which will help ensure that they are eating a variety of nutritious foods – with plenty of play food sprinkled in. 😉

Serve these pressure cooker steel cut oats with a variety of toppings and let your kids decide what to put on their bowl of oats.

All of my articles on feeding kids can be found here and if you want a FULL list of all of the videos I have with hacks, tips, scripts, and ideas for feeding kids, check out my instagram or tiktok page.

More Easy Oatmeal Recipes

If you like this instant pot steel cut oats recipe, you might also like these other easy breakfast recipes:

Helpful Tools to Make Pressure Cooker Steel Cut Oats

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Instant pot steel cut oats topped with fruit

How to Cook Steel Cut Oats in Instant Pot

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Description

Once you learn how to cook steel cut oats in instant pot, you’ll never go back. Prep these pressure cooker steel cut oats in just 1 minute! 


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 cups steel cut oats
  • 4 cups liquid (water, milk, or combination)
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1/8 tsp. salt

Instructions

  1. Stir together steel cut oats, milk, water, vanilla, and sea salt in Instant Pot.
  2. Cover and lock lid. Select manual setting and cook for 4 minutes on ‘High Pressure.’
  3. Once cooking is complete, let natural release (aka let it sit) for 5 minutes, then release pressure. Be sure to turn off Instant Pot
  4. Serve oatmeal with toppings. 


Notes

  • Takes about 20 minutes to reach pressure and cook. 

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