How to Make Steel-Cut Oatmeal in a Rice Cooker

The Magic of Rice Cooker Oats

Steel-cut oats are highly nutritious but take 30-40 minutes of stovetop simmering and frequent stirring to prevent sticking. A rice cooker eliminates the stirring and the risk of burning, providing gentle, even heat.

Important: This method is for Steel-Cut Oats or Rolled Oats. Instant or quick oats will turn into glue in a rice cooker.

The Ratio

• Steel-Cut Oats: 1 cup oats to 3 cups liquid (water or milk)
• Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats: 1 cup oats to 2 cups liquid

For more on this topic, see our guide on How to Make Steel-Cut Oats in a Rice Cooker Overnight.

Preventing the “Boil-Over”

Oats contain starches that foam aggressively when boiled. In a sealed rice cooker, this foam can shoot out of the steam vent, creating a massive sticky mess.

For more on this topic, see our guide on How to Make Sticky Rice (Glutinous Rice) in a Rice Cooker.

The Fix: Do not fill the cooker past the halfway mark, and leave the lid open slightly (prop it with a wooden spoon) if you are using a basic on/off cooker. If you have a Fuzzy Logic cooker, use the “Porridge” setting, which manages the temperature to prevent boil-overs.

Instructions

1. Combine: Add 1 cup of steel-cut oats and 3 cups of water to the inner pot.
2. Add salt: A pinch of salt is crucial for bringing out the flavor of the oats.
3. Set it: Select the Porridge setting if your cooker has one. If not, use the standard White Rice setting.
4. Stir once: When the cycle finishes, open the lid. The oats may look watery on top. Stir vigorously for 30 seconds, and the mixture will become creamy and cohesive.

Overnight Oatmeal (Fuzzy Logic Only)

If your premium rice cooker has a Delay Timer, you can wake up to hot oatmeal. Put the oats, water, and salt in the pot the night before. Set the timer for when you want to wake up. Do not use dairy milk for the overnight method, as it can spoil at room temperature. Use water or almond/oat milk.