Best way to cook steel cut oats?

With a 50-lb. bag of steel cut oats, I decided to experiment a little
to try and develop the consistency and taste I like best. I do all my
cooking in the microwave and not on the stove top for the convenience,
so I really have never tried cooking oats that way. What seems to work
best for me is to fully cook the oats the night before, then just
reheat them the next day. I do not refrigerate them, but keep them
inside the microwave or a toaster over just in case there is pet hair
or other stuff wafting around in my house air. Here's how I do the
microwave cooking: I use pretty much the amount of water and oats on
the package, but don't measure since the bowls I use are all the same
size and I know exactly where the water line should go. Anyway, I heat
the oats/water for exactly 6 min. This brings it to a boil, but it
never overflows. Then sometime later...like half an hour or even
several hours later, I microwave again for 4 minutes and watch the
oats until they boil again. This is the only time I actually am
standing and watching the oats...about 1 min. I suppose. That's it.
OH, I do stir them. If you don't stir they separate with the oats on
the bottom and the white, more-liquid gelatinous stuff on top. No
problem even if you don't remember to stir, but just stir before you
reheat to eat them. I eat 3 double-portions of these each day and
often a single portion with blueberries in a 4th bowlful...that's 7
servings a day usually. Anyone else eat that much...of anything a day?
dkw

On Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:58:37 -0700 (PDT), dkw12002@yahoo.com wrote:

> With a 50-lb. bag of steel cut oats, I decided to experiment a little
> to try and develop the consistency and taste I like best. I do all my
> cooking in the microwave and not on the stove top for the convenience,
> so I really have never tried cooking oats that way. What seems to work
> best for me is to fully cook the oats the night before, then just
> reheat them the next day. I do not refrigerate them, but keep them
> inside the microwave or a toaster over just in case there is pet hair
> or other stuff wafting around in my house air. Here's how I do the
> microwave cooking: I use pretty much the amount of water and oats on
> the package, but don't measure since the bowls I use are all the same
> size and I know exactly where the water line should go. Anyway, I heat
> the oats/water for exactly 6 min. This brings it to a boil, but it
> never overflows. Then sometime later...like half an hour or even
> several hours later, I microwave again for 4 minutes and watch the
> oats until they boil again. This is the only time I actually am
> standing and watching the oats...about 1 min. I suppose. That's it.
> OH, I do stir them. If you don't stir they separate with the oats on
> the bottom and the white, more-liquid gelatinous stuff on top. No
> problem even if you don't remember to stir, but just stir before you
> reheat to eat them. I eat 3 double-portions of these each day and
> often a single portion with blueberries in a 4th bowlful...that's 7
> servings a day usually. Anyone else eat that much...of anything a day?
> dkw

I tried that overnight soak thing and then heating them and I hated
it. It made them slimy, not chewy like I like.

For me... for one portion, it's not a big deal to just cook them right
before I want to eat them. I do so on the stovetop. I boil for 6-7
minutes then reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes. If I'm
cooking a double portion for me and hubby, I boil for 8 minutes,
simmer for 10-12.

I do stir. And no, I do not eat that much of any one thing in a day.

--
Cynthia
262/225.4/150
http://www.garbagethatgoo.com (my weight loss blog)

On Mar 28, 9:40*pm, Cynthia P <nos...@dontwannit.net> wrote:
> On Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:58:37 -0700 (PDT), dkw12...@yahoo.com wrote:
> > With a 50-lb. bag of steel cut oats, I decided to experiment a little
> > to try and develop the consistency and taste I like best. I do all my
> > cooking in the microwave and not on the stove top for the convenience,
> > so I really have never tried cooking oats that way. What seems to work
> > best for me is to fully cook the oats the night before, then just
> > reheat them the next day. I do not refrigerate them, but keep them
> > inside the microwave or a toaster over just in case there is pet hair
> > or other stuff wafting around in my house air. Here's how I do the
> > microwave cooking: I use pretty much the amount of water and oats on
> > the package, but don't measure since the bowls I use are all the same
> > size and I know exactly where the water line should go. Anyway, I heat
> > the oats/water for exactly 6 min. This brings it to a boil, but it
> > never overflows. Then sometime later...like half an hour or even
> > several hours later, I microwave again for 4 minutes and watch the
> > oats until they boil again. This is the only time I actually am
> > standing and watching the oats...about 1 min. I suppose. That's it.
> > OH, I do stir them. If you don't stir they separate with the oats on
> > the bottom and the white, more-liquid gelatinous stuff on top. No
> > problem even if you don't remember to stir, but just stir before you
> > reheat to eat them. I eat 3 double-portions of these each day and
> > often a single portion with blueberries in a 4th bowlful...that's 7
> > servings a day usually. Anyone else eat that much...of anything a day?
> > dkw
>
> I tried that overnight soak thing and then heating them and I hated
> it. It made them slimy, not chewy like I like.
>
> For me... for one portion, it's not a big deal to just cook them right
> before I want to eat them. I do so on the stovetop. I boil for 6-7
> minutes then reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes. If I'm
> cooking a double portion for me and hubby, I boil for 8 minutes,
> simmer for 10-12.
>
> I do stir. And no, I do not eat that much of any one thing in a day.
>
> --
> Cynthia
> 262/225.4/150http://www.garbagethatgoo.com(my weight loss blog)- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Then you aren't doing it right. Mine are nevery slimey like rolled
oats. I can't say why they would be slimey cause I never do mine on
stovetop. Too much cooking perhaps or too much water, but that's only
a guess. dkw

On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 08:05:39 -0700 (PDT), dkw12002@yahoo.com wrote:

> On Mar 28, 9:40*pm, Cynthia P <nos...@dontwannit.net> wrote:
>> On Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:58:37 -0700 (PDT), dkw12...@yahoo.com wrote:
>>> With a 50-lb. bag of steel cut oats, I decided to experiment a little
>>> to try and develop the consistency and taste I like best. I do all my
>>> cooking in the microwave and not on the stove top for the convenience,
>>> so I really have never tried cooking oats that way. What seems to work
>>> best for me is to fully cook the oats the night before, then just
>>> reheat them the next day. I do not refrigerate them, but keep them
>>> inside the microwave or a toaster over just in case there is pet hair
>>> or other stuff wafting around in my house air. Here's how I do the
>>> microwave cooking: I use pretty much the amount of water and oats on
>>> the package, but don't measure since the bowls I use are all the same
>>> size and I know exactly where the water line should go. Anyway, I heat
>>> the oats/water for exactly 6 min. This brings it to a boil, but it
>>> never overflows. Then sometime later...like half an hour or even
>>> several hours later, I microwave again for 4 minutes and watch the
>>> oats until they boil again. This is the only time I actually am
>>> standing and watching the oats...about 1 min. I suppose. That's it.
>>> OH, I do stir them. If you don't stir they separate with the oats on
>>> the bottom and the white, more-liquid gelatinous stuff on top. No
>>> problem even if you don't remember to stir, but just stir before you
>>> reheat to eat them. I eat 3 double-portions of these each day and
>>> often a single portion with blueberries in a 4th bowlful...that's 7
>>> servings a day usually. Anyone else eat that much...of anything a day?
>>> dkw
>>
>> I tried that overnight soak thing and then heating them and I hated
>> it. It made them slimy, not chewy like I like.
>>
>> For me... for one portion, it's not a big deal to just cook them right
>> before I want to eat them. I do so on the stovetop. I boil for 6-7
>> minutes then reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes. If I'm
>> cooking a double portion for me and hubby, I boil for 8 minutes,
>> simmer for 10-12.
>>
>> I do stir. And no, I do not eat that much of any one thing in a day.
>>
>> --
>> Cynthia
>> 262/225.4/150http://www.garbagethatgoo.com(my weight loss blog)- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> Then you aren't doing it right. Mine are nevery slimey like rolled
> oats. I can't say why they would be slimey cause I never do mine on
> stovetop. Too much cooking perhaps or too much water, but that's only
> a guess. dkw

Actually, I didn't even let them sit overnight... I boiled the water,
added the steel cut oats and let them sit about 3 hours while I was at
the gym. I did NOT like them as well that way. Oh, they were edible,
but I want something that has a little chew.

Individual preference perhaps. I didn't like rolled oats as a child
because they were "too mushy".

Water was the suggested one cup to quarter cup dry oats. Which works
fine when I just cook them normally. Anyway, as I didn't find it that
much of a time saver, I just fix 'em fresh and enjoy 'em more.

--
Cynthia
262/223.8/150
http://www.garbagethatgoo.com (my weight loss blog)