Steel-cut oats typically require a lengthy cooking process on the stovetop, but using a rice cooker makes preparing perfect oatmeal a completely effortless task.
The Reason Behind Its Effectiveness
- Using a rice cooker is a set-it-and-forget it solution for preparing steel-cut oats.
- If your cooker has a timer function, you can set it up the night before and have oatmeal ready for you when you wake up in the morning.
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Recipe Information
The Surprising Technique for Perfect Make-Ahead Oatmeal
Cooking Mode (Prevent screen from sleeping)
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1 cup (180g) steel-cut oats
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3 cups (710ml) water (see notes)
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Pinch kosher salt
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Toppings, as desired
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In a rice cooker, combine oats, water, and salt. Close cooker and set to porridge mode (or the most appropriate mode for your cooker; consult manufacturer's directions). If a timer function is available on your cooker, you can use it to set when you want your oatmeal ready (for example, you can fill the cooker the night before and specify that you want it ready at 7am; the cooker will turn on early enough to ensure it's ready when you wake up). If not using a timer function, the cooking time will vary with different rice cooker models, anywhere from about 40 minutes up to 1 hour 30 minutes.
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Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez -
When ready, open rice cooker and stir oatmeal to ensure an even consistency throughout. Spoon into bowls and top as desired, then serve right away.
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Unique Gear
Electric rice cooker
Observations
For a creamy yet not overly dense porridge, I find that using 3 cups of water for every 1 cup of steel-cut oats works best. However, feel free to tweak the oats-to-water ratio based on your personal preference or the specific performance of your cooker, as it may yield varying results. Once you discover the ideal balance that suits your palate and appliance, you'll be all set!
Using milk instead of water might seem appealing, but be cautious—leaving milk in a rice cooker at room temperature overnight while using the timer function is not safe. Additionally, milk has a greater chance of burning as the cooker heats up because you won't have the opportunity to stir it.
Preparation and Storage
Cooked oatmeal that hasn't been eaten can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for as long as 4 days or can be frozen for a maximum of 3 months. To ensure optimal quality, it’s recommended to freeze it in single servings and defrost it overnight in the refrigerator.
