Rolled oats are what generally we all eat. Thank you to the Quakers who have put them out there in every conceivable way, shape and form. They are good though! I, personally, love oatmeal. I like to make my own though. I cook a small bowl in the microwave of just plain oatmeal and then add in nuts, brown sugar, fruit, etc. Maybe drizzle a little 1/2 and 1/2 over it and it's delicious.
Steel cut oats I can do the same way. They are a little harder...chewy...than plain oatmeal. It's really good for you though and goes well in a crock pot.
What are steel cut oats? What's the difference between steel and rolled?
All oats beginning their lives as groats.
These are oat groats.
The oat groats are roasted at low temps and what happens to them afterwards is what makes them different.
Steel Cut Oats (a.k.a Irish or Scottish oats or pinhead oats) are when the whole groat is chopped up into little pieces. The name, steel cut, refers to the large steel blades used to cut up the groat in small pieces. Steel Cut oats are traditionally used in porridge and take longer to cook and are a bit chewy. I have tried them and they are okay, but I prefer rolled oats. I'd like to try to make porridge one day. Maybe this winter.
Rolled Oats are just that...rolled. They are also called old-fashioned or whole oats. Rolled oats are first processed with steam and then rolled flat. The same goes with instant oats, but they have less texture. Rolled oats have hundreds of uses from breakfast to cookies to granola bars to extenders for meatloaves and other dishes. They are cheap and easy.
Winter is coming! What will be in your bowl? Steel cut oats or rolled oats?
