There is only one word to describe these Steel-Cut Oats in the Ninja Foodi... FANTASTIC! And they are SOOOO EASY to make.
There is only one word to describe these Steel-Cut Oats in the Ninja Foodi... FANTASTIC! And they are SOOOO EASY to make.
There is a lot of buzz about steel-cut oats and how great they are... honestly, I had never tried them until this recipe! I'm not a huge fan of oatmeal and figured the same would be true of steel-cut oats. Boy have I been missing out!
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What are Steel-Cut Oats?
Steel-cut oats as they are often referred to in the US are also known as pinhead oats, Irish oatmeal or even course oatmeal.
Once the inedible hull has been removed, they are chopped with a steel blade into 
two or three small pieces. Hence the name, Steel-Cut Oats.
From these small pieces, they can be processed further to make rolled oats.
Because of the shape and size of the steel-cut oats, they do not absorb as much liquid and retain a texture very different from oatmeal. They have a slightly chewy texture which I absolutely love. Kind of like a softer form of Grape-Nuts cereal.
If you haven't tried Steel-Cut Oats in the Ninja Foodi, give them a try... delicious!
How to Make Steel-Cut Oats in the Ninja Foodi
Combine 1 cup of steel-Cut oats with 1 ½ cups of water, put the pressure lid on the Ninja Foodi and turn the valve to seal. Set the pressure on LOW for 10 minutes, let the Ninja Foodi natural release for 7 minutes and then manually release the remaining pressure.
Seriously, it's that simple. You can make as much or as little as you want (as long as you don't go over the max fill line on the Ninja Foodi), just use the ratio of 1 part steel oats to 1 ½ parts of water.
Can I use Old Fashioned or Rolled Oats?
Absolutely, but the cooking times and water requirements are different. I recommend using this recipe for Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal Bake as a guide and you can customize your ingredients to suit your taste.
Variations of Steel-Cut Oats you can make
Honey Nut Steel-Cut Oats: Make a batch of plain steel oats and top with honey and crushed nuts.
Blueberry & Cream Steel-Cut Oats: Make a batch of plain steel-cut oats and mix in fresh blueberries, sweetener of choice, and top with 1 tablespoon of heavy whipping cream.
Cinnamon Raisin Steel-Cut Oats: Combine cinnamon, sugar or sweetener of choice, raisins with the steel-cut oats and water. Pressure cook on low for 10 minutes, allow to natural release for 7 minutes and then release the remaining pressure.
Cinnamon Apple Steel-Cut Oats: combine peeled apple slices, cinnamon, sugar with the steel-cut oats and water. Pressure cook on low for 10 minutes, allow to natural release for 7 minutes and then release the remaining pressure.
There are so many variations you can make and I encourage you to get creative and make up a batch with ingredients you love! Don't forget to tag me @thesaltedpepper on social media with your combination!
I decided to make Banana & Caramel Steel-Cut Oats in the Ninja Foodi inspired by one of my favorite desserts, Bananas Foster and here is how you do it. If you prefer to watch me make this recipe, here is the video: https://youtu.be/YUdLqhyiolA
Banana & Caramel Steel-Cut Oats in the Ninja Foodi
Combine 1 cup of steel-cut oats with 1 ½ cups of water in the inner pot of the Ninja Foodi. Add ½ teaspoon sea salt.
Cut up 2 bananas and add to the pot. Give it a stir.
Put ¼ cup of butter and ½ cup of brown sugar into a 6" or 8" cake pan. Cover with foil or another cover that will prevent the liquid from getting in the pan. I like to use cake pans by Fat Daddio and you can see the ones I use and recommend on my Amazon Store: Shop The Salted Pepper Amazon Store.
Place the pan on the rack in the high position (if it doesn't fit, use the low position) and put the pressure lid on the Ninja Foodi. Set the pressure to LOW for 10 minutes.
When the time is up, allow to natural release for 7 minutes and then release the remaining pressure. Remove the rack from the
Ninja Foodi. Whisk the butter and caramel together until it is combined.
Pour the caramel over the steel oats in the Ninja Foodi and stir.
Serve in bowls topped with a Tablespoon of heavy whipping cream. Enjoy!
Banana & Caramel Steel-Cut Oats in the Ninja Foodi
Ingredients
- 1 cup steel-cut oats
- 1 ½ cups water
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 bananas
- ¼ cup butter
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream optional and not included in nutrition values
Instructions
- In the inner pot of the Ninja Foodi, combine 1 cup of steel-cut oats with 1 ½ cups of water. Add salt and sliced bananas. Stir.
- Combine butter and brown sugar in a 6" cake pan and cover with foil. Place the rack in the high position and put the cake pan on top.
- Put the pressure lid on and turn the valve to seal. Set the pressure on LOW for 10 minutes. When the time is up, allow to natural release for 7 minutes, then release the remaining pressure.
- Whisk the brown sugar and butter until it is combined. Pour into the steel-cut oats and stir.
- Serve with a tablespoon of heavy whipping cream if desired. Enjoy!
Nutrition
ABOUT THE RECIPE AUTHOR, LOUISE LONG
Louise is a full-time recipe creator and food blogger @ The Salted Pepper. She has over 30 years of experience with cooking and recipe development. She owned a restaurant for several years and was a full-time RN until retiring to blog full-time.
Louise has several very active Facebook groups that help people with the basics of cooking and getting the most out of the Ninja Foodi.
Ninja Foodi Fresh & Healthy Meals
Seeing the need for easy, delicious, and high quality recipes, she is focusing all of her efforts at this time creating recipes specifically for the Ninja Foodi. Her recipes are easy for the home cook to follow and provide step-by-step instructions.
Louise is also a YouTube creator and you can find most of her recipes in video format on The Salted Pepper YouTube channel.
She is very responsive to messages and eager to help in any way she can.
Ron Goff
Have you tried chorizo in your breakfast burrito recipe?
Louise
I haven't, but it would be delicious I'm sure!
Ron Goff
Having made your steel cut oats several times, I thought I'd try a variation. Instead of butter with the brown sugar I used honey. I also substituted dried raisins fit the banana. After cooking I added half a cup of sliced almonds. It was good according to my wife, the final arbiter of my cooking.
Louise
I'm glad she enjoyed it! I love steel oats!
Amanda
Hi. Im making the oatmeal for the first time and I followed the directions completely with 1 1/2 cups of water on low pressure. I got the add water message and opened it up and was completely burnt to the bottom. How much water do I need to eliminate burning to the bottom?
Louise
Did you use steel cut oats? Unfortunately, oats absorb water very quickly and can burn easily especially if they are left to sit in the water for any length of time before pressure cooking. You can add more water to see if that helps, but your oats will be watery. Did you make any other changes to the recipe? Like, increase the amounts or omit anything? Using a stainless pot can also cause an issue due to quicker transfer of heat. I didn't have any issues with it burning, but there are a lot of variables that could cause it to burn.
Tracy Anderson
Tried this recipe for the first time today and love it! I’ve never had steel cut oats before. So good! I love the texture! Regular oatmeal has always been too mushy to me. Thanks for another delicious and easy Foodi recipe!
Louise
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!