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 Tbsp 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 tsp 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 tsp 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 Tbsp 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.
Nkell
Hi Louise,
Your ingredient list calls for 1 and half cups of water but the instructions say 1 and 1/5. I thought I made a mistake and reduced to 1 and 1/5. I got a message to Add Water. I added enough water to bring it back to 1 and 1/2 per Ingredient list and still got an immediate Add Water notice. I was using a Ninja Foodi. Oatmeal was burned and had to scrap. Trying all over again with more water. Fingers crossed.
Louise
Thank you for letting me know, it was a typo and I fixed it! I'm so sorry that I caused you to ruin your first batch.
Nata
Hi. I am quite new to the Foodi.
I typically cook oatmeal with milk in the MW. Can I use that in the Foodi?
Also, is it possible to use the brown sugar substitute for diabetics instead of regular brown sugar?
Thanks,
N
Louise
Milk might burn or trigger the water notice in the Foodi under pressure. You could use sear/sauté to do it that way. I haven't tried this recipe with brown sugar substitute, but please let me know if you try it and how it works!
Jeff Sawyer
Appreciate the recipe but I tried it and ran out of water in the cooker. I looked it up in the booklet and you need 2x the water ratio you listed. Just need to update that.
Louise
Did you change anything? This recipe works perfectly as written, I tested it 3 times and other people have made it without any issues, so I'm not sure what happened when you tried it.
Louise
One quick question, did you cook it on low pressure?
Marla Jean Owens
Hi Louise! My name is Marla. I live in Iowa. My husband got me a Ninja Foodi for my 60th birthday in August. I’ve only used it a couple of times as we have been out of town quite a bit. Now I’m going through 5 weeks worth of radiation treatments for Ductal Carcinoma InSitu in my left breast. I had two surgeries to get it removed, one in late June and one the first week of July. Then I ended up with a staff infection at my incision site for what seemed like an eternity. It wasn’t as long as it seemed though. I was on two rounds of antibiotics. I started my 21 radiation treatments last week. I’m so thankful this was pre cancer and was not invasive. God is so good. I recently made a 6 pound turkey breast with gravy in our Ninja Foodi and mashed potatoes in my 6 quart Instant Pot. We have 4 adult children who all come home regularly and especially for holidays. Both of my pressure cookers will get a workout during the holiday season. I just wanted to write and let you know how much I appreciate your YouTube videos and recipes. I have made a couple of them. Your videos have given me confidence that I can make great recipes for my family in both of my cookers. Thank you so much for all the work you put into your recipes and YouTube channel. I want to try your spaghetti recipe next. God bless you as you have blessed so many with your wonderful love of cooking.
With a grateful heart,
Marla Jean Owens
Louise
Marla, Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a nice note. I appreciate your kind words and I'm thrilled that my videos and recipes have helped you. You will be in my thoughts and prayers as you undergo your radiation treatments. All the best to you and your family. Love, Louise
Wendy
You've done it again, Louise! Decadent and delicious!!! What I love about this and other recipes you've created is that you provide the foundation for creating other variations. You give wonderful recommendations and tips, while teaching the fundamentals of pressure cooking and air frying - and I love your layering of flavors! Trying to save time in the past I've purchased the precooked frozen steel-cut oat "patties" at Trader Joe's. Easy breezy - just nuke them. However, the NF does a quick and easy job and tastes so much better! Your version is decadent and delicious!!! I'll never buy the instant variety again! And, be gone those microwavable oatmeal packets of imitation flavor!!!! Thanks, Louise! You have gotten me hooked on the Ninja Foodi.