Steel-cut oats facts for kids
Steel-cut oats are a special type of oats. You might also hear them called pinhead oats or Irish oatmeal. They get their name "steel-cut" because they are made by chopping whole oat kernels with steel blades. These kernels are called groats, which means the inner part of the grain after the tough outer shell is removed.
When oats are steel-cut, they are chopped into two or three small pieces. This makes them different from other oats, like rolled oats, which are flattened. Steel-cut oats have a unique texture that is chewier and coarser. They also have a nutty flavor.
How Are Steel-Cut Oats Made?
Steel-cut oats start as whole oat groats. A groat is the full, unbroken kernel of the oat plant. To make steel-cut oats, these groats are simply chopped into smaller pieces. This process keeps the oats very natural.
Sometimes, these chopped pieces are then sold as steel-cut oats. Other times, they might be processed further. They can be flattened to make smaller rolled oats flakes. But the steel-cutting step is what gives them their special texture.
Cooking with Steel-Cut Oats
Steel-cut oats are often used to make a warm, hearty meal called porridge. This is a popular breakfast food. Because they are less processed, steel-cut oats take a bit longer to cook than instant or rolled oats.
Usually, it takes about 15 to 30 minutes to cook steel-cut oats into porridge. If you soak them in water beforehand, they might cook faster, in about half the time. Besides porridge, you can also use steel-cut oats to make oatcakes. Some people even blend them uncooked into smoothies for extra nutrition.
