Steel Cut Vs. Regular Oatmeal

One of my favorite things to eat in the mad morning dash is Steel Cut Oatmeal. If you haven't tried it I encourage you to indulge yourself.  I hear the buzz in the gym questioning if it is actually better than rolled oats. I did some investigating and here is what I found:

Steele Cut Oatmeal

Steel Cut Oatmeal IS better for you than regular rolled oats because steel cut is less processed, less fat, they take longer to digest in your system - which makes you feel fuller longer.  Nutritionists say they also give a lower glycemic load than rolled oats, meaning they're less likely to cause a blood-sugar spike. 

Traditional rolled oats (not instant in a package) are steamed, rolled, re-steamed and then toasted. Steel cut oats are left in their original state, beyond cutting them, so there is no additional processing which makes them retain their unique flavor.

Steel cut on left, rolled on right

I snapped some pictures so you could see the difference in texture and compare the two. I also looked at nutritional panel on the back of both oatmeal tubs...the rolled oats seem to have a higher fat content, not by much, only 1%.  Fat is fat, so looks like we have a winner.  The steel cut serving size is 1/4 cup, but it is more dense and heavy. Rolled oats serving size is 1/2 cup, but it is lighter in weight and fluffier, less-dense. 

*I tested for 2 mornings in a row to see if I would be hungry after only eating the 1/4 size, instead of the 1/2 of the rolled oats. I actually felt fuller eating the steel cut oats - which was less food.

HOW TO COOK

I do cook them in the microwave - much faster. If you cook them on the stove it takes about 20 minutes. So for those who are flying out the door in the mad morning dash, throw them in the microwave for only a few minutes with water covering the top of the oats. Sometimes it can boil over so put a plate under the bowl. Also, make sure you are NOT using plastic in the microwave.