Q: Can I Add Vanilla Extract to This Steel Cut Oatmeal Recipe?

You may notice that there is no vanilla extract in this Stovetop Steel-Cut Oatmeal recipe. Looking at old recipes from the 1800s, it appears that while vanilla extract did exist at the time, it was not as commonly found or as cheap as it is today. Vanilla extract had originated in the tropical areas of Mexico and Latin America around 1115. The Spanish conqueror Hernando Cortes was served a beverage that was prepared with a mixture of cocoa and vanilla in 1519, and he loved it so much that he brought it back to Europe with him. Until the mid-1800s, importing cured vanilla beans from Mexico was indeed a luxury to be enjoyed by the elite class. With that being said, vanilla was not a regular flavour enhancer in oatmeal back in the 1800s as it is today, which is why I chose to omit vanilla here. In spirit of the wild west theme in this steel-cut oatmeal recipe, the molasses does quite a good job on its own! If you really want to add some vanilla, though, now you have no limitations to do so!

Question 1

What are Steel Cut Oats And Why Are they Called Steel-Cut oats?

Accepted Answer

You may have heard of steel-cut oats as a popular and nutritious breakfast item. Oatmeal of any kind is always perceived as the pinnacle of a healthy hot breakfast. However, what exactly are these? If you’ve been around the blog for awhile, you may have noticed that I’ve never actually cooked with these oats before, despite having many stove-top oatmeal recipes here!

Question 2

What Was the Type of Oatmeal Used in the 1800s?

Accepted Answer

This Wild-West Inspired Oatmeal recipe is featuring steel-cut oats because they were the most common type of oatmeal in the 19th century. Oats were eaten much before the 1800s - they’ve been around since the Neolithic and Bronze Ages! Oat grains thrive in cold climates, which is why it was largely found in Scotland and Ireland, as the alternative names, “Scottish Oats” and “Irish Oats” suggest!

In the United States, oats were only viewed as horse feed before the mid-1800s Ferdinand Schumacher, a German grocer, saw a market for oatmeal to accommodate a growing immigrant population. In the United States, breakfast staples included meats, eggs, breads, potatoes, fruits and vegetables. However, immigrants settling in the urban areas did not have the means for this breakfast, making oatmeal perfect to suit their breakfast needs.

Question 3

Are Steel-Cut Oats Better For You Than Rolled Oats?

Accepted Answer

From a nutritional perspective, steel-cut oatmeal and rolled oats have the same profile in terms of calories, macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, fat), and fibre. Additionally, oatmeal is a source of both soluble and insoluble fibre and minerals including phosphorous, thiamine, magnesium and zinc. Oatmeal of all types are loaded with soluble fibre that can lower both LDL (bad) cholesterol and total cholesterol, which may lead to improved heart health. Furthermore, oatmeal is naturally gluten-free, but if you do have celiac disease or have a gluten intolerance of some sort, then sure that the package of your steel-cut oatmeal is certified gluten-free.

Both steel-cut oats and rolled oats have a low glycemic index. However, quick oats have a higher glycemic index, which results in more rapid spikes in blood sugar. If blood sugar control is important to you, then the steel-cut oats and the rolled oats would be the better choices.

With that being said, since there’s pretty much no difference in health benefits for the two variety of oats, the reason why you would choose one or the other comes down to the cooking time and the texture. For steel cut oatmeal, you will will have to carve out about 30 minutes to get them fully cooked, but the time and patience is well worth it! When it comes to the texture, the steel-cut are chewier, firmer and nuttier than rolled oats. Rolled oats on the other hand will be smoother, softer, and creamier.

In conclusion, depending on the amount of time you have to prepare the oatmeal and what texture you’re looking for, both options for oatmeal are excellent! However, keep in mind that when following recipes, you CANNOT substitute one for the other since they do have different cook times and water-to-oatmeal ratios.

Question 4

Can I Add Vanilla Extract to This Steel Cut Oatmeal Recipe?

Accepted Answer

You may notice that there is no vanilla extract in this Stovetop Steel-Cut Oatmeal recipe. Looking at old recipes from the 1800s, it appears that while vanilla extract did exist at the time, it was not as commonly found or as cheap as it is today. Vanilla extract had originated in the tropical areas of Mexico and Latin America around 1115. The Spanish conqueror Hernando Cortes was served a beverage that was prepared with a mixture of cocoa and vanilla in 1519, and he loved it so much that he brought it back to Europe with him. Until the mid-1800s, importing cured vanilla beans from Mexico was indeed a luxury to be enjoyed by the elite class.

With that being said, vanilla was not a regular flavour enhancer in oatmeal back in the 1800s as it is today, which is why I chose to omit vanilla here. In spirit of the wild west theme in this steel-cut oatmeal recipe, the molasses does quite a good job on its own! If you really want to add some vanilla, though, now you have no limitations to do so!

Question 5

Why Are my Steel-Cut Oats Chewy?

Accepted Answer

After about 20 - 30 minutes of gentle simmering, either with water or milk, the steel cut oats should have softened. They will still have a slight chew, however if it is crunchy or it doesn’t break easily in your mouth as you start chewing then it’s likely undercooked. Add more liquid as necessary and continue to cook gently until the oats have softened.

Question 6

Can I Use an Instant Pot to Make These Rustic Oats?

Accepted Answer

You definitely can use your Instant Pot if you want to use it! I love a good Instant Pot recipe, and the Instant Pot will particularly be effective here because it will actually cut the cooking time and it will provide you with the flexibility to let the Instant Pot do the work to cook the oatmeal so that you don’t have to baby it around. However, Instant Pots certainly did not exist in the 1800s, but if you want to mix modern technology with an old-fashioned recipe, then there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that!

Here’s how to make your Rustic Oats in the Instant Pot:

Add the steel cut oats, water and salt to the Instant Pot and secure with the lid. Set the valve to sealing position.

Select the “Pressure Cook” mode and cook for 4 minutes on high pressure.

Once the timer goes off, allow the steam to release naturally for at least 10 minutes before turning the valve to perform a manual release.

Open the lid and stir well. Add the molasses or sweetener of choice and adjust amount as desired. Add milk for a creamier texture. You can optionally change the setting to Sauté mode on the Low setting to thicken the oatmeal further.

Serve topped with brown sugar, molasses and blueberries.

Question 7

What Other Toppings Can I Add to My Wild-West Oatmeal?

Accepted Answer

In the video game Red Dead Redemption 2, the oatmeal served is pretty plain, as it appears it was simply prepared with water and steel-cut oatmeal. That’s a bit bland for my tastes and it probably is for you too!  Technically you can add whatever toppings you want to your Wild-West Steel-Cut Oatmeal, such as chocolate chips, peanut butter, yogurt, chia seeds, flaxseeds or banana slices. However, if you want to keep the theme of Wild West-Inspired Oatmeal, then there were some toppings and flavours that are authentic to the time.

Sweeteners: Table sugar and honey were common for families, but honey’s use declined as sugar became cheaper. Maple syrup production had begun in the late 1700s and early 1800s, making it a staple sweetener in Canada. Fruit jams and preserves were popular as a result of the efforts of the military leader, Napoleon Bonaparte.

Dairy: We added milk in our oatmeal recipe, but sometimes cream was added to make the oatmeal even thicker. To add some extra flavour and richness,  butter was alternatively added.

Fruits: Common fruits that were served with oatmeal - either cooked with the oatmeal or as a topping - included apples, pears and berries. When fresh fruit was harder to find in the winter, then dried fruit such as raisins and prunes were replaced. Poached fruit was also a common substitute in the winter.

Spices: The spices that were common in the 1800s were cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and allspice. These spices provided flavour and some heat in the winter months.

Savoury: Savoury oatmeal was less common but adding cheese and even onions would add a savoury twist.

Question 8

How to Store Wild-West Steel-Cut Oats

Accepted Answer

This Wild-West Steel-Cut Oatmeal recipe is perfect for bulk meal prep since it keeps well in the fridge for quite some time! Simply allow the cooked steel-cut oatmeal to cool down, then transfer them into an airtight container. Your cooked oatmeal will stay good in the fridge for about a week before spoiling.

Question 9

How Do I Reheat Rustic Steel-Cut Oatmeal?

Accepted Answer

Add a splash of water or milk and mix it well. Heat your steel-cut oatmeal gently over the stove on low to medium heat. For a faster reheating method, you can definitely heat the Wild-West Oatmeal in the microwave, though the microwave is definitely a new invention! Stir the oatmeal in 20-second intervals to ensure that it has completely warmed through.