When I first wrote my “Steel Cut Oats vs Rolled Oats” comparison, steel cut oats were not that popular. Health aficionados were aware of them, but the average consumer either didn’t know they existed or could not find them in popular stores.

And when you did find them, they were very, very expensive!

Steel cut oats have since risen in popularity, and today, you can find them in many stores at a wide variety of prices. Many health food stores carry the Bob’s Red Mill and McCann’s brands, which are good, but rather expensive. But more and more health food stores, large and small, are selling steel cut oats in bulk. This makes the oats a great value!

So if you are looking for the best price on steel cut oats, here is some help:

The Stores and Pricing

Here is a list of stores where you can purchase steel cut oats (mainly stores that offer bulk pricing on their oats.) Stores are listed in alphabetical order. Note that this is not an exhaustive list of stores… so if you know of more, please post them in the comments section below!

Bob’s Red Mill

You can find these oats in the store, but go online and you can get better deals on the bulk packages! I have seen the 25lb bag of oats sell for as low as $11.60 plus shipping. (Unfortunately, shipping is rather expensive – think $30 for the 25lb bag of oats.)

Website: www.BobsRedMill.com

Bulk Barn

Bulk Barn is Canada’s largest bulk food retailer, and sure enough, they offer steel cut oats in bulk at a good price.

Website: www.BulkBarn.ca

Bulk Nuts 4 You

Bulk Nuts 4 You is a website selling a variety of nuts and grains in bulk. Steel cut oats cost about $1.80 per pound, plus shipping.

Website: www.BulkNuts4You.com

Costco

Costco, the large discount retailer, is now carrying organic steel cut oats at very inexpensive prices in their stores.

Website: www.Costco.com

Earth Fare

Earth Fare, “the healthy supermarket,” is a chain of stores in the Southeast USA – Florida, North Carolina, and in between. I have heard they offer steel cut oats in bulk.

Website: www.EarthFare.com

Earth Origins Markets

With twelve locations in Florida, Maryland, and Cape Cod, you might have one of these organic and natural health food stores near you. Most are in Florida, however. I have heard the bulk steel cut oats sell or $1.29 per pound.

Just watch the name – while the stores are now all “Earth Origins,” some used to be “Mother Earth Markets.”

Website: www.NaturalRetail.com

H-E-B Stores

A chain of supermarkets in Texas that sells steel cut oats in their bulk section. I’ve heard their organic steel cut oats are only $0.99 per pound.

Website: www.HEB.com

Honeyville Grain

Honeyville Grain is probably the #1 source for bulk steel cut oats online. It is a popular store and offers good prices.

Website: www.HoneyvilleGrain.com

Save-On-Foods

A nice supermarket in Canada that sells steel cut oats in bulk.

Website: www.SaveOnFoods.com

Trader Joe’s

You can get Irish style steel cut oatmeal from Trader Joes. The 39 oz size costs less than $3.00.

Website: www.TraderJoes.com

Wegman’s

A large national chain store, Wegman’s sells a few brands of pre-packaged steel cut oats, but also sells organic steel cut oats in bulk at $1.79 per pound.

Website: www.Wegmans.com

Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods sells steel cut oats in bulk. I have heard they are priced at $1.49 per pound. The website also lists the 365 Everyday Value Organic brand of steel cut oats.

Website: www.WholeFoodsMarket.com

WinCo Foods

WinCo is a West-coast store chain that sells oats in bulk. The name actually stands for “Washington, Idaho, Nevada, California, Oregon,” so if you live in those states, check it out. I have seen reported prices as low as $0.68 per pound for Bob’s Red Mill steel cut oats.

Website: www.WinCoFoods.com

[Local markets]

Many local markets carry steel cut oats in bulk. Here in Pennsylvania, there are quite a few farmer’s markets, as well as small stores run by the Amish, and most carry oats.

My personal favorite market is Way Fruit Farm in Port Matilda, PA. It’s right outside State College, home of Penn State University. They sell steel cut oats in bulk super cheap – last time I was there, I got them for $0.82 per pound!

 

Per-Serving Price Comparison

How much less do you spend buying in bulk?

Here is some information on price per serving when it comes to buying pre-packaged oats such as Quaker, Bob’s Red Mill, Arrowhead Mills, etc. This will give you a good idea of the cost savings when you purchase steel cut oats in bulk!

Here is a quick look at the prices from my local Wegman’s in State College, PA:

Quaker steel cut oats – 24oz – $4.99. That comes to $3.32 per pound.

Arrowhead Mills organic steel cut oats – 24oz – $3.79. That comes to $2.53 per pound, much less than Quaker.

Bob’s Red Mill organic steel cut oats – 24oz – $3.49. That comes to $2.33 per pound, much less than Quaker, and a bit less than Arrowhead Mills.

Organic steel cut oats in bulk – 16oz – $1.79. Therefore, $1.79 per pound. That isn’t even a cheap price for bulk steel cut oats, and it’s still a whopping 46% less than buying the Quaker brand!

Clearly, buying steel cut oats in bulk is the way to go. When you consider there are about 10 servings (1/4 cup each) per pound of oats, you can enjoy a bowl of steel cut oats for less than 18 cents!!

 

Note: When you buy steel cut oats in bulk, they won’t come with cooking instructions. So… just check out my article, How to Prepare and Cook Steel Cut Oats.

After explaining the differences between rolled oats and steel cut oats a couple years ago, it was plain as day which was more popular! Tons of comments poured in in favor of steel cut oats!

Nearly everyone loved the taste and texture, but there was this one little drawback – steel cut oats take longer to cook than rolled oats. And if purchased in bulk (the cheapest way to buy steel cut oats,) you don’t get cooking instructions!

Therefore, I have prepared these instructions on how to cook steel cut oats! Continue reading to discover the most popular preparation methods…

 

Cooking on the Stove

This is your standard method of preparing steel cut oats, but it’s also the most time consuming.

• Start by bringing 4 cups water to a boil.
• Then add in 1 cup oats, plus a pinch of salt. Mix well.
• Once water returns to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cover, but leave the lid tilted.
• To ensure the traditional rich nutty flavor, avoid overcooking.

That does it.

You can also experiment to find your preferred style. For example, you might use a ratio of 3 cups water to 1 cup oats. Or maybe you prefer using 2 cups water and 2 cups milk to 1 cup oats.

 

Nuking In the Microwave

If you don’t want to mess with the stove just to make a bowl of oatmeal for yourself, you can use the microwave instead.

• Mix 1/2 cup of steel cut oats with 2 cups of water in an 8 cup bowl (the size of the bowl is important as it must be large enough to allow the oats to bubble up without spilling over).
• Microwave covered (I use a paper plate) for 5 minutes on high.
• Stir. Finish cooking for another 5 minutes.
• Enjoy.

Alternatively, use 1/4 cup steel cut oats and 1 cup water, if you only have a smaller bowl, or want a smaller breakfast. If you do this, you can reduce cooking times to 2:30 segments, rather than 5:00.

*Since microwaves vary in size and power, cooking times may need to be adjusted for different models.

 

Soak Overnight, Then Cook (On Stove)

This is the second method of cooking steel cut oats on the stove. You can soak your steel cut oats the night before and leave it on the stove overnight, for less prep time in the morning.

• As before, use 4 cups water and 1 cup oats. First bring the water to a boil, then add oats.
• Stir until it boils again then cover.
• Turn off heat.
• Let sit overnight.
• When you do it this way, the oats should be ready in the morning as-is or with just 5 minutes cooking time, rather than 30.

The oats can sit out on the stove overnight without going bad. Just keep them covered.

Tip: Toast Oats On Stove Before Cooking

My favorite way to fix steel cuts oats overnight is to toast them in a teaspoon of butter or coconut oil, then add the water and bring to a boil.

In a large saucepot, melt the butter or oil and add the oats. Stir for 2 minutes to toast. Then you can continue with adding the water, etc.

Toasting before boiling brings out even more of that toasty, nutty flavor.

 

Cooking In a Slow Cooker (or Crock Pot)

Steel cut oats can be made in a slow cooker on low overnight and ready for breakfast!

• Be sure to spray the slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray first.
• Add your 4 cups water and 1 cup oats.
• Just put it on the “keep warm” setting and the oats cook overnight.

Note: If you have a crock pot with just “low” and “high” settings, use low, and watch them. You probably can’t cook overnight on low, it’s still too hot!

Like microwaves, each slow cooker may cook differently. So test it out during the day to get the timing right, before leaving them to cook overnight when you’re not watching them!!

 

Don’t forget to flavor your oatmeal!

Click here for my suggestions on additional ingredients to flavor your oats.

When doing steel cut oats, you would typically add the extras after they are cooked or close to the end of the cooking cycle. Dried fruit and such does not need a lot of cooking time like the oats themselves!

 

Just choose the option that is the most convenient for you. They all work, and if you make a good size batch on the weekend, it will probably feed you all week. Then all you have to do is reheat the oats in the microwave for a bit each morning.

Enjoy your oats!

Photo credit: belizardi

Oatmeal is great. It provides a healthy dose of carbohydrates for energy, and unlike most carb-heavy meals, oats fill you up. Simply put, oatmeal is just about the perfect breakfast.

My “go to” oatmeal is cinnamon raisin, but there are many other ways to flavor your oatmeal. Just grab your favorite rolled or steel cut oats and some flavorings…

1. Honey

If you do need to add a sweetener to your oatmeal, try adding honey instead of plain white sugar. It’s healthier and more flavorful, but don’t go overboard – it’s still high in calories.

2. Flax seed

To add a nutty flavor and a light crunch to your oatmeal, sprinkle some ground flax seed (i.e. flax meal) on top. I usually do this after the oatmeal is cooked.

This also adds some important Omega-3 fatty acids to your cereal.

3. Chopped nuts

If you want a real nutty flavor and like big chunks, add some chopped nuts to your oatmeal. Walnuts are healthy and easy to chop, but you can also try almonds, pecans, and macadamia nuts.

4. Brown sugar and cinnamon

Brown sugar and cinnamon is a classic flavor combination, and it works great with oatmeal.

(Brown sugar isn’t exactly healthy, but you shouldn’t need to use very much.)

5. Cinnamon and raisin

As mentioned, the cinnamon raisin combination is my personal favorite oatmeal flavor. It’s very flavorful and it’s still sweet without any sugar, thanks to the raisins.

6. Maple syrup

Another unprocessed sweetener with a unique flavor is maple syrup. As with honey, go easy – maple syrup is still loaded with sugar.

7. Apple cinnamon

Peel an apple, slice it up into little chunks, and add it to your oatmeal. Sprinkle some cinnamon in there and you have a delicious flavor.

If you don’t like chunks, add applesauce instead. Or try some apple butter for a more robust flavor.

8. Berries

You can add all sorts of berries to your oatmeal. Fresh picked berries are the best, but frozen berries will work, too. Look for blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries.

9. Tropical fruit

Add coconut flakes, pineapple chunks, and mango slices to your oatmeal for a tropical breakfast.

10. Banana

I love to slice up a banana and add it to my oatmeal. You can do plain banana, or add banana to your cinnamon raisin oatmeal, which is delicious!

Banana chips may work, but I’ve never tried, because they’re pretty hard.

11. Chocolate peanut butter

If you’re not one for fruit flavors, add some cocoa powder and natural peanut butter to your oats. This will give you a chocolate peanut butter flavor, and it should taste quite a bit like a “no bake” cookie.

12. Wheat germ

To add a little crunch to your oatmeal without overpowering the existing flavor, sprinkle some wheat germ on top.

13. Dates

Like raisins, dates are a sweet little fruit that go well in oatmeal. A popular mix is to combine raisins, dates, and walnuts.

14. Sea salt

If you like to mix things up and do some “sweet and salty” type flavors, you could add a little sea salt to your oatmeal. I recommend a brand like Real Salt which is unprocessed and contains trace minerals, plus a good flavor.

15. Peanut butter banana

While I’m more likely to make a peanut butter banana sandwich or smoothie, the combo works in oatmeal just as well.

16. Cranberries

Dried cranberries have a sweet and tart flavor. They are good alone, but I think they’re even better when combined with banana slices and raisins.

17. Vanilla

Vanilla is a great flavor, and you can easily add some vanilla extract to your oatmeal for a boost in sweetness and flavor.

Vanilla goes well with bananas, chopped walnuts, and other additives.

There you have it – 17 different options (even more if you combine some.) That should spice up your breakfast for a while!

(Yes, you can buy pre-mixed oatmeal packets that are already flavored, but those don’t amount to much more than large sugar packets.)

Photo credit: thebittenword.com

With today’s health-conscious athletes, there are many debates over which food is healthier. The arguments even break down as far as, “which oat is healthier?”

What I have seen recently is a trend towards steel cut oats instead of the more common rolled oats. Just look for debates about oats on any blog or forum and you’re bound to find some people harping about how rolled oats suck and steel cut oats are the healthy option.

So today I’m here to dispel the myth that somehow one oat is healthier than the other! Let’s start by looking at these different types of oats…

There are three basic types of oats. There are old-fashioned rolled oats, which are whole oats rolled flat. Then there are quick oats, which are rolled oats that have been ground up a little bit more to make them cook faster. Finally, there are the steel cut oats, where the whole raw oat was cut into smaller chunks.

They all start from the same grains, but they are cut differently. Rolled oats are steamed slightly to make them cook faster, but otherwise, they aren’t any different from steel cut oats.

The extra processing isn’t that big a deal, because you have to remember this process called digestion where you break down food to absorb it. So these oats are all the same once they get past your mouth.

So you see, rolled oats and steel cut oats are the same food, just cut differently. Saying they’re vastly different in nutritional value is like saying a sandwich cut straight down the middle is healthier than a sandwich sliced diagonally into triangles!

But let’s compare the oats to see what all the differences are…

Oats Comparison

While the oats are virtually the same thing, there are a few key differences.

Look – Rolled oats look like a big flake, like the oat was rolled flat lengthwise. Steel cut oats look like a whole oat cut in half. So the steel cut oats definitely look like a freshly picked oat from the farm.

If you’ve even been in a field with oats growing there, or bought whole oats in a feed store for farm animals, you’ll recognize the steel cut oats.

Steel cut oats look a little like wild rice once cooked.

Taste – Steel cut oats have a sort of “nutty” flavor that rolled oats lack. You’ll know it when you try them. But the big difference is with texture…

Texture – Steel cut oats are definitely chewier – it takes a while to chew each bite. “Chewy” sums up the steel cut oat texture quite well.

Whether the texture of steel cut is “better” is a matter of personal opinion. But I definitely do enjoy the heartier texture of steel cut or rolled oats over instant oats.

Amount of Processing – If there is one area where steel cut oats have a real health edge, it’s the lack of processing. Both types of oats are cut, but the rolled oats are steamed (which cuts down cooking time later.)

So there is a chance steel cut oats contain more vitamins and minerals, but don’t fret – even rolled oats contain a whole oat grain. You’re not losing valuable parts of the grain (bran and germ) like you would with white bread, which is composed of “enriched white flour” where the real nutrients are bleached out and then the bread is “fortified” to make it appear nutritious on paper.

And don’t forget – steel cut oats need cooked for quite a while, while rolled oats are pre-cooked and ready to eat right out of the canister. So whatever advantage steel cut oats have is lost, unless you can somehow eat them uncooked.

Except if you were to eat them uncooked, you probably wouldn’t digest them, meaning you’d get more nutrients from the rolled oats!

(The uncooked oats will maintain their nutrients longer than the steamed oats, though.)

Serving Size – Typically, a serving is 1/4 cup for steel cut oats, which are more dense than rolled oats, which have a 1/2 cup serving size. It’s the same amount of oats in weight, but not volume, since a rolled oat takes up more space.

The steel cut oats will also expand more when cooked, since they will absorb more water than the rolled oats. So that 1/4 cup looks pretty big once it’s cooked!

Cooking Time – Quick oats are quick; whole rolled oats take a bit longer; then a lot longer for steel cut oats. For one serving, we’re talking 1 minute, 2-3 minutes, and 4-6 minutes, respectively.

Usually I cook a whole pan of steel cut oats at once, and that takes 15-20 minutes.

Nutrients – Let’s compare the Quaker Steel Cut Oats to Quaker Rolled Oats.

1/4 cup of Quaker steel cut oats:
Calories – 150
Fat – 2.5g
Carbs – 27g
Fiber – 4g
Sugar – 1g
Protein – 5g

1/2 cup of Quaker old fashioned oats and quick oats:
Calories – 150
Fat – 3g
Carbs – 27g
Fiber – 4g
Sugar – 1g

Protein – 5g

The label is virtually identical for all three types; the only difference is half a gram of fat.

Glycemic Index – I have seen steel cut oats rated at 42 and rolled oats rated at 50 on the Glycemic Index. Both would be considered “low” and therefore neither is a huge threat to spiking your blood sugar.

Pricing and Availability – The only real downfall with steel cut oats is the price. Sticking with the Quaker brand: 18oz rolled oats are about $1.89, while 24oz of their steel cut oats are $4.99. I prefer the Arrowhead Mills steel cut oats, which are around $3.59 for 24oz.

Due to the hefty price tag, steel cut oats are harder to find. You’ll need to look at smaller retailers and specialty health stores.

The good news is, you can save money by purchasing steel cut oats in bulk, if that’s an option at your local store. If you have a local Amish store or some sort of farmer’s market, you might find steel cut oats extremely cheap!

The Results

The main differences between the oats are texture and cooking time. The nutrition facts are virtually identical.

While I do like the lack of processing in steel cut oats for health reasons, my advice is to eat whichever oats you like the best!

Personally, I like both. If I want a chewy bowl of oats with a nutty flavor, I’ll have steel cut oats. But if I’m making a bowl of cinnamon raisin oatmeal, I’ll stick with rolled oats or even quick oats.

In most circumstances, I’ll actually stick with regular rolled oats instead of steel cut oats. I like the taste just as much, and they’re quicker to cook.

The two types are noticeably different in taste, so you’ll have to try both. It’s quite possible you’ll gravitate toward one or the other.

But remember: whether you’re eating steel cut oats, old fashioned rolled oats, or quick oats, they’re all good compared to any other breakfast cereal. Just avoid “instant oatmeal,” which is the kind that comes in the little pouches, already mixed with sugar, salt, and artificial flavors.