Are you thinking of changing your oats? Are you thinking of switching from rolled oats to steel cut oats? However, are you wondering whether or not any deviations are required in the recipes that call for the usage of rolled oats?
Can I substitute steel cut oats for rolled oats?
You can definitely substitute steel cut oats for rolled oats. Although steel cut oats are very distinctive from rolled oats in terms of texture, cooking time, and processing, the flavor is still the same which enables the interchangeability of steel cut oats and rolled oats in several recipes.
Although you can substitute steel cut oats for rolled oats in several dishes, there are still some huge changes you need to make to follow the recipes properly.
In cookies/no bake cookies:
You can substitute steel cut for rolled oats in recipes of cookies or no-bake cookies. However, you need to do some extra work as you have to soak the oats overnight or pre-cook them to make the recipes effective.
In meatloaf:
You probably should not use steel cut oats in making meatloaf. However, when it comes to steel cut oats, they are coarser and have a toothsome texture and thus will not work the best with the meatloaf recipes as a binding agent.
In baked oatmeal:
You can also use steel cut oats in the place of rolled oats to make baked oatmeal but you need to cook the oats longer.
In granola:
Granola recipes are very flexible and it is known for their textured and crispy texture therefore, you can definitely use steel cut oats in place of rolled oats.
In apple crisp:
You can definitely substitute steel cut oats for rolled oats in apple crisp recipes. This is because the usage of steel cut oats can make the apple crisp crisper and chewier which can not be obtained by rolled oats.
In baking:
Technically, you can substitute steel cut oats for rolled oats in baking but this is not ideal as the usage of the steel cut oats will call for extra work and will give unnecessary chewiness and texture to your baking goods.
In bread:
You can use any kind of oats in making bread and similarly, you can use steel cut oats in place of rolled oats but you need to pre-cook the steel cut oats as they need to be softened from the coarse texture before their inclusion in making bread.
Do steel cut oats cook the same as rolled oats?
Steel cut oats do not cook the same as rolled oats. In addition, steel cut oats are actually made by cutting the oat groats by a steel blade into several small pieces.
The hardness of the steel cut oats is almost like that of rice which means it takes longer for these types of oats to cook.
Accordingly, it will take approximately 20 to 30 minutes to cook steel cut oats. Conversely, rolled oats are actually flattened and are not hard like steel cut oats. Therefore, it will only take two to five minutes for the rolled oats to cook.
Are steel cut oats the same as rolled oats? What are the differences between steel cut oats and rolled oats?
As both steel cut oats and rolled oats seem to have some similarities to them, they are still distinguished by the several degrees of differences.
Consequently, being knowledgeable about the differences between steel cut and rolled oats can help you to draw proper judgments.
Processing Process:
One of the areas where both steel cut oats and rolled oats are different is related to the processing process of oat groats.
Accordingly, steel cut oats are actually a lot like rice that has been cut into many pieces. When it comes to making steel cut oats, the whole oat groat is actually cut into several pieces.
Moreover, in the case of rolled oats, these oats are almost like in the shape of a disk and these types of oats have larger grains than steel-cut oats.
Texture:
Another aspect that marks steel cut oats and rolled oats as different is the texture. When it comes to steel cut oats, there is more texture to them and it is more rough and coarse.
Generally, steel cut oats have a nuttier taste and are chewier than rolled oats. Moreover, steel cut oats also have a less creamy texture to them.
Conversely, when it comes to rolled oats, it seems to have less texture and do not retain texture after cooking. Unlike steel cut oats, rolled oats are very creamy and mushy in texture.
Additionally, rolled oats are actually very thick in consistency which is not the case for steel cut oats.
Cooking Time:
Steel cut oats and rolled oats also have differences in their cooking time. Accordingly, when it comes to steel cut oats, the cooking time is much longer as it can almost take thirty minutes to cook steel cut oats.
Consequently, this is because steel cut oats are tougher in density compared to rolled oats.
On the other hand, it only takes five minutes to cook rolled oats because these types of oats are actually pressed flat which makes the cooking process very faster.
Can I use large flake oats instead of rolled oats?
Oats are naturally considered to contain a lot of health benefits and are also considered great nutritious snacks.
When it comes to large flake oats, they are actually a bit large or almost the similar size as the rolled oats.
Additionally, large flake oats are made by following the process of flattening, cutting, and steaming the oat groats, and this process of making the large flake oats is actually similar to that of rolled oats.
Therefore, it is pretty safe to say that you can without a doubt use large flake oats instead of rolled oats.
However, large flake oat being bigger may take more time to cook but the time difference of the cooking time of large flake oats and rolled oats is very marginal.
One of the perks of using large flake oats instead of rolled oats is that the former has a lot more texture compared to the latter.
Moreover, large flake oat has a nuttier taste and this feature is similar to that of rolled oats therefore, you can also use them interchangeably.
What can I use as a substitute for rolled oats?
Rolled oats are traditional oats that can be substituted by other similar kinds of oats that can provide a similar flavor and texture to rolled oats.
Quick Oats:
Quick oats are the best to be used in the place of rolled oats as quick oats are considered a version of rolled oats.
Quick oats are actually made by steaming and flattening which is also similar to that of rolled oats. Quick oats are also thinner and smaller than rolled oats and can be opted for rolled oats very effectively.
Steel Cut Oats:
It may come as a surprise but you can also use steel cut oats in the place of rolled oats. Eventually, steel cut oats will bring more flavor and texture to your recipes.
Instant Oats:
Instant oats can be used in the place of rolled oats as instant oats are actually the processed variety of rolled oats.
How to substitute steel cut for rolled oats?
Although steel cut oats can definitely be used in the place of rolled oats, you still need to add some variations to the original recipes. Therefore, being knowledgeable about these will help you make better decisions.
Soak the Oats Overnight:
The first step in substituting steel cut for rolled oats is that you have to soak the oats overnight to soften them and to let the starch break so that more nutrients are attached.
Moreover, this process will let the coarse steel oats absorb more liquid which will make the oats applicable to be used as a substitute for rolled oats.
Microwave the Oats:
This optional step requires you to microwave the steel cut oats so that you do not have to pre-cook them which can result in the loss of nutrients.
Use Similar Measurement:
Once the steel cut oats are softened to some degrees, the next thing you need to do to substitute steel cut oats for rolled oats is that you need to add the exact condiments that are required for the original recipes.
Add More Time:
Another most important step in substituting steel cut oats for rolled oats is that you need to add 10 minutes more to the required time for the preparation of the steel cut oats.
Final Thoughts
Steel cut oats are very distinctive in their texture and can call for extra work when steel cut oats are included in recipes that originally favor the usage of rolled oats. Despite this minor problem, steel cut oats can give you the perfect toothsome texture and can add more flavor to your food.