What’s the Difference Between Steel Cut and Quick-Cook Oats?

There are many reasons to love a big bowl of oatmeal in the morning. The creamy dish is filling, nutritious and a welcome warmth on chilly days.

However, if you don’t know what you’re looking for, it can be tricky to buy the best oats for your morning routine. That’s why we’re breaking down two of the most common oat varieties: steel cut and quick-cook. It’s time to learn the difference once and for all.

Get our favorite oatmeal recipes here.

What are steel cut oats?

 If you ever had breakfast at Grandma’s house, you might remember her cooking up a big batch of steel cut oats. This old-fashioned variety is less processed than other types of oats. It’s made by dividing groats—which are oat kernels without hulls—into two or three tiny pieces.

Buy steel cut oats here.

Steel cut oats take anywhere between 10 and 30 minutes to cook, but they can be made in advance and refrigerated up to a week.

When cooked, steel cut oats have a thick, chewy texture. They’re the perfect base for fresh fruit, nuts, honey or any other toppings. A ¼-cup serving of uncooked oats has about 150 calories and 5 grams of protein, plus healthy amounts of fiber and iron.

Add a little spark to your oats with these genius topping ideas.

What are quick-cook oats?

Quick-cook oats are likely a little more familiar. Like steel cut, quick oats start off as groats, but they’re more processed. The oats are precooked, then dried, flattened and chopped into pieces.

Buy quick-cook oats here.

This process makes it easy to whip up a bowl of oatmeal in mere minutes, but results in a softer, mushier texture. At the grocery store, you can find quick-cook oats on their own, but also in flavored, microwaveable packets.

Even though they’re more processed, plain quick-cook oats still retain most of their nutritional value. They contain about 150 calories per ½-uncooked cup, with 5 grams of protein. Quick-cook oats are also a good source of iron and fiber.

What’s the difference between steel cut and quick-cook oats?

The main differences between steel cut and quick-cook oats is texture. Steel cut oats absorb more liquid than their pre-processed counterparts, but they also maintain their shape. Each oat is still visible after cooking. Quick-cook oats tend to bind together, resulting in a creamy, porridge-like consistency.

Steel cut oats also take much longer to cook. They need about half an hour on the stovetop, while quick-cook oats can be popped in the microwave for a few minutes.

Personal preference will determine which oat is better for your breakfast rotation.

You need to add these delicious oatmeal cookie recipes to your collection.

Are there other types of oats?

Steel cut and quick-cook are not the only types of oats you can buy. According to the Whole Grain Council, there are six different kinds!

• Whole Groats: The full oat kernel after it’s been cleaned and de-hulled, oftentimes used in salads, stews and pilafs.
• Steel Cut Oats: Groats that are cut into uniform pieces with a steel blade.
• Scottish Oats: Groats that are ground with a stone, creating different-sized pieces.
• Regular Rolled Oats: Groats that are steamed and rolled into flakes. Ideal for baking.
• Quick-Cook Rolled Oats: Groats that are rolled super thin, steamed longer or chopped into pieces.
• Oat Flour: Ground-up groats that can be used in baking or as a thickener.

Psst! These are the big benefits of eating oatmeal.

Note: Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.