The most important thing to remember for this method is to use a large microwave-safe bowl that can hold up to eight cups of water. Even though you only add two cups of liquid, when the electromagnetic waves heat the liquid it starts to rapidly bubble and expands. If the bowl isn’t large enough, it will flow over causing a mess.

Cooking time is about 10 minutes, stirring once in between. If you’re just a personal-sized serving this is a good option. Compared to cooking rolled oats in the microwave, steel cut oats need more water and time.

Stovetop

This is the classic method that brings water to a boil, stirring in the oats, then reducing heat to a gentle simmer. It takes about 30 minutes for the oats to absorb the water, and become creamy. This is the most involved technique, requiring frequent stirring to ensure even cooking and heat distribution. You can easily scale the recipe up or down, just change the size of your saucepot.

Overnight

Pour hot water over the oats and allow them to hydrate and soften the tough surface overnight. Make sure the water completely cools to room temperature before placing it in the refrigerator.