View Full Version : steel cut oats on the trail
fungi601
11-14-2011, 07:51
I love oatmeal, at home or away, especially when backpacking. I prefer cut steel oats over any of the other types. The problem with this oatmeal is the cooking time. I am going to start experimenting with cooking them then dehydrating them, cutting my boil time. Fuel is not the problem, I use a wood-burner, but I would like to cut the 15-20 min boil time down to around 5 mins. Please post here if anyone has ideas on pre-prep of the steel cut oats.
I love steel cut oats. Here is what I do. At home I cook up a batch and I like to add frozen strawberries, fresh sliced bananas, and ground almonds and walnuts to the batch then i dehydrate them. The rehydrate really well this way and taste so much better than the packaged stuff.
Another thing you might do if you don't want to dehydrate them is soak them in some left over warm water the night before and then finish off in the morning. I use this method at home to cut down on the cook time.
Bon Appétit
Snowleopard
11-14-2011, 09:23
If you bring them to a boil the night before and just let them sit in the pot overnight, they're done in the morning. Just heat up or eat cold. I've also read that if you toast them they'll cook faster but I haven't tried that.
one item of note - if eaten without cooking (ie just add water) you will be ready to win at fart baseball
doritotex
11-14-2011, 11:54
I'll have to try that!! Regular instant oatmeal tastes like wallpaper paste!! I also dehydrate brown rice, non hikers think that it's weird to dehydrate rice. "Isn't it already dehydrated"? But, I hate stuff like minute rice!
Hey! fungi601, I'll be driving thru Hattiesburg tomorrow on my way to TX, I was thinking of camping on the way at Paul B Johnson state park. How are the primitive camping spots, and how far is the detour off the interstate? Sorry...I don't mean to change the thread, just a quick answer!
Odd Man Out
11-14-2011, 14:08
I agree that instant oatmeal (from the little packages) is evil. It's not just the consistency, but also the artificial flavors.
In the cereal aisle at the grocery store, you can find Quaker Oats as both "quick oats" and regular oats. I assumed the quick oats were pretty much what you described (pre cooked and dehydrated), and have a cooking time of just 5 minutes (or less). I had good luck just adding boiling water to quick oats, brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, dried fruit, nuts, powdered milk, butter, etc. and let them set a minute or two. Not nearly as bad as the instant packages.
fungi601
11-14-2011, 17:24
I'll have to try that!! Regular instant oatmeal tastes like wallpaper paste!! I also dehydrate brown rice, non hikers think that it's weird to dehydrate rice. "Isn't it already dehydrated"? But, I hate stuff like minute rice!
Hey! fungi601, I'll be driving thru Hattiesburg tomorrow on my way to TX, I was thinking of camping on the way at Paul B Johnson state park. How are the primitive camping spots, and how far is the detour off the interstate? Sorry...I don't mean to change the thread, just a quick answer!
Paul B Johnson state park is about 18 miles from I-59 and hwy 49. I have been out there several times and never have really saw what I would call primitive camping but maybe I havent been all over the park either. they have a lot of campsites with RV hook ups and stuff like that.. It would work for an overnighter though.
Hope this helps.
fungi601
11-14-2011, 17:30
I also dehydrate brown rice, non hikers think that it's weird to dehydrate rice. "Isn't it already dehydrated"? But, I hate stuff like minute rice!
Alton Brown's method of cooking brown rice is the best ever for cooking brown rice then dehydrating it. It turns out perfect IMHO when rehydrated on the trail. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/baked-brown-rice-recipe/index.html
Didnt mean to get off subject here.
Feral Bill
11-14-2011, 17:31
Slow cooking oats only take about 3-5 minutes of simmering. WHy bother with further measures?
doritotex
11-14-2011, 19:23
Thanks for the info about the park. With the warm weather, I thought I would enjoy just pitching a tent instead of staying at a Motel 6! Hattiesburg is about the halfway point! Sorry...you were talking about oatmeal, but I saw that you were from MS! Also like your post about Ghee! It would be great on steel cut oats, and I'm always looking for some more fat calories!!
I agree that instant oatmeal (from the little packages) is evil. It's not just the consistency, but also the artificial flavors.
In the cereal aisle at the grocery store, you can find Quaker Oats as both "quick oats" and regular oats. I assumed the quick oats were pretty much what you described (pre cooked and dehydrated), and have a cooking time of just 5 minutes (or less). I had good luck just adding boiling water to quick oats, brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, dried fruit, nuts, powdered milk, butter, etc. and let them set a minute or two. Not nearly as bad as the instant packages.
Fwiw: I got a box of ORGANIC cinnamon and spice instant packets at Trader Joe's before my hike last week. They were very good and, if I remember correctly, were not too much pricier than the other TJ instant oatmeal varieties. Unfortunately, the cinnamon and spice was all that I could find that wasn't full of junk.
I could've eaten organic cruciferous vegetables all week on my hike and not made up for the pigfest tailgate breakfast of a dozen eggs and pound of bacon with perked coffee, homemade bread, and butter that we had the morning we started. :eek:
Oh........there were three of us :)
SassyWindsor
11-14-2011, 21:01
"Steel cut oats" does not equal regular rolled oatmeal (old fashioned) or quick oatmeal. The biggest negative is it takes 2-4 times longer to cook steel cut oats over the other, but, to me, it's like comparing filet mignon to burger.
"Steel cut oats" does not equal regular rolled oatmeal (old fashioned) or quick oatmeal. The biggest negative is it takes 2-4 times longer to cook steel cut oats over the other, but, to me, it's like comparing filet mignon to burger.
Put any oats into a food processor (or coffee grinder) for a few seconds, and they ALL become quick oats. Finer grinding increases the surface area and decreases the mass of the individual pieces or particles so they cook faster (yes, they also get mushy faster, too, but, for healthy oats you can buy your favorite and get out the processor). :)
Slow cooking oats only take about 3-5 minutes of simmering. WHy bother with further measures?
And if you just want to add water, FBC and a cozy works fine. For me.
fungi601
11-16-2011, 06:47
"Steel cut oats" does not equal regular rolled oatmeal (old fashioned) or quick oatmeal. The biggest negative is it takes 2-4 times longer to cook steel cut oats over the other, but, to me, it's like comparing filet mignon to burger.
I think "some" here just don't understand the difference between steel cut oats and rolled oats. As you well know, you cant cook steel cut oats in just a few minutes even if they soak over night. Now, the person that said add boiling water the night before, well that might work and that is what I would do, but otherwise a few minutes just wont get it.
Usually when I cook a batch at home I make more than what I need. Of course I add stuff like strawberries and bananas and nuts and I love to eat the left over later in the day when it gets cold or at room temp. Yumm! :D
Just buy the cheapest oats you can find from the baking goods or bulk food section. You can usually find a small bag for resupply that is still as cheap. Money saved can go towards stuff to put in it like almonds and raisins, also from baking goods or bulk food section. Gotta save money especially these days.
I agree that instant oatmeal (from the little packages) is evil. It's not just the consistency, but also the artificial flavors.
In the cereal aisle at the grocery store, you can find Quaker Oats as both "quick oats" and regular oats. I assumed the quick oats were pretty much what you described (pre cooked and dehydrated), and have a cooking time of just 5 minutes (or less). I had good luck just adding boiling water to quick oats, brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, dried fruit, nuts, powdered milk, butter, etc. and let them set a minute or two. Not nearly as bad as the instant packages.
The difference between quick Quaker Oats, and regular Quaker Oats is that the quick oats are cut smaller, and thus cook quicker. The package says to boil the quick variety one minute, the regular five minutes.
I usually bring the water to a boil, (I often substitute real maple syrup for a little of the water) dump in the Quick oats, and set it off the heat for two minutes. That way it gets cooked without messing up the pot as much. On the trail I always use quick oats, rather than instant. At home I sometimes buy regular oats as it has slightly better texture, I think.
I like the slightly coarse texture of the regular oats also. It's not like they are slow cooking. They are still instant as far as I am concerned, because I rarely bother to let them go long enough to get creamy. I think the expensive steel cut oats or scottish oats is a bit of a marketing scam. Originally steel cut oats was just a step up from groats, so that you didn't have soak them over night and cook longer. Rolled oats was an improvement over that, and still is, as they are still steel cut before being rolled. Steel cut oats or so called Scottish Oats are just a way to charge more money to yuppies that don't know better. No real Scot would pay for such nonsense. ;-)
Odd Man Out
11-16-2011, 16:53
"Steel cut oats" does not equal regular rolled oatmeal (old fashioned) or quick oatmeal. The biggest negative is it takes 2-4 times longer to cook steel cut oats over the other, but, to me, it's like comparing filet mignon to burger.
Thanks SW! I will now have to go out and get me some steel cut oats and find out for myself. And yes they will have maple syrup.
SassyWindsor
11-16-2011, 23:00
(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B001D9BAMY/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&s=miscellaneous)http://www.mccanns.ie/history.htmlhttp://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41EpbxaEokL._SL500_AA300_.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B001D9BAMY/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&s=miscellaneous)
Odd Man Out
11-16-2011, 23:30
I think I may have seen that at World Market!
Nice package. I understand there could be a health advantage in the steel cut but not rolled type oats like those above, in that they are digested slower and thereby have a lower glycemic index, and perhaps some other benefits as well. Also, I didn't know heat was used in the rolling process. This is done to stabilize the groats, which are raw oats with the husk removed. Not sure if steel cut oatmeal are heated. I presume they are.
Anyhow...
Nice summary of oatmeal here...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oatmeal
UseThe oat grains are de-husked by impact, then warmed and cooled to stabilize the "Oat groats", the seed inside the husk. The process of heating produces a nutty flavour to the oats.[1] These oat groats may be milled to produce fine, medium or coarse oatmeal.[2] Rolled oats are steamed and flattened whole oat groats. Steel cut oats may be small and broken groats from the de-husking process, these may be steamed and flattened to produce smaller rolled oats. Quick-cooking rolled oats (quick oats) are cut into small pieces before being steamed and rolled. Instant oatmeal is pre-cooked and dried, usually with sweetener and flavouring added.[3][4] Both types of rolled oats may be eaten uncooked as in muesli or may be cooked to make porridge. It is also used as an ingredient in oatmeal cookies and oat cakes, or as an accent, as in the topping on many oat bran breads and the coating on Caboc cheese. Oatmeal is also sometimes porridge with the bran or fibrous husk as well as the oat kernel or groat.[5] In some countries rolled oats are eaten raw with milk and sugar or raisins. Oatmeal is also used as a thickening agent in savoury Arabic/Egyptian thick meat plus vegetable soups.
Things to try:
Toss your oats into your pan or pot with a wee bit of oil and let it brown a bit before adding your water. Also, try adding some spices, even some herbs or greens like parsely or kale, and perhaps some jerky, before adding your water. At some point it becomes a soup, which is fair game. This is various forms might more rightly be called brose than porridge. Soup or gruel if more watery. Brose if less watery. I am not sure exactly what all these terms mean, like porridge, gruel, brose, skerry, as they originated in different places and have had many different meanings in different places and different times. Sardines are very nice lightly fried with oats until the oats are toasted and the sardines are warmed up a bit. You can leave them intact or mash it all up and fry it longer into fish cakes. Liver is also very good rolled and fried in oatmeal. Also good for thickening soup. Uncooked, oatmeal is the same as meusli flakes, and is good with spices and milk or yogurt.
Call it what you will, and do with it as you might, but eat you oats.
Things to try:
Toss your oats into your pan or pot with a wee bit of oil and let it brown a bit before adding your water. Also, try adding some spices, even some herbs or greens like parsely or kale, and perhaps some jerky, before adding your water. At some point it becomes a soup, which is fair game. This is various forms might more rightly be called brose than porridge. Soup or gruel if more watery. Brose if less watery. I am not sure exactly what all these terms mean, like porridge, gruel, brose, skerry, as they originated in different places and have had many different meanings in different places and different times. Sardines are very nice lightly fried with oats until the oats are toasted and the sardines are warmed up a bit. You can leave them intact or mash it all up and fry it longer into fish cakes. Liver is also very good rolled and fried in oatmeal. Also good for thickening soup. Uncooked, oatmeal is the same as meusli flakes, and is good with spices and milk or yogurt.
Call it what you will, and do with it as you might, but eat you oats.
I use oats in all of these ways except the liver and sardines mix. I'll be doing that and I'm sure I will like it. My grandkids? well maybe NOT!
I drop about one half cup of uncooked whole oats into to my bran cereal every morning with cold milk. Oats do not have to be cooked to be eaten.
fungi601
11-18-2011, 06:34
Things to try:
Sardines are very nice lightly fried with oats until the oats are toasted and the sardines are warmed up a bit. You can leave them intact or mash it all up and fry it longer into fish cakes. Liver is also very good rolled and fried in oatmeal. Also good for thickening soup. Uncooked, oatmeal is the same as meusli flakes, and is good with spices and milk or yogurt.
Seriously, I have to try both of these. I enjoy both and have never tried using oatmeal. Sardines also now come in the little pouches. The only bad thing about sardines in a pouch though is that they are not as whole and "intact" as the ones in the cans but, they can be taken on the trail for shorter trips were weight is not as much of an issue.
Great suggestion, Thanks!
I love oats. I love steel cut oats. I have to restrain myself from eating it for every meal. Hope this doesn't change on my thru. I've dehydrated a batch of prepared steel cut oats. I learned that the thin "burgers" need to be turned over at some point, which I'll figure out next time. OK. Now I guess this sounds basic, but I'm not sure what to do next. I want to try out a serving for breakfast, but would appreciate it if someone could tell me how to prepare it. Will I be able to wake up, heat water and mix it up and eat, or does it take some time to soak (like maybe overnight)?
atrerunner
11-22-2011, 12:18
Oats and the AT in history: at http://www.peacepilgrim.com/ap_trail.htm the reference is at the paragraph that starts 'I lived in the out-of-doors completely'.
Farr Away
11-22-2011, 16:50
I love oats. I love steel cut oats. I have to restrain myself from eating it for every meal. Hope this doesn't change on my thru. I've dehydrated a batch of prepared steel cut oats. I learned that the thin "burgers" need to be turned over at some point, which I'll figure out next time. OK. Now I guess this sounds basic, but I'm not sure what to do next. I want to try out a serving for breakfast, but would appreciate it if someone could tell me how to prepare it. Will I be able to wake up, heat water and mix it up and eat, or does it take some time to soak (like maybe overnight)?
I would try adding almost boiling water to your dehydrated oats, and then put them in a cozy for 5 to 10 minutes.
farmer.ron.99
11-22-2011, 18:13
I have found quick cooking (5 min) steel cut oats at Mejier's stores.
1/2 cup oats
1 or 2 t brown sugar
1T pecan bits
1T nido powder (milk powder)
2T freeze dried blueberries
All in a ziplock bag. At camp add water (about 2/3 c) to bag and place in cozy for about 10 min.
I would try adding almost boiling water to your dehydrated oats, and then put them in a cozy for 5 to 10 minutes.
That's what I ended up doing. First I crumbled it up (something I'll have to do before individually packaging which will include Nido milk powder, raisins, brown sugar and whatever), then added 1/2 cup almost boiling water. Then I covered the bowl (simulated cozy!) for awhile. Turned out definitely edible (did I say I love oats), a little al dente, which I like. Tomorrow I'll try just a tad less water. My "burgers" started out as 1 cup cooked steel cut oats and since I didn't hold back a serving to eat, I don't know if that would have been a little al dente or if the dehydration process had something to do with it.