These “Overnight” Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats using the Delay Start Button are a weekday morning game changer! This post containsaffiliate links for products I’m obsessed with.
This is a sponsored post on behalf of Bob’s Red Mill. As always, all opinions are 100% mine. Thank you for supporting the brands that help make Confessions of a Fit Foodie possible.
Confession: The amazing women in my Facebook group put me to shame on a weekly basis.
You have to see their meal prep photos. Perfectly portioned meals lined up in adorable bento style containers.
Like a work of art. Makes this blogger very proud!
Since working from home, my meal prep game has been lacking (because, kids). And plus, I am always in the process of testing recipes that pop in my head on a whim, so I can’t always commit to a plan like I want to (last week was curry chicken – yum!).
That’s why this Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats recipe is such a game changer for me! It feels like I am killing it with prepping, but it only takes minutes . And it saves me a ton of time each morning!
model for first timers!What is the Delay Start button on the Instant Pot?
The Delay Start button (or Timer button on older models) allows you to prep your food and delay the cook time for a set amount of time. I love using this for breakfast or to prep other grains like rice or quinoa.
Is the Delay Start button safe to use?
I would NOT use the delay start button to cook anything that requires refrigeration (meat, eggs, etc) unless you are only delaying the time by a half hour or so. But it’s perfect for pantry items like pasta, rice, beans, and Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats!
How to set your Delay Start timer to make Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
Set the timer so that the oats start about 30 minutes before you are going to eat them. This gives enough time for the pot to build pressure, and the cook time, and natural release.
To do this, put your water and oats in your pot and lock your lid, just like you always do.
- Press the Manual or Pressure Cook button.
- Press the + or – button to select the cook time (10 minutes for this recipe).
- Press the Timer or Delay Start (depends on your model of IP) button (the hour will flash) and use the + or – button to choose how many hours from now you want it to start.
- Press the Timer or Delay Start button again (the minutes will flash) and use the + or – button to choose the minutes, in 10 minute increments.
- Then, after a few seconds it will beep, and the timer is all set! The green light on the Timer button will be on, and the time will begin counting down. Now go to bed before someone in your house wakes you up!
This recipe makes 6 servings for the 21 Day Fix, so your breakfast will be prepped for a few days at least. My kids and I love to mix and match toppings so it feels like a different bowl of oats each day! Our favorites are banana nut, apple cinnamon, berries, raisins, and, of course, the occasional chocolate chips!
And, these FREEZE perfectly! I use my Silicone Egg Bites Molds
for this, but you can also use a regular muffin tin.
Tip – you can even FREEZE the toppings to make your life even easier!
Looking for more 21 Day Fix Oatmeal Recipes? Check these out!
21 Day Fix Freezer Steel Cut Oats
Instant Pot Oatmeal Jars (21 Day Fix)
Warm Gingerbread Oatmeal | The Foodie and The Fix
Instant Pot Apple Cinnamon Oats | My Crazy Good Life
Coconut Overnight Oats | Carrie Elle
Thank you Bob’s Red Mill for sponsoring this post. It means so much to me to work with brands that I love and use in my kitchen daily!
"Overnight" Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats using the Delay Timer
Ingredients
- Cooking oil spray I use coconut or avocado, but it doesn’t matter
- 1 cup Bob's Red Mills Gluten Free Steel Cut Oats
- 2 ½ cups water
Optional Toppings
- Sprinkle of salt
- Maple syrup/honey
- Cinnamon
- Fruit and nut toppers or even some nut butter!
- Splash of almond milk my kids like it with some milk
Instructions
Instant Pot
- Spray inner pot with cooking oil spray, then add in oats and water and salt, if using.
- Lock Instant Pot and set to 10 minutes on manual. Then press your delay start or timer button and set the timer for the amount of time you want to delay the cooktime for (be sure you figure about 30 minutes of cooktime after the delay time). I set it for 7-8 hours at night before I go to bed (wishful thinking that I actually get to sleep 7-8 hours).
- After cooktime, do a full natural release. When it’s safe, remove lid and enjoy your hot breakfast! I personally love topping mine with fruit, cinnamon, and a tsp of maple syrup. My kids like to add some milk to theirs.
Slow Cooker
- Cook the Oats covered, on low, for 7-8 hours while you sleep.
Connie says
Wonderful recipe! I don’t have a delay feature on my Ninja so I just make in morning. I love the texture of steel cut oats and making on stovetop just never seems to work for me. Your recipe is total game changer for me. Now my husband and I can enjoy.
BTW the maple syrup option instead of brown sugar is a delicious suggestion.
Thank you for sharing your expertise in meal prep. Your website is the best I have seen and had helped me try new and healthier versions and has made weekly meal planning so much easier. You are a blessing! Thank you.
Nancylynn says
So happy to hear, Connie!! Thank you for taking the time to write such a great review – really happy the recipe was helpful to you!
Shannon says
This is a perfect recipe. It’s my go-to for steel cut oats. I love being able to wake up in the morning and know that breakfast is made!
Nancylynn says
Ahhh! Thank you! What a good way to start the day!
msSally says
I have been looking and looking for delay start recipes with no luck before. Thanks for this.
Sounds great. I will try this tonight.
Nancylynn says
Yay! Good luck!!
vanessa says
this was fantastic this AM with the bananas and a little maple syrup! thank you!
Crystal says
How do you heat back up? Do you need to add a liquid? Thanks!
Nancylynn says
A splash of milk and you are good!
Pat says
I tried this last night and woke up to the burn notice. I am going to read the article you mentioned that you wrote about it and maybe give it one more try with “pot-in-pot” method.
Nancylynn says
How did it go? You might want to try Pot-in-Pot!
Jennie says
I had trouble with it sticking and burning on the bottom. I woke up with a “burn” error message on the IP. Any advice?
Nancylynn says
Hi! Here’s an article I wrote about the burn message: https://confessionsofafitfoodie.com/2019/01/burn-message/ . Next time, I would try cooking the oats using the pot in pot method. You will put water at the bottom of your pot, lay down your trivet, then place the oats and water from the recipe in an IP safe bowl on the trivet and cover with foil. Then from there, just follow the recipe.
Jennie says
Can you do this with regular old fashioned oats?
Nancylynn says
Yes! The cook time would be 4 minutes for rolled oats.
Jen says
If you freeze…what do you do in the morning? Thaw in frig overnight or heat them up in microwave?
Nancylynn says
Either works!
Stephanie says
Hello from Canada! I was wondering if you could add frozen fruit and cook with the oats in the IP?
BTW – your website is a heaven sent and has truly simplified life and cooking for me. The fact that your content is free seems like I am robbing you! Thankful for helping make healthy eating stress-free and simple.
Nancylynn says
Stephanie! You made my night! And, yes! You for sure could add frozen fruit with the oats! I have done that many times with blueberries and even frozen peaches!
Kara says
If the oats sit out all night, doesn’t bacteria grow and make them unsafe to eat? Even if they’re cooked, wouldn’t toxins remain?
Nancylynn says
Not from my experience! But if you’re not comfortable try one of these recipes instead:
Freezer steel cut oats – https://confessionsofafitfoodie.com/21-day-fix-freezer-steel-cut-oats/
Overnight oats in the fridge – https://confessionsofafitfoodie.com/21-day-fix-overnight-oats/