Trader Joe's Steelcut Oatmeal

December 14, 2007 | Reviewer: Abi

Trader Joe’s Steelcut Oatmeal Price: $1.99
Serving: 1 package, 8oz.
Calories: 150
Fat: 4%, 2.5g
Sodium: 2%, 40mg
Protein: 5g
Carbs: 9%, 27g
Fiber: 16%, 4g
Weight Watchers Points: 2 Points

Trader Joe says: T.J’s Frozen Steel Cut Oatmeal brings speed and convenience to the previously time-consuming process of cooking steel cut oats. No longer do you have to slave or a hot stove, stirring and stirring just to enjoy a bowl of this wholesome, nutritious, delicious oatmeal.

Abi says: The only oatmeal I ever ate as a kid came in packets. Sure, we had old-fashioned oats up in the cupboard, but I think that we only used those for making cookies, not for actually eating for breakfast in the form of oatmeal. I didn’t even realize until a few years ago that actual, real, non-processed, steel cut oatmeal requires a rather long cooking time (nearly an hour!). In fact, I’ve never even made stove top, slow-cooked oatmeal.

Of this, I’m a bit ashamed. I love oatmeal and I should be enjoying it in all of its forms. Alas, the closest I’ll likely ever get to that (until I have a family to cook oatmeal for) will be the big, slightly suspect pots of oatmeal at Au Bon Pain (have you had oatmeal with roasted almond slices and toasted coconut and brown sugar? No? Then you have not lived!)*.

In an effort to reduce my dependence on instant oatmeal and stop paying $4.00 for the ABP stuff, I picked up a box of Trader Joe’s pre-cooked, frozen steelcut oatmeal. The box contains two individually shrink-wrapped cylinders of oatmeal. These cylinders bear more than a passing resemblance to the frozen forms of Trader Joe’s Artichoke Spinach dip and French Onion Soup. Way to reuse your industrial packaging equipment, Trader Joe’s!

Unfortunately, the bubbly nature of oatmeal requires that one selects a quite large container for heating. On the first go-round I’d fogotten this edict of breakfast porridge and managed to spend the first 20 minutes of my work day cleaning out the microwave.

Trader Joe’s Steelcut Oatmeal all over the microwave

On the second try I sat down to a bowl of steaming, fluffy steelcut oatmeal and instantly realized why I haven’t purchased this item in the past and why I’ll never purchase it again in the future: blandness. Steelcut oatmeal might have the upper hand when it comes to fiber, but when it gets down to the nitty gritty, taste wins ever time for me. Trader Joe’s Steelcut Oatmeal is a good idea, but the lack of the merest hint of flavor had me reaching for some strawberry jam and figuring that my earlier failure in oatmeal preparation was a sign that some things are better made at home, where there’s plenty of real maple syrup and cinnamon.

*I didn’t even know that they had oatmeal at Au Bon Pain until I read this rant on Craigslist.

comments

10 Responses to “Trader Joe's Steelcut Oatmeal”

Karen on December 14th, 2007

Hmm. I bought this and didn’t have a problem with it bubbling over. Maybe it’s because I have a crappy microwave that doesn’t get as hot as yours. I did find it a little bland, too, but I put some raisins in it, and thought it was yummy.
Abi Jones on December 14th, 2007

Karen - The microwave you see there is the most powerful microwave I’ve ever used in my life, so that could certainly be the case. I think that if the oatmeal had been more flavorful or had contained chunks of baked apple then I would have had a completely different opinion, but for $1.00 I expect something more than what I got.
Laura on December 14th, 2007

I actually miraculously found a way to cook steel cut oats in 5 minutes.

1. Before bed, measure water and oats according to package directions, bring to a rolling boil with a tiny pinch of salt, then turn off and cover.
2. The next morning, stir the oatmeal, bring to a boil again, cook for 30 seconds or until hot and bubbly. Serve.

I suppose you could do this in the microwave as well — just make sure you cover your bowl with a plate or something else heavy.
Jill on December 14th, 2007

Yes, I have the problem with the overly-strong microwave and when we got it it took me awhile to get used to the change. Once you do, however, (and the bubbling over ends) this stuff is addictive! It grows on you.
Crow on December 15th, 2007

Cream of Wheat, or generic, also overflows in the microwave. Oatmeal and Cream of Wheat are not meant for microwaves.

Besides, “steel cut” sounds like some sort of torture performed on your gums out of “Brazil.”
carrie on February 22nd, 2008

TJs steelcut oatmeal is the best!! Use a large enough bowl, and no spillage. I’ve had oatmeal explosions with instant, but never with this.
This is an oatmeal with just enough flavor–not a sickening, sweet gooey mess like some. This oatmeal alone may keep me from ever moving to a city without at TJs.
I buy this frequently, and it is very popular at my TJs!
danakscully64 on March 22nd, 2008

I have this problem with every oatmeal I make, so I have to watch carefully when it cooks. Try lowering the power. I didn’t care for this product in particular, but steelcut oatmeal is the best!
Lisa on April 3rd, 2008

AuBonPain oatmeal is the BEST! I got addicted to it, but I don’t work near one now, so I need to find an alternative. I hear McCann’s Steel Oats are good??
Darla on May 1st, 2008

I really liked this oatmeal, although, like the author I was used to stuff with much more flavor (and added preservatives/chemicals) I took it out of the microwave after 2 1/2 minutes and stirred it then put it back for about 40 seconds and it was perfect. With the flavor additives being less potent, I was able to taste the actual oatmeal.
Cate on May 5th, 2008

I love this oatmeal! I keep an eye out for *bubbling up* and cook in 1 minute increments, to avoid the oatmeal glue scenario! HOT TIP — plunk in some protein powder and a spoonful of peanut butter for a yummy peanut butter and oatmeal cookie tasting bowl of warmth and good health!