FLAHAVAN'S Pinhead Oatmeal, 35.27-Ounce Bags (Pack of 6)

I eat a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast nearly every day. For me alone these 6 bags will last about a year. These are prepared differently than I am used to, in the US rolled oats are the typical variety.

For those not familiar, pinhead oats are the same as steel-cut oats, oats cut into small pieces rather than being crushed (rolled) in a mill and steamed. The result is that they take longer to cook; rolled oats take about 10 minutes to get mushy all the way through, but steel cut oats can take up to 30 minutes to get soft and will probably never be as mushy as rolled oats. This results in a different texture than rolled oats that a some people like. Also of note, is that steel-cut oats are denser than rolled oats so the ratio of water to oats is closer to 4:1 rather than the 2:1 for rolled.

All that being said, steel-cut oats have a lower Glycemic Index. Plus they seem to retain a bit more oat flavor than typical rolled oats. To help deal with the longer preparation time, I started making my oatmeal in batches for several days. I use small containers, about 1 cup (Rubbermaid 7J59 Easy Find Lid Square 1-1/4-Cup Food Storage Container), and eat one every day for breakfast.

Unlike McCann's, which has been processed here for the lucrative US market for quite a while now (I still have an old can saved from when it wasn't), all of Flahavan's products are actually imported from Eire. These oats are cut and so are a different texture from Scottish (and Macroom) pinhead oats, which are stone-ground. Flahavan's are more uniform in size and appearance and the mouthfeel is somewhat different as well--I personally have no preference. Differences from stone-ground aside, these are delicious oats with a sweet, robust aroma and chewy texture, even when cooked longer than called for in the cooking instructions.

If you've only had rolled oats, you owe it to yourself to give Flahavan's Pinhead Oatmeal a try. If the longer (20 minutes) cooking time is off-putting, try starting them off the night before. Using the instructions on the package and adjusting for the amount you want to make, bring the water to a boil, add the oats (no salt yet), and bring back to a boil, stirring. Turn off the heat, cover the pot, leave overnight, and then heat the next morning, adding a pinch of salt if you're so inclined (I dissolve it in a bit of water first). You might discover that your rolled oats seem a little tame by comparison! :)

Buy FLAHAVAN'S Pinhead Oatmeal, 35.27-Ounce Bags (Pack of 6) Now

I lived in Ireland for 10 years, and really enjoyed having pinhead (steel-cut) oatmeal for breakfast. The cost of such cereal in the U.S. is prohibitive, so I was glad to see it for sale on Amazon.com, and bought 12 bags! Still has a great taste, and the expiration date is well in the future.

Read Best Reviews of FLAHAVAN'S Pinhead Oatmeal, 35.27-Ounce Bags (Pack of 6) Here

Said it before, and I'll say it again! Flahavan's pinhead oats cook up very well and bring on that home cooked in the glen Scotland flavor to porridge. Great texture after an overnight in the crock pot. The directions are quite easy to follow although the simmer and stir frequently put the stirring in a milder more gentle tone that it should have. Stir quite a bit as the oats thicken or they will toast using this amount of water.

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This is the best oatmeal I have ever had. This is steel cut oatmeal, yet tastes better than any other steel cut! After the water boils, bring it to simmer, that way it cooks better.

Add nuts (my favourite walnuts), dried fruits (apricots...), cinnamon, and honey or maple syrup. You will love it.