Are Steel Cut Oats Supposed to be Tough? Understanding the Chewy vs. Hard Texture
                                
                                
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                                    5 min read                                
                            
                                Steel-cut oats, also known as Irish oats, are simply whole oat groats cut into smaller pieces and are known for their distinctively chewy texture. This chewiness is a desired trait, but it is fundamentally different from the unpleasantly hard, tough, or crunchy texture that results from improper cooking.