Steel-cut oats and rolled oats are two distinct oat products with different processing methods:
1. Steel-Cut Oats: These are whole oat groats that have been chopped into small pieces using steel blades. They are sometimes called "Irish oats" or "pinhead oats." Steel-cut oats have a chewy texture and take longer to cook than rolled oats. They are minimally processed and are not soaked and flattened.
2. Rolled Oats: Rolled oats, also known as old-fashioned oats, are made by taking whole oat groats and flattening them with large rollers. This process makes them thinner and quicker to cook than steel-cut oats. Rolled oats are not soaked before rolling; they are simply flattened.