Measure out the oats. Start this the night before you want to have steel-cut oatmeal. Measure out your oats.
Toast the oats. Heat the butter or oil in a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the oats and fry them until they start smelling toasty, about 3 minutes.
Add the water and salt. Stir in the water and salt. Bring to a rolling boil.
Cover and let it sit overnight. Turn off the heat and cover the pan. Leave it on the stove, and go to bed!
Reheat the oatmeal the next morning. The next morning, uncover the pan and bring the oatmeal back up to a simmer. If you would like thinner and creamier oatmeal, stir in a cup of milk before reheating. When the oatmeal is warm, scoop out and enjoy!
