There’s a reason I’ve stayed a renter all of my adult life. Where other people have a fascination with all things home improvement, I have preferred to leave that sort of thing to a landlord. Fix a faucet? No thank you. Replace a roof? Nuh-uh. Paint a room? Why, when it already has perfectly good neutral-colored paint on the walls?
This probably contributed to my ability to avoid all things green until I moved to Iowa—it was the first time I lived somewhere where my landlord gave me free reign over the yard, as long as he could put it back the way it was after I left.
However, on occasion, this also contributes to my downfall when it comes to using tools for other purposes.
On Wednesday, my team from work was due to come to my apartment for a day-long retreat. I decided to forego the overdone bagels-and-muffins breakfast for something more healthy and substantial: steel-cut oatmeal with a variety of toppings. I had not ever actually cooked steel-cut oats before, but no matter…I had good instructions from friends I trusted, and I figured, worst case scenario, we’d take a group field trip to Starbucks if I woke up and the oats were a disaster.
Tuesday night, I bought a tin of John McCann’s steel-cut oats, and around 8:45 p.m., started trying to open it. It should be noted that I have, without trouble, opened cans like that in the past: tea tins, metal banks shaped like London post boxes, etc. But I could not, for the life of me, figure out how to get into the oats.
I tried popping the top off with a knife. With a bottle opener. With a coin. With my poor, poor fingernails. I asked Twitter. “Screwdriver,” said fellow-blogger Nicole. “Tool, then the drink.”
I went to the almighty Google (Search terms: “How do I open a can of steel-cut oats?”), which brought me to a Chowhound thread that suggested I just pop the top off like I would a paint can.
Ah, but there’s the rub. I haven’t ever OPENED a paint can. Talk about instructions without context…
Eventually, I started using a flat-head screwdriver to just whale away at the seal around the top of the can, thinking, at this point, that perhaps that was where the lid began. The metal slowly gave way until I had punched a hole through it big enough to wiggle the screwdriver in and lift off the top.
Yes, lift off the top, which came off with a quiet pop like it had been trying to release itself all along.
And so, good people of the Interwebs, I leave you with this piece of advice on how to open a can of McCann’s steel-cut Irish oats: Put the can back on the grocery store shelf where you found it. Visit the bulk bins instead. You’ll thank me in the morning, when you’re enjoying your hearty breakfast without any of the hassle.
But if you already own one and can’t get into it, just open it like you would a paint can.
on Feb 13th, 2009 at 10:53 am
… just like a paint can, huh? :)
This makes for a positively great story. Fortunately, those are some durned good oats in that can.
on Feb 13th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Foodhappens, indeed! They were yummy, and I’ve been enjoying the leftovers the rest of this week. I’m assuming paint cans MUST be easier to open, right? RIGHT? ‘Cause this is not a method I would recommend for that — it would be liable to spill paint all over one’s countertops. :-)
on Feb 13th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
I’m glad you’ve left photographic evidence of this culinary adventure. I used to make steel cut oats but I hate waiting that long for anything.
on Feb 13th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
I also get mine from the bulk bin. I soak mine overnight so they don’t take so long to cook in the morning. I also make a big batch and just heat each morning. You should give oat groats a try – even better.
on Feb 14th, 2009 at 5:11 am
Ahahahahahah! Good lord, Genie. Thanks for the laugh this morning.
on Feb 14th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Lily, the beauty is in the overnight soak — then it hardly feels like I’m waiting at all.
Chiot’s, I’ll have to try the groats, although the name kind of scares me.
Sally, glad to bring you a little wintry joy!
on Feb 14th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
I don’t really like oatmeal except in cookies, but I found a video that shows you how to open a paint can:
http://www.expertvillage.com/video/162604_open-paint-can.htm
on Feb 15th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
hmmm… now that you are developing skills, I could use a new faucet. We have come to call any hot cereal gruel, even if it is tasty.
on Feb 15th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
oh, that is brilliant!
I use my slow cooker for two things – one is cooking sloppy joes, the other is overnight oatmeal, using steal cut oats. Great in the morning, except when I forget to actually turn the cooker on ;-)
on Feb 16th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
So, this is not something to attempt in the morning before coffee? ;-)
on Feb 17th, 2009 at 6:49 am
incidentally, kim already bragged to me about the great food you provided, so maybe it was worth it afterall….
on Feb 17th, 2009 at 8:41 am
HappyFuzzyYarn, THAT is an angle I did not try…I did not try to search for how to open a paint can! Aargh. Thanks for the video link.
Pathwayhorticulture, do you want a new faucet? Or a broken faucet? Because if I get involved…
Gudrun, I was going to use my slow cooker, but the oatmeal was going to have to be in there for too long, I thought. How long do you usually let yours cook in the slow cooker?
Ree, um, no. Not unless you are planning mimosas with breakfast.
Kitty, it was worth it even just for the story. ;-)
on Feb 21st, 2009 at 11:49 pm
oh, god, how did I miss this post hen you put it up? I’m laughing so hard… thank you for sending me off to bed with a huge grin on my face. :D
on Feb 22nd, 2009 at 1:05 am
Anita, glad to end your day with a laugh! ;-)
on Feb 22nd, 2009 at 10:46 am
So I’m making a list…
1) Tire changing
2) Paint can opening
In return, you can tell my why the tips of my onions are turning brown and my beets hate me. :-)
on Feb 23rd, 2009 at 8:25 am
Cameron, awesome! And they don’t have to be at the same time, and they can be rewarded with separate beers.
The tips of the onions turning brown *might* be OK…I’m not 100 percent sure, but I think that’s fine. I’d have to take a look, though. As for the beets, well, have you tried vegetable counseling? Sometimes that inner rage on their part is really due to un-beet-able self-loathing.
I’m sorry. I could not resist.
on Apr 8th, 2009 at 9:29 am
This is so something *I* would do!
on Apr 8th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Lori, I am a results-oriented girl. As, apparently, are you.
on Apr 8th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
I buy my McCans in the cardboard box since I dont like metal shavings in my oatmeal ;)
on Apr 8th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
I’m loving the “Screwdriver. Tool, then drink” advice! That can apply to so many situations in life! LOL!
on Apr 8th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Fidget, I’d say the metal shavings just give me extra iron, but I think that’s not actually accurate. They probably just give me extra aluminum, which I do not need.
JavaMom, yes, it’s SUCH sage advice…
on Apr 20th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
You won’t believe this! I live in Northern NY, and my poor aunt had a problem with mcCann’s Steel-cut oats just this weekend. She called me up (because I had recommended she buy them) to ask how to open the can, but I hadn’t ever seen that brand. Mine always came in a plastic or cellophane bag. I asked her if it looked like a paint can. She said yes. My Uncle is in construction and has a paint-can opener. She tried it, and it didn’t work. I have a husband and mother-in-law who lived in England, so I thought maybe they’d know. I thought “maybe there’s some kitchen gadget that openes these typed of containers- those europeans probably have lots of these containers”. But nope, they had no idea. Finally, my husband recommended flipping it over and opening the bottom of the can with a can opener. It worked! My next suggestion to her was going to be running it over with the car or throwing it over Niagara Falls. I googled how to open steel-cut oats and found your blog. How amusing! I emailed this to my aunt. I’m sure it’ll be therapeutic to know she’s not alone! I am going to buy them just to see if I can get the can open without destroying it. I love a challenge! I’ll let you know what happens, ha ha! Thanks for the laugh!
on Apr 20th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Natalie, your story is hilarious — I would have totally gone with the throw-over-Niagara-Falls solution, although running over it with a car would have been mad fun, as well. Thanks for sharing it with me, and may your aunt, like me, switch to the bagged or boxed kind from here on out… ;-)
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 4:31 am
I came across your blog because I googled how to open a can of Irish Oatmeal. A slightly mangled can sits on my counter as I’m trying to figure out how to open it and cook it before the kids wake up!
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 4:33 am
p.s.
Thanks for the tip on opening the can! It worked! Also, thanks for the laughs. It was an unexpected treat for the morning routine.
on Oct 27th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Liz, you’ve made me smile — glad I could give you some laughs, especially before breakfast! And glad you finally got into your can!
on Dec 30th, 2009 at 8:27 am
Thank you so much for this! I was fighting a losing battle with my first can when I came across your blog. I actually called their customer service but just got their voicemail. I’m really excited to finally try their oatmeal – although after spending almost 20 minutes trying to release these oats from their metal prison, ruining my butter-knife and manicure in the process, I’m not sure I can wait 30+ minutes for them to cook! Thanks again for sharing your experience (and the photo evidence) – it’s comforting to know I’m not the only one out there :) Happy New Year!
on Dec 31st, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Dee, ha! And I, too, am glad I’m not alone. I didn’t even think of calling their customer service line when I had the problem — that’s brilliant, even if ineffective due to non-answering… :-)
Happy New Year to you, too! (And try the overnight cooking instead — it takes more pre-planning, but much less time in the offing…)
on Mar 24th, 2010 at 8:35 am
I too have a can of John McCann Steel Cut Oatmeal. I was trying to be fancy and get something a little different. Imagine my surprise when I went for breakfast this morning and couldn’t open the damn thing. Hence, I am now on the internet trying to figure out how to do it. First, let me say, “I loved your picture.” Second, your little bit of advise actually worked for me. For those of you who have not opened a can of paint, it is simple. 1) take a butter knife (a woman’s swiss army knife) and lay the flat side against the top rim of the can; 2) pull the knife up so that it lies between the first and second rim on the can; 3) wedge the knife under the inner rim; and 4) push or pull down on the knife. The knife should pot the top off cleanly. Enjoy your breakfasting.
on Apr 4th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
Newman, that’s an excellent explanation — thank you!
on Aug 29th, 2010 at 11:13 pm
I’m sitting here cracking up. The story. The picture. Then, all of the other people in the same situation. And I’m following right in line. I spent a good 10 minutes studying that can and hurting my fingers before I decided to look it up online. What’s crazy is I just finished painting a room in my house for the past few days — you think I would’ve tried the paint can technique. Thanks to you (no thanks to McCann’s) and your experience, I was able to remove the lid with ease… now I gotta get through the next metal barrier. HA! You know, with all of the people that are googling “how to open can of mccann’s oats” on here, one might think that McCann’s would put some directions on the can… There’s a thought!
Thanks for the laugh and saving my fingertips from the torture!
on Sep 11th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
Oliver, you’re welcome for the laugh — glad I saved you! :-)
on Dec 2nd, 2010 at 3:50 pm
Thanks for the amusing tale frought with woe and frustration. The photo of the results of your destructive struggle is priceless! Luckily, your experience saved me from the same high drama.
The paint can lid prying method, however, is immediately evident only if you can see the gap between can and lid. I couldn’t.
This is my first purchase of steel oats from a can. I usually buy it in a box at a health food store or from a bin. The bin product generally is rather stale tasting. Let’s face it, few steel cut groats aficionados exist. Therefore, replacing the bin with fresh product isn’t as often as with, say, chocolate chip cookies….
When I saw the can lid I instantly thought to grab a spoon to pry it off like a paint can (without actually thinking “paint can’). When that failed I tried a knife but I didn’t notice the (very) slight gap between the lid and that part which is attached to the actual can. I tried prying the wrong part which made the metal warp. I stopped before doing worse damage and googled this blog.
The paint can method works folks. But only if you can see the tiny gap that I missed. Thanks to Newman for the astute instructions. BTW, the lid popped off easily once the knife tip was wedged properly into the gap.
As for how to cook steel cut oats I usually place the oats in my trusty rice cooker and let it do the work — hassle free!
If I press the ‘white rice’ button the oats come out chewy and creamy. If I press the ‘brown rice’ button the oats come out soft and creamy because of the additional soaking time.
Some rice cookers have the ‘poridge’ button as well. Modern rice cookers have additional features such as slow cooking if that is to your liking. Most all of them have a ‘keep warm’ feature that allows you to make enough for yourself and the late sleepers in your household or for snacking later.
But, my favorite feature is the delayed timer which allows me to awaken each morning to a fresh batch waiting to greet me even if I over-sleep, thanks to the keep warm feature.
Old fashioned rice cookers used to be unitaskers. Nowadays, they are one of the most versitile kitchen assessories you can own.
They make soups, cook grains, make cakes and bread, have slow and fast cooking functions, and some models even make tofu. The micro computer chips powering these new marvels actually use fuzzy logic to adjust the thermostat as needed to cook your food to perfection. They can get expensive fast but a little resesearch will help you to locate one to fit your budget and menu needs. I consider a rice cooker as essential to a modern kitchen as your stove. And nothing else cooks steel cut oats the way you like them with as easy clean-up when done.
on Jan 25th, 2011 at 4:19 pm
finding this post made me so happy today. i know it’s old, but i couldn’t help making a comment.
bf brought home the oats, and this morning i tried the paint can lid removal, but apparently the blade was too thick. I got frustrated trying various other methods, but KNEW someone out there had this same problem.
so, i googled. and found this.
eventually got the can open with a mulit-tool i had in my silverware drawer. came off like a breeze.
i had also never heard positive reviews of soaking the oats for a shorter cooking time, so i was really glad to see that, too.
(thanks)
on Feb 5th, 2011 at 6:00 am
Just turn the can upside down and open it with a regular can opener. Then, store in a gallon zip lock bag in the pantry.
on Feb 5th, 2011 at 6:07 am
I just emptied my old can of oats into the new can. Guess what’s on the underside of the lid? Instructions, which you have to read backwards, as follows: “To open tin pierce and cut round groove with point of cutter.” You cannot see these directions from the outside top of the can. Not that it helps anyway.
on Apr 7th, 2011 at 4:55 pm
LMBO!!! OMG! This is solo funny. I am trying to eat healthier and looked up directions on how to cook steel oats in a rice cooker, figured that part out and went to open them……what do you know, I couldnt! I tried the knife, tried can opener and no success! Lol came on googles it, found your site couldn’t find the answer until I read newmans post, though I had already tried this I figured hmmm why not try again. What do you no, it took two seconds!!!! Too funny, who though a can of outs could challenge you soo much! I’m going to laugh about this all day especially since I know it happened to all of you too! Thanks for sharing.
on May 1st, 2011 at 11:56 am
Carolyn, glad you enjoyed it! :-)
on Aug 28th, 2011 at 5:07 pm
Thank you so much for this! I haven’t been able to find my regular Quaker steel cut oats, so I decided to try McCanns. After failing to get that lid off after digging into the top with knives, forks and anything else I could find, I decided “when in doubt Google it”!
I went straight for my toolbox! I’ve never opened a can of paint either, but I must have put that screw driver where it needed to be because the top popped right off.
Thanks again!
on Dec 31st, 2011 at 3:27 am
Tessa, you’re welcome!
on Jan 21st, 2012 at 7:51 pm
thank you, thank you, thank you….inadvertentgardner & newman for aiding me in a potentially stressful process of …MAKING OATMEAL!!! I tried to open the can, it’s getting late, i’m tired, etc….usually I persevere through a problem and figure it out…but I felt this time could be a mess (envisioned inadvertentgardner pic or worse). And to Carolyn…..same exact thing happened…I’ve painted many a room so I took out the butter knife…no luck….read this post, returned to the McCanns can, and wah-lah..instantly opened! thanks again for this post and all the funny stories. This woke me up….steel cut oats can cook all night and I can sleep in in the morning. :-)
on Feb 12th, 2012 at 6:57 pm
Lynne, am both chuckling AND am so glad I could help. Enjoy that oatmeal!