Learn just about every method on How To Cook Quinoa in one convenient place! Everything you could want to know about quinoa, and how to get fluffy quinoa.
What Makes Quinoa So Great?
- Easy. Rinse, pour, add quinoa, and cook.
- Gluten-Free. Naturally gluten-free food.
- Versatile. Can be prepared in so many different ways.
- High In Fiber. 5 grams of fiber per serving.
- High In Protein. 8 grams of fiber per serving.
What Is Quinoa?
Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) is a simple, delicious and nutritious seed that you can cook and enjoy as a side , as part of a main dish or even as a dessert .
This complete protein is lauded as a “super food” and is loaded with plenty of protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Plus it’s a naturally gluten-free food.
Is Quinoa A Grain?
Quinoa is a seed that comes from a flowering plant in the amaranth family, though it is often confused as a grain .
Quinoa is grouped in with the “Ancient Grains” such as farro, millet, barley, oats, chia, buckwheat and amaranth, where all of them have changed very little over recent millennia and are praised for their health benefits.
What Does Quinoa Taste Like?
Quinoa has a mild, nutty flavor that is perfect by itself, but what makes cooked quinoa very versatile is that it takes on the flavors of whatever you cook it with. There’s not as much of a quinoa taste per se, as what it is cooked with. So you will see quinoa recipes for both sweet and savory dishes that are equally good.
Types Of Quinoa
There are lots of different varieties of quinoa (roughly 120), but only 4 types that are most widely available to purchase. Here’s a quick breakdown of the various types:
Red Quinoa
- Red Quinoa - Red quinoa is known to hold its shape after it has been cooked, making it especially good for cold salads. It is slightly chewier and has a richer taste than white quinoa.
- White Quinoa - White quinoa is the most common type. It’s the most widely available variety in stores, has the mildest flavor and is more fluffy than other types when cooked.
- Black Quinoa - Black quinoa has an earthier flavor than white quinoa. It’s also a bit sweeter.
- Tricolor Quinoa - Tricolor quinoa is a combination of red, white and black. I like tricolor because it’s pretty and it elevates the appearance of the dishes it’s used in.
- You can also find other preparations such as quinoa flakes which are flattened quinoa grains.
Quinoa To Water Ratio
One of my favorite things about cooking quinoa is that the quinoa to water ratio stays the same no matter what type of quinoa you’re cooking. The liquid to dry quinoa ratio does, however, vary depending on the cooking method, as does the cooking time.
Here’s a simple breakdown of the ratios you will need to get perfect quinoa each time:
- Instant Pot - 1 cup water + 1 cup rinsed quinoa
- Stovetop - 1.75 cups water + 1 cup rinsed quinoa
- Rice Cooker - 1.5 cups water + 1 cup rinsed quinoa
One cup of dry quinoa yields about 2.75-3 cups of cooked quinoa and should cook in about 20 minutes. You can also use chicken or vegetable broth to add more flavor to the cooked quinoa.
No matter how you decide to cook quinoa, for perfect quinoa, you’ll want to add in a teaspoon of salt and two teaspoons of either ghee, olive oil, coconut oil, or butter.
You can also use either water, chicken broth, vegetable broth, or homemade bone broth for your cooking liquid.
How To Rinse Quinoa
- How to Rinse. Rinsing quinoa is really no different than rinsing rice . However, since quinoa is so small, you’ll need to use either a fine mesh strainer or coffee filter to rinse and strain it. OXO also makes a colander that’s made specifically for quinoa and other small grains . You really do need a fine mesh sieve for this so don’t try to use your large salad colander for this!
- Saponin. It’s important to rinse the uncooked quinoa (even if the box says it has been prewashed) in order to get rid of the natural saponin that coats the quinoa. If you don’t rinse off the saponin, the quinoa will taste very bitter.
What Is The Proper Way To Cook Quinoa?
There is no “proper” technique for cooking quinoa . Quinoa is such a versatile food, you can cook it in several different ways. The methods I will cover are:
- Instant Pot
- Stove Top
- Rice Cooker
No way is better than another, it all depends on your personal preference and which kitchen gadgets you have at home.
How To Make Quinoa In The Instant Pot
Using the Instant Pot is, without a doubt, my favorite method for cooking quinoa. It’s the quickest, simplest method and takes almost no time to make.
- Rinse. Rinse the dry quinoa thoroughly. It is important that you rinse the quinoa, even if the box says that it has already been rinsed.
- Add. Add the quinoa, water or vegetable broth, salt, and the ghee, olive oil, coconut oil or butter into the Instant Pot .
- Cook. Secure the lid on the pot. Close the pressure-release valve. Select MANUAL and set the pot at HIGH pressure for 1 minute. When cook time is complete, let the pot release pressure naturally for 5 minutes, and then release all remaining pressure.
- Fluffy Quinoa . Fluff with a fork and serve.
Want a great quinoa Instant Pot recipe? Check out my recipe for Instant Pot Quinoa Pudding .
How To Make Quinoa On The Stovetop
If you don’t own an Instant Pot , cooking quinoa on the stovetop will probably be the easiest and most convenient method. It’s still quite easy and is done in about 20 minutes.
- Rinse. Rinse the dry quinoa thoroughly. It is important that you rinse the quinoa, even if the box says that it has already been rinsed.
- Add. Add the quinoa, water or vegetable broth, salt and the ghee, olive oil, coconut oil or butter into a pot.
- Cook. Bring the pot to a boil. When the water boils, reduce the heat so that your water is at a gentle simmer. Allow it to cook for 15 minutes or until the water is absorbed.
- Rest. Cover the pot and allow it to rest for 5 minutes.
- Fluffy Quinoa . Fluff with a fork and serve.
How To Make Quinoa In A Rice Cooker
Another great option for cooking quinoa is a rice cooker . Similar to using an Instant Pot, you can let the rice cooker do all the work for you without having to babysit it.
- Rinse. Rinse the dry quinoa thoroughly. It is important that you rinse the quinoa, even if the box says that it has already been rinsed.
- Add. Add the quinoa, water or vegetable broth, salt, and the ghee, olive oil, coconut oil or butter into the rice cooker.
- Cook. Cook on the QUINOA setting. If your rice cooker doesn’t have a quinoa setting, set it to the RICE setting. The water will boil and continue to simmer. Allow it to rest for 5 minutes after cooking.
- Fluffy Quinoa. Fluff with a fork and serve.
Want Keto Quinoa Recipes or Low Carb Quinoa Recipes?
Though quinoa is considered a “superfood” it isn’t a Keto or low carb superfood. It is too high in carbohydrates to fit in a ketogenic diet.
So if you’re looking for these recipes, you may want to save your time and find something that better fits your low carb lifestyle like my Keto Tabouli .
Tips & Tricks for Perfect Quinoa Everytime
The difference between soft, fluffy quinoa and mushy quinoa, comes down to three things.
- Correct liquid to quinoa ratio. Quinoa will absorb a lot of water if you allow it to. Mushy, overcooked quinoa has an unappealing mouthfeel.
- Correct cooking times . It is definitely possible to overcook quinoa. If you limit the amount of water, cooking times are less critical–unless you undercook and end up with crunchy quinoa.
- Fluffing the quinoa. When the quinoa is cooked, it will be a slightly sticky mass of cooked grains. Take a fork and fluff up the quinoa a little. This is akin to the gentle motion of whipping up eggs. Just move your fork around so that the cooked quinoa grains aren’t stuck to each other.
Is Quinoa Good For You? Quinoa Vs Rice
| Nutritional Comparison | ||
|---|---|---|
| Quinoa | Rice | |
| Calories | 222 | 150 |
| Carbs | 39 | 33 |
| Fiber | 5 | 1 |
| Protein | 8 | 3 |
| Glycemic Index | 53 | 73 |
- Carbs & Calories. One cup of cooked basmati rice has 33 carbs. One cup of quinoa has 34 grams of net carbs, so they’re really the same on the carb front. Rice has 150 calories and quinoa as 222 calories, so quinoa is a bit more calorific.
- Protein. Rice has 3 grams of protein, where quinoa has about 8 gms of protein, making quinoa a much better source of protein.
- Fiber. White rice has no fiber, but quinoa has 5.2 grams. Rice has a glycemic index of 73, which is considered high. Because of the fiber, Quinoa has a glycemic index of 53, which considered low.
- Healthy Choice. Both rice and quinoa have their own health benefits, but quinoa pulls ahead in protein content and fiber, making it the better choice as long as you don’t mind the extra calories.
Ways To Fix Soggy Quinoa
Life happens. Sometimes your quinoa might not come out as great as you would hope. If you end up with soggy quinoa, here are some things you can do to salvage it:
- Make oatmeal. I have a recipe for Instant Pot Quinoa Oatmeal, so adjusting your “fail” into a dish that tastes similar to this will taste like a win in the end.
- Throw it into a salad. Add some extra protein and fiber to one of your favorite salad recipes
- Mix with some eggs and veggies and turn into a delicious quiche or omelet.
Best Quinoa Recipes
- Instant Pot Quinoa Pudding - An Indian dessert made with quinoa. The best quinoa recipes can be sweet.
- Edamame Salad With Quinoa - Full of plant protein and is easily made with your Instant Pot.
- Instant Pot Quinoa Salad With Salmon - Here’s a quinoa salad that eats like a meal.
Rice And Grain Recipes
- Perfect Instant Pot Jasmine Rice - Get perfect Instant Pot Jasmine Rice every time.
- Instant Pot Cranberry Millet Porridge - Simple, delicious and warming.
- Barley Pilaf With Mushrooms - The perfect vegetarian side dish for most everything.
- Instant Pot Wild Rice Pilaf - The perfect savory rice side dish for your next meal.
- Farro Risotto With Butternut Squash - The savory and sweet flavors of fall in one delightful dish!
- Instant Pot Indian Pilau - Make an authentic Indian pilau easily and quickly.
- Instant Pot Pakistani Zarda Sweet Rice - One of my favorite international desserts!
- Air Fryer Fried Rice - Simple, one-pot, and fast.
- Instant Pot Black beans and Brown Rice - hearty, vegan meal.
How To Cook Quinoa | Instant Pot, Stove Top & Rice Cooker
Equipment
- Instant Pot
- 3-Quart Pot
- RICE COOKER
Ingredients
- ▢ 1 cup quinoa , Red, white, black or tricolor.
- ▢ 1-1.75 cups Water , The amount of water will vary depending on the cooking style. Please see the notes on “Quinoa To Water Ratio” for more details.
- ▢ 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- ▢ 2 teaspoons Oil , You can also use ghee, coconut oil or butter.
Instructions
Instant Pot
- Rinse the quinoa thoroughly. It is important that you rinse the quinoa, even if the box says that it has already been rinsed.
- Add the quinoa, water, salt and the ghee, oil, coconut oil or butter into the Instant Pot .
- Secure the lid on the pot. Close the pressure-release valve. Select MANUAL and set the pot at HIGH pressure for 1 minute. When cook time is complete, let the pot release pressure naturally for 5 minutes, and then release all remaining pressure.
- Fluff with a fork and serve.
Stovetop
- Rinse the quinoa thoroughly. It is important that you rinse the quinoa, even if the box says that it has already been rinsed.
- Add the quinoa, water, salt and the ghee, oil, coconut oil or butter into a pot.
- Bring the pot to a boil. When the water boils, reduce the heat so that your water is at a gentle, simmering bubble. Allow it to cook for 15 minutes or until the water is absorbed.
- Cover the pot and allow it to rest for 5 minutes.
- Fluff with a fork and serve.
Rice Cooker
- Rinse the quinoa thoroughly. It is important that you rinse the quinoa, even if the box says that it has already been rinsed.
- Add the quinoa, water, salt and the ghee, oil, coconut oil or butter into the rice cooker.
- Cook on the QUINOA setting. If your rice cooker doesn’t have a quinoa setting, set it to the RICE setting. Allow it to rest for 5 minutes after cooking.
- Fluff with a fork and serve.
Quinoa To Water Ratio
- Instant Pot - 1 cup water + 1 cup rinsed quinoa
- Stovetop - 1.75 cups water + 1 cup rinsed quinoa
- Rice Cooker - 1.5 cups water + 1 cup rinsed quinoa
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Nutrition
Originally Published July 8, 2019
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How To Cook Quinoa | Instant Pot, Stove Top & Rice Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa Red, white, black or tricolor.
- 1-1.75 cups Water The amount of water will vary depending on the cooking style. Please see the notes on “Quinoa To Water Ratio” for more details.
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 2 teaspoons Oil You can also use ghee, coconut oil or butter.
Instructions
Instant Pot
- Rinse the quinoa thoroughly. It is important that you rinse the quinoa, even if the box says that it has already been rinsed.
- Add the quinoa, water, salt and the ghee, oil, coconut oil or butter into the Instant Pot .
- Secure the lid on the pot. Close the pressure-release valve. Select MANUAL and set the pot at HIGH pressure for 1 minute. When cook time is complete, let the pot release pressure naturally for 5 minutes, and then release all remaining pressure.
- Fluff with a fork and serve.
Stovetop
- Rinse the quinoa thoroughly. It is important that you rinse the quinoa, even if the box says that it has already been rinsed.
- Add the quinoa, water, salt and the ghee, oil, coconut oil or butter into a pot.
- Bring the pot to a boil. When the water boils, reduce the heat so that your water is at a gentle, simmering bubble. Allow it to cook for 15 minutes or until the water is absorbed.
- Cover the pot and allow it to rest for 5 minutes.
- Fluff with a fork and serve.
Rice Cooker
- Rinse the quinoa thoroughly. It is important that you rinse the quinoa, even if the box says that it has already been rinsed.
- Add the quinoa, water, salt and the ghee, oil, coconut oil or butter into the rice cooker.
- Cook on the QUINOA setting. If your rice cooker doesn’t have a quinoa setting, set it to the RICE setting. Allow it to rest for 5 minutes after cooking.
- Fluff with a fork and serve.
Quinoa To Water Ratio
- Instant Pot - 1 cup water + 1 cup rinsed quinoa
- Stovetop - 1.75 cups water + 1 cup rinsed quinoa
- Rice Cooker - 1.5 cups water + 1 cup rinsed quinoa
How To Cook Quinoa | Instant Pot, Stove Top & Rice Cooker https://twosleevers.com/how-to-cook-quinoa/
Have you ever tried making Instant Pot beans before? They are so easy to make, quite delicious and can be added to a variety of different dishes such as Texas Caviar , Hummus or Moong Dal to name a few.
Beans, Pulses, and Legumes
Did you know that there are three different types of lentils? There are beans, pulses and legumes and each of them have their own differences.
I grew up eating lentils and beans and when I came to this country , I was surprised to discover that people used the term lentils to ONLY refer to green lentils!
Legumes vs. Pulses
Legumes come in a wide variety and include fruit that is enclosed inside the pod which includes fresh soy beans , peanuts or peas for example.
Pulses , on the other hand, are completely different in that they are the dried seeds of the legumes such as dried soybeans or kidney beans .
One thing to keep in mind is that all pulses are legumes but all legumes are not pulses.
Last but not least there is Dal , which is usually a pulse cut in half.
Cooking Whole BeansIn a Pressure Cooker
Most beans can be found in four different ways, which include the following – whole, split with skin, split without skin and ground. Each have their own individualized cook times.
Whole beans in an Instant Pot will need to cook for around 20 to 40 minutes. A split pulse needs roughly 3 to 10 minutes. Ground flours generally are used in batters.
Can I Substitute Whole and Split Beans?
What does this mean when it comes to making different recipes?
Well, the nice thing is that you can usually substitute whole beans for other whole beans if you are looking to change things up.
For example, if you want to substitute pinto beans for kidney beans , it will not affect the cook times.
However, if you try to substitute a red kidney bean that usually needs to cook for 30 minutes, with red lentils that can cook in as little as 3 minutes, your recipe will be an utter disaster.
What is an Heirloom Bean?
Heirloom beans are not genetically altered because they have not been crossbred with any other species of beans.
The thing about heirloom beans is that they have a bit more flavor on the taste buds and I find them to be quite pretty.
Even though they are more pretty to look at, it doesn’t change their amazing nutritional value or their amazing sources of protein and fiber. So do not let that interfere with your bean preferences.
To Soak Or Not Soak Beans?
A good rule of thumb is is to soak your large, whole beans. Avoid not soaking your split dals , or any small beans such as black-eyed peas , whole urad or whole moong .
For all of my beans recipes , I use a technique called hybrid soaking. It is super effective and a method I trust.
Fast Soaking Beans
In a hurry to soak some of your large beans or running short on time and need to get them soaked quickly?
Just simply soak them in hot water, preferably boiling water, for an hour and it will be equivalent to the legumes soaking overnight.
The thing is, older beans really do need soaking. But I barely can remember what I did yesterday, let alone remember how long the black beans have been sitting in the pantry!
I use this method to ensure all of the recipes are made to their best quality possible. No matter what bean you use or how old they are, soaking in hot water is fast and reliable.
Five Ways To Soak Your Beans
Not about the hybrid method? No worries, here are five different ways to soak your beans to prepare them for cooking in an Instant Pot .
- Overnight: You may feel most comfortable with letting your beans soak overnight. If that’s the case, for every one cup of beans simply soak them in 3-4 cups of water overnight. When you wake up in the morning, just drain the beans and use as directed in your recipe. As a caution, you will want to be sure to place the beans in the refrigerator after 8 hours. Otherwise, they are going to be semi-fermented.
- Overnight-Freezer Method: This method may seem a bit weird. My husband Roger made the suggestion and it actually worked really well. When you soak the beans overnight as mentioned above, just soak twice as many beans as the recipe asks for. Then, in the morning, put half the soaked beans into a zip lock bag and place it inside the freezer. With this method, I found that I didn’t even have to defrost the beans. I could just throw them into the recipe and cook as normal. How much more efficient can you get?!
- Hot Water Method: This is the same method as the Hybrid Soaking method as mentioned above. There are two main positives to this method, the beans cook consistently with very little breaking. Plus it’s an exceptional last-minute method.
- Pressure Cooker Soaking: This is where your Instant Pot comes into play. Like the other methods listed above, you will want to place 1 cup of beans with 3-4 cups of water into your Instant Pot. You will then close the lid and press “Pressure Cook” on “High” for 0 minutes. If you aren’t quite familiar with the settings on your Instant Pot yet, trust me. I promise 0 minutes is actually a thing. You will then leave the pot alone for 15 minutes without any interruptions. After 15 minutes, you can release any remaining pressure. Then drain the beans and carry on with your delicious recipe. While this may be the most convenient method, the beans are more likely to split open.
- Don’t Soak: Yes, you read that correctly. Every chef has their own dos and don’ts and if you are one that prefers to not soak your legumes that is perfectly okay. However, I do suggest that you add around 5-10 minutes to the cooking time under pressure and possibly may have to add a little more water as well. A few things to keep in mind with this method include the beans are more likely to split open and cause gastric distress to individuals. While these may not seem like overly serious concerns to some, I suggest you only use this method once you are really comfortable working with all varieties of beans.
Should I Salt The Beans?
Before you combine the beans and the water, you may be wondering if you should add some salt.
When you add salt, especially if you are planning on using the Instant pot method, it helps prevent the beans from splitting.
I find salted beans to be a lot more flavorful so I do add salt. Keep in mind much of that salted water will be drained after cooking. So, you’re getting a lot less salt than you add.
How Long Should I Cook The Beans In The Instant Pot?
You can download a printable here on different cooking times.
So this totally depends on the bean–both the type of bean, and the age of the bean.
You can mix and match beans in respect to cooking times. This makes it fun to experiment when you have some extra time on your hands.
However, I do have a rule of thumb that I follow throughout all of my recipes based on the type of beans that are required.
- 2-5 minute for Split legumes or smaller lentils such as split green peas, red lentils, black puy lentils, and urad dal, should cook for approximately 2-5 minutes .
- 10 minutes for softer split garbanzos . If you are wanting your split garbanzos, also known as chana dal , to mash up and spread throughout your dish, they can be cooked up to 10 minutes .
- 10 minutes for Small Beans such as navy beans , whole green mung beans , and black-eyed peas , they only need to be cooked under pressure for 10 minutes
- 30-40 minutes for large whole beans such as kidney beans , black beans , and pinto beans need to be cooked from anywhere between 30-40 minutes. I
- 30 minutes for Tender whole beans If the recipe is requesting tender but whole beans, 30 minutes should do the trick.
- 40-50 minutes for mushy whole beans . However, if you are wanting a creamy consistency, you will want to consider cooking them anywhere from 40 to 50 minutes.
Get to cookin’ those beans!
The thing I enjoy most about cooking beans is there is really no right or wrong way to do it.
You can soak them or you don’t have, and you can make Instpot beans or just cook them on the stovetop until done.
Take some time and experiment when you aren’t in a hurry to get dinner on the table. This will help to figure out which method you like most. Also what gives you the results you are craving.
Any other tips and tricks you want to share? Leave us a comment so others can read and learn from you!
GET THE BEST BEAN AND LENTIL RECIPES BY FOLLOWING THE LINKS BELOW:
- Lentil Recipes - Lentil soups , dals and more!
- Chickpea Recipes - so many delicious ways to use chickpeas!
- Instant Pot Dal Makhani
- Instant Pot Soup Recipes - everyone needs a good ham and bean soup or a go-to lentil soup recipe (like my Red Lentil Soup !)
- Refried Beans : You’ll never buy canned beans again.
- Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice - Warm, spicy and the perfect comfort food.
- Langarwali Dal - The creamiest, most flavorful way to combine and cook two dals.
- Instant Pot Pinto Beans - Quite possibly the best Mexican-style beans you’ve ever had.
Don’t forget to check out my otherBest-selling Instant Pot Cookbooks!
Indian Instant Pot , Keto Instant Pot, Instant Pot Fast and Easy , Healthy Instant Pot & Vegetarian Instant Pot .
