How To Cook Quinoa in a Rice Cooker (with recipes) (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to cook quinoa in a rice cooker? ›

Simply rinse the quinoa in a fine-mesh strainer, drain it, and add it to the rice cooker with the water and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Stir, close the lid, then turn it on — it will cook the quinoa automatically and turn off when it's done (this takes between 15 and 30 minutes, depending on your rice cooker).

The basic ratio is 1 cup quinoa to 2 cups liquid. You can use water (season it with a bit of kosher salt), or you can use any kind of broth (we like to use low-sodium broths and add any extra salt to the finished dish as needed). You can also add a bit of dry white wine to the liquid for another layer of flavor.

The reason this recipe works so well is because quinoa and white rice have the same cooking time and require the same amount of liquid.

Place 1 cup of quinoa with 2 cups of cold liquid. It can be water or vegetable broth. Close the lid of the rice cooker and push the rice button. If your rice cooker has a rice mode, it will start and stop by itself.

Do you need to soak quinoa before cooking it? In short, no, you don't need to soak quinoa. However, doing so is said to remove phytic acid, which may make it easier for people to digest quinoa. If you just want to remove the bitter flavor from quinoa, rinse it under cold water for about a minute.

It wasn't a huge difference in texture, but definitely noticeable. Rinsing quinoa definitely starts to hydrate the seeds. Flavor – In terms of flavor, the unrinsed quinoa definitely had a nuttier, earthier flavor, but I didn't find it bitter at all. The rinsed quinoa was definitely milder and the flavors more muted.

I find that the best quinoa to water ratio for cooking quinoa in a rice cooker is 1 to 2. In other words, you will need 1 cup of uncooked quinoa and 2 cups of water or other cooking liquid for a perfectly cooked rice cooker quinoa.

The cooking time can vary slightly, but it should take 10–20 minutes. When you start with 1 cup of dry quinoa, your quinoa should completely absorb the water in about 15 minutes.

Because it is a seed, quinoa absorbs water differently than other grains. To make it fluffy, cook it uncovered at a low simmer. Once it's tender and no water remains in the bottom of the pot, cover it.

The ratio I've had success with every single time is 1 cup quinoa to 1 3/4 cups water. Many boxes call for a 1:2 ratio, which I've found is more likely to result in an overcooked, gummy pot of quinoa.

Do you put quinoa in before or after water boils? ›

Once the water's boiling, add the rinsed quinoa to the pot. Set a timer for 12 minutes (give or take). Taste a little of the quinoa (be careful, it's hot!). You want it to be tender with a little chew, and you want to see the little white ring around the outside of the grains.

Quinoa is rich in both fiber and protein, contains a much higher amount of other nutrients, and has a similar fluffy texture to the rice. A cup of quinoa contains twice more protein and about 5 g more fiber than white rice. Quinoa contains fewer calories and carbohydrates than white rice.

Garlic powder: Garlic powder adds a nice savory note to quinoa. You can also use a bit of minced fresh garlic. Dried oregano: Oregano adds a nuance of flavor and a Mediterranean flair. Kosher salt: One of the biggest mistakes people make with quinoa: they don't add enough salt!

Soak uncovered at room temperature for at least 2 hours, or overnight. Then drain and rinse once more. For cooking soaked quinoa, you'll add 1.5 times as much water as quinoa to a saucepan, which in this case would be 1.5 cups. Bring water to a boil, then add quinoa and bring back to a boil.

Stay vigilant: Stir the grains constantly to avoid burning, watching for that perfect golden moment, around 6 to 8 minutes. Water is this grain's go-to companion, but other liquids–think low-sodium chicken, mushroom or vegetable broth–add flavor. Just keep the ratio 2 cups liquid to 1 cup quinoa.

What can I do to make quinoa taste better? You can try cooking it with broth instead of water, add sautéed onions and/or garlic, basil, salt/pepper, or even butter.

Some of my favorite liquids to cook quinoa with added flavor include: Vegetable or chicken broth or stock. You can replace all of the water with broth or stock to cook perfect quinoa.

Now that your quinoa is rinsed or toasted, it's time to cook it. For 1 cup of uncooked quinoa, you'll want to use 2 cups of water—this will yield 3 cups of cooked quinoa. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then lower the temperature to medium-low and pop the lid on securely.