Skip to content
Laglorietadel

Laglorietadel

Reach for the Food

Primary Menu Laglorietadel

Laglorietadel

  • About Us
  • Advertise Here
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Vegan Diet

How to Cook Quinoa – Detoxinista

Joyce J. Kent March 22, 2022

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure and privacy policy.

how to cook quinoa pin

If you are wondering how to cook quinoa so it turns out perfectly fluffy every time, this tutorial will walk you through the process step-by-step. It’s a great way to add more protein into your meals this week!

cooked quinoa in glass bowls.

Quinoa is a pseudo-cereal, meaning it looks like a grain, but it doesn’t grow on grass like wheat, barley, and oats do. It is an ancient grain that originated in South America, though it is now grown in almost 70 countries, due to its growing demand and popularity.

I’ve cooked so many quinoa recipes lately, I consider myself a bit of a quinoa expert.

For years, I followed the traditional guidance, which you may already be familiar with, especially if you’ve cooked other grains. Use a 1:2 ratio of quinoa to water (so, 1 cup quinoa to 2 cups water) and cook in a covered pot for 15 minutes.

Sounds simple enough, right?

However, I have never achieved fluffy quinoa with this method. It’s fine; it’s edible… but I almost always have a thin layer of quinoa that burns, or sticks, to the bottom of the pan by the time the 15 minute cooking time is complete. Sometimes the quinoa even starts to crisp up around the side of my saucepan, creating an uneven texture. It’s not ideal.

cooked quinoa with wooden spoon for serving.

Tips for Cooking the Best Quinoa

After learning more about quinoa, and doing a little experimenting on my own, I’ve discovered 3 tricks that will help you cook fool-proof quinoa every time.

1. Soak or rinse the quinoa first.

Quinoa is a gluten-free seed, and just like other nuts and seeds, it contains phytic acid, which may inhibit nutrient absorption. Soaking quinoa in water may help to lower its phytic acid content, and at the same time, it may also help to remove the saponin found in its natural coating. (This can give quinoa a bitter taste.)

Quinoa can be soaked in fresh water for as little as 2 hours, or you can leave it soaking in water in the fridge overnight. Be sure to cover the dry quinoa with double the amount of water, to allow for expansion as it soaks.

If you don’t have the time to soak quinoa, I recommend rinsing it under running water in a fine mesh strainer for at least 30 seconds.  This will help to remove that bitter flavor that can sometimes be found in its outer coating, and it will greatly improve the flavor and texture in the final cooked dish.

2. Cook with less water.

Because you’ve already soaked or rinsed the quinoa, you don’t need to use a 2:1 ratio of water to quinoa. This ratio will give you soggy, or mushy results.

Instead, I recommend using 1 1/2 cups of water for every 1 cup of rinsed or soaked quinoa.

3. Remove it from the heat early.

Instead of cooking the quinoa over low-heat for 15 minutes, I recommend removing it from the heat after only 10 minutes– but don’t remove the lid just yet!

Keep the lid on for an additional 5 minutes (so it’s still covered for a full 15 minutes) so the quinoa can finish absorbing the water.

When you remove the lid, it will be perfectly cooked, with nothing stuck to the bottom of the pan. All you have to do is fluff it with a fork and serve!

Health Benefits of Quinoa

What’s so great about quinoa? (Pronouced keen-wah.) It’s a nutrient-dense grain alternative that happens to contain all of the essential amino acids your body needs. This makes it a complete source of plant-based protein, which may be especially helpful for those following a vegetarian or vegan diet.

FYI: Some experts consider quinoa to be “nearly” a complete source of protein, if you’d like to read about that discussion.

Here’s more to love:

It should be noted, if you are concerned with kidney stones, that quinoa is high in oxalates. Studies suggest that there might be a minor risk associated with dietary oxalate intake and kidney stones. Be sure to speak with your doctor if you have any concerns.

How to Cook Quinoa

Now that you know all the tricks, let’s cover how to cook this gluten-free pseudograin.

1. Soak or rinse.

To soak quinoa: Place the dry quinoa in a large bowl or mason jar and cover it with double the amount of water. Let it rest for at least 2 hours on the counter, or place it in the fridge to soak overnight. Drain and rinse well before using it in the next step.

To rinse quinoa: Place the dry quinoa in a fine mesh sieve and rinse it under running tap water for at least 30 seconds. Let the excess water drip off, then it’s ready to cook.

quinoa rinsed and soaking in a jar.

2. Cook covered.

Transfer the drained quinoa to a small saucepan, cover it with water, and stir well. For every 1 cup of quinoa, use 1 1/2 cups of water for cooking. You can also use veggie or chicken broth, if you’d prefer.

Bring the liquid to a boil, then lower the heat and cover the pot with a lid. Let it cook for 10 minutes covered.

water added to quinoa in pot.

3. Remove from the heat.

After 10 minutes have passed, keep the pot covered but remove it from the heat. This will ensure the quinoa doesn’t burn or stick to the bottom of the pan.

Keep the lid on the pan for an additional 5 minutes, then remove the lid and fluff the quinoa with a fork. Now it’s ready to serve!

quinoa fluffed with a fork and in a glass storage container.

Note: I’ve tested this method with white quinoa, red quinoa, black quinoa, and tricolor quinoa. Keep in mind that the more colorful varieties of quinoa will have a more chewy texture compared to white quinoa.

If you’d like them to become more tender, keep the lid on the pot for an additional 5 to 10 minutes. (But still remove the pan from the heat after 10 minutes!)

cooked tricolor quinoa fluffed in a white pot.

How to Use Quinoa

You can use quinoa as a protein-packed substitute for rice in a main course or side dish, but I think you’ll also love it in these recipes below.

Or, try using quinoa instead of rice in my Veggie Fried Rice recipe.

cooked colors of quinoa in glass bowls overhead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which color quinoa is the healthiest? The different types of quinoa all have a similar macronutrient profile, but red quinoa does seem to have a slightly higher antioxidant content, thanks to the betalains it contains. (Which give red quinoa its signature color, similar to beets!)

Can you cook quinoa in the Instant Pot? Yes! Check out my tutorial here.

If you have any other questions, be sure to ask them in the comments below. I’m happy to help when I can!

How to Cook Quinoa

Here’s how to cook fluffy quinoa every time! This protein-packed seed cooks in less than 20 minutes, without turning out soggy or mushy.

Keyword how to cook quinoa
  • 1 cup dry quinoa
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • Place the quinoa in a fine mesh sieve and rinse it under running water for at least 30 seconds. This quick step will help remove any bitter flavor from the quinoa’s outer coating. (See quinoa soaking tips in the full post, if you’d prefer to do that.)

  • Transfer the drained quinoa to a small saucepan, and cover it with 1 1/2 cups of fresh water. Bring the liquid to a boil.

  • Once the liquid is boiling, lower the heat and cover the pot. Let the quinoa cook for 10 minutes covered.

  • When the timer goes off, remove the pan from the heat but keep the lid on the pan for another 5 minutes. (So the pan will be covered for 15 minutes total.) Then, remove the lid and fluff the quinoa with a fork. It should have absorbed all of the water and be fluffy, without sticking to the bottom of the pot.

  • Serve the quinoa warm right away, or store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. It’s perfect for meal prep! You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.

Nutrition information is for roughly 1 cooked cup of quinoa. This is automatically calculated, and is just an estimate, not a guarantee.
Feel free to double or triple this recipe, as needed. 1 cup of dry quinoa will make approximately 3 cups of cooked quinoa.

Calories: 209kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 9mg | Potassium: 319mg | Fiber: 4g | Vitamin A: 8IU | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 3mg

If you try this quinoa recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below, letting me know how it works out for you!

Tags: Food Near Me Now, Food Near Us, Food Network Recipes, Food Open, Food Open Late, Food Open Late Near Me, Food Open Near Me Now, Food Open Now, Food Open Right Now, Food Options, Food Pantry Near Me, Food Places, Food Places Near Me, Food Places Open Near Me, Food Preservative, Food Processor, Food Pyramid, Food Quality, Food Questions, Food Quincy, Food Quiz, Food Quotes, M Food Items, M Food Logo, M Food Mart Reno, N Food Court, N Food Items, N Food Mart, N Food Name, N Food Stamps, N Food Words, N Foods, N Foods For Thanksgiving, O Food Dumpling, O Food Gochujang, O Food List, O Food Truck, O Food Tteokbokki, O Foods, O Foods Ltd, O Foods Names, P Food Stamps, P Food Stamps 2022, P Foods, P Foods For Babies, P Foods For Constipation, P Foods For Constipation Baby, P Foods Names, P Foods To Help Constipation

Continue Reading

Previous The Perfect Blend for Weight
Next What Is the Vegan Military Diet, and Should You Try It?

More Stories

  • Vegan Diet

Ways to Maintain the Nutritional Value of Your Food

Joyce J. Kent May 29, 2023 0
  • Vegan Diet

Easy and Quick Vegan Recipes Ideas – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinners For The Busy Vegan

Joyce J. Kent May 25, 2023 0
  • Vegan Diet

Tapioca Shoots (Leaves) – A Good Source of Fibre for Weight Loss?

Joyce J. Kent May 22, 2023 0
June 2023
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
« May    

Archives

  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • March 2020
  • November 2018
  • January 2017

Recent Posts

  • Cafe World Money – How to Make Money in Cafe World Quickly
  • Blood Sugar Levels: Trucking Through the Confusion
  • 2 Quick and Yummy Slow Cooker Recipes For Kids
  • Managing Your Working Day in Inside Sales
  • Easy To Cook Delicious Indian Food Recipes – Cauliflower Curry Recipe

BL

Tags

Food Kansas City Food King Food King Ad Food King Lubbock Food King Near Me Food Kitchen Food Kitchen Near Me Food Lion Hours Food Lion To Go Food Lion Weekly Ad Food Market Food Market Near Me Food Mart Food Mart Near Me Foodmaxx Food Memes Food Mill J Food Mart J Food Names J Food Nyc J Foods J Food Sci Technol J Foods Inc J Food Store J Food Store Daytona Beach K Food Mall K Food Market K Food Mart K Food Mcallen K Food Near Me K Foods K Food Store K Food To Go L Food Items L Food Near Me L Food Open Near Me L Food Places Near Me L Foods L Foods For Thanksgiving L Foods Names L Foods Words M Food Mart M Food Near Me M Foods M Food Store

getlinko

Related Article

  • Food & Cooking News

Cafe World Money – How to Make Money in Cafe World Quickly

Joyce J. Kent June 2, 2023 0
  • Healthy Meals

Blood Sugar Levels: Trucking Through the Confusion

Joyce J. Kent June 2, 2023 0
  • Teriyaki

2 Quick and Yummy Slow Cooker Recipes For Kids

Joyce J. Kent June 1, 2023 0
  • Cooking Channel

Managing Your Working Day in Inside Sales

Joyce J. Kent May 30, 2023 0
  • Recipes Learn

Easy To Cook Delicious Indian Food Recipes – Cauliflower Curry Recipe

Joyce J. Kent May 29, 2023 0
restaurantlaglorietadelcastell.com | CoverNews by AF themes.

WhatsApp us