Cooking Barley In A Rice Steamer: A Quick Guide

Cooking barley in a rice steamer is a convenient and simple way to prepare this nutritious grain. Rice cookers are more versatile than you might think, and barley is a tasty, healthy grain that can be used in a variety of dishes. With just a few ingredients and some water, you can cook barley in a rice steamer, resulting in a fluffy and delicious side dish.

Rinse barley in cold water

Rinsing barley in cold water is an important step in preparing barley for cooking. It ensures that any dust or starch that has settled on the barley during storage is removed. This prevents the barley from becoming a sticky blob of grains.

To rinse the barley effectively, place it in a strainer and run cold water over it. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear. You can also stir the barley with a spoon or your hands to ensure that all the grains are thoroughly rinsed.

This rinsing process is especially important if you are using hulled barley, as it has a more fibrous outer layer that can benefit from a thorough cleaning.

Once the barley is rinsed, it is ready to be cooked in your rice steamer according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Use broth instead of water

Cooking Barley in a Rice Steamer with Broth

Using broth instead of water is a great way to add flavour to your barley. You can use vegetable, beef, or chicken broth, depending on your preference and what you plan to serve the barley with.

Step 1: Prepare the Barley

Rinse the barley thoroughly before getting started. This removes any dust or starch that has settled during storage. Rinsing it also prevents it from becoming a sticky blob of grains.

Step 2: Add the Barley and Broth to the Rice Cooker

Place 1 cup of dry pearl barley and 2 cups of broth into your rice cooker. If you are using hulled barley, use 3 cups of broth. Add a pinch of salt, stir to combine, and cover with the lid.

Step 3: Cook the Barley

If you have a basic rice cooker, push the button down and let it cook. The button will pop up when the barley is done. If your rice cooker has multiple settings, choose the "brown rice" setting before starting.

Step 4: Fluff and Serve

Once the rice cooker is done, remove the lid and fluff the barley with a fork. Now it's ready to serve!

Tips:

• Barley expands a lot during cooking, so it's best to cook no more than 1 cup of barley at a time unless you have a large rice cooker.
• You can also add spices such as garlic or cumin to the broth for extra flavour.
• For a simple yet delicious addition, try adding a tablespoon of butter and a pinch of salt and pepper to the cooked barley. You could also use olive oil instead of butter.

Soak barley before cooking

Soaking barley before cooking it is not necessary for all types of barley. Whether or not you should soak the barley depends on the type of barley grain you are using.

Hulled Barley

Hulled barley is the true whole-grain form. It is the least processed type of barley and is considered the healthiest option. It has a nuttier flavour and a chewy texture. Hulled barley does benefit from a pre-soak. This helps the grains cook faster. However, if you forget to soak them ahead of time, it is not a deal-breaker. It will just take longer to cook. When cooking hulled barley in a rice cooker, use a ratio of 1 cup of barley to 3 cups of water.

Pearl Barley

Pearl barley is a polished grain with some or all of the bran removed. It has a softer texture than hulled barley. Pearl barley does not need to be soaked before cooking. It cooks faster than hulled barley and does not have to be soaked. If you are cooking pearl barley in a rice cooker, use a ratio of 1 cup of barley to 2 cups of water.

Quick Barley

Quick barley is made from pearl barley that has been partially cooked and then dried. It is the quickest-cooking type of barley. Like pearl barley, quick barley does not need to be soaked before cooking.

Add salt and other seasonings

Once your barley is cooked, you can add a pinch of salt and a grind of pepper to taste. You can also add a tablespoon of butter or olive oil to make it taste amazing!

If you want to add more flavour to your barley, you can use broth instead of water when cooking it. You can use vegetable, beef, or chicken broth. You can also add spices such as garlic and cumin to the water at the beginning. Make sure any spices you add complement the dish you are serving the barley with. For example, if you are making an Asian-inspired dish, you can add soy sauce, ginger, garlic powder, sesame seeds, green onions, carrots or bell peppers. For a Mediterranean-inspired dish, you can add olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, feta cheese, olives, tomatoes, and cucumber. Or, for a Mexican-inspired dish, add cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, black beans, corn kernels, diced tomatoes, or salsa.

Fluff barley with a fork after cooking

After your barley has finished cooking in the rice cooker, it is important to let it rest for a while before serving. This helps to ensure that the barley is not too dense and clumped together, and it gives a nice, even texture to the dish.

The amount of resting time required depends on the type of barley you are using. For pearl barley, 10 minutes of resting time is usually sufficient. For brown barley, it is recommended to let it rest for 15 minutes.

Once the resting time has passed, it's time to fluff the barley with a fork. This is an important step as it helps to separate the grains and ensure they are light and fluffy, rather than dense and clumped together. It also helps to distribute any remaining moisture evenly throughout the barley.

Use a large fork and gently fluff the barley by lifting it up and separating the grains. Be careful not to be too rough, as you don't want to mash the barley. A gentle touch is all that's needed.

After fluffing, your barley is now ready to be served! You can add your favourite herbs, spices, vegetables, meats, or other ingredients to create a delicious and nutritious meal. Enjoy!

Frequently asked questions