Tillie Doyle
Millet is an ancient grain that is small, round, and gluten-free. It is a staple in many diets across the world and is rich in iron, B vitamins, and calcium. It has a mild cornmeal-like nutty flavor and is similar to rice in that it is not very flavorful. The tiny grains puff up like quinoa when cooked and can be used for sweet or savory dishes. This guide will show you how to cook millet in a crock pot, also known as a slow cooker, to achieve the perfect fluffy texture.
How to cook millet in a crock pot
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Millet, water or broth, salt, garlic powder, ground cumin |
| Equipment | Slow cooker, multi-cooker, instant pot, pressure cooker |
| Ratios | 1 cup millet: 2 cups water or 1:2 millet:water ratio |
| Toast millet | In a large, dry saucepan, toast the raw millet over medium heat for 4-5 minutes until fragrant and golden brown |
| Add liquid | Add water and salt to the pan and stir. Increase heat and bring to a boil |
| Simmer | Lower the heat, add butter, cover the pot and simmer for 15 minutes |
| Pressure cook | Set the valve to sealing. On a manual setting on high pressure, cook for 10 minutes. Natural release pressure for 10 minutes, then serve |
| For a porridge consistency | Use 3 cups of water instead of 2 |
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What You'll Learn
Toast millet in a skillet
Toasting millet in a skillet is a great way to enhance the nutty flavour of the grain before cooking it further in a crock pot. Here is a step-by-step guide:
Firstly, prepare your millet by rinsing it in cool water. Millet is an ancient grain, originally from Africa and northern China, and is a staple in many diets across the world. It is rich in iron, B vitamins and calcium, and is gluten-free. It has a mild cornmeal-like nutty flavour and is similar in texture to quinoa or polenta when cooked.
Next, heat a large, dry skillet over a medium heat. Add the millet to the dry skillet and toast the grains for 4-5 minutes. Keep an eye on the millet to ensure it doesn't burn, and toast until the grains turn a rich golden brown and become fragrant.
Once the millet is toasted, you can add your cooking liquid. For a fluffy, whole-grain side dish, use a ratio of 1 cup of millet to 2 cups of water or broth. If you would like a creamy porridge with a polenta-like consistency, use 3 cups of liquid instead. You can also add a teaspoon of salt, or more to taste, at this stage.
After adding the liquid, give the millet a good stir and bring the mixture to a boil. Then, decrease the heat to low, add butter or oil if desired, and cover the pot. Simmer the millet until the grains absorb most of the liquid, which should take about 15 minutes. Try not to stir the millet too much during this stage, unless it is sticking to the bottom of the pot.
Finally, once the millet is cooked, fluff it with a fork and serve. This method of cooking millet in a crock pot is a great way to prepare a wholesome and versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a side or main course, for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
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Add water and salt
When adding water and salt to your millet in a crock pot, the ratio is typically 1 part millet to 2 parts water, although this can vary depending on the desired consistency. If you prefer a fluffy, whole-grain consistency similar to quinoa, use 1 cup of millet to 2 cups of water. However, if you want a creamier porridge-like consistency, you can increase the water to 3 cups.
For a slow cooker, you would typically use 1 cup of millet with 3 ½ cups of water and a pinch of salt. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 1 ½-2 ½ hours.
If you're using a multi-cooker, the ratio changes slightly. You'll need 1 cup of millet, 1 ¾ cups of water, and a pinch of salt. Set the valve to sealing and use the manual setting with a high-pressure setting for 10 minutes. Then, natural release the pressure for 10 minutes before serving.
When using an instant pot, the ratio remains the same as for a slow cooker: 1 cup of millet to 2 cups of water. Add a pinch of salt to the instant pot, stir to combine, and close the lid. Move the venting valve to seal and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. Remember to turn off the keep warm function to prevent the millet from drying out. After cooking, allow the pressure to naturally release for about 10 minutes, and then manually release any remaining pressure. Fluff the millet with a fork or rice paddle before serving.
You can also add additional seasonings to your millet while cooking. Some common options include garlic powder and ground cumin, especially if you plan to use the millet in grain bowls. However, if you prefer plain millet, you can simply skip these additional seasonings.
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Bring to a boil
To cook millet in a crock pot, you'll need to first toast the millet in a skillet or a large pan. Put the raw millet over medium heat for 4-5 minutes until it turns a rich golden brown and gives off a fragrant aroma. Be careful not to burn the grains.
Next, you'll need to add water and salt to the pan. The general ratio is 1 cup of millet to 2 cups of water, but you can add more water if you want a porridge-like consistency. The water will sputter when you pour it in, so be cautious. Give the mixture a good stir to combine the ingredients.
Now, it's time to bring the mixture to a boil. Increase the heat to high. Keep a close eye on it, as the water will need to reach a rolling boil. This is when you see constant streams of bubbles breaking the surface.
Once the water is boiling, you can lower the heat and let the millet simmer. Drop in a knob of butter, if desired, and cover the pot. The millet will continue to absorb the liquid as it sits, so let it cook for about 15 minutes. Avoid the temptation to peek or stir too much, unless it's sticking to the bottom of the pot.
After the millet has absorbed most of the water, it's ready to be fluffed with a fork and served. If you're using a pressure cooker or instant pot, the process is similar, but you'll need to follow the specific instructions for those appliances, including sealing the lid and releasing pressure.
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Simmer until grains absorb water
Once you've added the millet, water and salt to your crock pot, it's time to bring the mixture to a boil. Increase the heat to high and wait for the liquid to start bubbling. As soon as it does, you can decrease the heat to low and drop in a knob of butter. Cover the pot and leave the grains to simmer gently.
Simmering is a gentle form of cooking that uses small bubbles of water to cook food slowly and evenly. It's perfect for grains like millet, which only need a gentle cook to become tender. As the millet simmers, the water will slowly be absorbed by the grains. You'll know it's ready when most of the water has been absorbed, which should take around 15 minutes. Don't be tempted to peek or stir too much during this process, as this can affect the cooking process. The grains will continue to soak up water as they sit, so don't worry if they're not completely dry when you turn off the heat.
If you're using a slow cooker, the process is much the same. Simply place the millet, water and salt into the slow cooker, cover, and cook on a low heat for 4-5 hours. This longer cooking time at a lower temperature will again ensure the grains absorb the water slowly and evenly.
If you're short on time, you can also cook millet in a pressure cooker or instant pot. The cooking time is much shorter, but you'll still need to let the pressure release naturally for around 10 minutes before serving, so the grains can continue to absorb any remaining water.
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Fluff with a fork
When your millet is done cooking, it's time to fluff it with a fork. This step is important because it helps to separate the grains and ensure that your millet is light and fluffy, not mushy.
To fluff your millet with a fork, simply use a gentle lifting motion with the fork to separate the grains. You can also use a rice paddle if you have one, but a fork works just fine. Be sure to fluff the millet gently so as not to mash the grains.
The amount of time you spend fluffing the millet will depend on the consistency you're looking for. If you're using the millet as a base for a stir-fry or curry, you may want it to be a bit more sticky, so you won't need to fluff it as much. On the other hand, if you're using the millet in a grain bowl or as a side dish, you'll want it to be nice and fluffy, so you'll want to spend a little more time fluffing it.
Keep in mind that the fluffing process is also a great time to season your millet. You can add a little butter or olive oil, as well as some salt and pepper, to taste. You can also get creative with your seasonings, adding things like garlic powder, nutritional yeast, or herbs. Fluffing the millet with a fork will help ensure that your seasonings are evenly distributed throughout the dish.
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Frequently asked questions
The ratio is 1 cup of millet to 2 cups of water.
It takes 4-5 hours on low or 1 1/2-2 1/2 hours on high.
Hulled millet is the most common type used in crock pots.
Yes, you can add salt, garlic powder, and ground cumin to enhance the flavor.
