Cooking Quinoa: Using Your Rice Steamer Like A Pro

Quinoa is a great source of protein and fibre, and can be cooked in a rice steamer to perfection. The process is simple and straightforward, and can be done in a few easy steps. First, rinse the quinoa in a fine-mesh strainer to get rid of the bitter outer layer. Next, grease the rice cooker insert with oil to prevent the quinoa from sticking to the bottom. Then, add the quinoa, liquid, and salt to the rice cooker. For every cup of quinoa, you will need two cups of liquid. Finally, turn on the rice cooker and let it cook for 15-30 minutes. Once it's done, fluff the quinoa with a fork and serve!

Rinsing the quinoa

To rinse the quinoa, place it in a fine-mesh strainer and rinse it under a cold, running tap for 20 seconds, or until the water runs clear. Shake off any excess water. You can also soak the quinoa to further reduce bitterness and improve digestibility. To do this, cover the rinsed quinoa with water and two tablespoons of raw apple cider vinegar, then let it sit for 12 hours before rinsing again.

Some boxed quinoa comes pre-rinsed, in which case you may choose to skip this step. However, even if your quinoa is pre-rinsed, rinsing it again yourself can make it easier to digest.

Using oil to prevent sticking

Using oil is a great way to prevent your quinoa from sticking to the bottom of your rice cooker. The type of oil you use is up to you, but coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil, and vegetable oil are all recommended.

To use the oil effectively, you should first rinse your quinoa. This will remove any dust and impurities. Next, grease the inside of your rice cooker with a thin layer of oil. You can use a paper towel to help spread the oil evenly. Then, add your rinsed quinoa, liquid, and salt to the rice cooker, and cook as normal.

Liquid ratios

The liquid ratio is a crucial aspect of cooking quinoa in a rice steamer, and the general consensus is that a 1:2 ratio of quinoa to liquid works best. This means that for every cup of dry quinoa, you will need two cups of liquid, which can be water, broth, or stock.

However, it is worth noting that the type of quinoa and the desired consistency can slightly alter this ratio. For example, red quinoa may require a longer cooking time and benefit from a little more liquid, while white quinoa cooks perfectly with the standard ratio in about 15 minutes.

Additionally, some people prefer to soak their quinoa before cooking, which can affect the amount of liquid added during the cooking process. Soaking quinoa can make it more digestible and help remove bitterness. It is recommended to soak it for about 12 hours, and then rinse it again before adding it to the rice cooker.

When cooking quinoa in a rice steamer, it is also essential to grease the cooker's insert or cavity with oil to prevent the quinoa from sticking. This step is optional but can significantly improve the final result.

Cooking time

The cooking time for quinoa in a rice steamer will vary depending on the type of quinoa you are cooking. White quinoa should be cooked for 15 minutes in a rice cooker, while brown quinoa needs 18-19 minutes, and black quinoa 20-21 minutes. This is because the darker varieties have a thicker hull.

However, one source suggests that the cooking time for all varieties of quinoa is between 15 and 30 minutes, and another that it takes around 30 minutes. It is important to note that every rice cooker performs differently, so you may need to tweak the timings to get the perfect result.

Once the quinoa is cooked, it is recommended to let it steam for a few minutes with the lid on to allow any last bits of moisture to absorb. Then open the lid and fluff the quinoa with a fork before serving.

Fluffing the quinoa

The fluffing process is also important to ensure that the quinoa is fully cooked. Even if it looks like the quinoa is done, there may still be some moisture trapped in the grains. Fluffing it with a fork will help to release this moisture and ensure that the quinoa is light and fluffy, rather than soggy or mushy.

It is also important to note that the fluffing process should be done gently. If you are too rough with the quinoa, you can end up mashing the grains or breaking them apart. This will result in a mushy texture, rather than the light and fluffy texture that you are trying to achieve.

Finally, fluffing the quinoa will also help to cool it down. If you are in a hurry to serve the quinoa, you can speed up the cooling process by fluffing it and then spreading it out on a plate or baking sheet. This will help to release the steam and moisture, and bring the temperature down.

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