How to Cook Quinoa: Tips and Easy Fluffy Quinoa Recipe

Quinoa is an ancient grain in the amaranth family. Pronounced keen-wah, it has roots in the Peruvian Andes going back over 5,000 years, and hundreds of different cultivated varieties to its name—today, the most commonly found are:

• Black quinoa
• White quinoa
• Red quinoa

There are three primary reasons quinoa has gone from a stand-out staple for the health food store set to a popular grain substitute the world over:

• Quinoa is healthy. Not only is quinoa gluten-free, but this quick-cooking whole grain is a complete protein, rich in essential amino acids and minerals like iron and magnesium. It won’t cause a spike in blood sugar either, thanks to its low glycemic index and fiber content.
• Quinoa is a low-carb substitute. White rice has 15 times the carbohydrates than quinoa, whose nutty flavor makes it a top substitute for rice or pasta.
• Quinoa cooks super fast. It only takes 15 minutes to cook—even less if you’re using a pressure cooker like the Instant Pot (impressive if you’ve got one, but not necessary where quinoa is concerned).

The most commonly used quinoa-to-water ratio is 1 cup grain : 2 cups water. If this makes the quinoa too gummy for your taste, simply reduce liquid by ¼. (1 cup quinoa to 1 ¾ cup liquid.)

When cooking quinoa, remember these important ratios:

• 1 cup quinoa to 2 cups water
• ½ cup quinoa to 1 cup
• One cup dry quinoa yields three cups cooked quinoa
• One serving size is ½ cup of cooked quinoa

Quinoa seeds contain a natural coating, called saponin, which can give the seeds a bitter taste after they are cooked. Rinsing quinoa seeds with cold water helps to remove the saponin.

Use a fine mesh strainer to rinse quinoa.

1. 1. Hold the fine mesh strainer under the tap in the kitchen sink.
2. 2. Run cold water.
3. 3. Pour in a handful of quinoa into the strainer.
4. 4. Gently rotate the strainer under the running water to rinse the quinoa. You’ll notice the saponin turns the water a brownish color.
5. 5. Rinse until the water runs clear, about 3-4 minutes.

Follow this step-by-step to cook quinoa in an Instant Pot or a rice cooker.

1. 1. Spray the inside of the liner with cooking oil to prevent sticking.
2. 2. Add rinsed quinoa, your liquid of choice, and a pinch of salt.
3. 3. Cover and select the white rice function on a rice cooker, or cook for 1 minute at high pressure in an Instant Pot.
4. 4. Uncover, and fluff with a fork.

To cook quinoa in the microwave, follow this step-by-step.

1. 1. Rinse quinoa and combine with 2 cups water in a microwave-safe bowl.
2. 2. Partially cover with a lid (a plate works fine too) and cook for 6 minutes.
3. 3. Remove and give quinoa a quick stir; place back in microwave for 2 more minutes.
4. 4. Remove and let sit for at least 5 minutes to allow the rest of the liquid to be absorbed.
5. 5. Uncover, and fluff with a fork.

If you prefer to cook quinoa in an oven, follow this step-by-step.

1. 1. Preheat oven to 375F.
2. 2. Rinse quinoa, and add to an 8x8 baking dish.
3. 3. Heat your liquid beforehand, then add to the baking dish.
4. 4. Cover tightly with foil, and cook for 25 minutes.
5. 5. Remove from oven, and let sit for 5 minutes before removing the foil.
6. 6. Uncover, and fluff with a fork.