How To Cook Quinoa In A Rice Cooker - Wendy Polisi

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    Jump to Recipe Photo of quinoa in a rice cooker with the text "How to Cook Quinoa in a Rice Cooker - Perfect Quinoa Every Time."

    Learn how to use a rice cooker to make quinoa in just 20 minutes! With the right amount of water and following a few simple steps, you can cook fluffy and tender quinoa that's perfect for using in salads, bowls, and other wholesome dishes. A rice cooker is a quick method of cooking for this wholesome seed and perfect for meal prep. If you like fast and easy, you're going to love this method of cooking quinoa.

    Overhead photo of quinoa that has been cooked in a rice cooker.

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    As the author of two quinoa cookbooks, I get asked a lot of questions about cooking quinoa. One of the most common questions is what method is the easiest.

    I cooked it on the stovetop for years, and I still believe that is an excellent way to cook it. (You can see this post on how to cook quinoa on the stovetop for the two different methods that I use.)  

    More recently, I started cooking quinoa in my Instant Pot.

    The first time someone asked me about using a rice cooker, I had to confess that I'd never tried. I gave it a try and have been hooked ever since. 

    I love to use my rice cooker for meal prep so that I have quinoa on hand during the week to make recipes like my favorite quinoa taco salad bowl and Mediterranean quinoa salad. When dinner time rolls around, I have it to make Turkey Quinoa Meatballs, or Broccoli Quinoa Casserole 

    Looking for more quinoa inspiration? Check out these quinoa recipe ideas!

    Let's Talk Ingredients

    I’ve tested this with white, red, and tri-colored quinoa—they all work. Just make sure to rinse it well before cooking to remove any bitterness. The darker colors of quinoa will benefit from soaking before cooking.

    Skip plain water if you can. In my experience, broth adds enough flavor to make it worth the effort.   Try juice if you’re making something on the sweeter side.  

    Tips & Tricks

    • Don't forget to rinse before you cook! You will want to rise it in a fine-mesh strainer under a steady stream of water for three to five minutes or until the water runs clear. 
    • It is possible to buy it pre-rinsed - it will explicitly say so on the packaging. In this case, you may elect to skip rinsing. 
    • You may want to soak the seeds before cooking. Many people find that soaking helps to make it more digestible. To soak, rinse it well, and then cover it with water and 2 tablespoons of raw apple cider vinegar. Let sit for 12 hours, and then rinse again. 
    • Please note that every rice cooker performs a little differently, so it may take some tweaking the first couple of times until you figure out how to make the perfect fluffy quinoa in your rice cooker.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the Proper Quinoa to Water Ratio for Cooking Quinoa in a Rice Cooker?

    When making quinoa in a rice cooker, the proper quinoa to water ratio is 1:2. This means for every cup of dry quinoa, you will need to cups of water or broth.

    How much quinoa is 1 cup cooked?

    It cooks up in a 1:3 ratio. This means if you need one cup of cooked quinoa, you will need to cook ⅓ a cup of seeds. If you cook one cup of dry seeds, it will yield approximately three cups of cooked quinoa.

    Rice Cookers to Consider

    • Aroma Digital Rice Cooker - This is a budget-friendly option! With a delay timer that allows you to prepare ahead, this 20-cup machine is a great option for families.
    • Zojirushi Micom Rice Cooker - When only the best will do, this is the rice cooker for you. It uses computer technology to fine-tune cooking times and temperatures. Brown rice, white rice and more come out perfect every time.
    • Instant Pot with Rice Cooker Function - If you like multi-function cookers, it doesn't get much better than this! This unit is a Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Yogurt Maker, Cake Maker, Egg Cooker, Sauté, Steamer, Warmer, and Sterilizer

    How to Make How to Cook Quinoa in a Rice Cooker

    Quinoa, broth and seasonings in a rice cooker.
    Cooked tri-color quinoa in a rice cooker.
    1. Rinse one cup of quinoa seeds in a fine metal strainer.
    2. Spray the bottom of the cooker with oil. (This is optional, but I find it helpful to avoid sticking.)
    3. Add the quinoa and water or broth to the cooker. The quinoa to water ratio in a rice cooker is two parts liquid and one part quinoa. So if you wanted to cook 2 cups of uncooked quinoa, increase the cooking liquid to 4 cups.
    4. If your cooker allows you to add in herbs and spices, you should go ahead and do that now. 
    5. Once you turn your rice cooker on, it will take between 15 and 25 minutes for the seeds to cook.  Times will vary depending on the rice cooker and the color of quinoa you are cooking.
    6. Instructions in this recipe are for white quinoa. Allow a bit of additional time when cooking red quinoa or other types of quinoa like tri-color or black.
    7. Every rice cooker is a little different, so you will need to experiment with your cooker. Generally speaking though, you will want to use your white rice setting. The first time you try it, I would cook red quinoa for 25 minutes and white quinoa for 15. You can make adjustments from there.
    8. When the time is done, make sure you fluff the quinoa with a fork.
    Photo of a spoonful of quinoa being lifted from a rice cooker.
    If you like this recipe don't forget to leave a 5 star rating and let me know how it went in the below comments, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, Instagram, and PINTEREST to see all my delicious recipes. Photo of Cooked Quinoa in a Rice Cooker with a serving spoon and cloth napkin next to it. Print Recipe 5 from 15 votes

    20-Minute Rice Cooker Quinoa Recipe

    Learn how to use a rice cooker to make quinoa in just 20 minutes! With the rightamount of water and following a few simple steps, you can cook fluffy and tenderquinoa that's perfect for using in salads, bowls, and other wholesome dishes. Arice cooker is a quick method of cooking for this wholesome seed, and perfect for meal prep. If you like fast and easy, you're going to love this method of cooking quinoa. Prep Time5 minutes Cook Time15 minutes Total Time20 minutes Course: MainCuisine: Gluten FreeDiet: Gluten Free, Vegan, VegetarianKeyword: quinoa, rice cooker Servings: 6 Calories: 104kcal Author: Wendy Polisi

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup quinoa
    • Olive Oil Spray or a spoon of coconut oil
    • 2 cups liquid vegetable broth, juice or water
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Place quinoa in a fine mesh strainer and rinse with cold water, until the water runs clear.
    • Spray the bottom of the rice cooker with olive oil.
    • Place the quinoa in the rice cooker.
    • Add 2 cups of liquid.
    • Turn the rice cooker on and cook for 15 minutes. (Use the white rice setting if you have one.)
    • Unplug the rice cooker and allow to sit for 5 more minutes.
    • Fluff and serve.

    Notes

    I often buy pre-rinsed quinoa but I still rinse it. Whether you do or not is a personal choice, but I find well-rinsed quinoa easier to digest.

    Storage

    You can keep cooked quinoa in a sealed container in the fridge for up to five days. It may be frozen for up to three months. Remove from the freezer and thaw overnight in the fridge before using.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 104kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 159mg | Fiber: 1g | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1.3mg

    Filed Under:

    Quinoa

    More Quinoa Recipes Index

    • Quinoa Fried Rice with Egg
    • 25-Minute Instant Pot Quinoa
    • How to Cook Quinoa Perfectly
    • 15-Minute Crunchy Edamame Quinoa Salad with Cabbage

    About Wendy Polisi

    Hi, I’m Wendy! I’m a cook, 5 time cookbook author, blogger, photographer…and most importantly a mom. My boys are 19 & 20 and my late life princess is 12.

    Comments

      5 from 15 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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    1. 5 stars I had no idea you could make quinoa in a rice cooker, but this worked so well!

      Reply
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